Ancient History Week
Day 1:
Arrival
Arrive
at Dalaman airport and transfer to your accommodation. Enjoy
a welcome drink and meet your host and guide for the week.
Enjoy a leisurely walk around the town with your guide to
see the local sites.
Day 2:
Caunos, Lycian Rock Tombs and Turtle Beach.
Take a
boat and sail across Koycegiz Lake to the Dalyan River.
Disembark and walk up to the ancient city of Caunos (dating
back to the 10th century BC) with its
amphitheatre, Roman Baths, Temples and more recently
discovered paved roads. Enjoy the amazing view across the
river plain to the Mediterranean Sea. Rejoin the boat to
sail past the wonderful Lycian Rock Tombs carved into the
cliffs above the town of Dalyan. Continue along the winding
river to the Mediterranean Sea and Turtle Beach- so called
because of the Loggerhead Turtles that nest there. Enjoy a
delicious lunch on the boat before returning to Koycegiz
Lake and visiting the natural thermal springs and mud
baths.
Day 3:
Tlos, Saklikent, Kayakoy and Oludeniz.
Drive
into the Taurus Mountains to the ancient city of Tlos, one
of the oldest and most important cities in ancient Lycia.
The panoramic views from the top of the acropolis and from
the ‘yedi kapi’ hamam are stunning. Admire the amphitheatre
and rock-cut tombs- including that of Bellerophon and the
winged horse Pegasus. After learning about the history and
exploring the ruins, drive a short distance to have lunch by
the amazing gorge at Saklikent. Enjoy an optional walk
along the river and up the gorge. Drive to the ‘ghost town’
of Kayakoy (Karmylassos), deserted by its mostly
Ottoman-Greek inhabitants following WW1 and the Turkish War
of Independence. On the way back to Koycegiz visit the
world famous beach of Oludeniz.
Day 4:
Ephesus
Visit
the best-preserved classical city in the eastern
Mediterranean, and among the best places in the world to get
a feel for what life was like in ancient times. Follow your
guide through this amazing trading and religious city, a
centre for the cult of Cybele, the Anatolian fertility
goddess-who under the influence of the Ionians became
Artemis. We visit the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of
the seven wonders of the ancient world, as well as the House
of the Virgin Mary, and the excellent Ephesus museum.
Day 5:
Cleopatra Island
Enjoy a
leisurely Turkish breakfast and relax by the pool or wander
into town. Drive to the village of Camli to meet your boat
and sail to the beautiful Cleopatra Island, so-called
because Cleopatra was reputed to have imported the fine
golden sand to the beach there. On the way, have a
delicious lunch on the boat whilst moored in a picturesque
bay. Swim off the boat or in the warm shallow sea off the
beach and explore the ruins of an ancient Carian city.
Day 6:
Pamukkale and Hierapolis
Drive
on a picturesque mountain road to admire the white cliffs of
calcerous deposits at Pamukkale, stopping off for a ‘village
breakfast’ on the way. Then drive on to the ancient city of
Hierapolis, founded in the Hellenistic era. Explore the
ruins, including a magnificent amphitheatre. Relax in the
natural thermal springs (reputed for their therapeutic
properties) before lunch and the journey back to Koycegiz.
Day 7:
Departure
Relax
by the pool or experience the bustle and excitement of
Koycegiz market until your transfer to Dalaman airport.
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