Lycian Rock Tombs at Myra
This short but comprehensive tour concentrates on the rich cultural heritage of ancient Lycia, founded in the 2nd century BC and that later became a Roman province. The region has an unrivalled concentration of archaeological treasures as a result, comparable to an open-air museum, and we spend time visiting a carefully chosen selection of the best sites. The tour starts in Antalya, the eastern border of ancient Lycia, with Perge and Aspendos on its doorstep. In the heart of Lycia we visit some of the principal Lycian cities; Tlos, Patara, Myra, Arycanda and Phaselis. Apart from the excellent preservation of many of the sites, their location is equally breathtaking and this region of southwest Turkey is undoubtedly its most scenic and dramatic
ITINERARY
Day 1 Fly to Antalya
Afternoon departure from London Gatwick direct to Antalya with EasyJet. Evening arrival and transfer to a boutique hotel in the city’s old quarter for two nights
Day 2 Visit Antalya Museum, Perge and Aspendos
We start the day in the excellent Antalya Museum with fine displays of classical treasures discovered in the region, including some fine statuary from the Roman city of Perge, our next destination. In the afternoon we continue to Aspendos, to view the best preserved Roman theatre of the ancient world. Welcome dinner in a traditional restaurant (B,D)
Day 3 Drive to Tlos
We head west today and enjoy a scenic drive into the heart of the lands of ancient Lycia, a dramatic and beautiful peninsula of south-west Turkey with steep gorges and dense pine forests. Our destination is Tlos, the oldest and most important Lycian city. Two nights at Tlos Lodge (B)
Day 4 Visit Tlos, Xanthos and Pinara
We have a morning tour of this most dramatically located site, set high on a rocky outcrop with superb views to the Aegean. We continue to Xanthos, once the capital and grandest city of Lycia, with a fine Roman theatre, before driving into the mountains to visit the wonderfully isolated ancient city of Pinara, with fine examples of typical Lycian rock-cut tombs and reliefs. (B)
Day 5 Visit Patara. Drive to Kas
This morning we visit the ruins of Patara located on the shores of the Aegean aside a stunning 20 km stretch of white sand beach. Ancient Patara was the port for Eastern Lycia, and was famous for its temple and oracle of Apollo. Here too, St Nicholas was born, the 4th century Byzantine bishop who passed into legend as Santa Claus. We continue to the attractive fishing town of Kas for our overnight stay (B)
Day 6 Visit Kekova Island and Myra
Our first visit of the day is by boat to the island of Kekova, famous for its submerged harbour and site of the ancient city of Simena which dates to the 4th century BC. We continue to the famous ancient city of Myra, the highlight of which are the finest examples anywhere of multiple levels of rock- cut tombs in the steep cliffs surrounding the city and the stunningly preserved Roman amphitheatre. Our overnight stay is in nearby Finike, founded by the Phoenicians in the 5th century BC and famous today for its oranges! (B)
Day 7 Visit Arycanda and Phaselis
Set on the slopes of pine forest and built on a series of terraces cut into the hillside, Arycanda’s setting has been likened favourably to that of Greek Delphi. Still wonderfully preserved, the visit to this ancient city will be a highlight of our tour. Returning to the coast we journey west on our return to Antalya pausing at Phaselis, magically set on the shores of the Mediterranean with a backdrop of distant hazy mountains. A city of natural harbours, Phaselis has an incomparable charm. We continue to Antalya for our final evening in the old town. Overnight boutique hotel (B)
Day 8 In Antalya. Fly London
This morning we have a walking tour of Kaleici; the old historical quarter of Antalya, with its restored Ottoman houses, ornately tiled mosques and Roman walls. The restored Roman harbour is now a yachting marina. After an afternoon at leisure we can enjoy a early farewell dinner before our evening transfer to the airport for our return flight direct to London Gatwick (B,D)
Price includes –
Tour accompanied from London Gatwick by Patrick Syder, FRGS
Specialist Turkish guide, Dr Fatih Babaoglu, with a PhD in the Hittite Civilisation
All transportation by a/c minibus
Full sightseeing programme including entrance fees
Boutique hotel in Antalya (three nights), comfortable three star hotels (two nights) in Kas and Finike and lodge (two nights) in Tlos
All breakfast and two dinners as indicated
Airport transfers
Group size (strictly 6 to 9 passengers)
Bottled water daily
Porter, hotel and restaurant staff gratuities
