You will be picked up from Hotels in Antalya. Then drive to Pamukkale; The journey from Kusadasi to Pamukkale is 236 km/146,6 miles and will take around 3.30 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 the window as you can see some of the most beautiful scenery along the way, so keep your eyes peeled on the route.
Also, during your journey, your local tour guide will give you lots of information about Pamukkale travertines, Cleopatra’s pool, and Hierapolis. Also, your local tour guide will hand you your Pamukkale map, Hierapolis Map, and a Turkey Map to keep throughout your Pamukkale tour. Arrival at Pamukkale. First, we will have a lunch break at one of the local restaurants. Then we will drive to snow-white travertine pools and terraces.
White Terraces -Calcium Travertines
Pamukkale and Pamukkale Tours is one of the top Famous Turkey Trips. Pamukkale, or 'Cotton Castle' when translated, has drawn tourists worldwide to its thermal springs for more than 23 centuries. 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) 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, 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 must traverse the area barefoot. Although the terrace pools are not particularly deep, you can get fully submerged if you want; remember your towel!
Cleopatra’s Pool
You should not leave Pamukkale without having a healing dip in the sacred fountain of 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 a fantastic collection of striated columns and capitals, a striking reminder of Pool's pedigree. Cleopatra's Pool has warm, clear fizzy water that bubbles from the source of the spring.
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. With its Thermo mineral and magnesium, calcium, carbon dioxide, sulfide, and bicarbonate, this curative water 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 worth the visit. After walking along the terraces, we will take a short walk to Hierapolis City, 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 buried here. 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 proximity of the hot springs and vapor-emitting cracks was believed to ease their journey into the Underworld.
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. It features a vast network of decorative elements from the 3rd century CE, including ornately sculptured statues, columns, and arches, amongst other factors. At its height, the Grand Theatre could host 25.000 boisterous fans and is still largely intact until this day.
After the Pamukkale tour, depart to Denizli bus station. The bus from Denizli to Kusadasi is at 17:00. The bus arrives at Kusadasi bus station between 20:00 and 20:30. We will pick you up from the bus station and transfer you to your hotel Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. If you are staying in Selcuk, we do not have a bus station transfer.
