Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour

Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour from Antalya

Wow, Traveller’s Route offers its guests to experience worldwide famous Lake Salda and Pamukkale (cotton castle of Hierapolis) in the same day for those who are accommodating in Antalya hotels.

Since we will have a long day to catch the two marvels of Turkey, we shall depart from the hotels in Antalya very early in the morning, and drive to Pamukkale (Hierapolis) directly. Depending on the various reasons such as weather, occupancy of the museums and the operational purposes, our guides may start the tour with Lake Salda.

Pamukkale (Cotton Castle)

Pamukkale, which is included in almost all of the must-see places lists and visited by around 2 million tourists every year, is one of the places where nature plays the role of an artist. The discovery of the attractiveness of Pamukkale, where the white travertines formed as a result of the contact of the thermal waters with the air, form layered shapes like a frozen waterfall and form terrace shaped pools in places, goes back to the Roman Period. Most of the ruins of Pamukkale Hierapolis Ancient City, standing next to Pamukkale Travertines in all its glory, are from this period.

Pamukkale (Cotton Castle) – Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour

So, how this marvelous cotton castles were formed? It’s one of the most frequently asked quesions during Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour.

Travertines are not formed directly as natural stones. Some stone structures turn into travertines as a result of various chemical reactions. It is known that there are thermal waters (hot water) in Pamukkale region since ancient times. In this region, there are waters with variable temperatures underground. According to the researches, there are waters up to 100 degrees there.

Today, thermal waters are transmitted in various ways in order for travertines to benefit better from these resources. Waters are carried 240 – 300 meters through a channel. These waters both fill the sediments and pass over the stones to keep them white continuously. People could enter all travertine layers before, but this is now prohibited for some of them. Because the contaminated thermal water causes the travertine to turn yellow and creates an ugly appearance.

If we look at the first formation process of travertine, the calcium carbonate accumulated in the pools is in the form of a very soft gel at first. It hardens in time and becomes “travertine”. Although we say it hardens, it never gets its normal stone hardness. Therefore, the travellers are forbidden to climb on them. Because the balance of the stone may be disturbed with the pressure.

So, why are Pamukkale Travertines white? Well, the history of Pamukkale travertines was actually calculated by scientists. The thermal waters here have been flowing at almost the same rate for about 14.000 years. The temperature of the water coming from the ground is around 35 degrees on average. Of course, this temperature varies according to seasonal conditions.

Travertine terraces with white-blue water in Pamukkale. A popular tourist destination. Denizli, Turkey

The most important factor that turns these stones into white color is the elements and compounds in the water. Especially the calcium bicarbonate in the water enables the stones to turn white. As the water flows, carbon dioxide gases are created, and separated from the stone. Calcium salts also react with oxygen, turning into limestone and starting to form stones.

Chemicals in the water also trigger these reactions. For this reason, the places where the water flows turn white and the places where the water does not flow turn black over time. So in fact, we can say that the reason for all this is Calcium.

Hierapolis Ancient City

Together with the incomparable beautiful travertines, the ruins of Hierapolis are already in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. We are sure that Pamukkale will enchant you at first sight right away. The Kingdom of Pergamon could not resist this attraction 2 thousand years ago and built Hierapolis City next to the travertines. During this period, Hierapolis served as a thermal health center and its spring waters believed to be healing have been visited by people from different parts of Anatolia seeking health and beauty for thousands of years.

Ancient ruins of Hierapolis near Pamukkale in Turkey

Today, thermal pools continue to be visited in search of beauty and health. You can also swim in the waters of the ancient world thousands of years ago and watch the magnificent view of the travertines. However, this natural beauty, which took thousands of years to form, is quite delicate. Therefore, only certain parts of it can be visited and its waters can be swum. Those who want to stay longer in Pamukkale and benefit from its healing waters can stay in thermal facilities near the ancient city and travertines, and enjoy massage, thermal waters and mud baths.

Please let us know for your extension requests via e-mail ([email protected]) or via WhatsApp (+90 507 348 32 22). We can get you the best rates if you want to spend the night in Pamukkale instead of returning back to Antalya.

Hierapolis is among the various historical regions surrounding it with its geographical location. The ancient geographer Strabo and Ptolemaios claim that Hierapolis was a Phrygian city with its proximity to the cities of Laodikeia and Tripolis bordering the Caria region. There is no information in ancient sources regarding the name of the city before the Hellenistic Period.

Arch of Domitian, at start of colonnaded main street in Hierapolis, Turkey

Due to the Mother Goddess cult, it is known that there was a life in the city before it was called Hierapolis. Although information about the foundation of the city is limited; it is known that it was founded by Eumenes, one of the Kings of Pergamon, at the beginning of the second century BC and was named Hierapolis because of the Amazons queen Hiera, the wife of Telephos, the legendary founder of Pergamon.

Hierapolis maintained its original texture by adhering to the principles of Hellenistic urbanization until the great earthquake in the period of Roman Emperor Neron (60 AD). Located on the earthquake zone, the city was severely damaged by this earthquake and was completely renovated afterwards. After these earthquakes, the city lost its Hellenistic character and became a typical Roman city.

Ruins of ancient amphitheater in Hierapolis, Turkey

Hierapolis became a very important center in the Byzantine period after the Roman period. This importance comes from the death of St. Philip at AD 80 here and the city’s central significance for Christianity from the fourth century AD (metropolis). It was captured by the Turks towards the end of the XII. century. Please check our article to have the more detailed information about Hierapolis.

Lake Salda

After we spend the morning in the Pamukkale and Hierapolis, we drive to our next and final stop to Lake Salda. Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour is now about to be one of the most unforgettable experiences in your life.

Lake Salda, which is titled as “The Maldives of Turkey” or “Saldives” has been attracting a record number of travellers for recent years. The main reason why Lake Salda is known with these titles is the chalky shores of the lake that resemble the white beaches of the Maldives. This white-gray mix makes it light blue and turquoise in the shallow part of the lake.

Lake Salda

The most important feature of Lake Salda, which gives you the feeling that you are in a soapy water with its abundant calcareous water, is one of the two places in the world that has the same geological features and mineral structure as the surface of Mars.

Studies show that the high magnesium-containing white rocks found in Lake Salda are also found on Mars, which proves that similar conditions in the lake once prevailed on this planet. In other words, going to Salda may make you feel like you have gone not only to the Maldives, but also to Mars!

Salda Lake comparison to Mars

Please check our detailed blog about Lake Salda here!

After we filled with the Martian atmosphere of Lake Salda, the end of Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour has come and we shall drive back to the hotel in Antalya for the overnight.

Please let us know for your further requests for Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour from Antalya requests via [email protected] OR via WhatsApp +90 507 348 32 22.

Notes

Tour type            : Private OR Regular (Seat-in-coach)

Duration             : 05.30am – 9pm (inclusive of hotel transfers)

Notes:

– The Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour is required at least 6 guests for the guaranteed departure.

– Departs on Wednesday, and Saturday during the high season starts at 01 May and ends at 31 October.

– The Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour will be on multi-language basis.

– Guests will be picked up and dropped off from/to their hotels.

– Hierapolis museum entrance fee is included.

– Basic breakfast lunch is included – without beverages.

– Entrance fee of Aphrodite pool in Hierapolis is not included.

– Please contact us if you want to make the Daily Lake Salda and Pamukkale Tour on private basis.