Pamukkale Day Trip from Kusadasi & Selcuk with Hierapolis

Pamukkale day trip from Kusadasi and Selcuk: the key facts

This is a guided group day trip from the Aegean coast inland to Pamukkale, without booking an extra hotel night. You are collected from your hotel in Kusadasi or Selcuk, walk barefoot across the white travertine terraces and tour the ruins of Hierapolis with a licensed guide: the Necropolis, the Frontinus Gate and Street, the Fountain of the Tritons and the Temple of Apollo. Lunch at a local restaurant is included, and you are back at your hotel before dinner.

It suits travellers staying on the coast who have already seen Ephesus, or plan to, and want the second big sight of the region in one day. The price is from $117 per person. Hotel transfers, the guide, lunch, entrance fees on the itinerary, parking and road tolls are included. A swim in the Cleopatra Pool is extra.

How long is the day, and when is pick-up?

The page gives two different lengths. The overview says "roughly ten hours", while the FAQ gives a pick-up at 07:30 and a return at around 18:30, which is about eleven hours. The booking form adds a third version, with start times from 08:00 to 14:00 and 09:00 marked as suggested. A start after the morning would not leave time for the drive and the visit. Plan for the FAQ times, and ask us to confirm your pick-up time and expected return in writing.

Which hotels do you collect from, and can cruise passengers join?

Pick-up and drop-off are included for hotels in Kusadasi and Selcuk. The page does not list districts, so send us your hotel name. The page does not mention the cruise port, and a group tour returning at around 18:30 is not built around a ship's sailing time. Cruise passengers should look at the private Pamukkale and Hierapolis shore excursion from Kusadasi port, from $600 per person, or our Kusadasi shore excursions page.

What do we see in Hierapolis?

The FAQ lists Pamukkale's white calcium terraces and Hierapolis, with the Necropolis, the bath and basilica, the Frontinus Gate and Frontinus Street, the Latrina, the Northern Byzantine Gate, the Fountain of the Tritons, the Temple of Apollo and the Cleopatra Antique Thermal Pool. The overview describes a walk from the Necropolis through the Frontinus Gate to the Temple of Apollo. Our page on the Pamukkale travertines and Hierapolis explains the site before you go.

Is swimming in the Cleopatra Pool included?

No. All entrance fees on the itinerary are covered, but the exclusions list swimming at the Cleopatra Antique Pool as "payable on-site". You can see the pool and its sunken ancient columns during the tour, and pay a separate fee at the pool if you want to swim. The page does not state that fee, so bring some cash or a card. Ask us how much time the group spends at the pool if a swim is important to you, as the day runs on a fixed timetable.

What should I wear on the terraces?

Shoes are not allowed on the travertines, so you cross them barefoot. Bring a bag to carry your shoes and wear clothes you can roll up, as the shallow pools are wet. The surface is rough in places. If you plan to swim, wear swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel. Hierapolis is a large open site, so wear comfortable walking shoes there, a hat and sun cream, and carry water.

Which languages can the guide speak?

The Tour Info lists an English-speaking licensed guide. The FAQ says you can book an English, Spanish or Italian-speaking guide, and that the price may differ with the language. On a group tour the language depends on the day and the other guests. If you need Spanish or Italian, ask for it in your booking message and get the language and the price confirmed in writing before you pay.

Can I combine it with Ephesus or stay near Pamukkale?

Yes. The Ephesus day tour from Kusadasi and Selcuk, from $127 per person, runs from the same hotels and makes a good second day. The FAQ compares the two tours in euros, while the prices on the pages are in dollars, so go by your written quote. If you would rather stay a night near the terraces, you could add the Pamukkale hot air balloon flight, from $263 per person, or the Laodicea, Kaklik Cave and Honaz Waterfall tour, from $414 per person. See all Pamukkale tours.

How do I book the Pamukkale day trip from Kusadasi and Selcuk?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. Add your hotel name and the guide language you need. We check the guide and vehicle for that day and send you the plan in writing, with the pick-up time, expected return and total price. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.