Pamukkale Tour from Kusadasi is a private tour where you will explore the unique Pamukkale Travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis, guided by a professional local tour guide.
Your private tour guide will pick you up from your hotel in Kusadasi in the morning at the specified time. After meeting your guide in the hotel lobby, you will depart for Pamukkale, also known as Cotton Castle, which is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes away.
On the way to Pamukkale, your guide will provide you with comprehensive information about the ancient city of Hierapolis, its surroundings, and Turkey. There will be a scheduled stop along the way for tea and coffee breaks and restroom needs. On arrival in Pamukkale, you’ll have time for lunch. Your guide can recommend alternative restaurants including lunch in the old village.
After lunch, you will arrive in Pamukkale with a short drive. Your guide will assist you in purchasing entrance tickets as guides have priority access. Following entry, you will take a short walk through the Hierapolis Ancient City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hierapolis, also known as Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) in Turkish, was a cult center that used its hot spring waters for spa treatments from the 2nd century BC. Known as a healing center, especially during the Roman period, doctors frequently used these thermal springs. Your guide will first take you to the 15,000-seat theatre built into the hillside (Optional). After your guide’s information, you will have a brief opportunity to take photographs.
Later you will walk down to the Ancient Pool, also known as Cleopatra’s Pool (optional and requires an extra ticket). Your guide will give you time to swim in the same waters that thousands have traveled to for their reputed healing mineral properties. After your swim, you will proceed to the white terraces from which Pamukkale – which means ‘Cotton Castle’ in Turkish – takes its name. Following your guide’s information, you will have time to walk and swim among the iconic White Terraces.
After the tour, you will be transferred back to the hotel in your private van. We will have a scheduled break on the way back to Kusadasi. The end of our service.
One of the main destinations of our private Ephesus tours is the ancient city of Ephesus. Known as the third largest city in the Roman Empire, Ephesus had a population of around 250,000 during the Roman era. It served as both the capital and commercial center of the Roman Empire’s Asia Minor. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to explore significant landmarks such as Hadrian’s Temple, ancient toilets known as latrines, Celsus’ Library, known as the third largest library in the ancient world, the Great Theatre of Ephesus, the largest theatre in Anatolia with a capacity of 25,000, and more.
Often referred to as the ‘houses of the rich’, the Terrace Houses are located in the ancient city of Ephesus. This complex of six luxurious villas provides an invaluable insight into Roman family life. The oldest of these residences, dating back to the 1st century BC, have their own heating systems and are decorated with stunning Roman mosaics and frescoes.
In his last moments during the crucifixion, Jesus Christ entrusted his mother, the Virgin Mary, to his apostle John, considering Jerusalem unsafe for her. John chose Mount Bülbül, near the city of Ephesus, as a safe place for Mary. According to tradition, it was here that the Virgin Mary spent the last few years of her life. Today, the House of the Virgin Mary is recognized as an official pilgrimage site. It was further sanctified by the visits of Pope Paul VI in 1967, Pope John Paul II in 1979, and Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.
Known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis was originally built in the 6th century BC and reached its final architectural wonder in the 2nd century BC. At the time, it was the most important center of pagan worship and was famous for the magnificence of its architecture. Today only the foundations, a solitary column, and sparse ruins remain, but it is still worth a visit to experience the aura of the site.
After building a house for the Virgin Mary on Mount Bulbul, St John the Evangelist stayed in Ephesus to care for her and spread Christianity. After Christianity was declared the official religion of Rome in the 4th century, the Basilica of St John was built in his honor by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. The church is also the site of the final resting place of St John.
A visit to the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, located in the heart of Selcuk, will enrich your tour of the ancient city of Ephesus. The Great Artemis, the Beautiful Artemis, and the statue of Emperor Domitianus are just some of the must-see finds from Ephesus. Exploring the Ephesus Archaeological Museum, where historical artifacts are displayed in chronological order, promises to be a fascinating exploration of Ephesus’ storied past.
Tour Highlights : Ephesus Ancient City, House of the Virgin Mary, Temple of Artemis.
Duration : Approx. 5-7 Hours
Tour Standard: Private
Tour Highlights : Ephesus Ancient City, House of the Virgin Mary, Ephesus Archaeological Museum, Temple of Artemis.
Duration : Approx. 6-7 Hours
Tour Standard: Private