the day we went to pamukkale
The turquoise water in the white pools of Pamukkale has always been a major drawcard for us to visit Turkey. The travertine pools and terraces always looked so magical. We knew we had to see them.
The day we visited, the temperature was well into the 30s (Celsius). The glare of the sun was blinding as it bounced of the limestone and the heat was staggering.
In our haste to take photos and begin exploring the site, we were not concentrating on where we were walking and both stepped into a muddy, sludgy spot along the boardwalk. We probably don’t need to describe much more because everyone should know what thongs (i.e. flip-flops) in mud equals, right? An impeding ungraceful flailing of arms to steady ourselves; Le grabbing onto David, David almost losing his balance and then so forth and so forth. A scene from a black and white Charlie Chaplin film comes straight to mind as to how we must’ve looked.
After what felt like a lifetime of erratic arm movements to steady ourselves, but probably only 20 seconds in reality, we escape the mud traps. Only to then have to walk along a wooden boardwalk with what felt like glue on the soles of our feet!
Off came the footwear as we made a beeline for the travertine pools. It was a welcome relief to be able to dip our feet.
Wading through knee-deep hot spring water felt simply refreshing until we almost slip on the uneven, slimy floor of the pools. Looking around, we felt like the two most uncoordinated people on land and now in water. It didn’t bother us…. On we walked through pool after pool.
We gave up on photographing by this stage because the entire experience had become “awkward” to say the least. Us juggling our hat, sunglasses and our backpack while we tried to stay upright would just end up with our big camera going for an unwanted dip in the hot springs. It was from this experience we decided to get ourselves a really awesome compact camera for these type of situations.
The experience was slightly less magical than we envisaged but we still enjoyed our time at Pamukkale and were glad to have visited. Although the pictures we captured are hardly anything like other photos we’ve seen…. We hope the ones we have shared can give a little bit of insight into the beauty that is Pamukkale.
If you ever visit Pamukkale, there is also a swimming pool (with entrance fee) where you can swim among ancient ruins. We didn’t take any photos to share as that might’ve been a little creepy for the fellow pool-goers.
Wise Monkeys Trivia: Pamukkale translates to “cotton castle” and has an ancient city called Hierapolis built just above it.
Hierapolis-Pamukkale was listed as a
UNESCO Heritage site in 1988.
To see the other UNESCO sites we have visited,
visit our unofficial bucket list
As with all our posts, we welcome your comments and thoughts.
wise monkeys abroad 
March 14, 2016 at 7:58 am
What a information of un-ambiguity and preserveness of precious experience on the topic of unpredicted feelings.
March 7, 2015 at 12:01 am
[…] Think you know where the Wise Monkeys Abroad took the photo above? You can check your answer and read about their experience at these pools by clicking here. […]
December 9, 2014 at 11:24 pm
[…] we recently wrote about how we enjoyed our time there but when we first laid our eyes on it. Were we disappointed? Hell yeh! It wasn’t anywhere […]
December 8, 2014 at 5:38 pm
It’s a beautiful place. I went there on a tour a few years ago, they didn’t give us nearly enough time to really explore or to spend time soaking in the pools. I would love to visit Turkey again by myself someday to be able to spend more time doing things like that. Thanks for reminding me of such amazing experiences. 🙂
December 9, 2014 at 8:40 am
Delighted to hear that you enjoyed the stroll down memory lane. Turkey is such a fascinating place – we never got to Cappadocia so that is on our to-do list when we go back 🙂
Hope you are well!
December 8, 2014 at 5:27 am
this looks like a must see place! Thanks for sharing 🙂
December 8, 2014 at 10:58 am
It is definitely a must see! Hope you add it to your list 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by and taking the time to leave a comment.
December 7, 2014 at 9:24 pm
Impressive place to be there! Would love to visit it someday, your pictures and post make me want to go there sooner!! 🙂
December 8, 2014 at 10:59 am
Glad to have inspired you and we do hope you get to go soon. The beauty that is travel blogging, we are forever inspiring one another with different destinations.
Hope you are well and thanks for visiting 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 7:58 pm
Such an amazing place! I enjoyed every moment although I did forget my swimsuit so couldn’t really enjoy the warm pools.
December 7, 2014 at 8:55 am
LOL – we didn’t swim either but we waded through as far as our thighs! So if we had tripped and fallen – we would’ve been soaked through!
It is such a cool place 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 4:56 pm
Beautiful captures! When I went there a month back, it was absolute crowded.. Am sure you had your sunglasses on 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:02 pm
That’s awesome you were there only a month ago 🙂 Isn’t just something there? 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:06 pm
It was absolutely beautiful there.. specially the view from the top.
December 6, 2014 at 7:32 am
Now I have another new place to add to my list. I haven’t heard of Pamukkale so I’ve really enjoyed your lovely photos. What an amazing place to visit.
December 6, 2014 at 8:09 am
Definitely worth a visit – Thanks for your lovely comment! Glad we were able to inspire or share somewhere new for you 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:42 am
The pictures are amazing, looks heavenly!
December 6, 2014 at 8:10 am
Thank you kindly! Pamukkale is so unique that it just takes your breath away 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:40 am
Oh, I would have loved to visit this place! I’ve seen it in photos but I read that not all pools are filled all the time? And not to worry about being uncoordinated and all, I do that to myself all the time, even when I’m by myself! Haha…:)
December 6, 2014 at 5:09 pm
You probably are only uncoordinated when you are jet lagged and walking up 5 flights of stairs with a backpack on your back 😉
Yes, we felt the amount of water we saw wasn’t “like the tourism pictures” but it still was plentiful for everyone there 🙂
December 7, 2014 at 2:07 am
Lol, not my finest moment there..haha..but glad to know the pools are surviving! 😄
December 6, 2014 at 12:30 am
Very beautiful! I have a new destination to add to my travel list. 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:07 pm
The list just grows, right?! So glad we were able to inspire you with one of the places we visited 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 10:07 pm
That first shot it fantastic! really gives a great overall view of the place, but man it was hot there, wasn’t it? I think the day we were there, it was something crazy like 43 degrees. 😮 Those pools were seriously refreshing, with all that heat and humidity.
December 6, 2014 at 5:05 pm
Yep! It was 30 something at like 10 am so we can only imagine by noon and the early afternoon how high it would’ve been hitting! The pools were unbelievably refreshing.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 4:23 pm
Wow. This place looks surreal!
December 5, 2014 at 6:47 pm
It was pretty surreal for us being there. Thanks for reading and hope you have a fab weekend 🙂
December 6, 2014 at 5:23 pm
you too have a great weekend ahead 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Awesome landscape. I also thought snow at first, but 30 degrees brought me back to reality. I can imagine the reflected heat and glare.
December 5, 2014 at 6:46 pm
It does look like snow…. but goodness FAR from it! Sunglasses are a must on a sunny day!
December 5, 2014 at 12:41 pm
Ohh this has been on my list for so long… Absolutely stunning! Was it easy enough to get to??
December 5, 2014 at 6:49 pm
It was incredible to visit. We were on a bus trip down the west coast of Turkey so it was a long trip …. but believe you can fly to Denizli and bus it to Pamukkale. Well worth staying in the region as there is plenty to see 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 12:09 pm
I want to be there, just beautiful!!!
December 5, 2014 at 6:45 pm
It really is a beautiful place! Never experienced anything like it before 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 9:06 am
That looks incredible! And I’d never even heard of that place!
December 5, 2014 at 9:53 am
Hey Linda, it is a pretty unreal place. Worth visiting if you happen to be in Turkey! Hope you have a great weekend 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 9:55 am
It’s shaping up to be that way – like every weekend here 🙂 Same to you!
December 5, 2014 at 5:54 am
This place is incredible! Next time I go to Turkey I need to go there… if on the pictures it already looks amazing, I can only imagine how it must be in person 😀
December 5, 2014 at 9:54 am
Allane, it was a little “pinch ourselves” kind of moment when we were there. We have wanted to visit this place for ages so when we were there, it was very exciting! Hope you have a great weekend!
December 7, 2014 at 2:52 am
hahahaha really? Amazing… I know the feeling 😉
I hope you have a great weekend too!!
December 5, 2014 at 3:59 am
I agree – while it is not quite magical anymore (my guess is due to the number of people there), Pamukkale is still pretty cool. Though the sunset colours against the white stone were quite pretty. And my feet were lovely after walking through that mineral-rich water, lol.
December 5, 2014 at 9:56 am
LOL not magical due to the number of people, due to us slipping and sliding… the heat! A multitude of things but in our heads, we still enjoyed it! Definitely soft and supple feet after the walk 😉
December 5, 2014 at 12:49 am
Pamukkale seems so cool! What a unique place in our big world. Glad you didn’t totally fall over 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 9:57 am
We certainly do live in a unique and interesting world. So many fascinating things for us to all to explore and enjoy! Us falling over would’ve meant an even less magical experience 😉
December 4, 2014 at 11:13 pm
Slipping and sliding around, Monkeys. Glad that you brought your sunnies along, that limestone certainly looks blinding and can hurt the eye. But flip flops? 😀 That footwear is not something I’d wear to a tourist place or walking…but they are so comfortable!
I thought your photos of Pamukkale looked great. It certainly looks like a sparse, peaceful place where the time slows down 🙂
December 5, 2014 at 10:00 am
Thank you Mabel. We had flip flops because we knew we had to be bare foot in the pools so we chose the easy option for slipping on and off. LOL! We live and we learn that flip flops are not for everywhere despite how comfortable they are! Sending you wonderful vibes for the weekend and hope Melbourne is enjoying some summer weather!
December 5, 2014 at 11:37 pm
Flip flops are certainly not for every occasion. After all, they are flimsy. One 40’C day last summer, I was crossing the road in a fancy pair of flip-flops I bought in Malaysia. The left one just fell apart and my foot touched the searing asphalt 😀
Weekend’s upon us, Monkeys. Have a good one!
December 6, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Oh dear…. hot asphalt and a bare foot would’ve be scalding!! Yikes!! Hope your foot was ok 🙂 A broken flip flop would’ve called for a mini shopping expedition no doubt! Great excuse to buy more footwear 😉
Have a fabulous weekend – we have JUST become aunty and uncle AGAIN so spending time with our new little nephew.
December 4, 2014 at 10:51 pm
I only saw that place on tv and books before but never knew the name. It does look like a very interesting place
December 5, 2014 at 10:02 am
It is well worth a visit … The TV and the books never really show the amount of people swarming of the opportunities for slipping in water lol!
Hope you and your family enjoy the weekend ahead!
December 4, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Become came there, I thought it was snow. Amazing to see those white rocks and its spring. Did you try Cleopatra pool?
December 5, 2014 at 10:04 am
Yes we did! As we said, we didn’t take any photos as we thought it might have been a bit creepy for our fellow pool-goers 🙂
It is a very unique landscape to see.