Lake Salda: Our most recommended tours and activities

From Antalya/Kemer: Express Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip

1. From Antalya/Kemer: Express Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip

Admire the shimmering travertine pools of Pammukale and the vibrant blue Salda Lake on a guided day tour from Antalya. Explore the ruins of the Ancient Roman city of Hierapolis located beside the pools and enjoy some lunch in the city of Denizli on a full day of adventure. Start with pickup from your hotel in Antalya early in the morning. Travel first to Korkuetli, where you can purchase some breakfast or relax in a quiet cafeteria. Then, arrive at Pammukale for a guided visit of the ancient city of Hierapolis. Located on the site of thermal springs known for their therapeutic effects, discover the history of the city as you see the former city walls, ancient theatre, the Roman baths, and the necropolis. Next, walk towards the "Cotton Castle.", the famous white-washed mountain made of limestone. Make your way across the travertines of flowing water which splash across the limestone, creating shimmering pools along the mountain, perfect for photos or simply relaxing. At your discretion, you can pay on-site to access Cleopatra’s Antique Pool. Relax in rejuvenating thermal springs amongst ancient Roman columns. Afterward, travel a short distance to the nearby city of Denizli. Enjoy a tasty and freshly made lunch at a local restaurant. Hop back on the bus and head towards Salda Lake. Stroll along the white limestone shorelines of the vibrant blue lake and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere with one hour of free time. Enjoy some time to relax and reflect on your day. Hop back on the bus and travel back to Antalya, arriving in the evening with drop-off at your hotel.

From Side: Express Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip w/Meals

2. From Side: Express Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip w/Meals

Discover Pamukkale and Salda Lake with this full-day excursion from Side. Travel in air-conditioned comfort, and feel no pressure to buy anything on a shopping-free tour. Enjoy included hotel pickup and drop-off, breakfast, and lunch, and choose from a shared or private tour. After pickup at your hotel in Side, set off on your trip with your guide. To make the road trip more enjoyable, the tour stops at several places along the way. Make your first stop in Korkuteli to enjoy breakfast or relax in a quiet cafe. Next, head to the ancient city of Hierapolis for the first sightseeing stop. In Hierapolis, learn about its history as a therapeutic and spiritual center in antiquity. Hear about the city's thermal springs, and follow your guide to the ancient walls, the ancient theater, the Roman baths, and the necropolis. Continue walking to the imposing Cotton Castle, a whitewashed mountain made from limestone. Discover the mountain's natural pools shaped by water from the hot springs. Snap some photos of the springs, or take a dip if you prefer. If you want to see more thermal springs, continue on to Cleopatra's Pool, another famous spot nearby. Feel free to enjoy the pools here, but know that entry comes at an extra cost. Afterward, stop for lunch in the city of Denizli, the closest city to Pamukkale. Tuck into a freshly made lunch included with the tour, then visit a natural wonder in the area, Salda Lake. At Salda Lake, admire the exceptional natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere of one of the cleanest lakes in Turkey, and enjoy free time to explore the area. After Salda Lake, return to Denizli for dinner (not included). Take the chance to relax before the return journey to Side. The tour concludes with drop-off at your hotel.

From Alanya: Pamukkale and Salda Lake Guided Full-day Tour

3. From Alanya: Pamukkale and Salda Lake Guided Full-day Tour

Start your day with an early-morning pickup. Board an air-conditioned bus and stop first at a local restaurant in Korkuteli Town for breakfast.  Continue driving to Salda Lake, a pristine lake surrounded by white magnesium rocks similar to the ones found on Mars. Make a one-hour stop and enjoy walking along the white sandy beaches and swimming in the lake's clear turquoise waters.  After your refreshing break in the Turkish Maldives, head to Pamukkale. Stop at a local restaurant on the way and have lunch. Then get ready to see one of the world's most unique natural wonders with a 4-hour stop at Pamukkale and Hierapolis.  See firsthand why the hot springs were given the name Pamukkale, meaning "cotton castle" in Turkish. Stroll along the white calcium travertines overflowing with thermal water.  Swim in Cleopatra’s Pool and explore the ruins of the ancient Roman spa city of Hierapolis, which include the largest necropolis in Turkey and one of the largest amphitheaters.  Then swing through Karahayit where you will have the option to swim in a thermal pool. On the way back to Alanya, stop back in Korkuteli Town for a delicious dinner. Arrive back at your hotel at around 10:00 PM.

From Alanya: Exclusive Pamukkale and Salda Lake Day-Trip

4. From Alanya: Exclusive Pamukkale and Salda Lake Day-Trip

Pick up: The excursion begins early in the morning. A comfortable bus will pick you up from your hotel in Alanya. A local tour guide will welcome you in the bus and inform you about the final details of the schedule. Before arriving at the first stop of your tour, a short breakfast break will take place so you can refresh yourself. The Turkish Maldives: Salda Lake is famous as the Turkish Maldives. This is because the waters are turquoise and are surrounded by white sand and white rock formations. An interesting highlight is that the lake is the cleanest in the country. There, you will have one hour of free time to spend as you wish. During this time, you may swim into the lake or walk around to explore the majestic and exotic landscape. Do not forget to take some pictures as Salda Lake is truly stunning. Lunch: After an hour at the lake, the bus will transfer you towards Pamukkale. A lunch break will take place before reaching Pamukkale at a local restaurant. Ancient city of Hierapolis: Once you arrive at Pamukkale, the tour guide will take you to explore the ancient city of Hierapolis. This city used to be a spiritual and healing centre during antiquity. Among the things you can observe there are houses, a necropolis, a theatre, and Roman baths. The tour guide will let you know interesting facts about the history and the importance of the ruins. Cotton Castle: At Pamukkale there is also an impressive limestone mountain that has naturally shaped terraces filled with thermal water. The Cotton Castle is clearly an exceptional site to visit. Take your time to walk around and take some pictures of the site. In case you are interested in thermal pools, in Pamukkale you can also visit and swim in an antique thermal pool, the Cleopatra’s Pool. Please note that entering the pool comes at an extra cost. Return: When your visit in Pamukkale is over, you will return back to the bus. The return road trip will be perfect for relaxation and for some final views of the area. Return to your hotel is expected during the afternoon.

Alanya & Side: Guided Day Trip to Pamukkale & Salda Lake

5. Alanya & Side: Guided Day Trip to Pamukkale & Salda Lake

Start the tour with pickup from your hotel at 4:00 AM. Meet your guide and board the air-conditioned bus. Your first stop will be at Korkuteli Town, where you’ll stop for breakfast in a local restaurant. Next, continue the journey to Salda Lake. Once you’ve arrived at the lake, enjoy 1 hour to take photos and swim in the natural mud baths. After your swim, drive from Salda Lake to Pamukkale, stopping for lunch along the way. Following lunch, you’ll then visit the ancient city of Hierapolis, the Pamukkale Travertens, and the ancient Roman Kleopatra Pool. After a full day of exploring these history and scenic sites stop for dinner on the way and then be returned to your hotel between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

From Antalya: Hierapolis-Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip

6. From Antalya: Hierapolis-Pamukkale & Salda Lake Day Trip

After being picked up from your accommodation in Antalya, you will transfer to Pamukkale way (which was known as Hierapolis in ancient times), a 250 km drive that will take around 3.5 hours. On the way break 45 min İntersting Salda Lake.   there will be two breaks for coffee, tea, and breakfast. If you inform your hotel 1 day in advance of the tour, they may be able to prepare your breakfast to take with you (if breakfast is included with your accommodation).  Just before arriving in Pamukkale, there will be time to stop for lunch. Then, continue on towards the ancient holy city, located just 5 minutes from the lunch stop. Your guide will help you to gain an understanding of this ancient and fascinating city. Take some time to admire the natural spring water terraces or perhaps take a dip in the Cleopatra Pool (not included in the cost of the tour). Other highlights include the main street (also known as Colonnade Street) and the antique theater.    At the end of the day, transfer back to Antalya.

From Alanya: Pamukkale and Salda Lake Tour

7. From Alanya: Pamukkale and Salda Lake Tour

Marvel at the famous travertine terraces of Pamukkale and bathe in the warm thermal pools. Swim in Cleopatra's Roman Pool, then relax and have time to purchase a nice lunch. Continue to Lake Salda, known for its mineral-rich waters. Eat dinner then return to your hotel in Alanya. Start the journey at your accommodation in Alanya and travel to Pamukkale. Then, arrive here and bathe in the natural pools of the travertines. These pools have warm thermal waters and people often come here to help relieve discomfort. After this, head to the ancient city of Hierapolis. Check out the ruins of this ancient city and see the theatre and archaeological room. Visit Cleopatra's Roman Pool, a historic spa which dates back to Roman times. Swim in the water and relax. Afterward, take a break for lunch before the next part of the trip. Finish lunch and go to Lake Salda. Arrive at this crater-sized lake, which is famous for its mineral waters believed to have healing properties. Spend some time here, then go for dinner. Finally, transfer back to your accommodation in Alanya at the end of the day.

Antalya to Pamukkale Private Tour with Salda Lake

8. Antalya to Pamukkale Private Tour with Salda Lake

After being picked up from your accommodation in Antalya, you will transfer to Pamukkale (which was known as Hierapolis in ancient times), a 250 km drive that will take around 3.5 hours. On the was visit Salda Lake, 45 min break time.  There will be two breaks for coffee, tea, and breakfast. If you inform your hotel 1 day in advance of the tour, they may be able to prepare your breakfast to take with you (if breakfast is included with your accommodation).  Just before arriving in Pamukkale, there will be time to stop for lunch. Then, continue on towards the ancient holy city, located just 5 minutes from the lunch stop. Your guide will help you to gain an understanding of this ancient and fascinating city. Take some time to admire the natural spring water terraces or perhaps take a dip in the Cleopatra Pool (not included in the cost of the tour). Other highlights include the main street (also known as Colonnade Street) and the antique theater.    At the end of the day, transfer back to Antalya.

Other Sightseeing Options in Lake Salda

Want to discover all there is to do in Lake Salda? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Lake Salda

Overall rating

3.5 / 5

based on 51 reviews

Be prepared for a very long but fantastic day! I was picked up at 02.30 AM at my hotel in Alanya and was home again around 11.00 PM. The road there was long, but the beautiful scenery made it not particularly difficult. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were offered. There were also some shorter stops to stretch the legs, shop or go to the toilet. I traveled alone but still had a great time. Met new nice people on the trip. Salda lake was incredibly beautiful, but Pamukkale was still the best. Incredible beautiful! Among the coolest things I've been a part of.

The excursion must be done but the comfort in the bus for the journey remains to be desired.. my seat comes off the armchair.. apart from having to drive 10 hours for a 3.5 hour visit, it's hard to swallow too, but the landscape is good we are dealing with deserves all of this! Because there are several things to see on the site

It so nice to visit Pamukkale & Salda lake. Just a long journey from where we stayed on however it is good experience. Our guide from Pacho tours is so helpful, too. Lunch & dinner included & were delightful. Will recommend this activity when you visited Turkey. It is once in a lifetime experience.

הגענו למקום מהמם משהו שלא רואים כל יום נהנתי ממש שווה נסיעה

Unfortunately very touristy. But the tour itself was great