Ephesus Aphrodisias Pamukkale

You will be/can be met at your Hotel in Kusadasi. Then we will drive to Aphrodisias; during your journey, your local tour guide will hand you; Turkey Map, Pamukkale, and Hierapolis Map, The journey from Kusadasi to Pamukkale is 181km one way and will take around 2 hours.

Aphrodisias Ruin

Aphrodisias was named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of Love who had her unique cult image, the Aphrodite of Aphrodisias. The city was built near a marble quarry that was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods, and sculptors in marble from Aphrodisias became famous in the Roman world. Aphrodisias was one of the foremost cities of the age, surrounded by fertile fields producing every type of foodstuff.

It also possessed a flourishing wool and cotton industry, highly developed commercial, political, religious, and cultural institutions, a beautiful arts and crafts tradition, world-famous schools of philosophy and sculpture, and a large and energetic body of citizens. You will see that the Tetra pylon (Tetra= four; pylon=gate) was the monumental gate of the city.

Tetra pylon refers to its being composed of four groups of four columns. The stadium in Aphrodisias is the best preserved of all the ancient stadiums in the Mediterranean region. Located in the northern section of the city, it is 262m in length and 59m wide with a seating capacity of 30,000; Odeon and Bishop's Palace, Agora, Baths of Hadrian, Theatre, Sebastion (Sebastos is the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augustus) has consisted of a temple dedicated to the cult of Emperor Augustus.

Aphrodisias Archaeological Museum

The Museum of Aphrodisias is one of the most outstanding museums in western Anatolia. The monuments of unsurpassed value, which have been found at the excavations, are displayed here. Once the tour ends, it will be time to return to the bus and be driven back to your allocated drop-off points; we trust your tour with us today has been excellent.

What other artifacts are displayed at the Museum of Aphrodisias? - Statue of Aphrodite of Aphrodisias, The shield portraits(Pythagoras, Socrates, Pindar), The statue group represents Achilles supporting the dying Amazon queen Penthesileia, The Centaurs at Banquet, Selene (Goodes of the moon) is in a chariot, night fights giants, and From Sebastion and The Statue of Aineias flight from Troy.
After the Aphrodisias, we will have a local lunch. Then we will drive to Pamukkale.

"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;

Snow White Calcium Travertines, Terraces, and Calcium Pools

Pamukkale, or ‘Cotton Castle’ when translated, has been drawing tourists worldwide to its thermal springs for more than 23 centuries. Pamukkale and Pamukkale Tours is one of the top Famous Turkey Trips. 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 giants left out to dry.

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 bottomless, 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 is Cotton’s principal crop. As a nice suvinour, you can take 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 water's curative effects (both medicinal and beauty), which had previously benefited the ancient Greek and Roman peoples for centuries.

With its Thermo mineral and magnesium, calcium, carbon dioxide, sulfide, and bicarbonate, this curative water suits 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 are also fascinating and well worth the visit. After taking a walk along the terraces we will take a short walk to Hierapolis City, which is also known as ‘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.

The proximity of the hot springs and vapor-emitting cracks was believed to ease their journey into the Underworld. Among the tombs lies the Martyrium, 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 were 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 ornately sculptured statues, columns, and arches, amongst other decretive elements. During Pamukkale Day Tour, you will have 2 hours of free break to rest, take in the views and refreshments from the onsite cafeteria.

You can use the provided Pamukkale Map and Hierapolis Map to visit other nearby sites in your allotted free time. After Pamukkale and Hierapolis, we will drive to Aphrodisias and have a local lunch. After lunch, visit the Aphrodisias.

I hope to see you again! Aphrodisias and Pamukkale tour will finish at around 17:00, and then you will be transferred to Cardak Denizli Airport.

17:00 End of the Pamukkale Day Tour.
17:00 Depart from Pamukkale to Denizli Airport.
19:30 Flight from Denizli to Istanbul.
20:30 Arrive in Istanbul. Transfer back to your hotel in Istanbul.