Our hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya is a full-day trip that starts at night, so that you’re at the white terraces of the “cotton castle” in time for sunrise. As the first rays of the sun appear, the balloon rises over Pamukkale, and you typically see the travertines from above, looking nothing like they do from the ground. Back on the ground you walk barefoot across the white terraces, where the water underfoot is usually warm, explore the ruins of ancient Hierapolis and, if you wish, swim in Cleopatra’s Pool for an extra fee paid on site. In a single day you see Pamukkale both from above and up close.
We pick up guests from hotels in Konyaaltı, Antalya city centre, Kaleiçi, Lara and Kundu.
Book your seat online in advance — places on the balloon flight are limited.
Hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 00:30–01:30
- Hot-air balloon flight: included in the price
- Back at your hotel: 18:30–19:30
- Lunch: included in the price
- Free time in Pamukkale: about 3 hours
- Payment for the tour: in cash, 1–2 days before the trip
- Pamukkale entrance ticket: €30, paid separately on the bus
Tour programme
- 00:30–01:30 | Hotel pickup
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed. We set off this early to reach Pamukkale by sunrise, when the balloons take off.
- Overnight drive to Pamukkale
Part of the journey is at night, so you can sleep on the bus. We suggest bringing a light jumper or jacket, as it can be chilly at night and at dawn.
- Café stop, breakfast optional
Breakfast is not included in the price. You can eat at the café during the stop, bring a snack or order a packed breakfast from your hotel in advance.
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight
As a rule, the balloon rises gently over the white terraces of Pamukkale. The flight usually lasts 45–60 minutes and is included in the price.
- Pamukkale with your guide
After the flight the guide tells you about the travertines and the ancient city of Hierapolis and explains the rules for walking on the terraces. The Pamukkale entrance ticket (€30) is paid for separately, to the guide on the bus.
- Free time in Pamukkale, about 3 hours
You can walk across the travertine terraces and explore the ancient city of Hierapolis and the archaeological museum. A swim in Cleopatra’s Pool is optional: entry costs €15 / $15 / ₺650, paid on the spot.
- Lunch at a restaurant
The buffet lunch is included in the price; drinks are extra.
- Shop stops
A textile centre, a traditional sweet shop and an onyx factory shop. There’s no obligation to buy.
- Back to the bus
At the agreed time the group meets at the bus and sets off on the return journey.
- Stop on the way back
A short break for the toilet and a tea or coffee.
- 18:30–19:30 | Back to your hotel
The exact time depends on which area your hotel is in, on traffic and on the overall pace of the group.
The guide may change the order of stops, but the programme as a whole stays the same. If necessary, the guide may swap one of the shops for another or make fewer shop stops. Children under 6 cannot take part in this tour.
How does the tour work?
Night departure from your hotel
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 00:30 and 01:30. We’ll put the exact pickup time for your hotel on your e-ticket once your booking is confirmed.
The tour starts at night because the balloons take off at sunrise, and the group needs to be there by then. The bus then heads for Pamukkale. The drive is at night, so you can sleep on the bus. On the way there’s a stop where you can have breakfast at a café. It isn’t included in the price, so you may want to bring a snack or arrange a packed breakfast with your hotel beforehand.
A sunrise flight over the travertines
At sunrise the balloon lifts off the ground, and on a typical flight the white terraces of Pamukkale open up beneath the basket. From above they look quite different from the way they look on the ground. You usually spend 45–60 minutes in the air, and the flight is included in the price of the tour. As a rule, the balloon climbs smoothly and flies calmly, with no sudden movements.
Barefoot on the white travertines of Pamukkale
Then you enter the Pamukkale and Hierapolis site with your guide, who tells you the history of the place and explains the rules: where you can walk and what to keep in mind. After that your free time begins.
Pamukkale is known as the “cotton castle” because of its white terraces, which look like snow from a distance. In fact they are calcium deposits: for centuries, water from hot mineral springs flowed down the slope and shaped these terraces. You walk on the travertines barefoot, the water underfoot is usually warm, and this is where people take the photos that many travel all the way to Pamukkale for.
Hierapolis, its Roman theatre and the archaeological museum
The ancient city of Hierapolis lies next to the travertines. In your free time you can see the ruins of ancient streets, the city walls, a large necropolis (an ancient cemetery, or “city of the dead”), the Church of St Philip and a well-preserved Roman theatre.
Pamukkale and Hierapolis are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Entry to Pamukkale costs €30 extra; the ticket covers the travertines, the grounds of the ancient city and the archaeological museum, which holds ancient artefacts and historical finds.
Cleopatra’s Pool: a swim over ancient marble columns
Cleopatra’s Pool, a thermal spring filled with mineral water, is on the Pamukkale site. Fragments of ancient marble columns lie on the bottom, so you swim right over them.
Cleopatra’s Pool is not included in the tour price and is paid for separately on the spot. Swimming is optional: you can take a dip or spend the time walking around Pamukkale and Hierapolis instead.
Free time, a buffet lunch and shops
You have about 3 hours of free time on the Pamukkale site. That’s enough to walk on the white terraces, see the main sights of Hierapolis, visit the museum and, if you like, swim in Cleopatra’s Pool.
After your free time the group has lunch at a restaurant; the buffet is included in the price. Then the programme includes shop stops at a textile centre, a traditional sweet shop and an onyx factory shop. There’s no obligation to buy.
The return to your hotel
At the agreed time, everyone returns to the bus and the group heads back. On the way there’s a short stop for the toilet and a tea or coffee. You’re back at your hotel between about 18:30 and 19:30. The exact time depends on which area your hotel is in, on traffic and on the overall pace of the group.
Three Pamukkale tours: which one to choose?
From Antalya there are three ways to visit Pamukkale. They differ in programme and in what’s already included in the price:
- Pamukkale from Antalya ($65) — the Pamukkale entrance ticket and lunch are included.
- Lake Salda and Pamukkale from Antalya ($75) — breakfast, lunch, dinner and the Pamukkale entrance ticket are included, and the day also takes in a stop at Lake Salda.
- Hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya ($160) — lunch and the balloon flight are included; the Pamukkale entrance ticket (€30) is paid separately. This is the tour on this page.
What is included
- Hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Air-conditioned bus
- English-speaking guide
- Lunch at a restaurant
- Insurance
What is not included
- Pamukkale entrance ticket — €30
- Cleopatra’s Pool — €15 / $15 / ₺650, in the currency of your choice; optional
- Breakfast at a café on the way — optional
- Drinks with lunch
- Personal expenses: photos, souvenirs and other purchases
What to bring
- Swimwear for Cleopatra’s Pool
- Towel
- Comfortable shoes for walking around Pamukkale
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a sun hat
- Drinking water and a light snack, if you like
- A light jumper or jacket, as it can be chilly at night and at dawn
- Camera or phone
- Cash for the Pamukkale entrance ticket, Cleopatra’s Pool and personal expenses
Discounts
- $1 off for each person in your booking who follows our Instagram (@goldwaytravel)
Distance to Pamukkale
- Konyaaltı to Pamukkale: 245 km, about 3 hours 20 minutes
- Antalya city centre to Pamukkale: 247 km, about 3 hours 25 minutes
- Kaleiçi to Pamukkale: 248 km, about 3 hours 30 minutes
- Lara to Pamukkale: 255 km, about 3 hours 35 minutes
- Kundu to Pamukkale: 257 km, about 3 hours 35 minutes
Distances and travel times are based on Google Maps and are intended as a guide. The actual journey time depends on traffic and on how long it takes to pick up guests from other hotels.
Video of our Pamukkale tour
See what the day looks like
Press Play twice to start the video.
FAQ about the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya
How much does the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya cost?
Adults and children $160; children under 6 can’t take part. The price includes the balloon flight, lunch, an English-speaking guide and hotel transfer.
How do I book the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Antalya?
Choose the date and the number of adults and children in the “Online Booking” form; the total is worked out automatically. In the form that opens, enter your full name, hotel, WhatsApp number and email, then send it. No prepayment when you book: the tour is paid in cash 1–2 days before the trip, and our manager will tell you when and where to pay. The Pamukkale entrance ticket (€30) is paid to the guide on the bus. Once your booking is confirmed, we send you an e-ticket with the exact pickup time via WhatsApp or Telegram. For step-by-step instructions with pictures, see
“How to book a tour”.
What time does the tour start and finish?
We pick up guests at the hotel gate, by the security post, just past the barrier, between about 00:30 and 01:30. Leaving this early means you’re at Pamukkale for sunrise, when the balloon flights begin. You’re back at your hotel between 18:30 and 19:30. The exact times depend on which area your hotel is in and on traffic.
Is the balloon flight included in the price?
Yes, the balloon flight is included in the price of the tour, so you don’t pay anything extra for it. It takes place at sunrise and usually lasts 45–60 minutes.
Is the Pamukkale entrance ticket included in the price?
No, the entrance ticket is paid separately. It costs €30 and you pay it to the guide on the bus, so there’s no need to go to the ticket office. The ticket is compulsory: you can’t get onto the Pamukkale site without it. It gives you access to the travertine terraces, the ancient city of Hierapolis and the archaeological museum. Cleopatra’s Pool is also paid for separately.
How much does Cleopatra’s Pool cost?
Entry to Cleopatra’s Pool costs €15 / $15 / ₺650. You pay at the ticket office on the spot, in any of the three currencies. Swimming is optional.
Is breakfast included in the price?
No, breakfast isn’t included. On the way we stop at a café where you can have breakfast. If you prefer, bring a light snack or ask your hotel to prepare a packed breakfast. Lunch at a restaurant is included in the tour price.
How much time will we have in Pamukkale itself?
You have about 3 hours of free time in Pamukkale. That’s enough to walk on the travertines, see the ruins of Hierapolis and, if you like, swim in Cleopatra’s Pool.
Can you walk on the travertines?
Yes, a special area is open for walking. The guide explains the rules: visitors walk on the terraces barefoot so as not to damage the calcium deposits. The water in the travertines is usually warm.
Can you swim in the Pamukkale travertines?
You can’t really swim in the travertines: in the area open to visitors the water is shallow, usually about knee-deep. Instead, you can stand in the water, which is usually warm, sit by the white cascades and take photos. For a proper swim, the Pamukkale site has a separate thermal pool, Cleopatra’s Pool.
What happens if the flight is cancelled because of the weather?
Whether the balloons fly is decided with the weather and safety in mind. If the flight is cancelled in advance, before the tour sets off, we refund the amount you paid or move your tour to another day. If it’s cancelled during the trip, on the way to Pamukkale, the programme continues with the visit to Pamukkale. The difference between the price of the balloon tour and a regular Pamukkale trip is refunded the same day, once the group is back at the hotel.
Is a hot-air balloon flight safe?
Flights only take place in suitable weather and with an experienced pilot in charge. Before the flight the crew gives a briefing. The flight is usually calm and smooth, with no sudden movements. If conditions aren’t safe, the flight doesn’t go ahead.
Is the flight suitable if I’m afraid of heights?
The flight is usually smooth, and many guests are perfectly comfortable even the first time. If you have a strong fear of heights, though, it’s important to work out beforehand whether this kind of trip suits you: you can’t leave the basket before landing.
Are there any restrictions on the balloon flight?
Children aged 6 and over can fly. A height of at least 120 cm is usually required too, but the final conditions depend on the balloon operator’s rules. If you’re flying with a child, are expecting a baby or have any medical conditions, please check whether you can take part when you book.
Can I travel with the group without the balloon flight?
Yes, that’s possible. You can travel with the group on this route and spend time in Pamukkale without flying, for example if one of you doesn’t want to fly, or if you’d simply like to see Pamukkale on this programme. Please ask our manager for the price without the flight. Mention it in the “Special Requests” field when you book, and our manager will get in touch with you.
What should I bring for Cleopatra’s Pool?
For a swim you’ll need swimwear and a towel. Swimming is optional: if you prefer, you can simply take a look at the pool.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, the tour is suitable for families with children aged 6 and over. It’s a full day, though: a night departure, a long drive and a sunrise flight, so bear that in mind if you’re travelling with children. In Pamukkale you can walk on the travertines and around the ancient city, and the water in the travertines is usually warm.
How do I pay for the tour?
Booking on our website is free: no prepayment is needed when you book. The tour itself is paid for in cash 1–2 days before the trip, because places on the flight are reserved in advance and are limited. After you book, our manager will tell you when and where to pay. The Pamukkale entrance ticket (€30) is paid separately to the guide on the bus.
How is the tour price confirmed?
The tour price is usually confirmed after you book. If the local operator’s terms lead to a price change, we’ll let you know in advance. No extra charge is made without your consent.
