Hi, just come back from a brilliant holiday in Icmeler, Turkey (see separate review), and one of the places we took a trip to was Pamukkale. This was combined over two days with a trip to Ephesus, see also the review on Ephesus if you want details of the tour operator and prices.
Now for ... Read review
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Advantages: It’s gorgeous!! Disadvantages: Can’t think of any!!
...for Pamukkale…
Pamukkale is a place in the city of Denizli, which is about 200km from Marmaris, and about 150km from Izmir.
Pamuk-Kale literally means Cotton-Castle, which refers to the great tumbling hills of white stuff that you’ll see here. The white stuff is actually calcium, which is what is contained in the water here, and as it’s been flowing over many many years, it’s formed this huge natural wonder of a mountain ... .../>
On the Pamukkale sight, there is a tourist area with shops and a museum and a thermal pool, and also there’s the Necropolis, almost like a mini Ephesus. We walked around here for about 30 minutes in the morning when we first got there, it’s pretty cool, again, a mass of ruins, but not as good as Ephesus. The museum is free, although I don’t know what it’s like because we didn’t have time to go in.
Hi, just come back from a brilliant holiday in Icmeler, Turkey (see separate review), and one of the places we took a trip to was Pamukkale. This was combined over two days with a trip to Ephesus, see also the review on Ephesus if you want details of the tour operator and prices.
Now for Pamukkale…
Pamukkale is a place in the city of Denizli, which is about 200km from Marmaris, and about 150km from Izmir.
Pamuk-Kale literally means Cotton-Castle, which refers to the great tumbling hills of white stuff that you’ll see here. The white stuff is actually calcium, which is what is contained in the water here, and as it’s been flowing over many many years, it’s formed this huge natural wonder of a mountain of calcium, with little pools of water formed too. From pictures you see it looks like it’s ice cold but it’s actually warm.
Most of this place has been closed off to the public as it needs to be preserved, and it started to become all dry and grey. But there are some parts where you are able to go, your guide will show you these, but you have to take your shoes off first. It’s a weird feeling, when you walk on the hard part, it’s like really smooth, and grips to your feet really well, so you can climb up a little waterfall bit that’s at an angle without holding on to anything because it grips your feet so well, it’s really cool. Then when you step into one of the warm springs, underfoot it’s squelchy, like really soft white mud, and it feels sooooo lovely :) in some of the bigger pools you can just about lie down and get your body in the water but mostly people just paddle in them. I just can’t tell you how nice it is, you have to go and see for yourself! :)
On the Pamukkale sight, there is a tourist area with shops and a museum and a thermal pool, and also there’s the Necropolis, almost like a mini Ephesus. We walked around here for about 30 minutes in the morning when we first got there, it’s pretty cool, again, a mass of ruins, but not as good as Ephesus. The museum is free, although I don’t know what it’s like because we didn’t have time to go in.
One of the best bits is Cleopatra’s Pool; this is a pool of natural thermal water from springs which have come out of the ground, and is mineral rich and also has a few gases thrown in for good measure. I think it’s meant to be healing too, so lots of people like to bathe in it. This is one thing which will not be included in the price of your guided tour, it costs an extra 16 Million Turkish Lira, which is about £6.40. It’s well worth it though. The water is really nice and warm, and it’s plenty big enough for lots of people. There are ruins under the water too, like fallen columns and the like, they make nice perches half in the water. If you go into the deeper part, there’s a rope to hold onto if you’re not a strong swimmer. There’s also a random photographer who goes round taking photo’s which you can buy later at £2, and they’re really nice too, really capture the moment!
After spending a couple of hours here, we left and after around 20 minutes drive, came to the Denizli Textiles Factory. This was included in the price. Here we were given a guided tour again, by a very nice, English speaking, humorous guide. We were shown how girls who work here are taught to weave carpets, and shown various one’s in action, they are just so detailed and intricate, and some of the designs are so difficult to do. Every single knot in the carpet is done by hand. Then we were shown how they make threads of silk starting from the natural silk worm and it’s cocoon. We were also shown natural dyes and their different values, and then we were taken into a large room and sat on some comfy couches and given refreshments, which were followed by a very amusing half hour or so of people whirling different carpets at us and lots of audience participation, all a lot of fun, and we came out new experts (almost) of Turkish Carpets. Then we were allowed a free wander of the place to look around, and you could purchase goods from the shop, and we just sat outside for a leisurely half hour.
And that was the end of our trip. There’s lots to see around here but obviously Pamukkale itself is the best! If you haven’t seen it, you’ve got to go, it’s so cool!
Hope you enjoyed the read :) Let me know what you thought of it if you’ve been there too!
Advantages: An amazing natural wonder Disadvantages: That's all that is really there
...visit Pamukkale…
What is Pamukkale I hear you ask...? Well it is a huge white mass in the middle of the Turkish countryside about 20 km from the town of Denizli.
And how did this white mass get to be in the middle of the Turkish countryside...? Well that was due to a number of hot springs cropping up in the area containing a high level of minerals including chalk. And so because the hot springs contain a calcium-carbonate solution it layers ... ...Cotton Fortress but I think Pamukkale sounds much more interesting. What does Pamukkale look like...? The sight of Pamukkale in the middle of the countryside is one that will remain in my memory for a long time to come. It looks quite similar to the white cliffs of Dover, but is in the middle of a mass of green vegetation. I think that is the thing that is so shocking - you just don't expect this white blob to be there at all. Pamukkale is not all ...
ruth23 25.05.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Pamukkale (Turkey)
Advantages: A very good calcium deposit, very nice hotels Disadvantages: hotels can be full, and very expensive
...the way we went to Pamukkale and what we were greated with was something that was very amazing. Pamukkale is a massive calcium deposit that slopes down the side of a mountain. Hot water springs from the rocks and cascades down the side of the deposit. People are allowed to walk on the rocks but they aren't allowed to wear shoes or else it might damage the rocks. This is great fun and I enjoyed it thouroghly because there was so much that one could ... ...tapped into the geothermal wells and they pump the water into pools that people can swim in. However the hotels are quite pricy if you want a decent one with good facilities. Prices range from around $150US to around $350US for any good hotels. But even though price is expensive you don't just get a room to sleep in, you get a turkish bath, pools that are tapped into the warm water, swimming pools, hot tubs, and a lot more things. I wopuld recommend ...
Inferno 08.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Pamukkale (Turkey)
Advantages: Stunning Disadvantages: Long journey to get up to top
I know many people who have holidayed in Turkey on many occasions and have loved it. Whats not to like? The country is vibrant and friendly with loads to do and near perfect weather (even perhaps too hot). The beaches ae well maintained, the sea is warm and the locals are very friendly. It is rich mixture of both ancient culture and modern day amentities blended into a melting pot for everyone. And yet I feel many people visit this country and do ... ...has some of the most fantastic natural wonders on offer in Europe. I have visited a few of them but the definite winner by miles are the white mountains or as the Turks say 'Pamukkale' - a large collection of white mountains nestled in an otherwise green landscape offering some of the most amazing sights possible.
The mountains over centuries have turned white due to the calcum and lime present in the rock. All along the top are little pockets of ...
Charlotte288 04.02.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Pamukkale (Turkey)
Pamukkale is one of the most extraordinary places I have visited. The most important atraction are the calcarous formations that are here. They are like some flats of lakes... it seems to be winter. Imagine... Winter at 40 degrees . It's extraordinary. You must see it to belive it. There are hotels with pools made in one of that formation.The condition at the hotel are good. The sight is magnificant, I dont have words. There are some historical monuments ...
XMiKe 08.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Pamukkale (Turkey)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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When I heard first time that I won an trip in Turkey I wasn't too glad. That doesn't kept too much. Was enough to get there. I saw some maginifcant places. From calcarous formation from Pamukkale, ancient cities of Troy, Millet, Ephesus, to the magnificant Meditranean seaside. The metropols of Turkey are very developed. The base word for tukish people is trade. You will fin in Turkey a lots of bazaars, where you will trade with thousands of merchands which expose their products along the streets of the cities.Turkish people is very firendly. They will help you with anything you need. Enjoy your turkish trip! ...
XMiKe 08.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of General: Turkey
Advantages: Beautiful, historic and varied Disadvantages: The war with Iraq could cause anti-British feeling
and Heirapolis in the West, about three hours drive from the resort of Bodrum, is my favourite place to visit in Turkey. It is a remarkable natural phenomenon caused by calcium deposits - the word Pamukkale means “cotton castle” and if you ever go there you will understand why. As you approach the site, it looks like a vast snow topped cliff, but once you get closer you can see the 100 metre high plateau with its scallop shaped basins of calcium rich water and its “frozen” waterfalls. It really is quite a remarkable sight.
Nearby the ruins of the ancient city of Heirapolis, founded in 190 BC by Eumenes II, King of Pergamon, are well worth a visit, particularly for the necropolis, one of the best preserved ancient burial grounds in the country. The best part of Heirapolis for me, however, is the Roman hot springs ...
madamois_elle 30.03.2003
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