Pamukkale and Hierapolis Tour

You will be picked up from your Hotel or Izmir Marina. Then We will drive to Pamukkale, during your journey your local tour guide will give you lots of information about Turkey such as the climate, and different regions in Turkey that hold beautiful full historical places.

We are Castle Travel and an independent Turkish Local Travel Agency that will give you special Turkey, Pamukkale Travertines, and Hierapolis Maps as a gift so that you can understand this tour better and make your trip more conscious to keep throughout your Pamukkale tour.

The journey from Izmir to Pamukkale is 237km / 147 miles and will take around 3.20 hours but there shall be stop-off-breaks along the way so you can stretch your legs and grab some refreshments.

Be sure to watch out of the window as you are sure to see some of the most beautiful scenery along the way so keep your eyes peeled on Meanderos Valley and the route.

"Pamukkale translates to 'Cotton Castle'... Once you get here, it's easy to see why. This natural phenomenon, designated a UNESCO Heritage site in 1988, with spectacular white calcium cliffs and beautiful turquoise blue pools, is truly a sight to behold. Pamukkale is like an alien landscape; you have never seen anything like it.

Snow White Calcium Travertines, Terraces, and Calcium Pools

Pamukkale, or 'Cotton Castle' when translated, has been drawing tourists from all around the world to its thermal springs for more than 23 centuries.

Ephesus and Pamukkale are one of the Famous top places to see in Turkey. The Turkish name refers to the extraordinary surface of the snow-white cliffs, shaped over millennia by the accumulation of calcium deposited by mineral springs.

Legend has it that the Cotton Castle formations are solidified Cotton (the area's principal crop) that was left out to dry by giants. Dripping slowly down a vast mountainside, mineral-rich water foams and collects in bowls that terrace the decline down the mountainside, spilling over petrified cascades of stalactites into milky pools below.

These saucer-shaped travertines (or terraces, as they're also called) wind sideways down the powder-white mountain, providing a stunning contrast to the clear blue sky and green plain below.

To protect the unique calcite surface, you are obliged to traverse the area barefoot. Although the terrace pools aren't particularly deep, you can get fully submerged if you want, don't forget your towel! Don't worry, if you don't have a bathing suit or towel, you can buy a Turkish Towel, Do not Forget it is Cotton's principal crop.

As a nice suvinour, you can take it away to your home. You shouldn't leave Pamukkale Tour without having a healing dip in the sacred fountain of Cleopatra's Pool.

Cleopatra's Pool:

A swim in the effervescent waters of Cleopatra's Pool should be at the top of any Turkey Travel Itinerary. Strewn about the bottom of the crystal-clear Pool is an amazing collection of striated columns and capitals, a striking reminder of the Pool's pedigree.

Cleopatra's Pool has warm, clear fizzy water that bubbles from the source of the spring, but these days has now been blocked off to prevent divers from disappearing into its hidden depths.

With temperatures of 35C, you can bathe in the natural thermal mud and waters and enjoy the curative effects (both medicinal and beauty) of the water, which had previously benefited the ancient Greek and Roman peoples for centuries.

This curative water, with its Thermo mineral and magnesium, calcium, carbon dioxide, sulfide, and bicarbonate, is suitable in many areas as a curative treatment.

The Ancient City of Hierapolis:

The nearby ancient Hierapolis and its accompanying museums may be overshadowed by the springs: but they are also fascinating and well worth the visit.

After taking a walk along the terraces, we will take a short walk to Hierapolis City. It is also known as the 'Holy City.' Just outside the main entrance is the Necropolis (Graveyard), containing more than 1200 tombs and sarcophagi of people who wished to have been buried here.

It was believed that the proximity of the hot springs and vapor-emitting cracks would ease their journey into the Underworld.

Among the tombs lies the Martyrium, which is an octagonal 5th-century edifice believed to have been erected upon the site where St. Philip was martyred in 80 CE. The Hierapolis City Bath, the springs of Hierapolis, was particularly popular among vacationing Romans.

You will notice that carved into the side of the mountain is the monstrous Grand Theater that dominates the vista of Hierapolis. At its height, the Grand Theatre could host 25.000 boisterous fans and is still largely intact until this day. It features a vast network of decorative elements from the 3rd century CE, including a selection of ornately sculptured statues, columns, and arches, amongst other decretive elements.

Pamukkale Day Tour will finish at around 11:00. Then we will set out for Ephesus. 179 km/111 mil. It will take approximately 2. hours. But there will be breaks along the way to stretch your legs and have a snack. Also, your local tour guide will hand you Ephesus Archaeological Site and Selcuk city Map. Be sure to look out the window, as you are sure to see some of the most beautiful views along the way. After lunch, we will drive to the House of the Virgin Mary.

The House of Virgin Mary

We will pass through the verdant and picturesque countryside before arriving at our first stop, The House of the Virgin Mary. By the Predominant Christian tradition, Mary was brought to Ephesus by the Apostle John after the resurrection of Christ and lived out her final resting years here. This is based mainly on the traditional belief that John came to Ephesus and the biblical statement that Jesus consigned her to John's care (John 19:26-27).

Ephesus Ancient Ruin

After The House of the Virgin Mary, we will head on to the next destination, the Ancient City of Ephesus; the tour here shall be a walking tour and will take you through one of the most magnificent archaeological sites in the entire world. You will see the Odeon, The Fountain of Trajan, the steam baths of Scholastic, the Temple of Hadrian, and of course, let us not forget the awe-inspiring library of Ephesus. The library had adorned with columns and statues. The Grand Theatre, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest in antiquity, with a capacity of 24.000 seats. After 2-hour exploration around Ephesus, will return to the bus through the Arcadian Way, where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession. We will head for the Temple of Artemis (Diana).

The Temple of Artemis (Diana)

Then we will continue on tour and head on for our next stop, which is the Temple of Artemis (Diana); this unique temple had built in honor of the Greek Goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility, deemed as one of the Seven wonders of the ancient world. The temple of Artemis used to be the largest marble temple in the ancient Greek world since it was four times as big as the Parthenon in Athens, Greece. The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. Offerings by thousands of pilgrims each year enabled the temple to grow so wealthy that it became the world's first bank.

Today, little remains of the magnificent structure. The tour guide will describe its importance, wealth, and the tension between the Romans and Christians that settled in the area over the centuries.

Once the tour ends, it will be time to get back on the bus and be driven back to your allocated drop-off points; we trust that your tour with us today has been excellent, and we hope to see you again! Aphrodisias and Pamukkale tour will finish at around 17:45 and then transfer you back to your pick-up point at about 19:00pm.

PS: Ephesus and Pamukkale private tour runs every day. It is available all year round.

The Voucher and confirmations will be e-mailed to you; after your booking.

PS: Please bring your bathing suits and towels.