You will love the 6 Days Shades of Turkey Excursion every second of it as the tour combines all the must-visit locations such as Ephesus and Cappadocia in an exciting and fun way. This 6-day tour package is ideal for those who wish to explore the most notable sites around the country, and for those who are passionate about history.
What will you see during your 6 days Shades of Turkey?
What to expect during your 6 days Shades of Turkey?
Day 1: Arrival In Izmir
Upon landing in Izmir, a car will transfer you to a hotel in Kusadasi Once you are at the hotel in Kusadasi, you are free to spend the day as you wish.
Day 2: Kusadasi Ephesus – Pamukkale
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the starting point of our Ephesus tour. The first stop will take place at the Temple of Artemis. This site is characterized as one of the wonders of the ancient world due to its imposing size and design. Nowadays, visitors can only observe the ruins of this temple.
After that, we will visit Ephesus which used to be the second most important city after Rome during the Roman period and was entirely built from marble. Accompanied by the tour guide, you will walk around the marble streets, observe the ancient theatre, admire the enhanced aesthetics of the city and learn its history.
After a tasty lunch break, you will also visit the house of the Virgin Mary. It is located in a peaceful landscape and is the one the Virgin Mary chose to spend her last days. The last stop of the day will be made at Isabey Mosque. It is one of the most important mosques as it features unique Ottoman architecture.
The Ephesus tour finishes during the afternoon. After that, you will drive to your hotel in Kusadasi in order to spend your evening.
Day 3: Sirince Village
There’s still a lot of Turkey left, as you’ll see in this village life tour.
After breakfast, you will board your transportation and drive to the Menderes River Valley, where you will see the ruins of Ephesus in the distance. Although you will not be visiting the ancient city on this tour, your guide will share a brief outline of the city and its history.
You will continue to the hillside village of Sirince. The first inhabitants named the village Cirkince (ugly) in an attempt to keep foreigners from visiting. However, word of the village’s beauty reached the outside world, people did visit, and eventually, the name was changed to Sirince (charming). The town is best known for its houses and a variety of wines. The wines are made from fruits including apples, apricot, banana, blackberry, mandarin orange, melons, oranges, peaches, strawberries, and occasionally, wine grapes. As you approach the village, the road passes through vineyards, orchards, and olive groves, which is why it is sometimes referred to as the Tuscany of Turkey.
The village is a synthesis of Turkish-Greek culture; it was inhabited by many Greeks until the 1920s. After the Independence War, the Greek descendants returned to Greece and were replaced with Turks, many of whom had been living in Greece. Although the exteriors of the houses still reflect typical Greek architecture, the interiors have a distinctly Turkish flavor. Several of the houses have been beautifully restored and are open to visitors. In the courtyard of one of them is a nicely restored Orthodox church. As you stroll up and down the narrow cobblestone lanes between buildings of stone, wood, and plaster, with the scent of burning wood or the local orchards in bloom, have your cameras ready for village scenes of women weaving, men carving, a fruit market under a tree, or the local merchants tempting passersby with their fruit wines, hand-pressed olive oil, or local produce. During your walk, you will stop for an included taste of the homemade local wine and local pantry after that, you will drive approximately 3 hours to your hotel in Pamukkale in order to spend your evening.
Day 4: Pamukkale – Cappadocia
The day starts with an excellent breakfast and starts with our tour in Karahayit to visit the red thermal pools before we will take your breath away with the spectacular natural beauty of the famous Cotton Castle Pools. The mountain has naturally shaped terraces with thermal water and attracts thousands of visitors every year. You can walk around and admire the serenity of the setting and snap some nice photos during your time there.
The tour guide will then take you to visit the ancient city of Hierapolis. This site used to be a healing spiritual center during antiquity due to the existence of the nearby hot springs. The tour guide will explain everything you need to know about the history of this place.
After the sightseeing, you will have some free time in Pamukkale. Take this chance to visit Cleopatra’s Pool, an ancient thermal pool, where you can swim at an extra cost.
By the end of the tour, we will transfer you to Cappadocia. During the evening, you will travel to Cappadocia with a comfortable overnight bus. The road trip is almost 10 hours but it includes several stops for your own comfort.
Day 5: Cappadocia
You will arrive early morning, as we start with breakfast after check-in at the hotel in Cappadocia, The first day in Cappadocia includes visits to two famous spots, the Devrent and the Monks Valley. The landscape is unique as imposing rock formations and fairy chimneys create a truly special atmosphere. Walk around, take some photos and admire the beauty of nature during your time there. This small town is known for having a long tradition in pottery and ceramics. There you will visit a pottery workshop in order to observe how the items are produced. You may also purchase some souvenirs. After that, you will have a lunch break at a local restaurant.
This is probably the most visited site in Cappadocia. Accompanied by the tour guide, you will walk around and observe churches and monasteries that were carved into rocks during the early Christian period.
The last stop of the day is ideal for some beautiful photos. Uchisar Castle is situated at the highest point of Cappadocia and ensures magnificent panoramic views over the valleys. During the afternoon you will return back to the hotel.
Day 6: Cappadocia – Transfer Airport
After breakfast at the hotel, the last day of your excursion begins. During this day, you will visit another two famous valleys. Red Valley is famous for having some interesting rock formations of red color. The Pigeon Valley has fairy chimneys with pigeons’ nests. The guide will then take you to explore Cavusin village. This abandoned settlement has charming stone-made cave houses. The tour guide will also unfold the village’s history during your time there. After that, a lunch break follows.
The last site to visit in Cappadocia is the Kaymakli Underground City. It was constructed by early Christians who sought protection. The underground city has an enormous size with various floors and multiple rooms.
During the afternoon, you will be transferred to the airport in Cappadocia.
Extra Tour Details
- Everyday departure (All year round)
- Duration: 6 days
- Private/Group
What has been included in this excursion?
Included:
- Accommodation BB
- All sightseeing & excursions mentioned in the itinerary
- Lunch during the tours
- Transfer service from Hotels & Airport
- English Guide
Excluded:
- Beverage during the tour
- Tips to the guide&driver(optional)
- Entrance Cleopatra Pool
- Not mentioned diners
- Not mentioned flights
- Personal expenses
Which extra activities can you do?
- Pamukkale Paragliding
- Pamukkale Hot Air Balloon
- Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon
