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We will be in Selcuk for five nights in April. We intend to visit sites in the village as well as Miletus, Priene and Didyma, Sirince and Lake Bafa (isn't there a monastery there?). I am keen to visit Aphrodisias and Hierapolis. Is this a manageable day trip? I can't seem to find information on the distance between Selcuk and Aphrodisias and Selcuk and Hierapolis.
Of course, any other ideas you may have would be very much appreciated!
Thanks so much!
Day Trip from Selcuk
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Re Bafa,
take side road on your left, in the town with the sign 'herakleia' or 'Kapikiri'. That road will take you to the village of Kapikiri partially built on the ruins of herakleia which was an important port of Karia, before the bay was closed by silt and the lake was formed, just as Miletus lost its port status.
there is a ruin on a tiny island which was probably a monastery. But the one interesting to visit is on the mountains and may be too long a hike. Also on the Five Finger Mountains is a cave with early man drawings including the tree of life, a God and some animal figures.
Herakleia is a reward itself without going further. It has some nice B&Bs and simple restaurants with lake view, and some very interesting rocks strewn around on the way as if the Gods played marbles with them.
Either Heliopolis and Aphrodisias is 2.5-3 hours drive from Selcuk. the first part is motorwat until Aydin and the speed limit is 120 + 10%, and then 90 + 10%, and not very busy. For
Aphrodisias, you have to take a side road about half an hour before you reach Denizli. The side road will be another half hour or so, at a lower average speed.
You can do both on a longish day. And it will be worth it.
Miletus and Didyma are not very exciting, after you have seen Ephesus , Aphrodisias and Heliopolis, but Herakleia definitely has a special charm.
Thanks so much otherchelebi! I've been researching for this trip, our first to Turkey, since September of last year! I am pleased to hear that the Aphrodisias/Heliopolis are entirely possible on a day trip from Selcuk. I wasn't certain. It will be a long day but the thought of battling for a room in Pamukkale doesn't appeal to me. I'd rather stay put and have adventures from one base.
I hadn't heard about a cave with early paintings. Where is that? I also hadn't heard reference to Five Finger Mountains. Obviously, I have some more research to do.
Thank you again for your indepth comments. I have received much help from others on this website in the past, always helpful, and I couldn't be more grateful.
All the best,
Hi adventuredays,
the Five Finger Mountains a series of mounbtains, sparsely populated are between Aydin And Mugla provinces and Southeast of Bafa lake, called Bes Parmak Daglari. The same name is given by the Turks to some mountains in Cyprus.
There are local guides at both Golyaka and Kapikiri villages on Bafa lake.
the monastery is called Kellibaron or Yediler. It is on Latros Mountain. The cave is a small one at an area called 'Kerdemelik' not too far from the Monastery. The paintings were made using the Iron Dioxide prevalent in the area. You need to crawl a bit to get into the cave to see the paintings.
The monastery desparately needs some restoration work, because the walls are crumbling and may cause tragic accidents to tourists who are not warned.
The following is an excerpt from an old book on the monastery:
http://books.google.com/books?id=tGSAyNr4870C&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=t.wiegand+latros&source=bl&ots=YMZT4UGSdh&sig=4n-9L0QEc903nRF31t5hQrSNKTQ&hl=en&ei=nfyXS6r-G4eUnwOj8NmzCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBUQ6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=t.wiegand%20latros&f=false
Unfortunately all internet sites on the Kerdemelik neolithic cave paintings are either in Turkish or German.