Turkey offers a heady mix of classical ruins, splendid Ottoman monuments, stunning coastal scenery – as well as the ANZAC connection on the Gallipoli Peninsula. Its climate is benign, its people ever-friendly and its cuisine offers a wonderful melange of Greek, Armenian and Ottoman influences. We begin in Istanbul, capital of the Ottoman Empire for over 450 years and visit the splendid Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sofia and Blue Mosque, also taking time to explore the vibrant bazaars. We head first west and then south and for several days explore historic and classical sites, including Anzac Cove, Troy, Pergamum and the celebrated ruins of Ephesus. Our trip then changes gear as we shift our focus to the stunning coastal scenery. We explore the ancient ruins of Kaunos, with an afternoon walk through magnificent scenery; from Ovacik, the start of the Lycian Way, we hike up to the ‘ghost village’ of Kayakoy, forcibly abandoned by the Greeks in 1920. For the next three days we walk along parts of the Lycian Way, and we follow Patara’s ancient aqueduct which leads us to its ruined amphitheatre. We spend three nights in the charming coastal village of Kas and from here we explore the sunken ruins of Kekova in sea-kayaks and take a day trip to Arycanda – the most impressive of the Lycian ruins. Leaving Kas we visit ancient Olympos, where we walk through the forest and see the flames of the fabled Chimaera sprouting from the hillside before flying back to Istanbul for a final day on the Bosphorus. Turkey: Classical Turkey & the Lycian Coast Best Travels, 82 Bellevue Street, CAMMERAY, NSW
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