Pamukkale and Hierapolis

Izmir, Turkey

Succumb to the spectacular sight of Pamukkale - a unique natural wonder with dazzling white petrified lime cascades. At the ancient city of Hierapolis explore its Theater, a 2nd century AD building in Roman style. You'll also see the exceptional Necropolis, the largest ancient cemetery in Anatolia.

In the morning you will leave Izmir behind and drive to Pamukkale. This amazing place is a beautiful and spectacular natural site, unique in the world with its fairylike, dazzling white, petrified lime cascades. There you will see the thermal spring water laden with calcareous salt, plunging down the mountain side which has created this natural formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. The thermal water has been used since the Roman period for its therapeutic powers.

Next you will visit the Roman city of Hierapolis, which is not located not on earth or rock, but on solid limestone layers formed by limestone water that flowed for centuries over this raised level plateau. The name means "sacred city", and according to Stephanus of Byzantium the city was given this name because of the large number of temples it contained.

While here you will visit the Apollo Temple competing with Delphi, Monumental Nympheum (a 4th century Basicala) and the Theatre. After visiting the best preserved Necropolis, return to Izmir.

USD $165.00

Traveler Reviews

Review by: Sana K	December 2011
Excellent! The place is wonderful and the guide was very knowleadgable. He made sure we had a good time._br/_ Pamukkale is a unique place, I'd say, a one of its kind in the world. This should be on the "must-go" list for wanderers like myself.

Review by: Priscilla F	September 2011
Very inexperienced guide, didn't know much info. She was rushing for time and wanted to stay just a couple hours after we have driven for 4h. After insisting, we left 5.30 but missed the most beautiful, the sunset. Lunch was not good at all. Big buffet, no flavor. The place is amazing but would find another way to go.

Review by: Mayra v P	June 2011
Absolutely loved this tour. Pamukkale was beautiful and extraordinary sight to behold.

Review by: Maneesh M, India	July 2010
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Review by: Carol S	July 2010
What an amazing time! Our tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and pleasant. She went over and above all expectations. It's a long day but worth every minute!

Review by: Anonymous, United Kingdom	June 2010
Places definitely worth seeing. Pamukkale is amazing. Hierapolis is also very interesting and quite big. Unfortunately I got separated from the guide in Hierapolis. Time wasted on waiting on each other in different places could be spend in much better ways on the spot. Once we found each other it was a quick run through the rest because next tour was waiting for the guide. Due to time we spent maybe 10 minutes for lunch after a whole day of walking. For the money I spent on the tour I would expect more commitment, planning and history from the guide. Good thing from the guide was the viewing of small orange hill in Pamukkale and a quick stop in a small village for a local tea.

Review by: Patricia A, Australia	May 2010
Well worth the 2 hours drive each way. Pamukkale is a truly amazing natural wonder - even better than we had expected. Hierapolis - an ancient precinct which was fascinating but unfortunately not much of it remaining to this day.

Review by: Anonymous, United States of America	May 2010
The price we paid was extremely high. We booked our trip with Viator because we didn't know what to expect in Izmir, we weren't sure if there was going to be other agencies there with trips available to Pamukkale the next day. And let me tell you that there are plenty other agencies that will take you to Pamukkale for a lower price. You might not get your meal included in the price but it is not as expensive. Besides that, the guide was a bit weird and we caught him taking pictures of me and my friend while we were sleeping on the way to Pamukkale. He did know a lot about the history of the place but his English was terrible and it was hard to pay attention to his voice.

Review by: Eva P, United States of America	April 2008
I made a mistake of going there too soon in the season. The weather was really really bad. At the end of the day, it was like being caught in a hurricane. This tour ought to start in June. Also, the restaurant in Pamukkale where all the tour buses stop is quite bad and the food was a big disappointment. My guide did the best he could. He even bought an umbrella and tried to keep me dry.

Review by: Paula C, United States of America	November 2007
This was an outstanding value...most enjoyable. The guide was delightful. I learned a great deal. Tesekkur ederim.

Review by: Frank B, United States of America	October 2007
Great guide! My wife and I were the only people on the tour. Our only complaint is that the car was very small and minimally air conditioned if at all on a hot September day. Lunch was good. Personnel were not very good about communicating pick-up time at hotel, they left a message on a non-functioning voicemail telephone at the hotel.

Review by: Robert Y, United States of America	September 2006
This tour was the best! Definitely worth doing. Pamukkale is amazing.

Review by: Karen M, United States of America	August 2006
Our guide was absolutely fantastic. She was a gem - terrific in languages and very helpful. I definitely recommend this.

Review by: Anonymous	August 2006
Our guide was absolutely fantastic. She was a gem - terrific in languages and very helpful. I definitely recommend this.