Sunflower Complete Series: TURKISH COAST: ANTALYA TO DEMRE

Published 2007; updated 20/10/09

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Updates given below supplement the information provided in the guidebook. It is vital that this Update is read in conjunction with the text of the book, but note that the Update applies only to the edition stated and not to any earlier editions. (If you have an older edition of this book and want to "upgrade" to the latest edition at half price, click here.)

Information has been forwarded to us by users of the book, and Sunflower Books offers the data in good faith but cannot be held responsible for any misleading or inaccurate content in the Update. Unless indicated otherwise, what appears here has not been verified by the author or publisher, so please allow due caution when new or amended routes are suggested. Each piece of information is dated; bear in mind that some of the older observations may have since been overtaken by events or further changes. If, during your holiday, you are using the current edition of the guide and are able to provide any additional updating to add to this page, we will be pleased to hear from you. Please send information, preferably in hard copy, by post, to Sunflower Books, PO Box 115, Exeter EX2 6YU (or if you prefer, by e-mail, to mail@sunflowerbooks.co.uk).

Money - new series of notes: In 2009 a new series of banknotes was introduced to replace the "New Turkish Liras" described in the book. The new money is just called "Turkish Lira (Türk Lirasi)". It has exactly the same value.

Hotel and restaurant in Antalya: The restaurant at the Hotel Alp Pasa has asked us to include their telephone number 2475676 in the next edition. They also say "we have and original open air museum." Apparently a lot of people have shown them the recommendation in the guide. (Sunflower, 10/07)

Hotel: I recently went on holiday to the Turquoise Coast of Turkey and used your two
books, Turkish Coast Antalya to Demre and Kas to Dalyan for guidance with hotels, walks and places to go. Excellent. I would like to recommend a hotel in Cirali (Olympos) which doesn't appear in your guide to Antalya to Demre. It's the Odile Hotel Cirali (www.hotelodile.com.tr)on the north beach. Set in very large beautiful gardens, very high quality rooms with en suite shower and wc and a large swimming pool. Bed and breakfast Euro 50/60 per night. Outstandingly good value.

Termessos, plan page 108: The back 'steep path' at Termessos which descends from the site to the
car park via rock tombs is not a path at all - broken rock and stone, slippery and difficult to follow. Not suitable unless you are fit and strong - walking poles would help. Your site map on page 108 shows it as bigger than the King's Road way up - definitely not the case! (User, 1/09)

General: We've recently returned from a holiday in Turkey (last week October, first week November), where we used your book and thought you would like some feedback. Sima Pension, Cirali, was our favourite accommodation. Aynur Kurt and her cooking were just as delightful as your quide suggested. We also liked White Garden in Antalya. Sundance Camping was a lovely location with good food, but perhaps a little pricy (see web-site). It's a short nice walk along the coast to Phaselis, where the swimming was lovely. We loved Termessos and Guver Canyon, and stayed at Yesil Vadi Restaurant-Pension, which is ideally situated next to Termossos. The man running Yesil Vadi was very friendly and helpful. The rooms were clean and they and the food were both good. There are three pensions just South of Bugrum bridge in Koprulu canyon. We stayed in Perge Pension, which was good, and had some good trout. We had a lovely, good value, meal at Restaurant Hasanaga in Antalya, with very good live traditional music. After the meal, we were persuaded to stay longer with free basket of fruit and tea coffee. It was an ideal time to go. Everywhere was quiet, the weather was good for swimming, but slightly hot for walking at sea level. (e-mail, 11/08)

Tahtali Dagi: The cable railway to the summit of Tahtali Dagi is now open YTL50 per person (Euro 25). Highly efficient operation with wonderful views from the top and well worth the cost of the journey (but the restaurants and cafe at the upper cable station are very expensive) . (User, 6/08)

Travel to walks: We had a rental car for the week. The book seems to assume that walkers will travel to the walk by bus or dolmus. It would be helpful to have more information about parking, and how far it is possible to drive along some of the tracks. (User, 10/09)

Lycian Way: This was not in as good condition as we expected. We did not find your "easy" walks particularly easy underfoot and the waymarking was erratic. We failed to find the proper route up to the second set of flames at the Yanartas (Walk 13) and ended up scrambling up a hillside over loose stones. We saw several other walkers going the wrong way here as well. We also had trouble finding the way from the acropolis at Ucagiz to the main track to Simena (Walk 15). (User, 10/09)

Walk 5: Near the end of your description, one needs to make a left turning somewhere to 'head back into woodland'. We didn't and followed the track which brought to us back to our outward route near the second viewpoint. (User, 11/08) + We attempted this walk last Monday (20 October 2009). The outward part to the third viewpoint over the gorge was fine. We decided to do the circuit back but got hopelessly lost. We are experienced walkers but the directions in the book are not detailed enough - there are many tracks through the woodland. The update on the web site made some sense, but again it needs more information. We followed various tracks - there are many on this plateau - and eventually met a goatherd who pointed us in the right direction. We finally got back to the main track by the forestry workers' houses about a mile from the first viewpoint where we had left the car. I suggest that you do not recommend the circuit route back unless better directions are provided. (User, 10.09)

Walk 6, Termessos: The "awkward section" at 1h10min is not difficult to cross, but the continuation of the trail on the other side of the landslide is not visible in the first instance: it continues lower than at the beginning of the landslide area. The walk becomes difficult after the clearing, because the vegetation has obscured the way and goats and other misguided walkers leave misleading traces, so I found myself in thorned bushes several times. I could not record enough waymarks for that area, so much more waymarks or a more detailed track would be necessary to solve this problem. Perhaps other users can contribute. (Sent in by a user, who also sent in the waypoints below.) (1/08)

Antalya to Demre, Walk 6 Termessos (WGS 84)

Waypoint TR_Trm_01_mainroad N36.98579 E30.56185
Waypoint TR_Trm_02_fishfarm N36.95792 E30.51241
Waypoint TR_Trm_03_fork-upw N36.96903 E30.48375
Waypoint TR_Trm_04_bend-E N36.97105 E30.47596
Waypoint TR_Trm_05 N36.97498 E30.46980
Waypoint TR_Trm_06_ridge N36.97393 E30.46890
Waypoint TR_Trm_10_gate N36.98286 E30.46568

Walks 8 and 9 - Goynuk Canyon: There is now a barrier and entrance fee for the canyon area just before where your map shows the ford. There is a a nice short walk, along a newish track to Goynuk Canyon, where you can enter the canyon in an inflatable canoe or go canyoning. The walk is about 50 minutes each way from the park entrance. There are stepping stones across the river and good views from the track. (User, 101/09)

+ The tombs of the Southern Necropolis, mentioned in your guide, are not easily found. If you follow the path to the Southern Necropolis, you will eventually end up at a fire lookout tower with an amazing view over the site, the mountains and forests to the South and the sea to the West (worth the effort). Gengis, one of the two on duty there, took us to see the Lion tomb, but we wouldn't have found it without his help. (User, 11/08) + See also 'Termessos, plan page 108', above