Pamukkale and Hierapolis tour: Travertines and hot springs

Swim in thermal pools and walk the ruins of an ancient city in one day from the coast

A full-day guided tour from Fethiye to Pamukkale and Hierapolis combines two of Turkey's most distinctive sites: the white travertine terraces and thermal pools of Pamukkale, plus the hilltop ruins of the ancient city Hierapolis. Hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking guide, and lunch are included. The drive from Fethiye is around 200 kilometers, making this a long day that covers both natural wonder and archaeological history.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Pamukkale and Hierapolis ruins

• Travel from Fethiye to Pamukkale
• See Pamukkale travertines
• Swim in Cleopatra's Pool
• Explore Hierapolis ancient city
• Relax at Pamukkale hot springs

The experience

The tour departs from your Fethiye hotel and heads inland toward Pamukkale, a 200-kilometer journey that takes up most of the morning. Once you arrive, you'll walk across the white travertine terraces that give Pamukkale its name, "cotton castle", a natural formation built up over millennia by mineral-rich thermal water. The terraces cascade down the mountainside in brilliant white, and you can wade through the shallow pools as you climb. The guide leads you through the site and explains how the minerals create the landscape.

Cleopatra's Pool, the thermal bathing area, is currently closed for renovations, so access to that section is not available. You'll still see the main travertine formations and the thermal pools integrated into the terraces themselves. After time at Pamukkale, the tour moves to Hierapolis, the ancient city that sits on the plateau above. You'll walk through the ruins (temples, a necropolis, and the remains of streets and structures) with the guide providing context on what you're seeing. Lunch is included during the day.

The return drive to Fethiye takes the afternoon and evening, so plan for a full ten-hour day from pickup to drop-off. A professional guide who speaks English accompanies the group throughout, and the tour operates with a multilingual guide when needed. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, though infant meals are not provided.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Fethiye accommodation.
• professional English-speaking guide for the full day.
• lunch.
• access to Pamukkale's travertine terraces and thermal pools.
• guided tour of Hierapolis ruins.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and FridayDeparts at 06:30Last departure this season: 30 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 22

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 34

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Tourmania

Is this one for you?This is a shared group tour with a fixed itinerary and schedule, so you travel with other visitors and follow the guide's pace through both sites. It suits travelers with a full free day who want both Pamukkale and Hierapolis covered in one trip and don't want to arrange their own transport across the 200-kilometer distance from the coast.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How far is Pamukkale from Fethiye, and how much time is spent driving?

Pamukkale is around 200 kilometers from Fethiye, making the round-trip drive the largest part of the ten-hour tour. Most of the morning is spent traveling to the site, and most of the afternoon returning to your hotel.

What can I do at Pamukkale besides see the white terraces?

You can wade through the shallow thermal pools on the travertine terraces as you walk across them. Cleopatra's Pool, the dedicated thermal bathing area, is temporarily closed for renovations and is not accessible on this tour.

What are the ruins at Hierapolis, and how much time do you spend there?

Hierapolis is an ancient city that sits on the plateau above Pamukkale. The tour includes a guided walk through the ruins, where you'll see temples, a necropolis, and the remains of streets and structures from the classical period. The guide explains the history and layout as you move through the site.

Is lunch included, and are drinks provided?

Lunch is included in the tour. Drinks are not included, so bring water or budget for beverages during the day.

What time does the tour pick me up and drop me off?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The full tour runs ten hours from pickup to return, so confirm your hotel location and availability when you book.