Fethiye to Istanbul in 5 days: Saklikent, Pamukkale and Cappadocia by bus
The Fethiye to Istanbul Tour is the inland half of the loop. It starts on the coast on a Saturday morning, climbs into the mountains, crosses the centre of the country and ends in Istanbul five days later. It is the natural next step after the gulet cruise, which finishes in Fethiye on Friday, and it is sold on its own for anyone who is already in the south.
Why it starts in Fethiye
Pamukkale and Cappadocia are a long way from the coast and from each other. Starting in Fethiye lets us break the distance into stages that each end at something worth seeing: the canyon and the terraces on day one, Cappadocia on day two, then the Salt Lake as a last stop before Istanbul. You travel in daylight, with a guide, and you never spend a whole day just getting somewhere.
Departures are on Saturdays, April to October, and every published date runs.
Day by day
Day 1 - Saklikent Gorge and Pamukkale. We collect you from your Fethiye hotel and drive to Saklikent, an 18 km canyon so narrow the sun barely reaches the river. You wade through the first section on walkways and in the cold water. In the afternoon we reach Pamukkale: the white travertine terraces, the thermal pools and the ruins of Hierapolis above them. Night in Pamukkale.
Day 2 - Pamukkale to Cappadocia. An early option for a sunrise balloon flight over the terraces, then the long drive east across the Anatolian plateau. We arrive in Cappadocia for dinner, with a Turkish night (folk dancing, whirling dervishes, dinner and drinks) as an optional extra.
Day 3 - Cappadocia. The option of a sunrise hot-air balloon flight - the one most people come for. Then a full guided day: the Goreme Open Air Museum with its painted cave churches, Pasabag's fairy chimneys, Love Valley, a pottery workshop in Avanos and Uchisar Castle for the view. Second night in Cappadocia. Quad safari and a Turkish bath are optional.
Day 4 - Underground city and the Salt Lake. We go down into Derinkuyu, an underground city carved eight levels deep, then drive north-west. The stop at the Salt Lake (Tuz Golu) is short but memorable - a white or pink plain depending on the season. Evening arrival in Istanbul.
Day 5 - Istanbul. The tour ends after breakfast. Many people add a night or two in the city.
What is included
Four nights in boutique and 4-star hotels (Pamukkale, two in Cappadocia, Istanbul), breakfast and dinner, all transport, the guide every day and entrance fees. Balloon flights, the Turkish night, quad safari and hammam are optional and booked on tour.
How it fits with the other tours
Do it on its own, or as the last leg: the Gulet Cruise & Cappadocia to Istanbul route is exactly the cruise followed by these five days. Coming from Istanbul instead? The All Around Turkey Tour runs the west coast first and then this leg home.