Mediterranean & Aegean coast highlights

Itinerary

• DAY 1

  Arrival Antalya

  Meet at the Antalya airport with Demavend Travels representative and drive to the hotel located in the old city centre, known as Kaleici. It is uncertain when the site of the current city was first inhabited. Attalos II, king of Pergamon, was believed to have founded the city around 150 BC, but excavations have uncovered remains dating to the 3^rd century BC, suggesting that the city was founded earlier than previously supposed. The city grew and prospered during the ancient roman period and today includes sites with traces of Lycian, Pamphylian, Hellenistic -but mainly Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman-architecture and cultures.                  

  Transfer time: 20 min.; transfer distance: 15 km (Antalya airport - Antalya Kaleici)

  ON: in Antalya city centre at the hotel

  Meals: - / - / D

• DAY 2

  Antalya to Kas via ancient Phaselis & Myra and Ucagiz/Kekova tour by boat with Simena castle & sunken city

  Today we leave Antalya and drive to Kas, on the way we visit Phaselis first, an ancient Greek and roman city with three harbours. Through the middle of the city runs a 24m wide ancient street. The 'Hadrian waterway gate' is on the southern part of the street with ruins of shops and stores on the sides and near these are ruins of public places such as roman baths, agora and theatres.

  On our way to Kas we also visit Myra, according to Strabo one of the largest towns of the Lycian alliance; the ancient city consist an impressive necropolis including tombs of rulers and family members and a large Roman amphitheatre. In the early afternoon we arrive in Ucagiz/Kekova area, a great place for the coastal scenery as well as for the archaeological sites well preserved because they are not easily accessible. A pleasant excursion by boat is the best way to see the ruins on the northern coast of Kekova island, some of the old houses were completely submerged due to earthquakes during the Byzantine period. By boat, we go round the island, where you can see remains down to 2 meters deep, in the bluish light on the seabed. We walk up to the Simena castle rewarding us with a view all around, and on numerous rock tombs. You will fully appreciate this day with a stroll on the Tersane Island. In the late afternoon we arrive in Kas, a small fishing, yachting and tourist town; a quiet pleasant place with its blue sea and narrow streets scented with jasmine flowers and with plenty of little quiet cafes to relax.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 190 km (Antalya – Kas via Myra & Phaselis)

  Ucagiz/Kekova tour by boat: approximately 3 h

  ON: in Kas at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 3

  Kas to Fethiye via ancient Patara, Kayakoy (Karmilassos) & Oludeniz lagoon

  We leave Kas in the morning and drive to Fethiye; visit ancient Patara on our way, a flourishing maritime and commercial city on the south-west coast of Lycia on the Mediterranean coast. Possessing a natural harbour, Patara was said to have been founded by Patarus, a son of Apollo. Ancient writers mentioned Patara as one of the principal cities of Lycia; it was Lycia's primary seaport and a leading city of the Lycian league. Over a cobbled road we also walk to the sandy beach of Patara. With its gorgeous landscape, unspoilt Patara is one of Turkey’s longest beaches. As part of a national park, it is a key biodiversity area, rich in birdlife and the breeding ground of the endangered loggerhead turtle (caretta caretta). 

  In the early afternoon we arrive in Kayakoy, originally named “Karmilassos”; described by the UNESCO as a world friendship and peace village. Here we start our first walk and climb up to the ruins of the old Greek village given up at the end of the World War I. Today this timeless place, set in a lush valley surrounded by forests and with some vineyards nearby, is known as a kind of ghost town. We will walk through its empty streets, along its ruined stone houses and take time to visit one of its admirable churches, whilst enjoying the village’s air of mystery and surreal atmosphere. For those who want it is possible to go on a trek following a forest path which offers a splendid panorama on the limpid turquoise water splits and leads directly down to the Oludeniz lagoon

  Walking time: 2 - 3 h; walking distance: 6 km; ascent: 200m; descent: 300m

  Oludeniz lagoon is one of the most photographed beaches on the Mediterranean. The amazing lagoon with its secluded sandy bay is a national nature reserve and building is strictly prohibited. Famous for its shades of turquoise and aquamarine, Oludeniz is an official blue flag beach and frequently rated among the top five beaches in the world by travellers and tourism journals alike. In the late afternoon, after spending some time at leisure at the beach, we drive to our overnight accommodation in Fethiye.

  Transfer time: 2 h; transfer distance: 110 km; (Kas – Fethiye)

  ON: in Fethiye at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 4

  Fethiye to ancient ruins of Aphrodisias and Pamukkale travertine terraces & ancient Hierapolis

  In the morning we leave Fethiye and drive to Pamukkale, on our way take time to visit ancient site of Aphrodisias, named after Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. The city was built near a marble quarry that was extensively exploited in the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The wealth of the city came from the marble quarries and the art produced by its sculptors. The city streets are arranged around several large civic structures, which include temples, a theatre, an agora and two bath complexes.

  In the late afternoon we arrive in Pamukkale where we visit the famous travertine terraces and the ancient site of Hierapolis. Pamukkale has the meaning "cotton castle" and is one of the most remarkable natural sites with its cotton white plateaus, pale blue waters topping of the shallow pools and gently cascading down the drape-like stalagmites onto the lower levels for over 300 feet. The city contains hot springs and travertine, terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water. Hierapolis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the hot springs have been used as a spa since the 2nd century BC; people came to soothe their ailments, with many of them retiring or dying here. The large necropolis is filled with sarcophagi, including the sarcophagus of Marcus Aurelius. Parts of the archaeological site of Hierapolis are the great bathes, which were constructed with huge stone blocks without the use of cement and consisted of various closed or open sections linked together.

  Transfer time: 4 h; transfer distance: 340 km (Fethiye – Pamukkale via Aphrodisias)

  ON: in Pamukkale at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 5

  Pamukkale to Selcuk, house of Virgin Mary & ancient Ephesus

  Today we continue to Selcuk where we first visit the house of Virgin Mary. The Roman Catholic Church has never pronounced on the authenticity of the house for lack of acceptable evidence, but nevertheless maintains a steady flow of pilgrimage since its discovery. Catholic pilgrims visit the house based on the belief that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was taken to this stone house by Saint John and lived there until her Assumption.

  Afterwards we drive to nearby ancient city of Ephesus, one of the former twelve cities of the Ionian league during the classical Greek era and home to one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the book of revelation. In the Roman period it was for many years the second largest city of the Roman Empire, ranking behind Rome. Ephesus contains the largest collection of roman ruins in the eastern Mediterranean. Only an estimated 15 % has been excavated. The ruins that are visible give some idea of the city's original splendour and the names associated with the ruins are evocative of its former life. During our visit we also head over to Ephesus terrace houses, located on the hill opposite the Hadrian temple. Also called as "the houses of rich", these houses, with amazing mosaics and frescos, are covered with protective roofing which resembles Roman mansions. In the late afternoon it is possible to have a short walk to the old city centre, famous for its traditional Turkish culture and lifestyle. The old quarter of the town, known as Ayasoluk hill, dominates the surrounding area with several historical buildings on its slopes, including the Isa Bey mosque, the grand fortress and the 6th century Basilica of St. John the Apostle, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament. We conclude the day with a traditional cup of Turkish coffee before we return to our hotel.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 190 km (Pamukkale – Selcuk)

  ON: in Selcuk at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 6

  Selcuk to Bodrum via ancient Priene, Didim (Didyma) & the temple of Apollo

  After breakfast we drive to ancient Priene, an ancient Greek city of Ionia and member of the Ionian league. Priene possessed a great deal of famous Hellenistic art and architecture. The city was arranged into four districts, firstly the political district which consisted of the bouleuterion and the prytaneion, the cultural district containing a theatre, the commercial where the agora was located and finally the religious district which contained sanctuaries dedicated to Zeus and Demeter and most importantly the temple of Athena.

  Via Priene we continue towards Didim, home of the antique city of Didyma with its ruined temple of Apollo and its columns pointing up into the sky, a popular sanctuary and one of the most famous oracles in the world. The original temple and home of an oracle was destroyed during the Persian wars and the one we see today was rebuilt following the victory over the Persians of Alexander the great. In the late afternoon we arrive in Bodrum where we spend the night at the hotel.

  Transfer time: 3 h; transfer distance: 220 km; (Selcuk to Bodrum via Priene & Didyma)

  ON: in Bodrum at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 7

  The mausoleum Halicarnassus and Bodrum castle

  After breakfast we take time to explore Bodrum, called Halicarnassus of Caria in ancient times and was part of the Persian Empire until captured by Alexander the great. We take time to visit the mausoleum at Halicarnassus built between 353 and 350 BC. Today the site retains much of its great wall, remnants of the gymnasium, a late colonnade, a temple platform and rock-cut tombs. We also visit Bodrum castle with its underwater archaeology museum. The construction of the castle began in 1404 under the German knight & architect Heinrich Schlegelholt. The first walls were completed in 1437, the chapel was among the first completed inner structures. The museum of underwater archaeology includes a collection of amphora’s, ancient glass, bronze, clay and iron items. It is the biggest of its kind devoted to underwater archaeology and the collection of ancient glass objects is one of the four biggest collections in the world.

  ON: in Bodrum at the hotel

  Meals: B / L / D

• DAY 8

  Trip concludes at Bodrum airport

  After breakfast; transfer to Bodrum airport where the trip concludes.          

  Transfer time: 1 h; transfer distance: 45 km; (hotel in Bodrum to Bodrum Milas airport)

  Meals: B / - / -