Aphrodisias & Pamukkale – 2 days incl. flight & hotel

Aphrodisias is Ephesus without the crowds: a marble city whose school of sculptors was in demand throughout the Roman Empire. We fly in the morning from Istanbul to Denizli and have the whole first day for Aphrodisias. You spend the night in a 4-star thermal hotel in Pamukkale; on day two we walk through Hierapolis, across the travertines and on to Laodicea before you fly back in the evening.

Highlights

• Domestic flight Istanbul – Denizli and back, departing from IST or SAW
• Aphrodisias (UNESCO): Tetrapylon, Temple of Aphrodite and Bouleuterion
• The best-preserved stadium of antiquity for about 30,000 spectators
• Sebasteion reliefs and portrait statues in the Aphrodisias Museum
• Hierapolis and the white travertine terraces of Pamukkale
• One night in a 4-star thermal hotel, all transfers, guide on both days

Full description

Aphrodisias was dedicated to the goddess of love and lived from the marble of the nearby mountains. Its sculptors signed works from Rome to North Africa. We walk through the splendid Tetrapylon to the Temple of Aphrodite, the Bouleuterion and the stadium, so well preserved that you can walk almost all of its rows of seats. In the museum we see the reliefs of the Sebasteion, an imperial cult building with scenes from mythology and Roman conquest.

On day two we walk through Hierapolis – necropolis, theatre and up to the Martyrium of the apostle Philip – then barefoot across the white terraces. In the afternoon we visit Laodicea, the "lukewarm" church of Revelation (Rev 3:14–22), before you fly back from Denizli airport to Istanbul in the evening.

For you this means: you book everything in one step – flights, hotel, transfers and guiding – at one fixed total price.

What we see

We adapt order and selection to weekday, opening hours, weather and your wishes.

• 1 · Day 1 · Flight Istanbul – Denizli
  Morning pick-up at your hotel, transfer to IST or SAW airport, flight to Denizli (DNZ), drive to Aphrodisias (approx. 1 hr 30 min).
• 2 · Day 1 · Aphrodisias
  Tetrapylon, Temple of Aphrodite, Bouleuterion, theatre, stadium and museum with the Sebasteion.
• 3 · Day 1 · Thermal hotel in Pamukkale
  Drive to Pamukkale, evening at the 4-star thermal hotel.
• 4 · Day 2 · Hierapolis and travertines
  Necropolis, theatre, Martyrium of Philip, barefoot across the white terraces.
• 5 · Day 2 · Laodicea
  Colonnaded street, church and theatre of the church of Rev 3:14–22.
• 6 · Day 2 · Flight back to Istanbul
  Drive to Denizli airport (DNZ), evening flight, in Istanbul transfer back to your hotel.

Included

• Private, state-licensed tour guide in your language (Mehmet Humayunoğlu or an experienced colleague from his team)
• Day 2 as a separate tour: guide and vehicle with driver for Hierapolis, Pamukkale and Laodicea
• Domestic flight Istanbul (IST or SAW) – Denizli (DNZ) and back
• 1 night in a 4-star thermal hotel in Pamukkale
• Transfer hotel Istanbul – airport and back
• Vehicle with driver from and to Denizli airport (DNZ) for day 1
• Planning, coordination and time management of both days

Not included

• Entrance fees (Aphrodisias, Hierapolis/Pamukkale, Laodicea, ancient pool)
• Lunch and dinner, drinks
• Personal expenses, tips

Meeting point

We pick you up early in the morning at your hotel in Istanbul and bring you back there at the end of the tour. Departure airport is either Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).

You will recognise me by the sign “MeinReiseleiter.de” and the visibly worn guide licence. We confirm meeting point and time with your booking.

Important information

German, English, Turkish, French, Italian, Spanish – 25 more languages on request.

• Names as in your passport – We issue the flight tickets in the names you enter in the booking form. Please write them exactly as in your ID or passport.
• Bring your ID – All travellers need their passport or national ID card for the domestic flight.
• Flight times – We confirm the exact flight times and your hotel pick-up time with the booking.
• Rooms – Two adults share a double room; with an odd number or on request there are single rooms. Children sleep in their parents' room at no extra charge.
• Thermal pool – Most thermal hotels in Pamukkale have a thermal pool – bring swimwear.
• MuseumPass Aegean – Valid among others for Aphrodisias and Hierapolis/Pamukkale. Can be added in the booking form; paid in full with the deposit and non-refundable. Children under 8 do not need a pass.