Neyzen Travel & Yachting - Turkey by design

April 25, 2015 marks the Centenary of the Australian and New Zealand (ANZAC) troops landing on the shores of Gallipoli in Turkey during the First World War. This signaled the beginning of 8 months of brutal and devastating trench warfare where, at times, the ANZAC and Turkish troops were barely meters apart. It also marked the emergence of the Australian and New Zealand national spirit, as both countries began to define their unique national identities internationally. Each year many come to visit the graves of the fallen and pay their respects in the well-tended Gallipoli National Historic Park.

This working port town is on the Asian shore of the Dardanelles, the narrow channel that separates Asia from Europe. Çanakkale means ‘pottery castle’, and the town today is best known for its vitreous enamel ware. The pleasant waterfront is a good for coffee and people watching, while the wooden horse from the 2004 movie Troy, the site of which is nearby, is exhibited on the seafront.

The legendary ancient site of Troy is famous for its 46 levels of occupation from 3000 BCE to 400 CE. What remains is an illuminating insight into civilizations of the Bronze Age, if not unto the legends themselves. The ancient ruins of Troy are still as Homer described, “…steep, broad, holy, fertile, windy, frowning, of good walls, good towers, good foals, high gates, and broad streets”.

Once home to Aristotle, and also frequented by St Paul, today the village of Behramkale, below Assos, is a tranquil beach retreat. Picturesque stone warehouses and Ottoman houses have been converted into boutique hotels and tavernas serving freshly caught seafood. Off the small square in the upper hillside village of Assos, shops sell dried spices, handcrafts, jewelry, carpets and antiques. Perched on a cliff above this idyllic spot with unspoiled vistas of Lesvos across the bay, lies the ancient site which includes the massive Doric temple of Athena, a bronze age acropolis 238m above sea level, and 2500 year-old city walls. The important Temple of Apollo Smintheus from the 2nd century BCE is situated near Assos, in Gulpinar, and is also a must-see and undergoing exciting developments ad excavations.

Attracting visitors with its wonderfully romantic mythology, Mount Ida is also a popular hiking destination. The 500-year-old stone village of Yesilyurt, which skirts the mountain, still operates its olive grove farming industry today. With just 200 local residents descended from nomads, the quiet village is now an exclusive spot for visitors, with high-end boutique hotels and some outstanding restaurants. A lovely hike away, situated amongst pines and olive groves, and with breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding coast, visit the Zeus Altar, mentioned in Homer’s Iliad. The nearby ancient city of Antandrus has a riveting history, as well as being a particularly exciting site. It was only discovered 10 years ago, is still rarely visited, and major excavations continue today. According to the ancient geographic writer Strabo, Antandrus was the location of the first ever beauty contest between Hera, Athena and Aphrodite with Paris acting as a judge - it was this tense competition that prompted the start of the Trojan war. Later, notably, it was the Trojan Aeneus of Antandrus, son of the goddess Aphrodite, who left war-torn Troy with a ship of survivors and founded Rome, laying the very first seeds of the Roman Empire. Excavations have revealed a 3 storey sarcophagi, water cisterns and fine residences, as well as some absolutely incredible complete Roman era mosaics and frescoes dating from the 1st century BC.

Lush Cunda is similar to Alacati, but less the glitzy nightlife; a quiet coastal getaway loaded with history and a photographer’s dream. Also visit the Greek Island of Lesvos, which is virtually untouched by the mass tourism and the perfect place for people who want to experience the real Greece.

Winding streets climb to this majestic acropolis, which was among the 7 cities addressed by John in Revelations. The upper site offers a remarkable panoramic view of Pergamon’s later settlements nestled in the valleys below. The complex ruins here include one of the steepest theaters in antiquity, the second-largest library in the ancient world, the Athena Temple, and the remains of the healing center where Galen established the first medical practice.

Alaçati is one of Turkey's most fashionable resorts, offering great boutique hotels and gourmet restaurants in recently converted Greek stone houses, and a famous and exclusive nightlife. Overlooked by a row of windmills, the town's cobbled streets are lined with high-end boutiques and artisanal shops. The village square is great for shopping, and people watching from the open-air cafes. Notably, the Alacati Bay and Cesme’s golden Ilica Beach has become Turkey's top wind-sport location and a venue for international kite - and windsurf competitions thanks to its shallow waters and reliable winds. South-east of Cesme, discover the hilltop city of Erythra established in the Bronze age; explore Greek, Roman and Byzantine ruins here and climb to the acropolis for breathtaking views. Also nearby is Urla, the site of ancient Klazomenai and today one of the oldest ports of the ancient world. Here visit the late 6th century level and weights Olive Oil press restored to working order, and then enjoy a wine tasting at one of the award-winning local wineries.

One of the 6 Dorian colonies in Asia Minor, Knidos was renowned as a center of art and culture in the 4th century BCE, as well as the “most beautiful city in ancient Greece”. Marking the exact point where the Aegean and Mediterranean divide, the city had a harbor in each sea and flourished during the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic, and Roman periods. Knidos was most famous for the cult of Aphrodite, and was home to a magnificent temple and a legendary statue of the goddess.

Eski Datca (Old Datca) is a picturesque village with cobbled streets, lovely stone houses, cafés, tavernas, boutiques, jewelry shops and art galleries. It is one of the few formerly Greek villages in Turkey that has survived intact, and is a place where artists, expats, intellectuals and visitors passing through feel totally at home. The Seljuk period mosque and a beautifully restored 200-year-old mansion turned historical boutique hotel recall the lifestyle and grandeur of 19th century Ottoman nobility.

Dalyan is a fishing village located on the Calbis River in the remote Bay of Ekincik. A trip by fishing boat takes you through tranquil river scenery that was the location for 1951 film The African Queen, to the ancient city of Caunos and its awe-inspiring cliff tombs, and a natural mud and sulphur bath. Also visit the sandy Istuzu Beach, a sanctuary and breeding ground for the endangered prehistoric Giant Loggerhead Turtle.

Life continues much as it has done for centuries in Göcek, a small town living close to nature and the sea. One development is the village harbor, which has become the main transit point for uncrewed bareboat yachting in Turkey. The turquoise waters, ancient pines leaning out into the bays, Lycian ruins, and an incredible seascape including the 12 Islands create a truly idyllic experience.

Fethiye, known in ancient times as Telmessos, meaning Land of Lights, is situated on the Mediterranean coastline at the base of the forested hillsides of Mount Mendos. The area, including the once rich and cultured town, is known for its breathtaking natural beauty, as well as elaborately carved Lycian cliff tombs, the most remarkable being the 4th century BCE tomb of Amnytas.

This fascinating Greek village was evacuated during the 1922 Turkish-Greek population exchange and today the terraced hillside is covered with hundreds of abandoned homes, and several churches and schools. Explore the cobbled paths and remains of this atmospheric ‘Ghost Village’ before taking a rural walk through the lush green lanes of the newer village below.

The history of Gemiler Island dates back to 3000 BCE. Today the island is covered with Lycian ruins, including a covered walkway built for a princess who according to legend was thought by her father to be too beautiful to be seen by the populace. A light hike onshore is a great way to explore the rugged island, and the sunsets from here are phenomenal.

Soaring green mountains dip into the azure waters of the stunning blue lagoon from where Turkey’s most beautiful beach in Oludeniz stretches along the Mediterranean coast. This picture-perfect location is ideal for relaxation as well as exploration and adventure with its popular paragliding centres and annual international Air Games festival.

Explore this still rarely-visited beautiful rural village at the foot of Mount Babadag and perched on the cliffs above Butterfly Valley. Here, Lycian sarcophagi are still half-submerged by undergrowth by the roadside and the rustic homes and gardens of Faralya cascade wildly down to a wonderful view of the valley and azure water below.

The protected Butterfly Valley is a hidden gem of Turkey’s Turquoise Coast; accessible only by boat or via the Lycian Way walking trail from Faralya, the beach remains unspoilt, and the over 60 different butterfly species that have bred here for 1000’s of years remain near the valley’s shady natural waterfalls. Kabak Valley is just south and is also very beautiful offering a variety of establishments with bungalows and camp sites, attracting a loyal following of yogis from all over the world, and providing an excellent spot for swimming.

With stunning views east across the Xanthos Valley this remote mountain setting was home to ancient Pinara from the 5th century BCE, and is now probably the least-visited Lycian site and located off road. Explore this tranquil place scattered with teetering sarcophagi and burial chambers cut into the living rock, a wonderful amphitheatre, and an unusual flat-topped mountain more than 450m high, the cliff face of which is honeycombed with hundreds of rectangular burial tombs.

Once the major naval and trading port of ancient Lycia and famous as the birthplace of both Apollo and St Nicholas, Patara is now a national park and key biodiversity area protecting the rare loggerhead turtle. Explore excavations of the ancient city dating back to the 7th century BCE and enjoy the fabulous 18 miles of golden sand and dunes that is one of the world’s top beaches.

The capital of the Lycian Federation dating back to the 8th century BCE, Xanthos is a truly incredible archeological site and qualified as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. Renowned for its culture and commerce, Xanthos’ history is also violent; the city’s’ people twice committed mass suicide rather than submit to the Persian and later Roman invasions.

Voted one of Turkeys best 10 by The Guardian, this small white sandy beach between Kas and Kalkan marks a narrow valley towered by steep cliffs and a deep narrow canyon which has been formed by the abrasion of rocks by flowing water over thousands of years. This much photographed beach is irresistible and the color of the sea here is out of this world.

The laidback harbour village of Kas, presided over by the soaring mountain Yatan Adam, Sleeping Man, is built literally around the ruins of ancient Antiphellos. An important port town for both the Lycians and Romans, Kas today blends modernity and antiquity, offering some truly unique accommodation, lovely cafes and restaurants and several small pebble beaches.

The region of Kekova fuses an enchanting blend of ancient, medieval, and modern history. The local people live amidst the partly sunken ancient remains of Simena, where Lycian rock tombs and sarcophagi rise mythically out of the sea. Overlooking the Bay of Kekova is the beautiful and isolated fishing village of Kaleköy, which is connected to the mainland only by a rough track. With waterside fish restaurants, Lycian tombs, a Byzantine castle, crystal clear waters and no cars, Kaleköy is a blissful spot to visit for the day.

The ancient city and seaport of Myra outshone Xanthos by early Byzantine times when it took over as the capital of Lycia. Abandoned by 10 CE due to plague, raids, flooding from the river Demre, and earthquakes, the site is renowned for its magnificent amphitheater, stone carved masks, and many spectacular cliff tombs.

One of Anatolia’s most important Byzantine structures, the Church of St Nicholas was first built in 5 CE above the tomb of its famously kind and generous saint, the inspiration for Santa Claus. This spectacular and peaceful site, featuring beautiful frescoes and mosaics, has been a popular point of pilgrimage throughout its history.

Arykanda was a unique Lycian city, well known for having the most hedonistic, pleasure-seeking and debt-ridden citizens. The city is spread out on 5 hillside terraces overlooking a magnificent valley; the view alone makes this one of the most stunning of the Lycian sites.