Pamukkale/Ephesus - Advice wanted

[4wilts]

Our son who is 14 is history mad and would love to visit either Pamukkale or Ephesus, we will be in Icmeler last week of July into August. Can anyone tell me is this a really long trip, how much travelling involved etc. If we book direct with ICR what can we expect on the trip, any info. much appreciated. Thanks

[markbullock]

hi,,,we did this trip some years ago and yes it is a very very long journey we chose to stay overnight as i would imagine it to be near impossible to go to pamukale and return in one day ,,very nice place tho,hope this helps,we are in icmeler from 30th july till 13th august,

[4wilts]

Thanks for that, I'm not a very good traveller and that mixed with the heat, think I will have to try and tempt him with something else. We arrive 24th July, flying from Manchester home on the 10th August.

[Erik The Viking]

We did pamukkale there and back in a day and believe me its the longest journey ever! if you like i can post all the pics and save you the trip!

[4wilts]

Would love to see your pictures - will then try to assure son that he really wouldn't like all that travelling and in the heat too would not be nice. Thanks.

[andytaj]

We went to Ephesus whilst on holiday in Kusadasi.

It's only about 5 miles from there, so a mighty bit easier to do.

Advice if you do go though, is to try and go independently. Our trip was arranged through F***t C****e and we were whizzed through Ephesus so they could take us to the ceramics and Turkish Delight outlets nearby.

If you have the time, I would suggest you go and spend the whole day there. We went back and did the same. 10 Lira plus 5 for the guide book.

It is well worth it, even if you only get a couple of hours there.

Andy and Tracey

[JT]

There is a 2 day trip listed here

http://www.icmeleronline.com/icmeler_excursions.php

[Sue]

we did the pamukale trip in one day last year setting off at 6.30 am, we had a few stops on the way to stretch our legs, we were dreading the trip at first as we were told it was a long day but we thoroughly enjoyed it, plenty of chance to have a power nap in between stops

[helen2904]

Ephesus is about four hours away from Icmeler by coach. We did this trip two years ago. We have been going to Icmeler since 1995 and have always wanted to go and see Ephesus, but we felt that the children were too young to appreciate it. However, now that the children have flown the nest we decided to give it a go. It was magic, I would recommend it to anyone. The place just screams with history, and I would love to go and do it all over again. One warning, if you do go, then make sure you take a hat and some bottled water, as it gets very very hot during July and August.

[Erik The Viking]

pics posted in photo forum.

[peli]

Hi Wilts
It looks like ICR has got this covered with their 2 day trip, and I have to say I would have to recomend it. We have done it ourselves in a car, motoring up there in about three an half hours to Pamukkale and uesing that day wandering around this beutifull natural wonder,it is actualy overpowering, you have a hell of a job to grasp the size of the place.
We then stopped the night b/b in Kusadasi, before driving out the few miles to Ephesus and taking in the fantastic history of the place, before driving down to Bodrum for a second night out as we had no rush to get back.
Got to say its well worth the trip, but I feel to get the true value, you realy "must do", the two day excursion, Especially as it looks like you have a guide with you with ICR, which we did indeed miss very much, as I felt we lost out on a lot of the history.
When you get to these places it is a very humble and satifying experiance, Please, Do go to both of these places.
Peli

[maryb]

You must do the two day trip it is fantastic. The scenery and the history we also went to the Virgin Marys house that was good.We have been afew times now and each time we see something different, so this trip is a must.

[peli]

Thanks for mentioning that Mary.
I am in no way religious, but I had a strange feeling when we went into that place, and stood near that doorway.
Peli

[Beau]

If you don't mind spending for the over night stay I'd do that.

We did the Ephesus only trip and the journey was horrid. Ephesus is lovely when you're there but it's actually getting there that's the chore.

We were peed off we had to stop off at some pottery place for over an hour before we got there then when you get to Ephasus you're only there an hour and 45mins and it just isn't enough time at all IMO. I'd have gladly missed the pottery place to spend more time in Ephesus.

I went off on my own with the camera, we'd have missed so much had we stayed with the guide, everything was so rushed. When we got to the Library (breath taking) we were told we had 15mins we hadn't even got down to it and making our way up the step and we were being called back.

Oh and a tip, sorry I can't remember the correct name of it but there's a street that's being uncovered (you can't miss it it's all under cover before you get down to the Library) BUT you're not allowed in there if you're in a big party - slope off away from your guide and have a look it's meant to be fantastic your Son will love it.

Take plenty of water and a cap/hat as it gets REALLY hot there and there's no shelter. I'd recommend taking a little cooler bag if you can squeeze one in your case and take as many frozen bottles of water as you can fit into it as you can. I'd also take some snacks too as the food at the lunch time stop isn't very nice at all. You don't have to take everything off the coach each stop so take what you can.

AND another tip if you go to the museum instead of the Virgin Mary's house do NOT let anyone shine your shoes. Hubby got caught on the way out, he kept saying no and the guy's saying no shoe shine no shoe shine it's ok then tried to fleece us 10lira for wiping the dust off his sandals - I took off with our money off hubby and the guy got really nasty. He got 2 lira as that's all hubby had in his pocket