Our hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer 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, usually with views of the travertines, the valley and ancient Hierapolis. Back on the ground you walk across the white terraces, where the mineral water is generally warm, and explore the ancient ruins, with an optional swim in Cleopatra’s Pool, paid for separately on site. In a single day you see Pamukkale both from above and up close, in the early morning light.
We pick up guests from hotels in Beldibi, Göynük, Kemer, Kiriş, Çamyuva and Tekirova.
Book your seat online in advance — places on the balloon flight are limited.
Hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer at a glance
- Hotel pickup: 00:30–01:30
- Hot-air balloon flight: included in the price
- Back at your hotel: 17:30–18:30
- Lunch: included in the price
- Free time in Pamukkale: about 3 hours
- Pamukkale entrance ticket: €30, paid separately on the bus
- Payment: in advance, in cash (€, $, ₺)
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 back to Kemer.
- Stop on the way back
A short break for the toilet and a tea or coffee.
- 17:30–18:30 | 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. Children under 6 cannot take part in this tour.
How does the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer 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 night drive and a café stop for breakfast
The timing is set by the balloons: they take off at sunrise, as the first rays of the sun light up the white terraces of Pamukkale.
While it’s still dark outside, you can sleep on the bus. On the way the group stops at a café where you can have breakfast. Breakfast is paid for separately: you can buy something to eat at the stop, bring your own snack or arrange a packed breakfast with your hotel beforehand.
Flying over the white terraces
At sunrise you climb into the balloon basket, and take-off is usually smooth. Below, the white terraces of Pamukkale typically come into view, along with the slopes, the footpaths and the grounds of ancient Hierapolis.
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 flies without sudden movements, so you can look down at your leisure, take photos and admire the white slopes in the morning light.
A barefoot walk on the white terraces
After the flight you head into Pamukkale and Hierapolis with your guide, who tells you the history of the place and explains the rules for walking on the travertines.
Pamukkale means “cotton castle” in Turkish. The white terraces were formed by hot mineral springs, which left calcium deposits on the slopes over the centuries.
In your free time you can walk barefoot on the travertines, feel the mineral water underfoot, which is usually warm, and take photos against the white cascades.
Ancient Hierapolis and the archaeological museum
The ancient city of Hierapolis lies right next to the travertines. Here you can see the ruins of its streets, the city walls, a large necropolis, the Church of St Philip and a Roman theatre.
Pamukkale and Hierapolis are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The entrance ticket to the Pamukkale site costs €30 extra and covers the travertines, Hierapolis and the archaeological museum, which displays finds from the region.
An optional swim over ancient columns in Cleopatra’s Pool
Cleopatra’s Pool is on the Pamukkale site. It’s a thermal spring filled with mineral water, with fragments of ancient marble columns lying on the bottom.
A swim in Cleopatra’s Pool is not included in the tour price; you pay for entry separately on the spot. If you’d rather not swim, you can spend the time walking around the travertines, Hierapolis and the museum.
Free time and a buffet lunch
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 walk the group goes for lunch. The buffet is included in the price of the tour.
Shops on the way and the return to Kemer
After lunch the programme includes stops at a textile centre, a traditional sweet shop and an onyx factory shop. There’s no obligation to buy anything: you can simply browse or rest after the walk.
After that, everyone returns to the bus and the group heads back to Kemer. On the way there’s a short stop for the toilet and a tea or coffee.
Guests are usually back at their hotels between 17:30 and 18:30. The exact time depends on which area your hotel is in, on traffic and on the overall pace of the group.
Who this tour is for
The hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer is a good fit if you’re happy to leave at night to see the sunrise from a balloon, and then want free time on the travertines and in Hierapolis, with an optional swim in Cleopatra’s Pool, paid for separately on site.
Book your seat online in advance — places on the balloon flight are limited.
Video of our Pamukkale tour
Press Play twice to start the video.
Choosing a Pamukkale tour from Kemer
Which Pamukkale tour to choose
From Kemer there are two ways to visit Pamukkale. Both take you to the white travertines, but they differ in programme and in what’s included in the price.
The classic option for seeing the highlights without rushing: the white travertines, ancient Hierapolis and the Pamukkale site. The Pamukkale entrance ticket and lunch are included in the price.
Hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer — $160
This option is for watching the sunrise from a balloon basket. The balloon flight and lunch are included; the €30 Pamukkale entrance ticket is paid to the guide on the bus. This is the tour described on this page.
For a relaxed trip with entry already included, choose the classic Pamukkale tour. If you’d love to see Pamukkale from the air, choose the balloon programme.
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
- Beldibi to Pamukkale: 260 km, about 3 hours 20 minutes
- Göynük to Pamukkale: 269 km, about 3 hours 30 minutes
- Kemer to Pamukkale: 276 km, about 3 hours 35 minutes
- Kiriş to Pamukkale: 282 km, about 3 hours 38 minutes
- Çamyuva to Pamukkale: 282 km, about 3 hours 38 minutes
- Tekirova to Pamukkale: 291 km, about 3 hours 45 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.
FAQ about the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer
How much does the hot-air balloon flight over Pamukkale from Kemer 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 Kemer?
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 leave at night, usually between 00:30 and 01:30. Leaving at night means you arrive in time for the sunrise balloon flight. Guests get back to their hotels between about 17:30 and 18:30. The exact time depends on which area your hotel is in and on traffic.
Is the balloon flight included in the price?
Yes, the flight is included in the price of the tour, so there’s nothing extra to pay for it. It takes place at sunrise and usually lasts 45–60 minutes.
Is the Pamukkale entrance ticket included in the price?
No. The ticket costs €30 and you pay it to the guide on the bus, so there’s no need to go to the ticket office. You can’t enter the Pamukkale site without it. It covers the travertines, ancient Hierapolis and the archaeological museum. Cleopatra’s Pool is 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 whichever currency suits you. Swimming is optional.
Is breakfast included in the price?
No, breakfast isn’t included. On the way there’s a stop where you can have breakfast at a café. 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?
About 3 hours are set aside for exploring Pamukkale at your own pace. In that time you can walk on the white travertines, see Hierapolis, visit the archaeological museum and, if you like, swim in Cleopatra’s Pool.
Can you walk on the travertines?
Yes, a special area is open for walking. Visitors walk on the travertines barefoot to protect the white calcium terraces, and the guide explains the rules beforehand. The water in the travertines is usually warm, so walking on them barefoot is pleasant.
Can you swim in the Pamukkale travertines?
You can’t really swim in the travertines. In the open area the water is shallow, usually about knee-deep. You can wade through the water, which is usually warm, sit by the white cascades and take photos. For a swim, Cleopatra’s thermal pool is the better choice.
What happens if the flight is cancelled because of the weather?
The flight depends on the weather and on safety conditions. If it’s cancelled in advance, before departure, we refund the amount you paid or offer to move your tour to another date.
If it’s cancelled while you’re already on the way to Pamukkale, the tour continues as planned 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 take-off the crew gives a briefing. The balloon usually rises and flies smoothly, with no sudden movements. The decision to fly is always made by the pilot and the organisers: if conditions aren’t safe, the flight doesn’t go ahead.
Is the flight suitable if I’m afraid of heights?
Many guests fly for the first time and feel quite at ease, because the balloon usually moves gently and smoothly. If you have a strong fear of heights, though, think carefully beforehand about whether a balloon flight is right for 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 exact rules are set by the balloon operator. If you’re travelling with a child, are pregnant 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, you can. This works well if one of you wants to fly and the other doesn’t, or if you’d simply like to visit Pamukkale on this route without the flight. Please ask our manager for the price without the flight. Mention it in the “Special Requests” field when you book, and the manager will confirm the details.
What should I bring for Cleopatra’s Pool?
If you plan to swim, bring swimwear and a towel. Swimming is optional: you can simply look at the pool and spend your free time on the Pamukkale site.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, families can join this tour as long as the child is at least 6 years old. It’s a long day, though: a night departure, a long drive and an early balloon flight, so it’s worth taking that into account beforehand. In Pamukkale, children usually enjoy walking on the travertines, where the water is generally warm, and exploring the ancient city.
How do I pay for the tour?
No prepayment is needed when you book on our website. 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 price is usually confirmed after you book. If the local operator changes the price, we’ll let you know in advance. No extra charge is added without your consent.
