Cappadocia Guided Tour
After an early breakfast at your hotel, Your first stop is Devrent Valley, where you walk among the animal-like natural rock formations. Next, head to Pasabaglari to explore the distinctive fairy chimneys Cappadocia is known for. A short drive takes you to the pretty town of Avanos for an a la carte lunch at a restaurant along the Kizilirmak (Red River). After lunch, drive to Uchisar Castle, the highest point in Cappadocia's moonscape. Climb up the castle to enjoy a breath-taking view of the surrounding valleys and Mt. Erciyes. Your next stop is a visit to a six floor cave house in the Uchisar Valley. Explore the cave house, browse the wares of nearby street vendors, or enjoy the serene environment over a cup of Turkish tea. A stop at Esentepe allows you to enjoy scenic views of the town of Goreme. The highlight of the day is the Goreme Open Air Museum, showcasing beautiful Byzantine art in churches carved into the rock.The stunningly well-preserved frescoes in the Dark Church are sure to make a lasting impression. Transfer to tonight's accommodations at one of our select hotels in Cappadocia.

Cappadocia Hot Air Ballon Tour and Fly to Ephesus
Rise and shine before dawn today and enjoy an unforgettable balloon ride. You are picked up from your hotel and transferred to the take off site to watch the balloon being prepared for flight. As the sun rises, float peacefully over Cappadocia, enjoying this unique perspective from above. This is one of the best places in the world to experience a balloon ride. Be sure to have plenty of memory (or film) in your camera. Upon landing, celebrate the flight with a champagne toast. You are then transferred back to your hotel for breakfast and a free morning. You are then transferred to the Kayseri Airport to board an afternoon flight to Ephesus (Izmir ADB Airport), where you are greeted and driven to one of our select hotels in Kusadasi or Selcuk.  

Ephesus Guided Tour
After breakfast, meet your tour guide and start today's explorations at the Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. Next, head to the Isa Bey Mosque for an impressive display of 14th century Turkish architecture. Continue on to visit the Basilica of St John, part of the magnificent church built over the tomb of St. John the Evangelist by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century. St. John is said to have lived in Ephesus with the Virgin Mary up to the time of his death. Following lunch at a local eatery specializing in Cop Sis (tasty flame-grilled lamb skewers), visit the superbly presented Ephesus Archaeological Museum. This collection of artifacts from Ephesus includes furniture and personal items from the Terrace Houses, fabulous marble statuary, and a gladiator exhibit featuring skeletal remains showing evidence of these warriors' fatal injuries and the weapons that inflicted them. A short drive takes you to the House of the Virgin Mary, authenticated by Pope Paul II in 1967 and a pilgrimage site for many religions. Next, we explore the unmatched archaeological site of ancient Ephesus. The sheer size and grandeur of the site make this the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. As you wind your way down through the city of colonnaded avenues, you will see the magnificent façade of the Celsus Library, the Temple of Hadrian, City Hall, the public baths, marketplaces, courthouses, fountains, the theater, as well as a brothel and public latrine. Your tour also includes a visit to see the Terrace Houses - well-preserved private homes of the Roman upper-class with many intact mosaics and frescoes.

Aphrodisias - Pamukkale - Hierapolis Guided Tour and Fly to Istanbul
Today we drive through the fertile Meander Valley to Aphrodisias, one of the most beautiful (and least visited) ancient cities in Turkey. Named after Aphrodite, the goddess of love, this Greco-Roman site was once an important cultural and intellectual center renowned for its school of sculpture. See the well preserved monumental gateways, the thirty-thousand-seat stadium, and a rich array of public buildings, all of which offer important clues to the city's high standard of living. With a fine supply of quality marble nearby, the school at Aphrodisias cultivated the finest master sculptors, whose coveted works were found all over the Roman empire. Most of the magnificent statues found in the public buildings in the city are on display at the Aphrodisias Museum inside the ancient city. After enjoying the splendors of Aphrodisias, lunch at a local eatery in an unspoiled Anatolian town. From there, a short drive takes us to the unique natural wonder of Pamukkale. Enjoy walking in the warm mineral waters of Pamukkale, where sparkling white basins formed by limestone deposits cascade dramatically down the mountainside. As you can see by the remains of marble columns in the picturesque Baths of Cleopatra, the thermal waters here have been used for their therapeutic powers since the Roman period. We will also explore the surrounding area of Hierapolis with its 2nd century Roman Theater, Apollo Temple, and the largest and best preserved Necropolis in Anatolia. At the end of the day, you are transferred to Denizli (Pamukkale) Airport for an evening flight to Istanbul, where you are greeted and driven to your hotel.

Istanbul at Leisure
Enjoy a free day at Leisure in Istanbul, explore the local bazaars for last minute shopping. Stay overnight in Istanbul.

Fly Istanbul/Home
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.