Aphrodisias & Pamukkale Tour: Private Guide, Thermal Pools

Swim in Pamukkale's thermal springs after walking through two UNESCO sites with a private guide

A private full-day tour from Izmir visits Aphrodisias (the ancient Temple of Aphrodite and marble sculpture school), Hierapolis (with its 1,200-grave necropolis and Sacred Pool), and Pamukkale (UNESCO thermal terraces where you swim in 35°C spring water). Skip-the-line tickets, a licensed English-speaking guide, lunch at a local restaurant, and hotel pickup in a Mercedes minibus are included. Entry fees to Aphrodisias and Pamukkale are paid separately to the guide in cash on the day.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Aphrodisias and Pamukkale

• Meet guide and start tour
• Explore Aphrodisias ancient site
• See Necropolis and Sacred Pool
• Visit Pamukkale thermal terraces
• Swim in Pamukkale thermal springs
• Drive back to hotel

The experience

The tour starts at your hotel in Izmir and covers three sites across a full day in a private air-conditioned minibus. Aphrodisias was built around the sanctuary of Aphrodite and still holds the Temple of Aphrodite (later converted to a Christian basilica), a large theatre, a stadium and an on-site museum with artifacts from the site. Hierapolis sits above Pamukkale and contains the largest necropolis in Anatolia, with 1,200 gravestones, plus the Sacred Pool where shallow thermal waters flow over scattered Roman ruins beneath the surface.

Pamukkale's white travertine terraces formed over centuries as warm spring water at 35°C ran down the hillside, depositing calcium bicarbonate and creating what UNESCO recognizes as a world heritage site. You swim in the thermal pools during the tour: the water temperature and mineral content are what drew people here in antiquity seeking healing. The guide carries skip-the-line tickets to avoid queues at entry points, and lunch happens at a local restaurant partway through the day.

Because this is a private tour, the vehicle and guide are reserved for your group alone, and you can adjust the itinerary on the day if your interests shift. The minibus returns you to your hotel at the end. Entry tickets to both Aphrodisias and Pamukkale are not included in the tour price. You pay those fees directly to your guide in cash (dollars, euros or Turkish lira accepted).

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned Mercedes minibus.
• licensed professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• skip-the-line entry tickets (entry fees paid separately to the guide in cash).
• lunch at a local restaurant.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:00 and 08:30

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (8 and older) · Infant (under 8): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 73

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tour Altinkum Travel

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a couple, a family or a small group and want the flexibility to adjust stops and timing on the day itself. A private vehicle and guide mean you move at your own pace and can spend longer at whichever site interests you most, without waiting for other groups or sticking to a fixed schedule.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 8): free.

What is the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias like when you arrive?

The Temple of Aphrodite is partially restored and well-preserved, showing its ancient columns and structure clearly. It was originally dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite and later converted into a Christian basilica by swapping out the pagan columns for Christian ones. You can see both phases of the building on site. The temple sits within a larger complex that includes a theatre, a stadium and a museum displaying artifacts found there.

Can you really swim in Pamukkale's thermal pools during the tour?

Yes, swimming in Pamukkale's thermal springs is part of the tour. The water temperature stays around 35°C year-round because it comes from hot springs deep underground. The terraces are white because of the calcium bicarbonate the water deposits as it flows down the hillside, and you swim in pools formed by that same flowing water over ancient Roman ruins.

How long is the full-day tour and what time does it start?

The tour runs for 13 hours total. Your guide meets you at your hotel at your chosen pickup time, and the minibus returns you there at the end of the day after visiting all three sites and having lunch.

Do I need to buy entry tickets separately, or are they included?

Entry tickets to Aphrodisias and Pamukkale are not included in the tour price and are paid separately. Your guide carries skip-the-line tickets to avoid queues, and you pay the cost in cash on the day: dollars, euros or Turkish lira are all accepted.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat?

Lunch at a local restaurant is included in the tour. It happens during the day as part of the itinerary, breaking up the time spent at the three archaeological sites.