Southwest 8 days

Cultural tour in the Southwest

Day 1: Izmir

Meet at the airport with our Anatolia Cultura Travel team and transfer to hotel for the night.

Day 2: Izmir – Ephesus - Pamukkale

Drive to Ephesus and visit. This is the most important city of Antiquity and one of the highlights of any visit of Turkey. The city was adorned with splendid monuments, theatres, temples, agoras, gymnasiums, librairies etc. Artemis, whose temple is considered as the 7th wonders of the world, was its protectress. Then visit of the Virgin Mary house, a tradition says that St John brought Mary to Ephesus after the death of Christ.
We drive to Pamukkale, an extraordinary nature wonder.
Pamukkale is one of the most interesting places in the world, justly famous not only for the entrancing beauty of its unique geological formations but also for its historical remains. The well-preserved theatre of Hierapolis commands magnificent view of the plain below. Visit of the Antique City and check-in hotel for overnight.

Day 3: Pamukkale - Fethiye

In the morning we discover the natural wonder of Pamukkale (the cotton castle): the Calcareous waters rise from the ground and tumble down the mountain from a height of 100 m, forming a myriad of white pools.
Drive to Fethiye. Fethiye is a popular resort of Turkey. A hill crowned by the ruins of the crusader fortress built by the Knights of Rhodes overlooks the little port. Above the town, (called Telmessos in antiquity), numerous Lycian rock tombs, reproducing the facades ancient buildings, were cut into the cliff face. The Tomb of Amyntas, which probably dates from the fourth century B.C. is the most remarkable.
We visit Kayakoy, originaly named ”Karmilassos”. This an old Greek village given up at the beginning of the 20th S. in accordance with the treaty of Lausanne which envisaged an exchange of population between the two countries. Two admirable churches are still drawn up among the stone-built houses in ruin.
Night hotel in Fethiye.

Day 4: Fethiye - Kaş

In the morning we walk in the remains of Pınara. We visit this old Lycian city, which was created by colonists coming from Xanthos which was then over-populated. Between 2 steep sides valleys the acropolis draws up, On the northern face, a natural section of wall, you will see an extraordinary accumulation of rupestral tombs. We walk in an imposing mountainous decoration, between the necropolis, the Greek theatre, the Roman bath, the agora, the public place and the church.
Drive to Letoon and visit the ruins. The excavation site covers an area containing three temples placed side by side. The first of these, of the Ionic order, is dedicated to Leto.
Drive to Xanthos to visit the remains of a civilisation, which ended with a collective suicide
Then visit the ruins of Patara. We know that this city, called "Patara" in Lycian language, had existed during the 5th and 6th centuries B.C. and had been saved from destruction by opening the city gates to let Alexander enter.
We arrive to the charming city of Kaş, a very lovely spot surrounded on 3 sides by mountains.
Night in hotel.

Day 5: Kaş – Kekova Island - Kaş

An opportunity for a pleasant boat excursion to discover the archaeological sites well preserved because they are not easily accessible. Along the northern coast of the Kekova Island (Apollania), some of the old houses were completely immersed by earthquakes during the Byzantine period. By boat, we go round the island, where you will see down to 1 to 2 m depth, in the bluish light of seabed remains. By foot we walk up to the Simena castle rewarding us with a sight all around, and on numerous necropolis.
Return back to Kaş for the night in hotel.

Day 6 : Kaş - Kemer

Drive to Myra. The ancient city of Myra is today called Demre. It was inhabited as earlier as 500 BC. Many splendidly carved rock tombs dating from the 4th century BC overlook the magnificent Roman theatre. This is also where St Nicholas was the bishop during the 4th century AD.
Drive to Kemer. En route, We stop on the Çıralı site, where according to the legend, Chimerae, the monster blowing out fire from the mouth was killed by the lycian hero “Bellepheron”. Today, situated at 300 m from the sea level, you can observe flames escaping among the rocks.
Then departure to Phaselis, of which we visit the ruins. Dominated by the Tahtalı mount, the three ports of Phaselis testify to its role of historical shopping centre. We discover the theatre, the Hadrian gate, the acropolis and many ruins of aqueducts, agoras and baths, which are perfectly integrated with a generous nature in vegetation.
We arrive in the afternoon Kemer, a very nice holiday resort.
Overnight hotel.

Day 7: Kemer - Antalya

Departure for Antalya,Turkey’s principal holiday resort .
Attalos II, king of Pergame, who gave him the name of Atteleia, founded Antalya in the 2nd century BC. Then Antalya was settled by Roman, Byzantine and Seldjuk civilisations before to be finally occupied by Ottomans.
Today Antalya is an attractive city with its shaded palm-lined boulevards, its marina and its picturesque old quarter, called kaleiçi, with narrow and sinuous streets and the old wooden houses. Free afternoon.
Overnight in hotel.

Day 8: Antalya – Return

Drive to the airport for the return flight.

Group size: Possibility to organize according to your needs.

Please note that this is a sample cultural tour. Possibility to modify the itinerary add/remove days and/or combine with cultural visits.