Soak In The Beauty Of Turkey's Ancient White Mineral Pools Dating Back To Roman Times

With its fairytale rock chimneys and ancient hermit caves in Cappadocia, the stunning ancient ruins at Ephesus, and the giant statues of ancient gods at Mount Nemrut, Turkey boasts more than its fair share of stunning real-life fairy tale destinations. Whether it's climbing narrow trails in the Pontic Mountains to Byzantine monasteries hidden in ravines or exploring a city built entirely underground at Nevsehir, Turkey is filled with bucket-list destinations, most of which can be visited on a budget. 

But even somewhere as famously magical as Turkey still has the capacity to surprise. Overlooked by the ancient city of Hierapolis, the spectacular rock formations and otherworldly pools, terraces, and natural fountains of Pamukkale are one of the most mesmerizing places on Earth, and somewhere that has to be seen to be believed. 

The Pamukkale Water Terraces or travertine basins are found just outside the city of Denizli in western Anatolia, in a fertile valley not far from the Aegean coast. Formed by natural hot springs that cascade down from 525-foot cliffs, this alien landscape is also overlooked by the ancient necropolis and ruined temples of antiquity. Denizli is about 12 miles away, reachable by taxi and by local buses. The local airport, Denizli Cardak, is 40 miles away and is served by flights from Istanbul and Tehran. The nearest international airports are Izmir, Bodrum, Dalaman, and Antalya, all of which are within a two- to three-and-a-half-hour drive.

The brilliant white terraces of Pamukkale are a truly mind-bending sight. Created by calcite-heavy waters running down the slope of the escarpment and collecting in pools, rivulets, and basins, they form natural mineral baths, gently heated by thermal springs. Pamukkale means "Cotton Castle'" in Turkish, and perfectly describes the bizarre scenery that looks like it has been covered in a layer of fresh, crisp snow, creating an eye-catching contrast with the sparkling azure water of the pools. 

Exploring this cotton-candy mountain is an extraordinary experience. You could quite easily spend most of your time just drinking in the amazing views and the stunning contrast of glittering white hillside and bright blue waters in the middle of the rugged Anatolian countryside. But you don't have to settle for taking the perfect photograph. You can explore the mountain (barefoot only, so bring a bag for your shoes), and paddle and soak in the warm, healing waters of this gorgeous natural wonder. 

The site has been known for the healing properties of its waters for centuries, and has been a spa destination since Roman times. The city of Hierapolis was founded around the terraces in the 2nd century B.C., and it was used for swimming and soaking, as well as various religious practices, until it was finally abandoned after an earthquake in 1354 AD. The archaeological sites nearby are well worth exploring as well, including an ancient Greek temple dedicated to Apollo, an early Christian Martyrium of St. Philip, the remains of a Roman amphitheater, and the largest ancient necropolis in Turkey.

The Pamukkale Water Terraces are a marvel of nature, but they are also incredibly fragile. Indeed tourism, since the late 1800s has caused damage and significant wear and tear. In recent years, significant efforts have been made to preserve the site. It received UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1988, and hotels that had been at the top of the site were demolished. The pools are now heavily restricted, with the water flow controlled and public access managed so that only eight to 10 pools are filled and accessible at any one time. This means that the views are not quite as dramatic as they once were, but that the site is now protected and preserved for the future. 

While the undoubted highlight of Pamukkale is the hot springs, there are plenty of other attractions worth taking time to enjoy. In classic Turkish tourism fashion, adventurous travelers can head into the skies, either with an early morning hot air balloon ride to watch the sun rising over the ruins or paragliding over the incredible landscapes. There are also guided tours to the nearby ruins of Aphrodisias, the home of the cult of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. 

The best place to stay to really experience this amazing site is in the nearby village of Pamukkale. It is a tiny spot, with a few boutique hotels and guesthouses like the Venus Suite Hotel and the Bellamaritimo Hotel, as well as a variety of thermal spa hotels in the nearby village of Karahayıt, such as Halici Hotel, which offers the full Turkish bath experience, as well as massages and spa treatments.