In this travel in 2004, we explored Turkey's Mediterranean coast, an area of great beauty, which is scattered with the picturesque ruins of ancient civilizations.
We started our tour at Adana, with its impressive Sabancı Merkez Camii, since at that time (2004), this was the only local airport available. From there we headed through the Cilician gates to the Hatay province and its capital Antakya, the Antioch ad Orontes from antiquity. Antioch - Antakya was the setting for the chariot race in Lew Wallace's novel Ben-Hur. The mosaic museum, displaying Roman mosaics discovered at nearby Harbiye was our main reason to visit Antakya.
From Antakya, we returned to Adana and continued further west to the harbor city of Mersin. From here, we went for a half day excursion to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. The next stop on our journey was Kızkalesi, a charming holiday resort located amidst the ruins of Greek, Roman and Byzantine buildings. After visiting the ruins of Olbia at Uzuncaburç and the temple of Jupiter at Silifke, the journey continued along the extremely winding road to Anamur. Anamur is famous for its castle that protects the most southern point of Turkey's coast. From Anamur we drove through mainly flat terrain to Alanya where we stayed for only one day, enough to visit the castle and to enjoy the scenery. At our next stop, Side we could enjoy the sunset at the temple of Apollo. From Side, we headed further west to beautiful Antalya, where we stayed in the inner-city, Kaleiçi. Antalya was our basis for further exploration of the archaeological sites of Perge, Aspendos, and Termessos. We concluded this journey with a stay at Eğirdir and visit of nearby Sagalassos, after which we finally headed for our usual resting place Kuşadası.
Unfortunately, due to the current (2017) political situation, there is security advice against all but essential travels to the region east of Adana.
- Thursday, June, 10: Brussels - Istanbul - Adana
TK1938 Dept. 11:15– Istanbul International Arr. 15:35
TK 466 Dept. Istanbul Domestic 16:50 – Adana 18:20 - Friday, June, 11: Visit of Adana
- Saturday, June, 12 Bus Adana - Antakya (Hatay) (ca. 3.5 hrs)
Hotel Onur, Istiklal Sokak 14, Tel. 0356/216 221 - Sunday, June, 13
Visit of Antakya and Hatay Archeology Museum
Afternoon visit of St. Simeon, and further to Samandağ - Çevlik (35 km) Titüs ve Vespasyanüs Tüneli. - Monday, June, 14: Antakya – Adana (3.5 hrs) – Mersin (50 min)
Visit of Mersin - Tuesday, June, 15: Bus to Tarsus (23 km, 20 min) and visit of Tarsus
Afternoon, continue visit of Mersin - Wednesday, June, 16: taxi to Kızkalesi (60 km) stay at Hantur Otel, (Kızkalesi) Tel. 0324/ 523 2367
Visit of Kızkalesi - Thursday, June, 17: Private car (Hantur Hotel) to Uzuncaburç
Visit of Uzuncaburç, the ancient temple city of Olbia
Return to Silifke, visit of Temple of Jupiter and Chasms of Heaven and Hell - Friday, June, 18: Private car visit of Kızkalesi - Kanlıdivane
Bus Silifke – Anamur (4 hrs) - Saturday, June, 19: Private car visit of Mamure Castle Anemurium
Afternoon rest - Sunday, June, 20: Bus Anamur – Alanya (4 hrs)
Visit of Alanya - Monday, June, 21 Bus Alanya –Manavgat (1.5 hrs), dolmuş to Side
Visit of Side - Tuesday, June, 22 Side - Manavgat - Antalya
Stay at Hotel Frankfurt, Hıdırlık Sokak 17, Tel. 0242/247 62 24
Visit of Antalya - Wednesday, June, 23: Taxi to Perge and Aspendos
- Thursday, June, 24: Taxi to Termessos
- Friday, June, 25: Antalya – Eğirdir (2.5 hrs)
Visit of Eğirdir - Saturday, June, 26: Bus to Isparta and dolmuş to Ağlasun, visit of Sagalassos
- Sunday, June, 27: Eğirdir – Aydın - Kuşadası
- Monday, June, 28: Stay at Kuşadası
- Tuesday, June, 29: Stay at Kuşadası
- Wednesday, June, 30: Stay at Kuşadası
- Thursday, July, 1: Stay at Kuşadası
- Friday, July, 2: Stay at Kuşadası
- Saturday, July, 3: Kuşadası - Izmir - Istanbul – Brussels