Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Pamukkale is a hillside of white mineral terraces with a Roman city, Hierapolis, standing on top of it. Both are worth seeing, and together they are one of the better known sights in the country for good reason.
- Duration
- Full day, the longest one we run
- Departure
- Very early
- Departs from
- Dalyan, hotel pick-up
- Returns
- Late evening
- Group
- Shared coach
- Season
- April to October
- Price
- Prices are on our sister site
They are also well inland and a long way north of this coast, and the driving is most of the day. We say that before you book rather than after, because the commonest complaint about this trip is the thing everybody was told and nobody quite believed.
The route, stop by stop
- The drive northSeveral hours
Out of the delta and inland through farmland and hills. There is a stop on the way, and it does not make the road any shorter.
- The travertine terracesAbout an hour and a half
Shoes come off to walk on the white rock. That is a rule rather than a courtesy, and the surface is ridged and sharp in places. Water is directed around the terraces in rotation, so some sections are flowing and some are dry on any given day.
- HierapolisAbout an hour and a half
The ruined city above the terraces: a theatre, a colonnaded street and a necropolis of a size that takes people by surprise. Open ground, and very little shade on any of it.
- The antique pool, if you want itOptional, about an hour
A warm pool with fallen columns lying on the bottom of it, charged separately at the gate. Some people call it the highlight of the day and others look at the queue and go and sit in the shade.
- The drive backSeveral hours
You will get in late. Plan nothing at all for that evening.
Included
- Coach with driver
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Lunch
Not included
- Site entry
- The antique pool
- Drinks
Be honest about the driving
This is the longest day trip on this coast and most of it is spent seated. If you are here for two weeks and Pamukkale is on your list, it is a fair use of one day. If you are here for four nights, it takes a quarter of your holiday and you should weigh that properly.
Small children, and anyone who does not travel well, find this day hard. We would rather lose the booking than have you work that out at six in the morning on a coach.
What the terraces are actually like
Warm mineral water, white rock, and a marked route you follow barefoot. The photographs everybody has seen are taken on the flowing sections, and those are neither everywhere nor always the same sections.
Arrive expecting a remarkable hillside rather than the postcard and you will not be disappointed. Arrive expecting the postcard and there is a fair chance you will be.
What to bring
- Something to carry your shoes in
- Swimwear if you intend to use the pool
- Towel
- Sun cream and a hat
- Cash
- Water
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive?
Long. It is inland and north of the coastal range, and the day is built around getting there and back. We would rather not quote a figure we cannot hold to, because the pick-up run and the traffic both move it.
Can I swim in the terraces?
You can walk and paddle in the shallow flowing sections where the route allows it. Proper swimming means the antique pool, which is separate and charged at its own gate.
Do I really have to take my shoes off?
Yes, on the travertines. It is enforced, and it is enforced to protect the surface. Carry your shoes with you, because there is nowhere sensible to leave them.
Is it worth it?
For most people, once. Almost nobody does it twice and almost nobody regrets having done it the once.
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