Karahayit, Pamukkale, Turkey

Karahayit (kah-RAH-hah-yuht), the village north of Pamukkale, was once known for its rust-red hot mineral waters, filled with iron and calcium.

In the 1990s, when the motels atop the Pamukkale plateau were removed, Karahayit became the place selected for development of large luxury spa hotels.

The triumphal entry gate on the wide access road to Karahayit is a monument to the hope that Turkish and foreign visitors in search of health and happiness would come to Karahayit and stay at the luxury spa hotels for a week or two, taking the "cure."

Too many hotels were built, too few spa visitors arrived, and now Karahayit's five-star hotels host mostly bus tour groups for one-night stays.

The oversupply of hotel rooms is so bad that many very comfortable hotels advertise room, buffet breakfast and buffet dinner for YTL35 (US$23) per person, an indisputable bargain.

The catch? Public transport to the hotels is infrequent or inconvenient or non-existant, so you must have your own transport to benefit from these special prices.

The hotels offer many other services at additional cost: drinks, massages, shops, etc.

Hierapolis Ruins

Sacred Pool

Roman Theater

Hierapolis Museum

Travertines

What to See & Do

Pamukkale Transport

Pamukkale Homepage

Aphrodisias

Denizli

Aegean Turkey

Where to Go in Turkey

Above, the triumphal entrance to Karahayit, built in 1992.
Below, a billboard advertising bargain hotel rates.