Mon, 13 Jun 22 00:30:14 +0000

A weeklong holiday in Fethiye, Turkey: part 1

Calis Beach is a picturesque, sandy destination known for sunbathing, swimming and sunsets. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

The following captures Thrifty Traveller’s recently weeklong holiday in Turkey, his first trip abroad in three years thanks to the pandemic.

The writer was based in Fethiye on the Turquoise Coast, also known as the “Turkish Riviera”, and visited places of interest every day along this beautiful stretch of the Mediterranean coastline. Here are some of the highlights.

Calis Beach

Calis Beach lies at the northern end of Fethiye, a beautiful shingle beach with sunbeds and umbrellas for hire. There are numerous restaurants, bars and shops all along the beachfront.

Fethiye Rock Tombs

Fethiye appears to be a modern city but it has some very ancient roots, being built on the site of Telmessos, the largest city of the Lycian civilisation.

Carved into the hillside on the southern edge of Fethiye are a number of Lycian rock tombs, including this one believed built around 350BC for Amyntas, son of Hermagios. (Thrifty Traveller pics)

Xanthos and Letoon

Xanthos and Letoon are two neighbouring archaeological sites about an hour’s drive from Fethiye.

Letoon’s amphitheatre was constructed in the 2nd century BC and was used for religious performances. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Letoon (above) and Xanthos are often seen as a ‘double site’, since the two were closely linked and the former was administered by the latter. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Xanthos was the ancient capital of Lycia, with ruins that include tombs, pillar-mounted sarcophagi, Roman-style amphitheatres, temples, and a nymphaeum – a building or room containing a fountain, adorned with plants and sculpture, and serving as a place of rest for nymphs.

Xanthos is recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

The Harpy Monument is a well-preserved example of a Lycian pillar tomb, believed to be the grave of Kybernis, who died in the battle of Salamis in 479 BC.

The marble carvings at the top of the Harpy Monument are copies since the originals were spirited away to the British Museum in the 1840s. Tsk. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Kalkan

The historic town of Kalkan is an enchanting place and one of the most beautiful locations along Turkey’s gorgeous Lycian Coast.

The picturesque Kalkan was definitely worth the 75-minute drive from Fethiye. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Kalkan is a fishing town and tourist destination with steep, cobbled streets, lined with restaurants, bars and shops. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Eating and shopping

The food here is excellent wherever you go, and very good value thanks to the weak Turkish Lira at present. Plus, the Turks are a friendly and hospitable people.

There’s no shortage of food items in this part of Turkey, so eat your heart out! (Thrifty Traveller pics)

Fake goods abound, and even this whole supermarket looks like a ‘tribute’ to the UK supermarket Lidl. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Babadag Cable Car

On the road between Fethiye and Oludeniz is Babadag Teleferik, a cable-car attraction that opened last year to transport tourists to the peak of Babadag mountain (1,969m).

Unfortunately only the first leg was open during the writer’s visit, terminating at 1,200m, but that was still high enough to give fantastic views of Blue Lagoon and the surrounding coastline.

The cable car takes you to the first stop at 1,200m and the second at 1,700m – if it’s running. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Enjoy a cup of Turkish tea and a snack in the restaurant at the 1,200m stopping point. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

If you wish, you can strap yourself to a paragliding pilot and jump off the mountain to glide to a hopefully soft landing on Oludeniz Beach. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Check back in tomorrow for part two of this photo essay.

This article first appeared in Thrifty Traveller.