After working seven days a week for most of the summer to refill a travel fund I had drained to the last penny, I’m delighted to say I finally have enough saved for another trip. It didn’t take as long as I feared, so I’m giving myself a quiet pat on the back. Tomorrow morning, with my bag packed, I’m setting off.
So where am I going?
My original plan was the Black Sea region, but I’ve postponed that until next year so a friend can join me. Instead, I’ve sketched out a route through southwest Turkey.
Touring Southwest Turkey
Anyone familiar with Turkey will recognise that my route follows much of the Lycian Way, the long-distance trail that runs roughly 509 km from Antalya to Fethiye. I won’t be hiking the whole trail — I don’t have the stamina or the inclination for a continuous trek. Instead I’ll base myself in towns and villages along the route and use local transport to move between places. I’ve made a few adjustments: I’ll start in Kemer and leave Antalya for another trip, and I plan to extend the route to finish in Dalyan rather than Ölüdeniz.
What to do along this route
Once I began planning, I discovered the southwest is rich in culture and history with far more to see than I expected. There are too many possibilities to list them all here, but a few highlights I’m aiming for include:
Take the cable car up Mount Tahtali
Sea-kayak over the sunken city of Kekova
Visit the Church of Saint Nicholas
Hop across to the Greek island of Meis
I also want to explore Butterfly Valley and the ghost village of Kayaköy near Fethiye. Finally, I plan to end in Dalyan to take a boat down the Dalyan River, admire the Lycian rock tombs and enjoy a traditional mud bath. It’s been ten years since I was last in Dalyan, and my memories are fading, so I’m looking forward to revisiting and documenting it properly this time.
How much time do I have?
I have one month for the trip. If funds run short I’ll cut the tour short, but I’m confident I can budget carefully and make the most of the time I have.
Who am I travelling with?
I’m travelling solo. None of my friends wanted to join a month-long tour of the southwestern coast. I’m a little nervous, but if I cancelled because I was alone this trip would probably never happen. Solo travel isn’t everyone’s idea of a holiday, but it’s mine right now.
When will I update the blog?
Updates will come on an “as and when” basis. I don’t have a fixed plan for how long I’ll stay in each place or exactly what I’ll do each day. I hope you’ll follow along when I post — I expect to come away with plenty of memorable experiences to share.
If you have any tips or suggestions for places to visit or things to do in southwest Turkey, please leave them below — I’d love to hear your recommendations.