The Carian Way
7 days
Archaeotrek Tour
mın 4-max 12
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Arrival: Bodrum Airport at latest 9 AM.
Site no. 1: Labraunda: Hellenistic sanctuary site of the ancient city of Mylasa.
Trail no. 1: Labraunda to Kargıcak: This is a 3 hour downhill hike that follows an ancient paved road from time to time and takes us through some abandoned villages.
Overnight: Kapıkırı (L/D)
Trekking time: 3 hours total
Driving time: 1,5 hours
Site no. 2: Herakleia ad Latmos: Once a grand bay that witnessed important naval wars between the Ionians and the Persians Latmos is now a lake (Bafa). It’s mystical serenity surrounded by grandiose boulders make this setting fit for myths.
Trail no. 2: Karahayıt to Gölyaka: We walk through huge rocks and see 7500 year old prehistoric rock paintings. Our trail takes us to the Byzantine Yediler Monastery. From this mysterious location on the Beşparmak (Latmos) Mountains we take a look down at the glorious panorma of Lake Bafa. The trail ends at Gölyaka where we meet our minibus and drive back to our guesthouse.
Overnight: Kapıkırı (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 4,5 hours total
Driving time: 45 minutes
Trail no. 3: Kisebükü to Çakıllıyalı: It is now time to go to the seaside. Today’s trail involves a magnificent mixture of forests, villages and the sea. We begin at Kisebükü cove and walk on a beautiful trail through forests and overlooking the Aegean sea. We take a lunch and swimming break. We finally reach our seaside guesthouse at Çakıllıyalı.
Overnight: Ege Pension or similar in Çakıllıyalı (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 5 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
After breakfast we head out towards Akbük and enjoy this marvellous location where we have some time to relax and have lunch. We then drive to Sarnıç and start our trek of the day
Trail no. 4: Sarnıç to Turnalı: This trail takes us through beautiful forest trails following the old caravan roads, arriving at Turnalı and finally we drive to our guesthouse in Akyaka.
Overnight: Erdem Hotel or similar in Akyaka (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 3 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
After some free time in the morning to get to know Akyaka, we take off to the village of Osmaniye on the Bozburun Peninsula. After lunch involving freshly baked bread and home-made village products we drive to Bahçeli where we begin our trek.
Trail no. 5: Bahçeli to Cumhuriyet: We follow a breathtaking rocky trail overlooking the sea bringing us to Taşlıca where we might have a cup of tea. We then drive down to Cumhuriyet and finally arrive at our hotel at Selimiye.
Overnight: Sardunya Hotel or similar in Selimiye (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 4 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
Free time in the morning for swimming and getting to know Selimiye. We then take a short drive to the waterfall at Turgut Village. After a short visit here we drive to the ancient city of Hydas.
Site no. 3, Trail no. 6: Hydas to Turgut: After a uphill trek of 1,5 km we reach the fortress with a breathtaking panorama. Our trek continues on a forest road leading us back to Turgut where we visit the local coffee house and head back to our hotel.
Overnight: Sardunya Hotel or similar in Selimiye (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 3,5 hours
Driving time: 30 minutes
Site no. 4: Caunos: After a late breakfast at Selimiye we head out to Dalyan. Here we take a boat trip on the Dalyan River, reaching Iztuzu Beach. We might see caretta caretta turtles if we are lucky. Our boat then takes us to the ancient city of Caunos. Here we visit the site and finish our tour on the acropolis of Caunos overlooking this breathtaking delta.
We are then transferred to Dalaman Airport
(B/L)
Trekking time: 2 hours
Arrival: Bodrum Airport at latest 9 AM.
Site no. 1: Labraunda: Hellenistic sanctuary site of the ancient city of Mylasa.
Trail no. 1: Labraunda to Kargıcak: This is a 3 hour downhill hike that follows an ancient paved road from time to time and takes us through some abandoned villages.
Overnight: Kapıkırı (L/D)
Trekking time: 3 hours total
Driving time: 1,5 hours
Site no. 2: Herakleia ad Latmos: Once a grand bay that witnessed important naval wars between the Ionians and the Persians Latmos is now a lake (Bafa). It’s mystical serenity surrounded by grandiose boulders make this setting fit for myths.
Trail no. 2: Karahayıt to Gölyaka: We walk through huge rocks and see 7500 year old prehistoric rock paintings. Our trail takes us to the Byzantine Yediler Monastery. From this mysterious location on the Beşparmak (Latmos) Mountains we take a look down at the glorious panorma of Lake Bafa. The trail ends at Gölyaka where we meet our minibus and drive back to our guesthouse.
Overnight: Kapıkırı (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 4,5 hours total
Driving time: 45 minutes
Trail no. 3: Kisebükü to Çakıllıyalı: It is now time to go to the seaside. Today’s trail involves a magnificent mixture of forests, villages and the sea. We begin at Kisebükü cove and walk on a beautiful trail through forests and overlooking the Aegean sea. We take a lunch and swimming break. We finally reach our seaside guesthouse at Çakıllıyalı.
Overnight: Ege Pension or similar in Çakıllıyalı (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 5 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
After breakfast we head out towards Akbük and enjoy this marvellous location where we have some time to relax and have lunch. We then drive to Sarnıç and start our trek of the day
Trail no. 4: Sarnıç to Turnalı: This trail takes us through beautiful forest trails following the old caravan roads, arriving at Turnalı and finally we drive to our guesthouse in Akyaka.
Overnight: Erdem Hotel or similar in Akyaka (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 3 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
After some free time in the morning to get to know Akyaka, we take off to the village of Osmaniye on the Bozburun Peninsula. After lunch involving freshly baked bread and home-made village products we drive to Bahçeli where we begin our trek.
Trail no. 5: Bahçeli to Cumhuriyet: We follow a breathtaking rocky trail overlooking the sea bringing us to Taşlıca where we might have a cup of tea. We then drive down to Cumhuriyet and finally arrive at our hotel at Selimiye.
Overnight: Sardunya Hotel or similar in Selimiye (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 4 hours
Driving time: 2 hours
Free time in the morning for swimming and getting to know Selimiye. We then take a short drive to the waterfall at Turgut Village. After a short visit here we drive to the ancient city of Hydas.
Site no. 3, Trail no. 6: Hydas to Turgut: After a uphill trek of 1,5 km we reach the fortress with a breathtaking panorama. Our trek continues on a forest road leading us back to Turgut where we visit the local coffee house and head back to our hotel.
Overnight: Sardunya Hotel or similar in Selimiye (B/L/D)
Trekking time: 3,5 hours
Driving time: 30 minutes
Site no. 4: Caunos: After a late breakfast at Selimiye we head out to Dalyan. Here we take a boat trip on the Dalyan River, reaching Iztuzu Beach. We might see caretta caretta turtles if we are lucky. Our boat then takes us to the ancient city of Caunos. Here we visit the site and finish our tour on the acropolis of Caunos overlooking this breathtaking delta.
We are then transferred to Dalaman Airport
(B/L)
Trekking time: 2 hours
2 Nights Kapıkırı: Bungalows
1 Night Çakıllıyalı: Bungalows
1 Night Akyaka: Hotel
2 Nights Selimiye: Bungalows/Hotel
- Hotels as indicated in the itinerary
- All transfers
- Local tour guide and group leader from Başka Rota
- Guide, tour leader and driver expenses
- Parks and toll roads
- All meals as indicated (B/L/D)
- Hotel tips
- Entrance fees
- Compulsory TURSAB travel insurance (not health or travel insurance)
- Professional and high quality service by Başka Rota
- VAT
- Journey to Bodrum/Muğla and back from Dalaman/Muğla
- Travel insurance
- Compulsory health insurance
- Visas
- Drinks
- Any extra activities and excursions
- Tips and gratitudes for local staff
- Personal expenses
Backpack: You should have a minimum 25 liter backpack for essential items such as a jacket, fleece, flask or bottle, sunscreen, cream, shorts etc. City type packs with no back support might cause you to experience back pains.
Walking Pole: Using a walking pole requires some experience. If you are an experienced user it will help with conveying the weight of a heavy backpack down towards the arms and thus will lighten the pack. However, if you do not have much experience it will cause more harm than good, especially on uneven surfaces while trying to place the tip properly on the ground. The best thing is either to use just one pole or to ask us to find a suitable tree branch from the nature.
Trekking boots: As our trail will generally be on paths and uneven surfaces, the trekkers should wear hard soled trekking boots with high enough necks that will protect the ankles against sprains. Actually these are essential items, so they are a “must” rather than a “should”. Your feet carry the whole weight of your body and walking on uneven trails without proper footwear is like diving without a scuba tank.
Gaiter: It will keep snow, mud, sand and dust out of your boots. You do not need to buy expensive ones at the beginning.
Raincoat (poncho): The best thing to do is to acquire a rainproof and breathable jacket (Gore-Tex or similar brand). It is an expensive item but you will use it for many years. Poncho-style raincoats are impermeable but they will make you sweat on long walks and thus cause you to get wet from the inside. You should prefer to get %50 of yourselves wet instead of 100%.
Headgear: Sunglasses and a sunhat are essential for sunny days.
Trousers: You should prefer quick-drying trousers that are especially made for trekking. Even better if they have zip-off legs that turn into shorts. We definitely do not recommend denim jeans.
Bottle or Flask: We do not recommend plastic bottles for health reasons but for beginner trekkers they are probably the best thing. You could also acquire a 50 cc metal bottle or thermos flask.
First aid kit: Your guide will have a general first aid kit but if you need special medication or any sort of special first aid that you might need for certain circumstances such as allergic reactions, do not forget to have them with you.
Swimwear: You will have many chances to swim in the sea if weather permits. So don’t forget to bring a swimsuit and towel.