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Turkey trot
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Turkey trot

Starting Antalya, and two weeks of ruins and walking ? Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 10, 2026
    Ant TravelsTurkey trotAnt Travels

    Travel !

    May 10 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Odd travelling on my own … with the postponement and drop outs …a bit like going back to Basel for work!

    So the Gatwick zoo , missing the football and arriving later to see if the other game goes well!

    Well we are delayed ! Three hours ! No -now two hours ! No -now we are off and avoiding Greece and going north and shouldn’t be too late! Bonus !
    Loss - no insight into the football progress until later !

    God what a flight ! It appeared to have a good amount young ones ! I witness one trying to chat two girls up …in the corridor aka aisle but as loud as if in a pub ! Fake tans already and weird pencilled thick grouch eyebrows!
    A couple on flight of course all wearing a similar puce blue outfit…shirts and top !
    It was a mixture of the older generation and those about to party !

    I arrive - Forest drew ! In the taxi Arsenal are doing nothing ! They score ! Then Hammers score …oh no , VAR! Forest survive !

    At hotel I wander around
    Kaleici, Antalya's old town of narrow streets of Ottoman-era houses to the Hadrian's Gate, a Roman archway at the entrance into the old quarter. It’s not far from the hotel it seems !

    The two façades of the gate have four columns each. Floral decorations adorn the gate and stylized heads of lions dominate the upper portion.
    The two towers next to Hadrian’s Gate were not part of the initial plan.
    Although the south tower was built not much later than the gate, its architecture is completely different.
    The north tower, on the other hand, was built much later during the 13th-century
    The passage of carts through the gate over centuries has left behind deep ruts at the base of the gate. 

    But as with most things…. restoration of the gate was concluded in 1959.

    Supposedly the
    Queen of Sheba traveled through this gate - but she was believed to have lived about a millennium before Hadrian’s Gate was built.
    So maybe it’s replaced an even older Gate ! Who knows !

    Home - food and a beer ! And seemingly an early morning walk around the old city!
    I’ve arrived ! It starts!    Read more

  • Ant TravelsTurkey trotAnt Travels
    1

    2 Perge and Aspendos

    May 11 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    So after a late night it’s an early morning as 630 and I’m getting a tour of the ancient city .
    I’ve set the alarm but of course we are in Turkey so …Fajr is the first of five mandatory daily prayers in Islam, performed at dawn before sunrise which is 5 or 3 my time !
    I’m awake but then sleeping when the second chorus is … birdsong!
    The town is very quiet ! It’s a good central old town location.

    My solo tour with guide takes me down to the harbour and past old minarets , Madrassas Muratpasa , Hadrians gate again and we manage to sneak in some local tea!

    Breakfast back at hotel is very local! The travellers appear - 4 Americans ( one about to turn Canadian !) a Canadian , an Australian and a fellow Brit ! Good natured bunch!

    And then it’s off to the ancient city of Perge and the Roman amphitheatre of Aspendos!

    First up is the aqueduct that’s mostly there and strangely it’s water flowed by pressure not incline !They are exceptional examples of Roman hydraulic engineering that utilized positive pressure through inverted siphons to transport water across valleys. Contrary to the belief that Roman aqueducts only used gravity flow, these sites demonstrate advanced knowledge of hydraulic pressure to move water! Well! Didn’t know that !

    A pit stop of fresh orange juice and pomegranate juice!

    We arrive at the ancient city of Aspendos. The jewel in this site's crown is the enormous Roman theatre, built in the reign of Marcus Aurelius in the 2nd century AD. Spectacularly well-preserved, the intact theatre holds approximately 15,000 spectators, crammed onto the stone seating for gladiator and animal shows- not today , we also missed some time ago …Ray Charles!


    After a Antalya style bean salad with tahini sauce, Tahinli piyaz! We are off again to
    the ancient city of Perge, a vast sprawling site of mainly Roman ruins, with features such as huge pre Roman towers , Roman baths, a large stadium, theatre, and a very very long colonnaded street!
    We walk it in the afternoon heat and the view from on high of the area is very impressive !

    Home for a beer and hopefully some local fish !    Read more

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    3 Burdur Sagalassos Insuyu caves

    May 12 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    A good evening chatting and sharing stories , good sleep plus 5 am call to prayers

    Off to the towards Burdur. We stop at the ancient city of Sagalassos.The ruins of the ancient city of Sagalassos are located at the foot of the magnificent Western Taurus Mountains.

    The climb into the mountains is up a snaking road and eventually we reach green plains which are overlooked by some snow topped mountains

    Sagalassos is positioned on a steep mountain slope, overlooked by a continuous chain of peaks

    Sagalassos is off the beaten track and the ruined city is peaceful with only a handful of visitors among the bright marble ruins.

    Excavations only began in 1990, and so after the removed earth , the re-erected marbles shine white in the sun as they did centuries ago.

    There many great views and sights here.

    A beautifully intact theatre built by Hadrian, a number of ornate fountains (Nymphaeum), and a Heroon, or hero’s monument, built to overlook the city.

    The magnificent fountain backing the upper square.

    The Heroon of Sagalassos, possibly built by Alexander the Great.

    Beyond these are Roman Baths, market squares, a bouleuterion (council theatre), and colonnaded streets looking out over the valley far below.

    The fountain of Sagalassos was once filled with statues, now there are a few reproductions while the originals are in the museum we are going to later .

    While Sagalassos looks like a great Greco-Roman city, it’s much older at least to the time of the Hittites (1300 BC).
    The original settlers chose a defensible position on the upper mountain slopes. The fact that the chosen spot faces south kept the city warm despite the elevation!
    When Alexander the Great came conquering
    through the region in 333BC the people of Sagalassos resisted strongly

    After Alexander’s conquest of the city Sagalassos passed from ruler to ruler until, like the whole of the region, it came under Roman control. This marked the richest period of the city’s history and many of the greatest monuments of Sagalassos were built during this time.
    Colossal statues were erected in honour of Roman emperors and Hadrian had the theatre constructed on the hill above the city.

    Somewhere around 400AD city walls were constructed but the greatest threat to the turned out to be earthquakes and in 590 a major earthquake brought the end of the great city.

    It’s a good visit !


    Lunch in the n
    small town of Aglasun for lunch and some pide - the traditional Turkish pizza. Lahmacun - very filling !

    A brief and forgettable stop at the Insuyu Caves - very small unremarkable ! The Blue John caverns are much better !

    Off the Burdur and a visit to see those statues and relics from the city !

    The evening is a local music history lesson and some local performances ! Impressive !    Read more

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    4. Hierapolis and Pamukkale

    May 13 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Early start today and its s short trip to Lake Salda which from the posters looks absurdly blue! We shall see!

    Burdur is known as the City of Lakes, and the lake
    known as the 'Turkish Maldives', for the bright turquoise blue of the lake and the surrounding white sandy beach. At right time of year it’s also surrounded by fields of lavender!

    And it is blue!!!!
    Lake Salda is a breathtaking natural wonder. This tectonic freshwater lake is one of the deepest and cleanest lakes in the world. The lake's rocky terrain and hills give it a unique character, and its white beach, similar to that of Mars they say is a remarkable sight.

    It’s quiet and we take a walk down with maybe a swim …it is not so warm but the lake did justify a paddle which was refreshing !

    Why has NASA been here ? Well there is a similar impact crater on Mars and the two basins contain similar mineralogy and geology.
    Lake Salda is the only known lake on Earth that contains carbonate minerals and depositional features similar to those found at Jezero Crater on Mars which is thought to have once contained a lake.

    The hydromagnesite sediments around Lake Salda are thought to have eroded from large mounds called “microbialites”—rocks formed with the help of microbes.

    Onto Hierapolis which is a Roman-era health spa with spectacular rock formations below the ancient city of Hierapolis which form a blindingly white natural cascading fountain.

    Waters from ancient hot springs spilling down the hillside for millennia have formed terraces of oyster-shell shaped pools, the white travertine constantly refreshed by the flow of the calcium rich waters.

    It’s called the "Cotton Castle" in Turkish and the site has been celebrated as a natural wonder since the second century BC when the city of Hierapolis was formed around the healing waters.
    It was a thriving metropolis during the Roman era, the city survived and was rebuilt several times following earthquakes, and it was not completely abandoned until 1300 AD.
    The ruins are extensive, including a Nymphaeum fountain which distributed water throughout the city, a large amphitheatre as well as the remains of one of the largest ancient necropolis

    There is also an entrance to the gates of Hades! The deadly vapors that still waft out of this "gate to hell" were once used in rituals to the gods of the underworld, and still claim the lives of unfortunate birds who get too close.
    Known as Pluto's Gate, or Ploutonion in Greek, the set was discovered in 2013 after following a thermal spring. The site matches closely the description of the temple to the underworld that disappeared in the 6th century. 
    Ancient Tourists were able to buy small birds or other animals (the sale of which supported the temple) and test out the toxic air that blew out of the cavern, which was connected to a temple with a pool. Only the priests who were high and hallucinating on the fumes, could stand on the steps by the opening to hell, and would sometimes lead sacrificial bulls inside, only to pull out their dead bodies dramatically. 
    More recently it used to be still open at the entrance but some lads partying went in and didn’t come out ! It’s now got some serious gates but you still see the water bubbling from the escaping CO2 gas!

    After exploring the ruins we wander down to try one of the ancient hot baths which has been opened to the public ! It’s very warm but you do have to dodge the odd pillar and column in the baths!

    Together with the ruins of Hierapolis, Pamukkale is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.
    Before the designation, the terraces were in danger of being destroyed through a combination of neglect and commercial development. Hotels were built at the top of the site, partly obscuring ruins of Hierapolis , and wear and tear of visitors had scarred and turned many of the pools brown.
    Efforts to protect the delicate natural phenomenon have dramatically changed the area. Hotels have been demolished, and in an effort to allow the pools natural white appearance to be maintained, access to the pools is restricted, and water released from the spring is controlled and distributed to a few pools at a time.

    As you can walk from the top to the bottom through the pools it’s best to go barefoot or have sandals on ….or my waterproof socks - which don’t stop the water but do safeguard against the odd sharp bumps!

    It is amazing … a sort of cross between the pools of Yellowstone but thinking you might be walking in a winter snow wilderness ! It’s so bright!

    A good day has been had and it’s back to a nice hotel and excellent swimming pool - oh yes ……,it’s also not a dry hotel too!
    To the bar!

    A good meal and then of course a disco version of belly dancing !

    An early night too 10 pm !    Read more

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    5 Aphrodisias

    May 14 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    It’s a short drive to our next stop
    Founded in the 2nd century BC, Aphrodisias began as a small settlement in the Hellenistic period and became one of the region’s major centers. Dedicated to Aphrodite, the Temple of Aphrodite had existed since the 3rd century BC .

    With it ties with the Roman Empire, Aphrodisias was granted privileges . Emperor Augustus placed Aphrodisias under his protection. The Roman Senate granted the city tax exemption and autonomy so the city prospered and because it was close to rich marble quarries, was recognised for its sculpture school

    Sculptors from the city were famous throughout the Roman Empire.. In this period they were the best carvers of marble statues of their day.

    It reached its peak during the Roman era in the 1st and 2nd centuries and it remained important until the 6th century.

    But with the spread of
    monotheism, Aphrodisias lost its prominence and the city steadily shrank.

    Middle Ages, earthquakes and shifting trade routes led to the city’s abandonment and not
    rediscovered until the mid-20th century

    The city streets are arranged around several large civic structures, which include temples, a theatre, an agora and two bath complexes.
    One of the city’s most important structure is the Temple of Aphrodite, built for the goddess believed to protect Aphrodisias. The entrance is through the Tetrapylon, a monumental gate with sixteen reconstructed columns now stand again.

    The Cult of Aphrodite was the most important cult of Aphrodisias. The sanctuary at Aphrodisias had a distinctive cult statue of Aphrodite which defined the city’s identity.

     Nearby, the ancient theater rises along the slope with space for tens of thousands of spectators
    Then there is the stadium. Vast, elliptical, and remarkably intact. With a capacity of around thirty thousand, it was one of the largest stadiums of the ancient world..

    The Sebasteion, the city’s most impressive structure and a tribute to the Emperors is a multi-level building façade with mythological reliefs and sculptures set between columns - sone fantastic marble reliefs.

    A good morning especially as the rain is approaching , time for lunch and then a longish drive to our hotel.

    Camlik, home of Camlik Railway Museum, which houses one of Europe's largest steam train collections- nuff said !

    Home in Selcuk    Read more

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    6 Ephesus

    May 15 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today is the big day !
    It’s popular and despite not being high season ..it’s busy and it’s best to arrive before of after the cruise ships!

    Ephesus on the western coast was a city of great importance and size in the ancient world. Originally founded as an ancient Greek settlement and later became the capital of Roman government in Asia.

    The city was a key to East-West trade, and its Mediterranean harbour was one of the most significant for exporting products to the ancient world.

    The city developed around an ancient shrine of the earth goddess Artemis and later became a key city in the expansion of Christianity by St Paul .

    The city’s history dates back to 6,000 BC, when the earliest settlement in the area was established.
    During the Bronze Age, the Greeks settled on the coast.

    The original city was on the main hill (now known as the Ayasuluk Hill ) in Selcuk .
    The mythical founder of the city was a prince of Athens named Androklos, who had to leave his country . According to the legend, he founded Ephesus on the place where the oracle of Delphi became reality(“ A fish and a boar will show you the way").
    And so they built a huge temple to Artemis. - the Artemision which was one of the ancient 7 wonders of the world !
    Unfortunately some lunatic called Herostratus decided he wanted to be famous and burnt it down !

    Its famous statue is within the towns museum !

    Ephesus as we see it today was built from the harbour and the fluctuating and silting delta .

    The avenue walkway and market area, the Marble path , is a huge and originally stretched all the way from the entrance / harbour area up the massive theatre - which accommodated almost 30000 people ! It’s currently closed and being restored !

    Ephesus has a history of being ruled by various conquerors, including the Persians and Greeks.
    During the Roman Republic, it held the status of a 'free' city, although it was under Roman control. The city was permitted to mint its own coin and operate its own city council.
    In the Imperial era, Ephesus became the capital of the Asian province .
    Augustus' reforms improved the city's economy and initiated a period of peace and prosperity that lasted until the third century AD.
    Ephesus boasts of impressive ruins that were constructed during the reigns of Augustus and his successor Tiberius.
    Notably, the town-hall (the Prytaneion), a hippodrome stadium, and new aqueduct lines were built during this time.
    The civic development continued on a grand scale throughout the Pax Romana .
    During this period, the renowned theatre underwent renovations.
    -The Odeum, used for city council meetings and theatrical performances

    -The fantastic library of Celsus, built to house up to 12,000 scrolls, bathhouses,
    -and of course the public latrines were constructed.

    There’s a great area of private buildings which depict life for the rich then ! The artwork is amazing !

    The Agora, or city square, served as the centre of the business district of ancient Ephesus. It acted as a hub for trade that arrived in the city from across the Empire, particularly the Roman East. The marketplace covers an area of 112 square meters and was surrounded on all four sides by a two-story stoa, which presumably housed merchant stalls. Its construction began during the reign of Tiberius and was completed thirty years later.

    The Apostle Paul visited and lived in Ephesus, making it a pivotal center for the spread of early Christianity.

    The market could have been supplied by the city's harbour, which was surrounded by warehouses filled with products that were being shipped west or arriving from the eastern provinces and beyond

    On that Marble Road , the distinguished road that made its way by the agora to the library, there was supposedly a hidden brothel which was
    possibly advertised on the road - The carving features an image of a cross, a woman, a heart, a foot, a money purse, and a library, plus a hole dug into the rock.One interpretation of the carvings is as follows: up at the crossroads, on the left, you’ll find women whose love can be purchased. But please, only stop in if your foot is at least this big, young men, and you have enough coins to fill this hole. Otherwise, we kindly direct you to the library on the right.! Maybe !

    It is a fantastic place
    BUT
    It’s popular - visit 8-10 and 4-6 to avoid the massive cruise ships ! It’s still busy !

    We leave and after a brief lunch we try Şirince a village! It’s supposedly for wine tasting but it’s touristy and oddly settled by Turks who migrated from Greece ! It’s dull but we do take a walk around to see the countryside !

    Back to town and we hit the museum which is excellent with many great statues from Ephesus!

    The castle and basilica is so so !

    Back for drinks and a meal !
    A good day!    Read more

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    7 Priene Didim Kapikiri Euromos

    May 16 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We are off to the coast and it’s a scenic journey off the beaten path down coastal roads and past inland lakes

    Priene is ancient Greek city now not so close to the sea as the land has been silted up , long shire drift and a bit of land mass rising ! It is however a geographical first ! Out there on the plain is the river Meander! That river that gave us meandering river courses !
    And behind the ancient city is a huge rocky hill on top of which sits a temple , Parthenon like - but it’s too far to get to !

    There are a large number of Hellenistic temples, a theatre, ruined columns, and buildings all crammed into a relatively small area .

    We continue to Didim, where the ruins of the imposing Greek Temple of Apollo is very impressive ! It too was one on the wonders of the ancient world but never got finished …some columns not fluted , some not put up ! We marvel at the 120 giant columns that frame the gateway to the temple . These columns must be the widest we have seen !
    The surroundings offer a toppled column like a chocolate Rolo in pieces!
    A Head of Medusa ! Scary !
    And some bull’s faces !

    We drive briefly by Euromos, and the preserved columns of the Temple of Zeus hidden in the thick olive grove.

    Stratonikeia in Kapakaria is an odd stop ! Is it a Gladiator school ? Doesn’t seem so and it’s got an odd history going back to Hittites and the renovations .. relatively recent , are dramatically obvious or just odd - pediment on top of odd column ! Weird ! It does have a latrine , good set of baths , a bouleuterion, and theatre under serious reconstruction!

    It’s been a good day again …and the rain is approaching !!

    Milas is where we stay for the night.    Read more

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    8 Sultaniye Caunos to Dalysan

    May 17 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    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

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    9 Kayakoy and Xanthos to Kas

    May 18 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Off to Turquoise Coast and south towards Kas.

    Fethiye first and some more rock tombs !

    Kayakoy and the ruins of the Greek town that was deserted in 1923 after its Greek Orthodox inhabitants were 'returned' to Greece in one of the Great Population Exchanges between Greece and Turkey / sort of ethnic cleansing, unsure if there were deaths! It’s a climb and walk to the top , after ten houses , forgettable !
     
    Xanthos, the capital of ancient Lycia and once the largest centre in the region. The town had a turbulent past from the Persians and the Romans - it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    Lycian people's fierce independence. This was the Lycian capital .

    Xanthos dates back to the 8th century BC

     The 6th century BC brought invaders - the Persians - and the Xanthians, made a choice. gathered women, children, and treasures in the acropolis and set it ablaze, and then fought to the last man.

    Remarkably, the city survived, rebuilt, and thrived once more.

    There are plenty of striking ruins - the theatre, the Xanthian Obelisk, the Pillar Tomb, and the Harpy Tomb.

    Beautiful marble reliefs at the pinnacle of the Harpy Tomb show sirens stealing the souls of the deceased. (They original marbles are in the British Museum)

    The adjacent Pillar Tomb is a special kind of tomb that is not seen anywhere else in Lycia. It combines two tombs: a pillar tomb and a Lycian sarcophagus.

    The acropolis was the vibrant center of ancient Xanthos. This was the hub of Lycian life
    Though largely in ruins, there is the outline of the agora (the marketplace), the temples, and private homes.

    Next to the acropolis is a classic Roman theatre stands which was built in the 2nd century AD to replace an earlier Hellenistic version destroyed by an earthquake.

    The large Byzantine basilica, a testament to Xanthos’ Christian era.

    The Necropolis is a well-preserved Lycian sarcophagi, pillar tombs, and rock tombs are tucked away amidst vegetation and olive trees- so
    much so that one of our party loses her way back !

     
    Patara Beach and the ruins of ancient Patara, the birthplace of Saint Nicholas. It’s impressive and very large and open ! The Roman gate with the aqueduct feeder!
    A basilica that leads down a long avenue to the old harbour , now silted!
    The ancient lighthouse has been rebuilt along with the bouleuterion! The ancient theatre … large is still standing over everything !

    Next we wander off to see the famous dunes before a trip up to see the ancient aqueduct process ! It’s high and windy with a great view !

    Our final stop after a drive down the coast is Kas, a fishing village on the Lycian coast - we have a drink in its amphitheater as the sun goes down !

    A good day - tomorrow is rest day and who knows !    Read more

  • Ant TravelsTurkey trotAnt Travels
    5

    10 free day ! Hike!

    May 19 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    So a rest day so why not a bit of the Lycian coastal path - it’s clearly signed …so an 11 mile hike to a deserted beach !
    It’s up and down and the odd tomb but it’s close to the sea !
    We eventually reach Ufok Dere beach !
    A sprite drink and a swim and back 6 miles !
    Slight misstep by me!
    6hrs later - beer!
    It’s a special day in Turkey! Ataturk day !    Read more

  • Ant TravelsTurkey trotAnt Travels

    11 Elmali and ?

    May 20 in Turkey ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    So north, two hours directly into the Taurus mountains in the direction of Elmali.

    Definitely in the mountains but village is nothing special and a special walk into the woods is a walk ….but with no other purpose!

    Elmali, the largest Ottoman town in this area - it’s under under whelming !
    The fascinating array of timber houses are hard to find and ….upon asking they are not in town but taxi rides away !
    The mosque from 16th century is nothing special either!
    The Museum is a rare high spot and full of archaeological finds.

    The bazaar was a special helva ( sesame seeds) place but now does all sorts and it’s quiet!

    And that’s it ….the hike to nowhere the highlight , the museum next …..and it’s only 3pm !

    Not good !

    The evening and the day ends well with a great night in a vineyard restaurant ….great food and wine tasting and purchases!    Read more

  • Ant TravelsTurkey trotAnt Travels

    12 Antalya via Termessos.

    May 21 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    A drive through the hills to the ancient mountain-top city of Termessos.

    Because Termessos hasn’t been excavated, not very much is known about the city or its people. The original settlement is believed to have been first built around the fifth century BC, part of a region known as Pisidia. However, the city was mentioned in Homer’s Iliad in connection with the Legend of Bellerophon and his slaying of the Chimera!

    I looked it up as I didn’t know !
    The Chimera was a terrifying, fire-breathing hybrid creature composed of a lion's head, a goat's body protruding from its back, and a serpent's tail.
    Bellerophon, the grandson of Sisyphus, acquired the winged horse Pegasus with the help of the goddess Athena.

    Termessos was brought into the Hellenistic world and then the Roman. It became an ally of Rome and later was absorbed into the Roman province of Lycia and Pamphylia

    An earthquake, or a series of , is believed to have levelled Termessos and caused its citizens to leave the city around the 5th century AD. It is speculated that its waterworks may have been destroyed beyond repair in the quakes

    It was called “the Eagles Nest' by Alexander the Great, who was never able to conquer the site ! It’s 3280 feet-high with panoramic views of the Taurus Mountains.

    The bottom of the mountain is full of Roman tombs and some great engravings !

    It’s a good walk uphill to the site amidst all the vegetation!

    The enormous defence walls rise out of undergrowth as the site has only partially excavated.

    The amphitheatre is the most spectacular architecture and has a great view over the Taurus Mountains.
    The theatre was built high up at the edge of the cliff facing Mount Solymeus and has a 4,000-person seating capacity. To face the stage and summit creates a surreal feeling that the theatre is floating in mid-air! Weird !

    We lunch here and take in the view! It has echoes of an Inca settlement in Peru.

    Six temples remain, the ancient necropolis, an agora and a preserved bouleuterion

    On the way down we pass more rock tombs!

    It’s been a great finale after yesterday’s blip !
    We say good bye to driver Bilal and guide Kamal !

    Back to the start now and Antalya for a meal , a beer , a wine and a Raki!
    Home tomorrow early ! It’s been fun , great sites and a group that all got on !    Read more

    Trip end
    May 22, 2026
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