EXPLORING SOUTHWEST TURKEY

Ephesus

The ancient city of Ephesus is Turkey’s most important ancient city, and one of the best preserved and restored. One can still stroll for hours along its streets passing temples, theatres, libraries, houses and statues. It contains such grand public buildings as the impressive Library of Celsus, the theatre, the Temple of Hadrian and the sumptuous Temple of Artemis which is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The ruins also include public toilets and even a brothel dating mostly from the fourth century BC.

Pamukkale

Deriving from springs in a cliff almost 200 m high overlooking the plain, calcite-laden waters have created at Pamukkale (Cotton Palace) an unreal landscape, made up of mineral forests, petrified waterfalls and a series of terraced basins. At the end of the 2nd century B.C. the dynasty of the Attalids, the kings of Pergamon, established the thermal spa of Hierapolis. The ruins of the baths, temples and other Greek monuments can be seen at the site.

Aphrodisias

We will visit Aphrodisias Ancient City which is one of the finest archaeological sites of Anatolia Turkey, still partly excavated and partly undiscovered. The name of the city is derived from the goddess of love, Aphrodite – called Venus by Romans- , who has her famous sanctuary here. The city was located in Caria in Asia Minor, near Geyre village in today’s world. The most recent, ongoing excavations are currently led by Professor R. R. R. Smith (at Oxford University) and Professor Katharine Welch of the NYU Institute of Fine Arts.

Arycanda

Arycanda is known to be one of the old Lycian cities, as its name ends with -anda, indicative of its Anatolian origin; dating back as far as the 2nd millennium BC. Since it was in the Roman province of Lycia, the bishopric of Arneae was a suffragan of the metropolitan see of Myra, the province's capital. The Second Council of Nicaea (787) were signed on behalf of the absent bishop of Arycanda by his deacon Petrus. Another bishop of Arycanda, Theodorus, took part in the Photian Council of Constantinople (879).On the other hand, the oldest remains and finds from the city date from the 6th or 5th century BCE.

Olympos

Olympus or Olymposwas a city in ancient Lycia. It was situated in a river valley near the coast. Its ruins are located south of the modern town Çıralı in the Kumluca district of Antalya Province, southwestern Turkey. Together with the sites of the ancient cities Phaselis and Idyros it is part of the Olympos Beydaglari National Park. The perpetual gas fires at Yanartaş are found a few kilometers to the northwest of the site.

Phaselis

Founded in 693 BC, Phaselis was an important port city in history. This port city, which has a rich history, is crucial for its ruins, historical amphitheatre, aqueduct, agora and baths. The remains of the ancient city of Phaselis start at the seashore. The ancient port city is covered with pine and cedar trees and even on the hottest days of summer can be visited in comfort. There is a well preserved theatre which is used for evening performances during the Phaselis Art Days.

Myra

was an ancient town in Lycia where the small town of Demre is situated today. It was located on the river Myros, in the fertile alluvial plain between Alaca Dağ, the Massikytos range, and the Aegean Sea. Saint Nicholas lived in Myra at a time when the region was Greek in its heritage, and politically part of the Roman diocese of Asia.

Saint Nicholas Church

The church to honor Saint Nicholas and contain his tomb was built in AD 520 on the foundations of the older Christian church where Saint Nicholas served as bishop. Over time the river changed course and the church filled with silt and was buried (the pictures show it is fifteen-to-twenty feet below ground level). In 1862 Russian Tsar Nicholas I restored the church, adding the tower and making other changes to its Byzantine architecture. The church is regarded as the 3rd most important Byzantine structure in Anatolia.

Kekova

We cruise over turquoise waters to the picturesque Kekova Island from Ucagiz Village. Discover the extraordinary underwater ruins of the sunken city belong to Kekova Island and visit the noteworthy Lycian necropolis at Teimiussa. There are opportunities to swim and snorkel if desired, so do not forget your bathing suit and towel.

Kas

The town of Kaş is on a hill running down to the Turquoise Coast of southwestern Turkey. The district has a typical Mediterranean climate of hot, dry summers and warm, wet winters, which allows the growth of oranges, lemons and bananas. The lowland areas are also planted with cut flowers and a variety of fruits and vegetables. Many are grown all year round under glass. The hillsides produce honey and almonds, while at high altitudes there are extensive pine forests. The weather is drier at high altitudes.

Patara

Patara was the major naval and trading port of Lycia, located at the mouth of the Xanthos River, until it silted up and turned into a malaria-plagued marsh. Beautiful 12 km-long Patara Beach, voted one of the top beaches in the world by Times Online - Best of 2005, is an easy 10-15 minute stroll away from the major ruins at Patara. The Patara area is a national park, a key biodiversity area and is rich in birdlife. Liberated from the many hundreds of truckloads of sand that covered it, is the parliament building where the elected representatives of the Lycian League met. It has rows of stone seats arranged in a semicircle, the same arrangement used in the chambers of the American Congress.

Xanthos

meaning yellow, lying on a hillside overlooking the Eṣen River, surrounded by the Taurus Mountains administered the sacred Letoon cult center. Homer mentions Sarpedon, founder of Xanthos, as an ally of the Trojans during the Trojan War. In 540 BCE Xanthos resorted to desperate measures when faced with an overwhelming force of Persian invaders sent by Cyrus the Great. After an initial defeat when the outcome was inevitable, the men of Xanthos burned up their material possessions, women, children and slaves on the acropolis and then sallied forth in a suicidal attack to kill as many Persians as possible. The entire population of Xanthos perished except for 80 families who happened to be absent and returned to gradually repopulate the city.

Saklikent Canyon (Hidden Valley)

The Saklikent Canyon in Saklikent National Park is 18 km long, 300 meters deep and is steep and narrow. The Saklikent Canyon is longer by 4 km each than the Ihlara Valley in Cappadocia and the Koprulu Canyon in Turkey. After Verdon in France and Vikos in Greece, it is considered to be the third longest canyon in Europe. The Saklikent Gorge also known as “Hidden Valley” or The Lost City. Streams of water is really cold. It may take longer to get used to the cold water. This cold water, spring water of the Bey Mountains within the terms of the areas that are eminently valuable is water.

Olu Deniz (Blue Lagoon)

The Blue Lagoon at a distance of 12 km is reached by road in about half an hour. This Lagoon is the much photographed gem of Turkey's Southern Coast, famous for its ever varying shades of turquoise and azure, and soft sands. Separated from the main beach by a sand bar and narrow channel, the lagoon beckons you into its shallow waters. You can immerse yourself, paddle barefoot along the shoreline or swim across to the tiny island at the mouth of the lagoon. Here no boats are allowed in to disrupt the peace?.

Dalyan

The wonderful 7 kilometers sandy Iztuzu Beach, which is accessible by a 45 minutes boat trip, is one of the last nesting areas for the Caretta caretta, Sea Turtles. Between May and September, the female turtles come to the beach to lay their eggs, to keep check on them from time to time and finally to take their babies to the sea. A 15 minutes' boat trip will take you to the sulfur bath which is a different experience for many people visiting the city. The mud containing sulfur and other elements is said to be good for skin conditions and makes you feel refreshed and revitalized. Also there is a small spa where you can just relax. Kaunos, the ancient city near modern Dalyan, was founded around the 9th century BC. Once it was a Mediterranean city port, but over the centuries the silt from the Dalyan River choked the harbor and today the town lies several kilometers from the sea.

Bodrum

Bodrum, which has wonderful bays and holiday places, is a town of Mugla province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is one of the most important tourism areas of our country. Situated on a peninsula, Bodrum is one of the most chic and European style resorts in Turkey, with its historical architecture, fantastic beaches, white coloured houses, secret coves, fishing villages and trendy nightclubs. It is even more spectacular in the summer as Bodrum bursts into colour with cascades of bright pink and purple bougainvillea flowing from the dazzling white houses that line its narrow streets, winding down towards the sea. Bodrum is also the yachting centre of Turkey and its world class marina is a favourite destination for yachts that cruise the Aegean and the Mediterranean.

Outdoor Sports

There are many possibilities for outdoor sports along the way. Balloon ride or paragliding in Pamukkale. Rafting in Manavgat. Rafting in Dalaman. Kayaking in Kekova. Paragliding in Fethiye Blue Lagoon. Hiking parts of the famous Lycian or Carian ways.