Pamukkale, the Cotton Castle, a travertine terrace landscape as white as snow.

Turkey's most famous dream destination, Pamukkale, features travertine terraces as white as cotton and pools of azure blue thermal water. With hot air balloons in the background, it's a popular spot for many social media influencers. However, capturing such beautiful photos requires the perfect timing and conditions.

Pamukkale's unique limestone terrain is due to its calcium-rich underground water, which flows down from the mountain top. The calcium deposits along the flow path create numerous semi-circular terraced pools. Because of its distinctive white stone appearance, it is also known as the Cotton Castle.

The entrance fee to Pamukkale is not cheap, costing €30. There are three entrances: the North Gate, the South Gate, and the town entrance. If you visit in winter, be sure to wear thick wool socks as it can snow in Pamukkale, and walking barefoot on the travertine terraces can be freezing!

In reality, Pamukkale is not as pristine white as the photos online suggest. It can appear a bit gray and dirty, similar to the Qigu Salt Mountain in Tainan. The ground is wet and slippery, so to capture that dreamy photo, it's best to visit on a sunny summer day when you have a better chance of photographing the snow-white Cotton Castle under a blue sky.

Post by Moutain | Mar 19, 2025