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.
It's not a great tour - both the travel agency and the place itself. First off, sitting in a car for 7 hours to visit Pamukkale isn't worth it. I went ahead despite knowing the long journey because relatives who went several years back raved about the place. But we were highly disappointed because Pamukkale now looks nothing like what it's advertised. The pool is depleted thanks to lack of hot spring water flowing into the area. What you end up seeing is a whole lot of white surfaces from the dried up calcium and very little blue pools. Looks like the place wasn't well preserved, which is a real shame since the area relies on tourism for its state/provincial income. It's a matter of time before the entire area dries up and what we are left with is just white surfaces, which isn't impressive at all in real life. I can go to any snowy mountain for the same view, only difference is one is snow, the other is dried calcium. So driving that far isn't worth our time. _br/_ Second issue is this travel agency, Neon Tours. The guide they hired, Ismael, isn't up to par at all. I get it based off other reviewers that the guide can be quiet in the 3 hour car ride and that's fine by us. But when we get to Pamukkale and Hierapolis, he should make more effort on his end, as a tour guide to offer a thorough information about the place. Why is Hierapolis and Pamukkale such an important place considering it's in the middle of nowhere? We had to probe him for such information and kept asking him questions about the area itself. _br/_ That said, all he was interested in was to hurry back to Izmir because he was concerned with the evening traffic. We lost track of time while walking on the cotton castle and he wasn't too happy when we got back. To top it off, for lunch he ordered us really cheap food that cost no more than 10 lira for the two of us which basically consists of bread and eggs. Meanwhile, he ordered meat for himself and the driver. We asked for meat skewers since there's only so much bread we can take and were given two pathetic chicken skewers. We highly doubt our lunch allowance by the travel agency would pale in comparison to what the tour guide get to order for himself. Obviously when he asked us if we wanted to join his tour to Ephesus the next day, our answer was a firm no. I'd highly recommend others to just skip Pamukkale and forget about taking a tour with this travel agent to the Izmir, Ephesus and Pamukkale area if their pre-arranged guide is Ismael.
Review by: erliene_a, January 2017
We me and my 2 daughters did Pamukkale and Hierapolis trip on Jan 2, 2017. We booked the trip via Viator and did it with Neon tour._br/_ We picked up from the hotel by the driver only and the tour guide would be picked up about an hour later on the way to Pamukkale. _br/_ We booked this trip in group tour but actually we got it as private tour. Just 3 of us on this trip. We spent the journey in silence. No information at all from the tour guide along the 4 hours journey. _br/_ When arrived Pamukkale, he gave us about 10 minutes of roughly information that actually we can read it from the internet and then giving us free time for 2 hours to spend at the site by ourself. No explanation at all about the ruins while we saw other groups were guided and explained by their tour guide in every site. _br/_ Journey back was spent in silence and the tour guide dropped off in the middle of the journey as well. _br/_ We thought that rented a car more cheaper to do this trip instead of paying the price we did._br/_ Really disappointed and was not worth any penny at all
Review by: Louis B, December 2016
Cijan was WONDERFUL guide
Review by: bubun, September 2016
Best tour of turkey , very quiet, superb guide by Neon tours and Travels. Excellent english speaking knowledgeable guide.
Review by: kspadee, July 2016
Excellent service. Very polite and professional group. I will go with them again.
Review by: David Z, July 2016
We were with our same guide Mehmet and driver from the previous day tour of Pergamum. It was great as we had them all to ourselves for the tour. Great lunch at a small restaurant. Pamukkale and the ruins are a must see when in Turkey.
Review by: David G, June 2016
Great tour with a superb tour guide. We wondered if the long journey from Izmir would be worth it 3.5 hours each way but it proved to be a great decision to visit such a unique place. Both the Roman remains and the travertine pools are awe inspiring.
Review by: Nora BeatrÃz G, June 2016
This was a terrible tour because Pamukkale was not really like pictures !!! At Pamukkale was not water !!! Viator must tell us if there are not water at winter !! We pay 120 Euros each person !!! was a deception for us !!
Review by: Rosanna I, December 2015
Excellent tour. I advise to be very specific in regards to the pickup times on the vouchers. It added to some confusion.
Review by: Henrik H, November 2015
Very nice tour - both places were spectacular and worth the visit. We ended up having a private tour due to the low tourist season. We were picked up at our hotel in a very nice van and driven to the sites. Our tour guide did a nice job of explaining the Roman ruins and gave us all the time we needed at Pamukkale which is truly exceptional, the calcium deposit pools are everything you expect and more. Spend the extra 30 liras to spend time in Cleopatras pool - that is the natural thermal waters. It has sunken Greek and Roman columns and this is really where you can enjoy the warmest waters and the pool is plenty deep whereas the terraces are only knee deep.
Review by: GUODONG C, October 2015
nice tour guide, small grp of ppl
Review by: Theresa R, October 2015
I really enjoyed the trip. Pamukkale was definitely worth seeing. My tour was cut short because of the Byran holiday. We got there after 1pm and only had about 21/2 hours to see it all. I did not get to see Hierapolis at all because of the time crunch. My tour guide was interesting but talked too much. I would have liked more time.
Review by: Lily Liu, October 2015
nice tour guide, small grp of ppl
Review by: cindyrunge, July 2015
Loved Pamukkale.
Review by: Lok Tin L, July 2015
Small group of tour in fact it was just me and my partner! _br/_
Tour guide was very knowledgable and the coach we travelled was very new 3 months old_br/_
Highly recommended - far cheaper than what our hotel offered
Review by: Melissa L, June 2015
The tour was good.
Review by: Alicia F, June 2015
Pamukkale is one of a kind-definite must see!We booked this tour last minute (night before) and the tour company made sure everything was organised for us the next day!Small tour group (3ppl),luxury bus and our guide Engin was so friendly,informative and went out of his way to ensure a great experience!
Review by: Charmaine K, June 2015
4 hour ride each way with only 2 hour tour with guide:
Review by: Nicolle H, June 2015
Really fantastic tour and well worth the effort of getting out to the location. Really enjoyed the ruins and highly recommend this tour if down this way. Make sure you take your bathing suit also as there is an opportunity to take a swim.
Review by: graham h, May 2015
what a wonderful place to go to - the calcium pools looked splendid
Review by: Jan, April 2015
Was really nice
Review by: Anil H, December 2014
Superb! Tour was not cancelled even though we (2) were only who had booked the tour. Highly recommend
Review by: Wiece K, December 2014
It was a long way from Izmir (about 4 hours). The tour guide did not really make any effort and we spent the journey in silence. When we got to Pamukkale, he gave us a 10 minute introduction before giving us free time to spend at the site. Journey back was spent in silence again. Disappointing!
Review by: Ayesha S, December 2014
The 2 hours of experiencing the site was worth the 9 hour travelling to and from it.
Review by: kskitti, October 2014
Simple put: I was satisfied with the tour.
Review by: JANE G, September 2014
Really Disappointing. Cleopatras pool was full of algea and there was no way I would infect myself swimming in such an unclean environment. Also the water was not flowing over the calcified rocks, so it was just white rock. We didn't get the opportunity to walk through the external part of Hierapolis only what was inside the fenced area near the calcified rock. Overall 3 out of 10. However saying this, our guide and driver were both fantastic.
Review by: Ayanah G, August 2014
AMAZING!!! The most fun I've had in years. This place is a MUST do if you are in Turkey. I went July 31st the weather was hot and the water was nice and cool. Words cannot do this place justice, please go and see it for yourself : )
Review by: JOSE F, August 2014
The tour was awesome. The guide kind and nice. Food was Fair enough peruanos the only lower point but restaurant service was good. The driver excelent.
Review by: Nomeian, August 2014
I consider myself fortunate to go on this trip as I was the single traveler and Serhat was a great guide. The trip to Pamukkale was quite long from Izmir so I learnt a lot about the valley and the agricultural history of the region. The travertine fountains are a natural wonder but don't discount Hierapolis. I actually probably enjoyed Hierapolis more than the travertine pools and their views. Serhat gave me a lot of free time which was much appreciated and bring a hat and sunscreen as I was quite burnt at the end of it sll .
Review by: NICOLE H, August 2014
My family and I have traveled many places and this is definitely a must see !!!! Our guide, Lincoln made it even better because he was so informative and knowledgeable.
Review by: Pauline C, August 2014
If you really want to know we were incredibly disappointed after going to Izmir specifically to visit Pamakkale and Heiropolis amd booking a tour thru this company thst did not eventuate: no fore warnig about ramadan holiday and no tour guide available. Waited to be picked up. No one turned up!
Review by: JOANNE G, June 2014
I went on 9 tours with Viatour on this trip and I had 2 fantastic guides, 5 good guides and 2 terrible guides. This was one of the ones with a rude guide. She was rude to a number of people. She told then to be quite and listen and all they were doing was asking a question. I can do everything, I am slow. She told me in front of the entire group, that if I could not keep up to meet in the parking lot at 4pm. The kind participants, don't worry we will take time to take pictures, so you can keep up with us. If it was not the participants, I would not have know what I was seeing.
Review by: Ayday J, June 2014
Pamukkale is an extremely beautiful place and it's a great pity that the trip allows for only 2 - 2.5 hours for exploring it, whereas the road takes all 7-8 hours to destination and back. Therefore, it's worth considering to take 2-day tour to this beauty._br/_
The guide, however, was very good at making out the most out of our limited time.
Review by: Sun X, April 2014
The trip was amazing, driver is very good and professional, and the guide is very experienced._br/_
We are only 4 people, we we got VVIP treatment, the whole day, the exclusive Guide is accompany with us, and the lucxury minibus.
Review by: Sun X, April 2014
The trip was amazing, driver is very good and professional, and the guide is very experienced._br/_
We are only 4 people, we we got VVIP treatment, the whole day, the exclusive Guide is accompany with us, and the lucxury minibus.
Review by: Nabeel, April 2014
The pick up was a bit early at 7 A.M in the morning as we were staying in Kaya prestige Hotel. From there we were taken to a town where we changed bus and joined the group already set to go to Pamukkale.
Review by: ghinwa b, January 2014
It was a very nice trip with a wonderfull guide and friends from other country good job viator
Review by: Jose A. G, November 2013
Impressive!
Review by: AHMAD A, August 2013
On time. Worth it.
Review by: Paul C, September 2012
This tour if great BUT a long day if you are staying in Izmir. First of all, there is nothing to do in Izmir and the tour company is 1 1/2 hr from Izmir, so stay in Kusadasi. it is a 3 hour drive from the tour company but it is worth it to see mother nature in action!
Review by: jfehrenb, September 2012
Great natural formation. Museum was also an unexpected surprise. Lunch buffet was overlooked and mediocre. Professional driver and well educated guide.
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: Krishnan Vaitheeswaran, May 2011
Charming despite the 620 km round-trip.
Review by: Maneesh M, India, July 2010
1
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: Rafal S, 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.
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