Pamphylie Tour

For sheer beauty and ancient history, few places on earth rival Turkey’s captivating eastern Mediterranean coast-line the Turquoise coast , travelling in the most beautiful coastal area of the Turkish Mediterranean laying between Marmaris and Antalya. Known to the ancients as Lycia this fabled coast of clear turquoise blue water is rich with archaeological sites. Fragrant pine forests tumble down a back clothes of mountain slopes to end abruptly in red cliffs, secret coves and sandy beaches. We visit splendid Greco-Roman ruins of the lycian period: Caunos, Letoon, Pinara, Olympos. With its excellent climate, guaranteed sunshine, this delightful coastal offers to spend holidays trekking in a culture, history and nature combining area.

Itinerary : 9 Days

Day 1 : Antalya
Meet the group at the airport and transfer to the hotel.

Day 2 : Antalya and Termossos In the morning , we commence our tour in the old part of Antalya principal holiday resort of Turkey at the Mediterranean sea , is an attractive city with shady palm-lined boulevards. Kaleici where we will stay is narrow, winding streets and old wooded houses abut the ancient city walls. We visit Yivli minaret (fluted minaret) located in centre of Antalya,, is minaret of Alaadin mosque converted from a church in 7230 by Seljuk Sultan Alaadin Keykubat. Rising like a monument is symbol of Antalya. Afternoon we drive to Termessos as founded by Solymians a native people of Pamphylie. Termessos had the fame of being only the city Alexander Great could not conquer. The side has an amphitheatre , an agora, and an Odeon. Overnight hotel

Day 3 : Pamphylie
In the morning first we visit Perge, was an important city in Pamphylia because it stood on the trade route between Cilicia and Pisidia. It was founded in the 7th century BC along with other Pamphylian cities. Some sources believe it dates back to the Trojan Wars (12th-13th century BC). Having been visited by the apostles St. Paul and St.Barnabus in AD 46. We pass to antique city Side was found by the settlers from Cyme. Here we visit the agora , temple of Apollo and the museum. From here we drive to Aspendos, this Pamphylian settlement has the world's best preserved Roman amphitheatre, capable of seating more than 20.000 people, is used even today to stage music festivals and plays. Aspendos was founded in the 10th century. In addition to the magnificent amphitheatre, Aspendos has an agora , an Odeon, a stadium, a basilica, baths, a nymphaium and an aqueduct. Overnight hotel.

Day 4 : Antalya - Phaselis - Olympos - Kale In the morning our first stop is Phaselis was founded in the seventh century by colonists from Rhodes. It was a Lycian city and had three important ports which were constant use, two of which were connected by a road lined with statues (some inscriptions can still be seen) and porticoes where artisans worked and traded. Oliympos was a port city established in the 2nd century and which continued to flourish until the 15th century A.D. The famous myth of Bellerophontes is said to have taken place here. The antique city is on two sides of a beautiful valley. A sandy beach is found where the town and the valley meet the sea, into which a mountain stream flows. An hour's walk from Olympos brings you to the natural phenomenon of Cirali, known by the local inhabitants as the " burning mountain " (Yanartas), it is a result of escaping natural gas, whose flames have been shooting heavenwards for centuries. After visiting drive to Kale. Overnight hotel.

Day 5 : Kale - excursion with boat to Kekova - Kas In the morning we visit Kale, the archaeological site of ancient Myra is two kilometres away from modern Demre. The origins of this city date back to the fifth century B.C. The Lycians were an unified race, sharing coinage, a common language and script not dissimilar to Jndo-European though Greek had replaced this language by the fourth century. The Church of St. Nicholas was built in the third century A.D. It was later enlarged and embellished with the contributions made by pilgrims who came in ever increasing numbers, became a basilica we drive to Kekova ( Ucagız) . we embark our boat. The 'three mouths' of Ucagiz are the two openings east and west of Kekova island and the channel to the village itself. As trade between the Lycians and the other Hellenistic Greeks increased so did piracy and many harbors and ports were fortified in the same way that Kekova is. We take a boat through Mediterranean and we visit Sumela castle, the medieval castle sitting high on the hill is surrounded by the remains of the ancient city and the climb to the summit, through the little village where is worth it just to sit in the little theatre. We arrive to Kas the ruins of Antiphellos are spread around the town of Kas which lies at the neck of a small peninsula in the Mediterranean. Overnight in Kas.

Day 6 : Kas - Kalkan - Xanthos - Letoon - Fethiye
In the morning we drive to Kalkan, small authentic fishing port. From here we drive Xanthos, until the Persian invasion it was an independent state. When the people of Xanthos, who had bravely tried to defend their city, realised that they could not repulse the invasion, they first killed their women committed mass suicide by throwing themselves into the flames. About 80 surviving families and people who immigrated there rebuilt the city. And thus Xanthos became "a city of disasters". The city itself consists of the Lycian acropolis and the parts remaining outside it, as well as the Roman acropolis. The most interesting building is the Roman theatre and the edifices of the theatre's western shoreline. Of these the most famous is the Harpy Monument, which is a family sarcophagus situated on a rock. We continue the visit Letoon, the city had three temples attracting pilgrims who followed the cult of the goddess. Some remains of these are still visible. The Temple of Apollo was built in the Doric style and has surviving mosaics; the Temple of Leto was Ionic. The oldest temple, dedicated to Artemis, was built between the two and dates from the fourth century B.C. We drive to Fethiye. Overnight in Fethiye.

Day 7 : Fethiye - Caunus - Marmaris In the morning we drive to Caunus was known for their sickness and poor health. Despite its unhealthy reputation, Caunus went through a long series of different cultures. The extensive ruins include a huge Roman Bath, Persian City walks, a Carian fortress, a Greek theatre and a Byzantine basilica. Afternoon we drive to Marmaris, is not known when Marmaris was founded, but Physkos as Marmaris was previously known, was part of the Carian Empire in the 6th century B.C. when overrun by the Lydians. Overnight in Marmaris.

Day 8 : Marmaris - Didyma – Ephese - Izmir In the morning we drive to Didyma, where we will see the giant Ionian columns at a distance, over the rooftops; the columns of the astounding Temple of Apollo. After visiting driving to Epheus was an important port city until with passing of time and erosion that the bay gradually filled with sand. The city, whose wealth and patronage supported its splendid architectural program, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. The ruins also include a theatre, gymnasium, agora and baths, as well as the Library of Celsus. We also visit house of Mary (meryem ana evi), we know that St. John spent the last years of his life in Epheus and wrote his Gospel here. Jesus left his mother with John, therefore, it is believed that Mother Mary came to Epheus and lived here until the end of her life. We arrive to Izmir known in Turkish as ‘Beautiful Izmır’ the city lies at the head of a long and narrow gulf furrowed by ships and yachts. The originally city was established in the third millennium B.C (at present day Bayraklı) at which time it shared with Troy the most advanced culture in western Anatolia by 1500 B.C. Overnight in Izmir.

Day 9 : Izmir - Home
In the morning transfer to the airport and fly home

Season : April to November

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