Lycia and Caria
A Gulet Tour
Saturday 3 – Saturday 17 June 2023
A glorious fortnight exploring the ancient lands of Lycia and Caria in a gulet, a traditional Turkish schooner as comfortable as she is romantic, in the company of travel writer Jeremy Seal and Turkish archaeologist Yunus Özdemir. Jeremy and Yunus have devoted much of their working lives to immersing themselves in Turkey; they retain a rare passion for the country. Experienced and attentive guides, they boast an unrivalled knowledge of this coast’s history, culture, topography, ancient ruins – and places to eat. Gulet captain Alettin, with whom Jeremy and Yunus have worked for years, knows the best swimming spots and the most secluded anchorages better than anybody.
Discover this land of legendary resonance and beauty while delighting in exceptional onboard cuisine, informed talks and idyllic overnight anchorages.
Site gradings in bold indicate how uneven and/or steep the going will be underfoot; A-C are generally manageable, D may well be an issue for some, and E, should you ever come across the designation, is exclusively for goats.
Day 1/Sat 3 June 2023: Guests are met at Dalaman Airport for the half-hour transfer to Göcek where our gulet and a light dinner await. Some may join direct from our Konya, Çatalhöyuk and Sagalassos tour.
Day 2/Sun 4 June 2023: After breakfast we spend a lazy morning at sea exploring Fethiye Bay’s pine-clad coves before anchoring for the night at Gemiler. We put ashore in the late afternoon to explore the Byzantine monastic ruins of St Nicholas’ Island (B/C).
Day 3/Mon 5 June 2023: An early start for Kalkan where we put ashore for the short minibus transfer to Patara (A). Ancient Lycia’s chief port city, birthplace of St Nicholas, has been the site of extensive archaeological discoveries in recent years, not least the reconstruction of the world’s oldest standing lighthouse which we expect to be complete by the time of our visit. We swim off the famed beach and lunch in the village, superbly, before we visit Xanthos (A/B), Lycia’s fabled riverside capital. There will be some time to explore Kalkan’s attractive alleys before returning to our gulet and our overnight anchorage at Firnaz.
Day 4/Tues 6 June 2023: In the morning we head east to Aperlae (B), where there is fine snorkeling, weather conditions permitting, over the ancient underwater remains of this remote port city. The more active can take the 30-minute walk across the isthmus before we motor over Kekova’s famed sunken city en route to our overnight anchorage in a hidden cove on Kekova Island.
Day 5: Weds 7 June 2023: We put ashore to visit the remarkable theatre and rock tombs at Myra (A). and the nearby Church of St Nicholas (A), shrine of the 3rd-century bishop aka Santa Claus. We return to the gulet to overnight in a quiet cove at Gökkaya.
Day 6: Thurs 8 June 2023: We put ashore for a minibus transfer to Arycanda (B/C), an idyllic city site set in the wooded hills of the interior. After a delightful village lunch at the home of the site’s retired guardian, we return to the gulet to anchor off Simena (B/C) before exploring this delightful citadel village and necropolis.
Day 7: Fri 9 June 2023: After a brief visit to the remarkable shore necropolis at Teimiussa (B/C), where the sarcophagae are fronted by exquisite carved exedrae (seats), we continue west. After lunch we visit the harbour town of Kaş (A/B), with its Lycian rock tombs, fine theatre, charming back streets and attractive shops. We overnight at Limanağzı.
Day 8: Sat 10 June 2023: We put ashore at Kalkan for Letoon (A), a famed cult centre before continuing to the atmospheric and remote ruins at Sidyma (B), a tiny Lycian Roman-era settlement whose fine tombs are scattered among wheat fields. We lunch in the village before continuing west to rejoin the gulet near Gemiler.
Day 9: Sun 11 June 2023: We put ashore for the short trip up to Kayaköy/Levissi (B/C), where we walk the haunting ruins of a Christian village that has stood abandoned since the population exchanges of 1923. After returning to the gulet for lunch, we head west across Fethiye Bay to Ağlımanı and an evening walk up to Lydae (B/C), an idyllically sited and atmospheric city site.
Day 10: Mon 12 June 2023: An early start for Iztuzu, where we board a shaded caique for our visit up the Dalyan River to Kaunos (A/B), another port city distinguished by fascinating recent archaeological discoveries. We lunch at a simple riverside restaurant before rejoining our gulet for the night at Ekincik.
Day 11: Tues 13 June 2023: We head west to Marmaris where we visit the port’s charming old town and museum before anchoring for the night in one of the vast bay’s more remote corners.
Day 12: Wed 14 June 2023: A lazy day at anchor off lovely Arab Island before we continue to our overnight anchorage in the magnificent natural harbor at Loryma (B/C), an imposing 4th-century BC bastion which we explore in the course of an afternoon walk.
Day 13: Thurs 15 June 2023: We leave for Datça, an attractive port, to explore the old town and visit a delightful Ottoman mansion. We overnight at nearby Kargı.
Day 14: Fri 16 June 2023: Heading east, we make our leisurely way to Selimiye where we put ashore to visit a remarkable hilltop tomb (C) before stopping for refreshments in the lovely village of Bayır.
Day 15: Sat 17 June: We leave the gulet at Selimiye before transferring to Dalaman Airport where the tour ends.
For the itinerary on google maps, click HERE.
Cost: £3975 per person sharing rooms, £4975 per person in sole occupancy of a cabin. Price includes all meals, onboard wine, beer and spirits, guiding, entry fees and talks, domestic flights, airport transfers, outings and tips. Does not include international flights, any necessary visas or onshore alcohol.
Your holiday is fully bonded and administered by Heritage Group Travel (www.grouptravel.co.uk) in Bath. For a small charge Heritage can also assist with your flights.
The trip will only run with sufficient numbers; early indications of interest are much appreciated.
Enquiries to jeremy@somewherewonderful.com or text/call Jeremy on 07757 703604.