Guided walking & holiday
packages
Touring: France, Vietnam, Bhutan & Turkey
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Day 1:
Arrive at Istanbul Atatürk Airport, you will be
met by your guide and transfer to your hotel for overnight.
Day 2:
Full day guided tour of the wonderful sites of Istanbul,
the only city in the world straddling two continents.
Visit the Haghia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Yerebatan
Saray. Afternoon visit to Topkapi Palace.
Day 3:
Morning visit to Rustem Pasha. Then to Misir Carsisi
and walk up to Kapalicarsi. Afternoon free to explore
bazaar further.
Day 4:
Depart from Istanbul and drive to Gallipoli, visit the
Commonwealth WWI Cemetery on the peninsula where the
famous campaign took place. Cross the Dardanelles Strait
by ferryboat and after free time for lunch drive to
Troy the city of Homer’s Iliad. The first excavations
were made by German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann
in 1871 revealing that Troy was not only a myth. See
the excavations showing several layers of this civilization,
and the replica of the infamous Trojan Horse. Continue
to your hotel overnight.
Day 5:
Drive to Pergamum, the most favoured of the Seven Churches
of the Revelation. Christianity reached Pergamum very
early and its church was praised for its forbearance
in times of persecution. It was here that the first
Christians were executed by Rome. Visit the stunning
Acropolis of the Hellenistic city, perched 1,000 feet
above the town. Remains include, the Altar of Zeus,
palaces, the temples of Trojan and Dionysus, and the
world’s steepest amphitheatre. Then visit Asclepion,
the ancient health center and the Red Basilica which
is one of the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse. Then
drive to Selçuk for overnight.
Day 6:
Drive to Ephesus, one of the most extensively excavated
and restored Greco - Roman sites in the world revealing
the grandeur of bygone centuries. The city played a
major role in the development of architecture, religion,
and arts. St. Paul lived here and preached here, and
the Third Ecumenical Council of the early Christian
Church was held here. Tour the ancient city with its
legendary marble streets, the magnificent theatre, Hadrian's
temple and the Library of Celsus. Then enjoy some free
time for lunch in the town center of Seljuk. Visit the
Archaeological Museum of Selçuk, and the 6th
century Basilica of St. John. Return to your hotel for
overnight.
Day 7:
In the morning we drive south (3.5 hours) to come to
the corner of Turkey where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean.
Kaunos was an important ancient city built where the
freshwater delta meets the sea. The impressive ruins
can be reached by boat through the river reeds and fish
weirs. The beautiful beach nearby is well-known as one
of the hatching grounds for the Caretta Carreta logger-head
sea-turtle. Our walk through magnificent scenery lasts
about 3 ½ hours. Overnight in Fethiye.
Day 8:
Kaya Village was formerly a Greek Village. In the 1920s
the new Turkish Republic agreed an exchange of populations
with Greece that feft this village a ghost-town. An
eerie reminder of the community that had lived side-by-side
with their Turkish neighbours. Our walk of approximately
1 ½ hours takes us through some of the 3,000
or so empty houses (only the walls remain) over a saddle
and down, through stunning sea-views and rich forest,
to the famous beach resort of Ölüdeniz. From
here we travel by boat to Kelebek (Buttterfly) Valley,
much loved by Backpackers and those wanting to get off
the beaten track. On our return we are transferred to
the hill retreat of Faralya on the Lycian Way.
Day 9:
The entire trek between Faralya and Kabak has verdant
pine forests on steep mountain sides on the left and
beautiful sea views on the right. A stunning walk with
the opportunity to take a 40 minute detour to enjoy
the remote beach at Kabak should you wish to cool off
before spending the night in a special “tree-house”
camp. 4 hours trek.
Day 10:
We start the day with a 1.5 hour transfer to Akbel,
where we commence our pretty and varied day’s walk
along the route of an old aqueduct, which, once upon
a time, supplied the city of Patara. We finish at the
impressive ruins of an ancient amphitheatre in the Patara
National Park and time allowing, there is the option
of going to the beach for a swim. Overnight in Kas.
Day 11:
Today we spend a full day sea kayaking in the sheltered
bay near Kekova Island. Using one or two man boats we
paddle towards the island to the site of the famous
sunken city. Although it is no Atlantis, you can clearly
make out the harbour walls. Discovering the area by
kayak is an excellent low impact way of exploring the
site. Later we paddle to the village of Simena. This
spectacular spot is located on a peninsula and is inaccessible
by road. The village is overlooked by a hilltop Ottoman
castle with excellent views of the whole bay. Requirements:
participants must be able to swim and have the physique
necessary to fit in the kayak. Return to hotel in Kas.
Day 12:
Arycanda. Today we travel inland to visit Arycanda,
a city renowned in Lycian times for its love of pleasure
and merrymaking as well as its tendency to be in constant
debt. Arycanda is the most impressive of the Lycian
cities and its setting one of the most outstanding in
all of southern Turkey. After visiting the site we take
a short walk through the local forestry. Return to hotel
in Kas.
Day 13:
Drive to Olympos.The ancient city of Olympos is named
after the mountain at the foot of which it lies. It
was built on the coast on both sides of a river that
flows into the sea here. As well as its impressive ruins
dotted amongst the trees and maquis it is famous for
its rare butterflies and exotic plants. In the early
evening we will walk to visit the Chimaera, where the
flames that emerge from the bare roch in a dozen or
so places remind us that, in legend, this was the place
that Bellerophon on his winged horse Pegasus defeated
the fire-breathing monster. We lodge in a small hotel
or pansion at Çirali, close to the beach.
Day 14:
Depart from Olympos, drive to Antalya airport for Istanbul
flight. Overnight at the hotel in Istanbul.
Day 15:
Transfer from hotel to Atatürk Airport.
Turkey: Classical Turkey & the Lycian Coast
Dates and costs
4-18 September 2010
A$3300 per person twin share, joining in Istanbul. Single
person supplement A$550.
Maximum 12 people)
NOTES
Price includes: English-speaking local leader. Services
of Dave Best as tour escort. 14 nights B&B accommodation.
Entrance fees. All transport with A/C vehicle. 1 lunch
on day 11.
Price does not include: Domestic and international
airfares, lunches & dinners, drinks, tips &
visa.
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