Pamukkale tour from Fethiye is a 13-hour day trip to visit travertines of Pamukkale, Hierapolis ancient city and to swim in the Cleopatra’s Pool.
Pamukkale National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in south-west Turkey. It is home to unique snow-white travertine terraces formed by the accumulation of mineral deposits from hot springs.
These terraces lie around the ancient Roman town of Hierapolis, with its well-preserved ruins, thermal baths and Necropolis. Visitors to Pamukkale Park come from all over the world to admire this natural wonder, swim in the mineral-rich thermal pools and view the ancient buildings of Hierapolis.
In the morning we will pick you up at approximately 6pm ( it is quite a long drive, approx. 190km) with a modern and comfortable bus. During the whole tour you will be accompanied by a professional English-speaking guide. Along the way for your convenience the bus will make short stops, so the journey will go perfectly.
Upon arrival in Pamukkale you will have free time to explore the sights of the park. You will also have the opportunity to swim in the famous travertine baths on the slopes of the mountains. Afterwards, have a nourishing lunch in one of the restaurants and take a tour of Hierapolis. You will have time to take lots of lovely pictures and a visit to Cleopatra’s pool (not included in the tour price. If you want to swim in it, we suggest you buy a ticket right next to the pool at the ticket office, it’s cheaper).
At the end of your tour you will be on your way back. You will return to your hotel around 19:00. Both journeys by bus, entrance ticket to Pamukkale Park (and everything in it, travertines, Hierapolis, amphitheatre etc), guide accompaniment and lunch are included in the price of this tour.
A visit to Pamukkale is a wonder to the eyes! The name translates to English as ‘cotton castle’ and it is easy to see why. As you approach Pamukkale by road the first thing you see are the white travertines, cascading down the mountainside. As you approach closer you can see the calcified pools, with their sky blue reflection. You might see the climb as daunting at first, but be assured, the rocks are not slippery or sharp (you have to climb barefoot).
One of the biggest surprises is how easy they are to negotiate, and there is nothing quite like dipping your heels in the cool, healing waters of the rock pools. Some are even deep enough to have a swim. The travertines are formed by centuries of calcified waters pouring from an underground source in the mountain. The waters are said to have a healing effect for many illnesses.
Perhaps that is why there has been a city at the top of the Travertines for thousands of years. Pamukkale is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, unique in its appearance, with Yellow Stone Park in the USA, the only other known formation of this kind. To keep the travertines white in Pamukkale it has been decreed that no footwear is allowed on the rocks themselves and this is, today, strictly adhered to.
When you reach the top of the rock pools you arrive at the ancient city of Hierapolis. Often thought of as the poor relation to neighbouring Ephesus, Hierapolis is anything but. First constructed on an already ancient site by King Bergama Attalus III way back in 190 BC, Hierapolis became a thriving city of ancient times, thanks to its healing waters and high proximity to deter invaders.
This did not stop the Roman invasion of what was ancient Greece and in 133BC Hierapolis came under Roman government. The Roman Necropolis is over 2 kilometres long and very much intact today.
For anyone with a love of biblical history, in 1988 the burial place of St Philip was discovered here. Saint Philip, the apostle, was killed and buried in Hierapolis. You will be able to visit his shrine and basilica.
Hierapolis is also home to Cleopatra’s Pool. A thermal spa where you can bathe in the waters where the famous Cleopatra once bathed. With its alleged healing properties you can swim among the fallen columns of this once proud city. The water heats to around 36 degrees celsius and you can swim almost to the very source of the underground flow.
| 📅 Tour Days: | Tuesday, Friday |
| ⏱️ Tour Hours: | 6:30 AM – 7:30 PM |
| ✔️ Includes: | Transfer, breakfast, entrance tickets, lunch, guiding |
| 📌 Highlights: | Thermal waters, white travertines, Hierapolis ancient city |
In 2024, price of Pamukkale Tour from Fethiye is 70 € for adults, 50 € for children between age 4 and 7, free for children at and under 3 years old.
| Type | Age | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 8 years and older | €70 |
| Child | 4 — 7 years old | €50 |
| Infant | 0 — 3 years old | Free |
The fully air conditioned, coach, leaves from Olu Deniz at 06:00, from Hisaronu and Ovacik at 06:15 and at 06:30 from Fethiye. The estimated return time is between 19:30 and 20:00. You will take your seats on the luxury coach with all modern conveniences and begin your journey towards the North. There will be a short stop along the way to allow you to take some breakfast to set you up for the day ahead.
Your guide will be with you throughout most of the day on hand to give you information about the area. You will visit the ancient site of Hierapolis where you will be able to explore the many artefacts and ruins. You will also visit the Necropolis which is a fine example of an ancient burial ground, littered with sarcophagi and burial mounds.
After exploring the area you will have some free time in which you can continue your exploration or take to the cascading pools. There is also an optional extra of taking a dip in the thermal waters that so many have visited over the centuries.
There is a visitors centre located at the top of the travertines where you can relax and have a drink. Afterwards, we drive to restaurant for your open-buffet meal consisting more than 40 options.
After a day out that you will remember for a very long time you will meet back at the coach ready to begin your hotel bound journey back to Fethiye.
