Dream Itinerary - Twelve Days in Turkey Including Istanbul, Pamukkale, Fethiye and Antalya

Summary of the Itinerary- Turkey is one of the most fascinating countries to visit in the world. It is filled with the ruins of different empires, has a picturesque coastline that stretches five thousand miles along the Mediterranean, the Aegean, and the Black Sea, and provides cultural activities that combine centuries of trade between east and west. To experience an introduction to Turkey, The Traveling American recommends a twelve-day itinerary that begins with four days in the historic city of Istanbul. Next you fly to a beach resort at Belek near Antalya to relax and take in the amphitheater at Aspendos and other local attractions. The trip continues with a drive to Fethiye where you will take a day cruise along the Turquoise Coast and visit the world-renowned beach at Oludeniz. You then visit the impressive Greek and Roman ruins at Aphrodisias and enjoy the famous travertine pools in Pamukkale before returning home. 

Background of Turkey - Turkey is in the Middle East with land in both Europe and Asia. It is a nation with over eighty-five million people, a growing economy, and a moderate per capita income. Turkey is a member of NATO with a prominent role in international affairs. After making substantial investments in improving the country’s airports and roadways, Turkey attracts approximately forty-five million tourists annually to its historical sites, natural wonders, and popular vacation destinations on the Turkish Riviera. 

Modern Turkey has its roots in the complex history of Istanbul and the Turkic people who settled or conquered the coastal cities and inland areas of Asia Minor. This region had been controlled for almost two thousand years by the ancient empires of Greece, Persia, Rome, and Byzantium. In 330 AD, the Roman Emperor Constantine dedicated the village of Byzantium as the new capital of the Eastern Roman Empire and as the seat of the Christian world. Constantinople, as it became known, flourished as the powerful center of a Byzantine Empire long after Rome fell. The Byzantine Empire gained and lost territory to Persian, Arab, Bulgarian, Turkish, and Mongol kingdoms, and invaders between the fourth century and 15th century AD. The most unusual invaders were Crusaders from western Europe who viewed the eastern Christian churches as heretical. They plundered Byzantine treasures and cities in route to the Holy Land and even captured Constantinople for a time during the Fourth Crusade. 

The Byzantine Empire survived in a diminished form until Constantinople itself was conquered by Mehmet the Great, the leader of the Ottoman Turks. He renamed the city Istanbul after a famous siege in 1453. The Ottoman sultans who took over the entire area created their own empire which ruled large portions of Europe and the Mediterranean from an ornate palace in Istanbul for hundreds of years until World War I. Respected general Mustafa Kemal, now generally known as Ataturk, and the national assembly abolished the monarchy and the Ottoman caliphate in 1923, expelled foreign troops, and formed modern Turkey as a republic based on the European model of a constitutional and secular state.

When to Go - Istanbul can be cool and rainy in the winter from December to March, but the weather is quite pleasant during the rest of the year. While temperatures can exceed 80 degrees in the summer, the breezes from the surrounding waters keep things cool during most of the day. The inland areas of the country and the Turquoise Coast can be hot and crowded in the middle of the summer making springtime and early fall the best times for planning a comprehensive itinerary such as this one. 

DAY ONE – INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT FROM THE UNITED STATES TO ISTANBUL

For travelers coming from the United States the best way to reach Istanbul and travel to other locations in Turkey’s interior is to take a late morning or early evening international flight on Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines flies direct to Istanbul from a dozen cities in the United States including New York, Washington Dulles, Chicago, and Los Angeles. It has a modern fleet that flies to hundreds of destinations worldwide and a hub at the brand-new Istanbul Airport. This $12 billion facility includes five runways, 15 million square feet of terminal space, and 143 boarding gates. It is expected to handle close to seventy-five million passengers in 2023 and officials plan to expand the capacity of the airport to handle as many as two hundred million passengers in the future. Located on the European side of Istanbul 25 miles north of the central city, it reflects the country’s determination to serve as a gateway between east and west. 

The other option available to fly to Istanbul from the United States is to take a flight across the Atlantic on Delta, American Airlines, United or one of the major European carriers, and then take a second flight to Istanbul after connecting at a hub in Paris, London, Frankfurt, or Amsterdam. Economy fares for round trip international flights to Istanbul range from $1,500 to $2,600 per person and business fares range from $6000 to $8000 per person. Direct flights from the U.S. take between 10 and 12 hours.

 DAY TWO - SETTLE INTO YOUR ISTANBUL HOTEL FOR A RELAXING MEAL AND REST

Most flights to Istanbul from the U.S. arrive during the afternoon or early evening. It will take several hours to collect your baggage, go through customs, and take a shuttle or taxi into your hotel. The rest of your day will be dedicated to settling into the bustling scene of the traditional Sultanahmet section of the city and having a special dinner at your hotel. 

Hotel- There are some luxurious hotels in Istanbul such as the Four Seasons along the Bosphorus. On several occasions when traveling through Turkey, we have stayed at the Sirkeci Mansion Hotel in the Old City (Sirkecimansion.com). This affordable and friendly boutique hotel provides an excellent room with pleasant amenities. These include a free breakfast buffet, a small pool and spa, a rooftop restaurant with excellent Turkish and continental dishes overlooking the Topkapi Palace park, and outstanding concierge services that will help you navigate the city. The hotel’s location allows guests to walk to the important sites or hop on the tram at the end of the street. Another well located boutique hotel is Hotel Amira (hotelamira.com) which offers thirty-four spaciously designed rooms at the center of the Sultanahmet area together with a rich buffet breakfast, free wireless internet access, a fitness center, and a rooftop café with views of the water and the city monuments. 

Guide- A guide is not necessary to visit the main sites you will be seeing in Sultanahmet and Eminonu sections of the Old City or across the Golden Horn waterway in Beyoglu and Galata. The above ground trams and taxi services available near the hotel are safe and efficient ways to travel. Nevertheless, the hotel concierges can show you how to reach your preferred destinations or can arrange a local guide to provide supplemental information. 

DAY THREE - EXPLORE ISTANBUL’S PALACES, HISTORIC SITES, AND A GRAND BAZAAR

On the third day of your trip, it is time to get an early start and visit some of the most popular destinations in all of Turkey. Among the many historic and cultural sites, you may want to visit are: 

Hagia Sophia- The Hagia Sophia was built as a church by Roman Emperor Justinian in 536 AD. Its architecture featured a 200-foot-high dome and Christian mosaics that awed worshippers and visitors for centuries. After the Ottoman conquest of the city in the 15th century, the building was converted into a mosque and engraved with phrases from the Koran after painting over the Christian mosaics. When the secular nation of Turkey was established in the 20th century, the building was converted again into a museum that displayed elements from the many religions and empires based in the city over the past 1500 years. Now in 2020, the Hagia Sophia’s primary use was changed to a mosque again. At present, the Christian mosaics remain veiled, and the building is open to visitors of all faiths except during specific prayer times.

Topkapi Palace- Located on top of a hill on Seraglio Point in the Old City is the Topkapi Palace built by Suleyman the Magnificent in the late 1500s. This ornate palace served as the royal residence, a fort, and the governmental center of the Ottoman Empire until a later sultan built a more European style Dolmabahce Palace across the water. Visitors flock to see the Harem, where the wives and concubines of the sultan and his sons lived in luxury amidst fountains and courtyards; the Treasury, where the remaining jewels, gold and plundered treasures of the empire are on display; and the Throne Room, where the sultan would receive dignitaries or meet with advisors. Within the outer gates of Topkapi Palace, there is an interesting Museum of Archaeology which has a wide variety of artifacts ranging from Roman statues to antiquities from Ottoman conquests.

Blue Mosque and Basilica Cistern- There are numerous other sites in Old Istanbul worth a visit. The 17th century Blue Mosque, located across a park from Hagia Sophia, is another architectural wonder. Its six minarets, engraved domes and elaborate blue tiles encourage comparisons to the Taj Mahal. Nearby under the street are the immense and mystical Basilica Cistern and the Cistern of 1000 Columns which stored all the old city’s water for over a thousand years. 

Grand Bazaar- Your final stop on the long day of touring is the Grand Bazaar. The bazaar is a collection of more than three thousand shops under one roof which has existed since 1455. For centuries thereafter, caravans from the east and ships from the Mediterranean flooded the Bazaar with goods. Today, more than 250,000 people visit the Bazaar each day and some sources consider it to be the world's No. 1 attraction with ninety-one million annual visitors. Although short on the amenities found in western malls such as fine dining restaurants, bathrooms and amusements, there is no shortage of goods. Entire blocks of shops offer carpets, antiques, jewels, gold and silver, fabrics, leather goods, clothes, souvenirs, and luxury goods. The best approach to enjoying the Bazaar is to go in with one or two items in mind such as a leather briefcase or a copper tea set, and then concentrate on comparing samples of that item in several shops before negotiating a sizable discount from the offered price. 

After touring the bazaar, look for a local restaurant near your hotel and experience a traditional Turkish meal featuring breads, lamb and chicken dishes, kebabs, rice and vegetables, and wonderful deserts. Many restaurants use low tables surrounded by couches and elaborate furnishings.

 DAY FOUR – TAKE A BOSPHORUS CRUISE AND EXPERIENCE THE NIGHTLIFE OF ISTANBUL 

Take a Bosphorus Cruise- Your next day in Istanbul will be an interesting one. The Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea are connected by narrow waterways including a 20-mile-long channel known as the Bosphorus Strait. Istanbul is strategically located on both the European and Asian banks of the Bosphorus. Hundreds of ferries leave this port every day to bring local people back and forth across the channel or to travel north to the Black Sea. Today you will take an inexpensive four-hour round-trip ferry cruise along the Bosphorus Strait in the morning on the Turkish Maritime Lines from the Eminonu port. On the cruise, you will see beautiful waterfront villas, fishing villages, and the fortresses that once guarded the city from invaders on the shore. Meanwhile, cargo ships, military vessels and pleasure boats pass by on the same waters. At the end of the line in the small village of Anadolu Kavagi, you get off the ferry and have time to eat lunch at one of the floating seafood restaurants there and climb up a hill above the town to the Yoros Castle where you can see the amazingly blue waters of the Black Sea to the north.

Visit Istiklal Street - After returning to your hotel, your next activity will be to enjoy an afternoon and evening out in the town. You will take the tram or a taxi from the Old City across the Golden Horn to the Karakoy section of the city. There you can visit the historic Galata Tower which once served as a watchtower for the large colony of Genovese traders and residents established there during the 13th century. The tower was used for a variety of purposes after the Turkish conquest of Constantinople including serving as a prison and a fire lookout in subsequent centuries. Restored and renovated in recent decades, the tower is now used as a museum and a popular observation deck from which to view the entire city of Istanbul. After stopping or bypassing the tower, you can walk uphill or take a funicular to Istiklal Street which is a pedestrian thoroughfare that runs for over a mile up to Takism Square where public gatherings and festivals are sometimes held. Istiklal Street has been a fashionable place to shop, eat, walk, and enjoy the nightlife for over a century. It is an interesting place to experience a fancy rooftop bar, have a delicious meal, purchase some exotic goods, and stroll along with thousands of other locals and visitors. There is a small tram that runs along the entire street so you can travel back and forth with ease.

 DAY FIVE-   ENJOY A RELAXING TURKISH BATH AND FLY TO ANTALYA 

Turkish Bath- Your last morning in Istanbul will be quite memorable. Any visitor to the city of Istanbul or a quality resort in Turkey should consider visiting a Turkish bath for an hour or two. It is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. To ensure that you have a traditional experience in a clean and professional environment, your bath will be at the respected Cagaloglu Baths. The tradition of public bathing dates to the Roman world where emperors and leading citizens built elaborate baths in major cities around the empire for use by the nobility and the plebes. In modern Turkish culture, the baths serve as a social center for friends to get together, relax and share stories.

Like most establishments, Cagaloglu has separate male and female facilities where you are  greeted, shown to a private changing room, and provided with sandals and a towel to wear along with cold drinks or tea. Then the fun begins. Upon entering the bath, the first step in the process is to be doused with hot water and then enter the steam room to sweat and prepare for cleansing. This is done by lying or sitting on a large marble slab in the center of the room along with other bathers. Then your assigned masseuse will exfoliate your entire body with incredible strength while usually using large mitts on both hands. Next you will be scrubbed and soaped up with tons of suds before your fingers and toes, arms and legs, neck and back will be cleaned and massaged. You will then generally be moved to a seat in a small chamber surrounding the slab and cooled down with buckets of water. After passing through a shower room, you return to your dressing room totally refreshed. After leaving a tip for your masseuse, you are ready to take on the day. Our family has enjoyed visiting the baths on our trips to the region. The cost for the basic program is around $70 dollars with additional charges for an oil massage or extra minutes of treatments.

During the afternoon of the fifth day of your trip, it is time to move on to a location in a different part of Turkey by taking a short flight to Antalya. Turkish Airlines has several late afternoon flights from Istanbul to the regional airport which cost only $200 for a business class seat and less for an economy seat. You should be able to arrange transportation to your hotel in Belek through your hotel or else have your private guide for the Turquoise Coast arrange a driver for you for that evening. 

Hotel- Your hotel for visiting the Antalya area for three nights will be a modern beach hotel known as the Gloria Serenity Resort in Belek. While not well known in the United States, Belek has dozens of resorts that are frequented by guests from around the world. When Turkey hosted the G-20 meeting of leaders from the leading economies of the world about a decade ago, they held it at Belek. The resorts in Belek can be a bit overwhelming since they are large complexes, full of glass and lights, which attract large family gatherings and groups. But there are enough special amenities, personal touches, and professional service at the Gloria Serenity to allow you to join in or relax depending on your mood. 

 DAY SIX –    RELAX AT THE BEACH RESORT 

On the sixth day of your trip, it is time to take a break from sightseeing and relax at the hotel without taking any excursions. The hotel’s amenities will not disappoint. The rooms are modern with large bathrooms and relaxing furnishings. One notable feature of the resort is that the ground floor rooms open onto a wide lateral pool that encircles the entire complex. These rooms are worth booking. You can lounge in your room and plunge in for a swim, paddle up to a nearby bar for a cool drink, or use the main pool. For meals, there is a sumptuous breakfast buffet and dinner options that include Asian Fusion, Turkish and continental cuisine served in surroundings that feature everything from aquarium tanks to Asian screens. 

During the day, there are many recreation and entertainment options available at the hotel including relaxing umbrella lounges and beach services, spa services, a golf course, tennis courts, and children’s programs. In the evening, you can experience something different by attending a musical show or other type of performance at the open-air theater which the Gloria Serenity shares with the hotel next door. Although the entertainment is sometimes presented in Russian or Turkish, the programs we saw were all interesting. 

DAY SEVEN – VISIT ASPENDOS AND SITES IN ANTALYA  

Private Driver and Guide-   For the next four days of your trip to Turkey, The Traveling American recommends that you retain a private guide to drive you and provide information about your destinations. Aykut Altinisik of Turkey Archeological Tours is based in Antalya and provides trip planning, transportation, and guide services for  travelers and small groups seeking a personalized travel experience in that region and arounds the country. (aykut@privatetours-turkey.com). Mr. Altinisik has been working as a guide for more than twenty years. He became interested in the tourism field to pursue his interest in ancient civilizations and cultures. In addition to studying archaeology in Turkey, he has been certified as a tourist guide. My family used Aykut to coordinate most of a long trip we took to Antalya and the Denizli and Mugla provinces.

Aspendos Theater- Your guide will take you to see several interesting places on this trip. Your first stop will be to tour the Roman amphitheater in Aspendos, which is the best-preserved theater from ancient times in the world. Built outside of a thriving Roman town around 155 AD during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the theater was constructed on the side of a hill. It featured seating for an estimated 7,500 people, a large stage and orchestra section, and a backdrop of columns and recessed chambers. There were large canopies to provide shade for the audience. The structure remained remarkably intact for almost two millennia in part because it was maintained during the Middle Ages as a caravanserai or waystation for travelers and camel caravans, and as a palace by the Seljuk Turks. Today, the restored theater is still used for live music and dance shows, an annual opera and ballet festival, and other performances.

Antalya Museum and Lower Duden Waterfalls- After enjoying lunch or a snack at a village restaurant, you will  head off to Antalya to see some of the interesting exhibits at the Antalya Museum of Archeology. This will be followed by a visit to the Lower Duden Waterfalls on the coast where the Duden River spills over the city cliff into the sea and a walk around the scenic seafront in Antalya’s historic district known as Kaleici. 

 DAY EIGHT – TRAVEL TURKEY’S MEDITERRANEAN COAST TO SEE THE SITES OF ANCIENT LYCIA ON THE WAY TO FETHIYE

On day eight of your trip, you will check out early from your hotel and head off to Fethiye with your guide stopping at several unique places along the way. The area from Antalya to Fethiye is known as Turkey's Mediterranean Coast. It is famous for beaches, tranquil coves, overnight "blue voyages,” the rock-carved tombs of the ancient Lycians, and the historic hiking trail known as the Lycian Way. Tourists vacation at large resorts there or stay at seaside cabins in quaint places like Kemer, Olympos, and Kas. 

Olympos- Your first stop after driving for about two hours will be at the beachfront of Olympos. Olympos is not your typical resort area. With modest ruins, pine trees and a sheltered coastline, the area has long been popular with backpackers and young people. It has a bohemian vibe which features small bars and simple lodging offerings ranging from treehouses to bungalows. The beautiful lagoons and swimming areas there are protected from development since this is a national park and a turtle preserve. Towering over you are tall mountains and a mystical hillside wonder called the Chimera which is ground that emits fire perpetually because of underground gases from the mountain. 

Fish Farm Restaurant-One of the delights of this area are local fish farms and seafood restaurants. These restaurants are built over streams by placing comfortable couches on docks just inches above your waiting lunch. One such restaurant, the Botanik, is located halfway down the mountain from the D400 highway at a place called Ulupinar. After asking for the fish dinner, my waiter grabbed two trout out of the stream, and threw them to the chef who quickly cleaned them up and cooked them in a stone pot with herbs, spices and couscous using a brick oven. The succulent meal was a delight that I can still taste today. 

Afternoon or Sunset Cruise from Kas – Your last stop of the day will be to drive about two hours to the popular community of Kas along the sea and take an afternoon or sunset cruise for several hours along the shore. Depending on the time available, the sites worth seeing in the area include the “sunken city” of Kekova, the rock tombs along the water, or the illuminated tombs in the mountain wall above Kas. However, the beauty of the sea in this area is stunning on its own. After leaving Kas, it is about a 90-minute drive to your hotel in the harbor of Fethiye. 

Hotel- Your hotel in Fethiye will be the seventeen room Lafarine Hotel which is a small facility located close to the waterfront and within walking distance of the shops, restaurants, and vessels (http//www.lafarinehotel.com). The hotel “seeks to provide a blend of modern comfort and warm Turkish hospitality with a high standard of service.” Its amenities include free internet, a free breakfast, an excellent patisserie for guests, and access to a restricted beach. 

DAY NINE –OLENDUIZ BEACH AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS

On day nine of the trip, there will be an opportunity to select from several exciting activities available in the Fethiye region and enjoy them with your guide. These include: 

Oludeniz Beach - The first thing most people like to do when visiting Fethiye is to travel a short distance to the famous Oludeniz Lagoon which is known for its turquoise water, white sand beach surrounded by a dense pine forest, and beautiful scenery. Although the beach is free from large resorts and private bathing areas, it is crowded but scenic place for taking pictures and going for a relaxing swim. Some people enjoy looking down on the beach from the heights of nearby Mt. Baba and others take paragliding trips for an aerial view. 

Butterfly Valley-  This beach is located between two large cliffs, so you reach it by taking a local boat trip there or hiking down to the beach from the clifftop. In addition to being a more remote beach than Oludeniz and partially shaded, the valley is the habitat of the Jersey Tiger butterfly. 

Saklikent Gorge- The Saklikent Gorge is a ravine located about eighteen miles from Fethiye where people hike inside the gorge by walking on wooden boardwalks built along the cliff above the river until they reach a waterfall at the end. Other activities there include rafting and relaxing in teahouses.

After taking in these sites, you can spend your evening enjoying the shops and restaurants in the waterfront old town section of Fethiye. 

 TEN – VISIT THE EXCELLENT RUINS AT APHRODISIAS AND TRAVEL TO PAMUKKALE

On day ten, you will check out of your hotel and drive with your guide from Fethiye to Aphrodisias. Your visit will include:

Seeing the Ruins and Museum at Aphrodisias- Ancient empires including the Assyrian, Greek, Persian, Lycian, and Roman built cities across the landscape of what is now modern Turkey. One impressive site that is often overlooked is the ruins at Aphrodisias, located to the southwest of Pamukkale about ninety minutes away, which have been excavated and studied with great intensity over the past three decades. The ruins are in the fertile valley of the Meander River with views of the nearby Akdag Mountains. Once people arrive, they are surprised to find an amazing and well-preserved complex to walk around with few visitors for several hours. It contains unique structures from the Greco-Roman world and a museum with hundreds of statues, friezes, sculpted panels, and sarcophagi on display.

Aphrodisias had an extensive marble industry and a famous school of sculpture. The city prospered because it had been loyal to Octavian and Mark Antony during the Roman civil war. In response, Octavian, who later became known as Emperor Augustus Caesar, arranged for a Senate decree granting the city freedom from direct Roman administration, immunity from Roman taxes, and asylum rights from prosecution. In addition, the city attracted powerful and well-connected Roman benefactors who contributed to civic life and construction projects. Eventually, the city fell to challenging times because of plagues, invasions from the east, religious strife and earthquakes and was abandoned in the seventh century until rediscovered in the 1800s. 

There are many interesting things to see at Aphrodisias, but the most important ones are the following:

• Tetrapylon – The Tetrapylon is a decorative gateway to the city that is often photographed because of its unusual design. 

• Theatre - Around 28 BC, the city excavated the eastern slope of the hill and built a large theatre there. The theater was expanded over the years and eventually included twenty-seven rows of seats and room for 7,000 spectators. 

• Stadium - The stadium built along the city’s northern wall had the capacity to seat almost 30,000 spectators above an oval field that was sixty-six yards wide and three hundred yards long with a single entrance through a tunnel at one end. Originally built for athletic contests such as wrestling, boxing, races and other competitions, the stadium later hosted animal hunts and gladiatorial events during Roman times. 

• Sebasteion – One unique feature of Aphrodisias is the reconstructed complex known as the Sebasteion. This elaborate structure was both a temple and a museum of sorts built by two wealthy families between 20 and 60 AD. Three stories high, the structure had picture-walls which displayed two hundred carved marble reliefs featuring various emperors, gods and myths revered by the Romans. One interesting group of murals featured caricatures of the numerous peoples conquered by Rome such as the Dacians, the Britons, the Judeans and the Gauls. Over one hundred of the carvings have been recovered. 

• Park and Pool – Another interesting feature of Aphrodisias is a 3.7-acre public park and pool. The pool was almost two hundred yards long and thirty yards wide. It featured marble benches, gardens, and shade trees that the public used for relaxation, board games, and swimming. 

• Museum – There is a modern, air-conditioned museum inside the gates at Aphrodisias that contains the statues and artifacts collected during the excavation process over the past five decades. One section displays mural carvings from the Sebasteion such as a famous sculpture of the crowning of Nero as Rome’s emperor by his mother Agrippina. 

After leaving Aphrodisias, your guide will drive you to your hotel in Pamukkale. 

Hotel- Your hotel for the next two nights will be a locally owned boutique hotel which is adjacent to the shops and restaurants serving the Pamukkale World Heritage site. Most important, the Hotel Hal-Tur provides comfortable rooms with a panoramic view of the mountain, a swimming pool, and an excellent breakfast. (https://www.hotelhaltur.com/). We were given a full suite on the rooftop floor with our own balcony for $200 per night. One should not expect all the comforts of home in this rural location, however, as you may hear the town’s roosters and the mosque’s call to prayer in the morning. 

DAY ELEVEN

Your last day of touring in Turkey will be full of unique experiences. Viewed from a distance, Pamukkale looks like an out of place ski resort that stretches for miles on top of a mountain range. Once you arrive at this World Heritage Site, you realize the sparkling white mountain is a limestone hot spring containing travertine terraces, small waterfalls, and heated spring water. It is one of Turkey’s most popular tourist attractions which attracts more than two million visitors annually. No guide is required to visit the sites in Pamukkale as everything is close by and easy to find. One way to reach the entrance to the site is to have the hotel direct you to the tram which takes you around the side of the mountain to the official entrance which is less than a mile away. The other is to walk up the smooth pathway located on the right side of the mountain (in your bare feet to avoid damaging the limestone). Once you arrive there are three different natural wonders and historic attractions to see at Pamukkale: 

View Pamukkale’s Pools and Terraces- At the top of the mountain, you can wade in some of the traventine pools and streams, walk along the pathways at the top of mountain to see the terraces, and enjoy the views of the valley below. One of principal features of Pamukkale is that its thermal warm waters, which are infused with dissolved calcium and carbon dioxide, are beneficial for the skin, the eyes, and a variety of ailments. How accurate are those claims? It is worth considering that the springs are adjacent to ruins of the ancient city of Hierapolis which include numerous commercial baths. This large city was built by King Attalus of Pergamon around 200 BC. For generations thereafter its “healing waters” were popular with the nobility of the Roman empire and the Byzantine empire.

Swim in Cleopatra’s Pool- One of its most famous visitors to Pamukkale in ancient times was Cleopatra. Mark Anthony built a sculpted pool for her next to a Roman Temple dedicated to the God Apollo so she and other visitors could enjoy the special waters. Destroyed by time and earthquakes, Cleopatra's pool is today a series of connected ponds in which guests can swim among massive columns from Apollo’s temple which lay strewn along the bottom. It is a worthwhile experience to wade in the pool for an hour or so after spending the day seeing the Pamukkale springs and trekking around the ruined city on the nearby hillside. There is a full-service locker room and café next to the pool where visitors can change, use the restroom, and purchase refreshments after enjoying the waters. You are required to bring your towel.

Explore the Hierapolis Ruins and the Tomb of the Apostle Phillip- Pamukkale became part of the Roman Empire when the King of Pergamon gifted all his possessions and cities to Rome in his will in 133 B.C. The ruins of the city and the necropolis next to it are not intact since large earthquakes in the 7th and 14th centuries rocked the region, covered most parts of the city with soil and limestone deposits, and eventually forced most of the inhabitants to desert the area. Nevertheless, the rebuilt amphitheater located up the hill from Cleopatra’s pool is an impressive structure that looks out on the entire site. 

Farther up the mountain is another unique ruin that shocked archeologists and Christian scholars. Hierapolis and other regions in southern Turkey such as Galatia, Phrygia and Lycia were at the heart of the areas proselytized by Jesus' apostles and later by Paul in first century. It has been long accepted by historians that the apostle Philip settled late in his life in Hierapolis with his family, preaching and healing to residents and the many visitors to the City's springs and spas. Some reports indicate that Philip was eventually crucified upside down by the Roman proconsul there after Philip converted his wife to Christianity. Several centuries later, when the now Christian Eastern Roman Empire ruled the region, church leaders built an octagon-shaped church high on the mountainside above Hierapolis to honor Philip using Byzantine arches and travertine stone from Pamukkale. In 2011, the archaeology world was excited by reports that an Italian professor had finally found the tomb of the martyred apostle and a Byzantine courtyard on a hillside beneath the church. While ignored by most visitors, you can visit the excavation zone and see the foundation of the ancient church and the actual tomb and the surrounding courtyard. It is a moving experience. 

DAY TWELVE - HEADING HOME AFTER ADVENTURE

On day twelve, it will be time to fly back to the United States. You will need to fly first to Istanbul in order to connect with your airline’s return flight to the United States. The good news is that most flights back to the United States arrive there only about eight hours after they depart because of the time differential. The bad news is that most of those U.S. flights leave during the afternoon, so it is important to get up early enough to catch a timely domestic flight to Istanbul. One alternative is to arrange with your hotel for a driver to take you to the region’s airport in Denilzi for an early morning Turkish Airline morning flight to the New Istanbul Airport. Another is to arrange a driver to take you to the more distant Antalya airport where there are several late morning flights to New Istanbul Airport. 

Notice: The information provided in this Dream Itinerary is true and accurate to the best actual knowledge of The Traveling American. However, my family's experience with any hotel, guide, attraction, airline, or company mentioned here may not reflect the experience of other travelers using these services. Travelers should rely on their own judgment and information in retaining any company mentioned on the website and in developing their itinerary.