Take a dip in the sky-blue waters of Pamukkale's thermal baths, admire the limestone stalactites and terraces that pen them in, and explore the ancient city of Hierapolis on this full-day excursion. Take a night bus from Istanbul to maximize your time, and enjoy a tasty lunch of Turkish specialties.

After cruising through Turkey's hinterland on a spacious overnight bus, arrive Kusadasi, where you transfer to a shuttle bound for the terraced baths of Pamukkale. Change into your swimsuit and head for this collection of hot springs, which have been used by locals since Greek and Roman times. Admire the pearly white rock formations that surround each aquamarine pool while you soak, and then hop out to change and make your way to Hierapolis.

Grab lunch before exploring the crumbling ruins of this ancient city and explore the immersive exhibits at a nearby archaeological museum to dive further into the history of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the evening, meet back up with your bus and take another nighttime ride to return to Istanbul.