Pamukkale & Aphrodisias Private Tour: UNESCO Sites

A Temple of Aphrodite becomes a Christian basilica through an ingenious swap of columns.

A private, guided tour from Kusadasi to Pamukkale and Aphrodisias covers eight to ten hours and visits two UNESCO sites: the ancient sanctuary of Aphrodisias, home to a Temple of Aphrodite and a renowned marble sculpture school, and Pamukkale, where calcium deposit terraces cascade down a mountainside above the Roman city of Hierapolis. Hotel pickup from Kusadasi or Selcuk and drop-off are included, along with a professional licensed guide who speaks English and an air-conditioned vehicle. Entrance fees to the sites are not included in the price.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Aphrodisias and Pamukkale

• Meet with your guide
• Explore Aphrodisias sacred site
• See Temple of Aphrodite
• Visit Pamukkale thermal springs
• Discover ancient city of Hierapolis
• View travertine terraces
• Visit sacred pool
• Drive to hotel in Kusadasi

The experience

Eight to ten hours gives you time to move between two distinct worlds without rushing. Aphrodisias sits inland, one of Turkey's oldest sacred sites, built around a Temple of Aphrodite that later became a Christian basilica. The columns were ingeniously repurposed rather than removed, a detail that survives in the stone. The site also housed a school of marble sculptors whose work shaped the aesthetic of the Roman world. Your guide walks you through what remains of the temple, the sculpture school, and the broader sanctuary that drew pilgrims for centuries.

Pamukkale, the second half of the day, is the calcium deposit terraces the name translates to "Cotton Castle." The travertines cascade down the mountainside in white pools, and you'll walk among them before visiting Hierapolis, the Roman city that sits at the top. Hierapolis itself holds some of the best-preserved Roman architecture in the region: theaters, tombs, and civic structures that anchor the UNESCO Mixed Heritage Site designation both places share. The sacred pool, fed by the thermal springs, is part of what made this area a destination for Romans seeking healing.

Your guide is a licensed professional who speaks English and travels with you in an air-conditioned Mercedes Vito or Sprinter. Hotel pickup happens from your accommodation in Kusadasi or Selcuk, and you're returned there at the end of the day. Parking fees and the vehicle are included. Entrance fees to both sites are separate.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Kusadasi or Selcuk.
• a professional licensed guide who speaks English.
• an air-conditioned Mercedes Vito or Mercedes Sprinter vehicle.
• and parking fees at both sites.

Before you book

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

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (7 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 6 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 50 pickup points.

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

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by BB Tour

Is this one for you?This is a private tour, so you travel with your own guide and vehicle rather than joining a shared group: ideal if you want to move at your own pace or need flexibility with timing. The guide speaks English and handles the route and the history, leaving you free to focus on what you're seeing rather than navigating or translating.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 6 years).

What exactly is Aphrodisias and why does it matter?

Aphrodisias was one of Turkey's oldest sacred sites, built around a Temple of Aphrodite dedicated first to the ancient Mother Goddess and then to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. It was also the home of a renowned school of marble sculpture whose work influenced Roman aesthetics across the empire. The temple itself was later converted into a Christian basilica by ingeniously repurposing its columns rather than demolishing them.

Can I swim or bathe in the thermal pools at Pamukkale?

The tour includes a visit to the sacred pool fed by Pamukkale's thermal springs, where you can experience the thermal waters. The travertine terraces themselves are walked among as part of the tour, allowing you to see the calcium deposit formations up close.

How long do we spend at each site?

The tour runs eight to ten hours total from Kusadasi, covering both Aphrodisias and Pamukkale with Hierapolis. Your guide structures the day to give you meaningful time at each location without excessive travel, though the exact breakdown depends on the day's pace and your interests.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay separately?

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Kusadasi or Selcuk, the guide, the vehicle, and parking fees are all included. Entrance fees to Aphrodisias and Pamukkale are not included and are paid separately at each site.