The Pamukkale 1-day tour from Side is a fantastic cultural and natural excursion. Pamukkale is a district located about 300 km from Side and means “cotton castle” in Turkish, which is fitting because it is a stunning white travertine terraced formation that resembles a castle made of cotton. The site is also considered one of the oldest thermal cities in the world, with waters around 30 degrees Celsius that can cure some skin ailments. Visitors can walk barefoot and even swim within the many small thermal pools.
Aside from the natural beauty of the White Travertines, Pamukkale is also home to many other ancient sites, including the Antique City Hierapolis, Necropolis, and the Cleopatra Pool. Hierapolis is a holy city that extends for about 2.7 km and features ancient theaters, main streets, and many other Roman ruins. The Cleopatra pool, while artificially created, sits on top of ancient columns that fell from the city during an earthquake. Visitors can swim amongst the ruins and columns in this pool and have enough free time to relax and enjoy the surroundings.
The Pamukkale 1-day tour program also includes a visit to a hand-woven carpet and rug production center, where guests can learn about traditional Turkish hand-weaving art. Overall, this tour is a must-try for travelers who want to experience the natural beauty and ancient wonders of Pamukkale while also learning about Turkish culture and tradition.