8 Sultaniye Caunos to Dalysan

Today’s day starts with a hike as we are off Sultaniye, a very small town on the banks of Lake Koycegiz thats known for its thermal pools. That’s that sulphur smell and pools of hot water and also a hot mud bath and there’s a sense of Déjà vu !
The lake view is impressive !

We start our four-kilometre hike towards ancient Caunos from just outside of the village . The ancient site is half masked by shrub and olive trees and encroached upon by the Dalyan delta. Hidden in the ruins are some features that span many civilisations from the Persians, Alexander the Great's Hellenistic era, the Byzantine period and through to the Romans. The Byzantine church dates back to the 6th century and houses mosaics .The Temple of Zeus , the circular temple ( window or astral watching ? ) the Roman Baths and the theatre backed by the lush valley are impressive .the theatre has a rare circular moving rotating Dias- not many of these !
Possibly the most famous feature of this little-visited site is the 'tombs of the kings'; tombs cut directly out of a rugged, vertical rock face, in the shape of Hellenistic temples. This was the first place in Turkey to start this type of tomb design, in the 4th century BC.

We continue downhill and meet the river at Candir and cross the river by ferry to Dalyan town. It’s from here where it’s the best view of the tombs.

It’s hot so a beer or two to discus the merits of the guide - rushing us and not informed!

A swim and then a casual boat ride up to the fish trap gate!
They get the fish in and feed them but the fish cant get back through the underwater gate!

Fish for supper !Read more