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Introduction

Highlights –Antalya, Perge, Adada, Prostanna, Egirdir, Ihlara Valley, Cappadocia region, Goreme

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Day 1: Antalya 

Our tour starts with meeting at the Antalya airport. Depending on your flight we may be able to a visit of Perge, 15 km east of Antalya.  Perge was the capital of the then “Pamphylia” region. Ruins of a theatre, a palaestra, temple of Artemis and 2 churches are some of the Roman remains we will visit. A notable historical figure who twice visited Perge was St. Paul and his companion, Barnabas during their first missionary journey.  Then we transfer to Candır where we will spend the night on a wooden platform on the river, at a trout farm.

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Day 2: Adada, Sutculer

We start walking after a short transfer. At mid-day, we have a picnic-lunch by a fountain under plane trees. Climbing, we come upon the old Roman road to ancient site of Adada. We follow St Paul’s footsteps up the old road to the ruins of this well-preserved city, stopping to examine an early Byzantine church. After we explore the ruins of this ancient city, we return to Sutculer for overnight at Karacan pension. The walk starts on a dirt road. It is mostly on a nice path with short sections of scree going downhill. The best part of the walk is the climb to the ancient site from the old roman road, paved with great blocks of stone.

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Day 3 Sipahiler, Serpil, Egirdir

We drive 20 minutes to Sipahiler to begin the walk. Today our walk goes over a pass in forest, passing wild horses, and then across spectacular limestone ridges and through indigenous oak forest, to descend hairpins to the tiny village of Serpil. Meet our minibus for 20 minutes transfer to Egirdir where we will overnight. After an initial climb on a small forest path, most of the walk is level on a regular path and dirt roads.

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Day 4: Prostanna

After a transfer to Akpınar village, we walk to Prostanna ruins and to the top of Sivri Hill. We go back to Akpinar from the same route have pancakes lunch here at a local, family-run restaurant. In the afternoon we will have some easy time to walk in Egirdir town, by the lake and around the peninsula. Nice and easy walk, steady climbing on an even path.

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Day 5: Belkuyu Pass

Today our walk starts from the ‘volcanic oak forest park’ We will follow the forest path up to Belkuyu pass (2100m) The route of the last 3 days walk, is before us as we climb this high pass. We descend to the other side, to Davraz Ski Center and spend the night here. This is a relatively long walk compared to the other days. The first part is on a dirt road in the forest. The section just before the pass is step but still on the dirt road and on even ground. After the pass there is a long level walk until the point where we start descending. The descent is party rough as the path is not very well established.

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Day 6- Sava River

Free to explore on your own, or rest. We may utilize the free day at a different day within the walk so as to take advantage of seeing the ruins of Sagalossos as well as the museum in Burdur.

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Day 7: Konya

Transfer day. We start from Egirdir towards Cappadocia. We will stop to visit interesting places on the way such the tomb and museum of Mevlana, the founder of Sufffism and a 13th century karavansarai. We will check in our pension in Ihlara village.

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Day 8: Ihlara Valley

Beautiful walk in Ihlara Valley, following a gorge. We will walk through this historical valley and visit 3 or rock-cut churches with wall paintings from 11th and 13th centuries (Kokar Church, Purenliseki Church and Agacalti Church). Each rock-cut church has features which make it unique, including one secco painting in which the Magi are portrayed as Whirling Dervishes! We have lunch at a riverside restarant and keep on walking until we reach the Selime monastery which is carved into the rocks. Along the walk, you will see many fantastic rock edifices carved from “tufa”, a volcanic rock which hardens when exposed to air. Meeting with our vehicle here we will transfer back to our pension.

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Day 9: Goreme, Cappadocia

Transfer to Goreme. We will stop to visit the underground city used by the early Christian communities to hide from Roman soldiers in the 2nd/3rd centuries. Drive to Goreme for lunch and to view the Open Air Museum in Goreme, the only one of its kind in the world. In the afternoon we have a half day walk through the red valley and the rose valley. Overnight in Goreme. Walks are on established paths. There are tunnels metal staircases at two spots.

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Day 10:The Transfer to airport