yes it is possible to book Ephesus there are alot of trips please check my web site for places to go and things to do also links to tour operators

It's a very long trip from Olu Deniz to Ephesus and I wouldn't want to do it as a day trip it would be exhausting. You'd be better off staying at Bodrum or better still Kusadasi to visit it. Also a little tip would be don't go in high season. We went to Ephesus in August - phew - not one of my better ideas. It was very crowded and so hot. There is a long slope to climb and we were all suffering from heat exhaustion. May or September would be the best time.

Thanks for that both of you. JMK - our problem is the job - we have to go in August, but have got used to seeing the sites armed with a gallon of water each and large hats!!!!

Do they do 2 day trips to Ephesus do you know. Hubby said that he had done one about 20 years ago (!)



Off to check that site now thanks!

When I was in Olu Deniz last year, which is the beach resort for Hisoranu, Thomson definately did Ephesus as a two day trip, with an overnight stay in an hotel. It was their most expensive trip, but if it was as good as the other trips I did with them I am sure would be great. Ther will also be other local cheaper operators, but make sure you don't get something narrated in four languages. LOL.

We went to see the ancient ruins at tholos ( I might have spelt that incorrectly ) which I am sure you would enjoy if you are into history.

We were there in July and it was hot, hot, hot, but you can cope. Have a great time, i'm going back to Olu next summer.

Thanks for that! We did a 2 day trip to Rome from Sorrento with Thomsons a few years ago and it really breaks the 2 weeks up! The other site sounds exciting as well ---- love to mix the history on with the relaxing bit!

Have done a trip before now in 2 languages and that was enough!!!!!

all local tour operators do arrange trips to Ephesus and cotton castle (PAMUKKALE ) 2 day trip
price for trips

DALYAN £14 12 ISLAND TOUR £5-10
TLOS - YAKAPARK & SAKLIKENT £12 Ã-LUDENIZ BOAT TRIP £8
EPHESUS & PAMUKKALE £45 AQUA PARK CALIS £10
HIERAPOLIS & PAMUKKALE £22 GULET CRUISE FROM £60
KALKAN KAS KEKOVA MYRA £30 PRIVATE TOURS PLEASE ASK
KALKAN KAS £20 AIRPORT TRANSFER FROM £30
SAKLIKENT XANTHOS PATARA £15 RHODES £40
MARMARIS £10 PARAGLIDING £65
FETHIYE MARKET & KAYA VILLAGE £10 MICROLIGHT £55
JEEP SAFARI £20 QUAD BIKE £20
TRUCK SAFARI £20 HORSE RIDING £10
FISHING £25 TURKISH NIGHT £18
SPEED BOAT PLEASE ASK TURKISH BATH £10
SCUBA DIVING £37 STARLIGHT NIGHTS FROM £15
FLIGHTS & ACCOMMODATION PLEASE ASK CANOEING £23
RAFTING & RIVER KAYAKING £35-45
hope this is helpful all prices from hamish mcturk hisaronu/fethiye

Great - thanks for those prices - it is really helpful. Am so pleased that we can do the 2 day one to Ephesus & Pamukkale as that is exactly what we would want to do. Love to relax and enjoy the scenery etc but equally want to get about and see the countries we visit and some of the sites.

Thanks for your help and time - it is much appreciated

All the best for 2008 !

Sorry I knew I had spelt Tlos wrong

The trip that maverick is listing as tlos and saklikent is the one I was trying to recommend to you, it's a bit touristy but great. My teenagers particularly liked walking in the gorge they thought it was brilliant. Especially when I fell over. LOL.

Have a great one.

No problem - I got Ephesus wrong !! Whoops !

To be honest we are thinking ahead to 2009 at some point so may well be asking questions via PM in the future! Daren't go off topic here about things like hotels and jabs etc !

Enjoy the celebrations and a good New Year to you and yours!

We did Ephesus in October from Hisaronu as a two day trip. I booked through Explora on the main street having used them many times before but all the tour agents on the street do the trip . We thoroughly enjoyed the professional, friendly service, especially the guide Sami? who is extremely knowledgeable but also very funny, it really made the very early start and the long journey worthwhile, On day 1 it's two hours before breakfast and lunch is after leaving Ephesus (would have been happy to miss that) The evening meal is in the hotel at Pamukkale and lunch the next day (very good) is after leaving the site.
Only one problem was the limited time to view the ruins and the crowds, every photograph we took has a hundred tourists on it (lots of Americans with big hats as the cruise ships were in). It is what I would call a whistle stop tour and although "Sami" told us all sorts of interesting things I felt a little cheated that I had not been able to view some of the sights, I had to run to the top of the amphitheatre while the tour moved on, just to get one photo of the view I went specifically to see.
We thoroughly enjoyed Pamukkale (other than the lack of water) and especially the ruins of the thermal spa of Hierapolis, we had a lot more time to wander. Definitely somewhere I want to go back to and the trip back through the mountains was quite scenic. Although good value for money, I wouldn't do the 2 day trip again as my experience of Ephesus put me off returning there unless I was staying near Kusadasi and had time to explore the site .

Thanks for that Scousemouse - know what you mean re whistle stop tours! We have done similar trips to Egypt from Cyprus and one to Rome once where it is like, "And you have 20 minutes at the Colesseum, on your marks go!" We also had a similar experience at Pompeii some years back, but it gave us a taster of the place and since then have arranged holidays to be able to take ourselves round the sites rather than join an organised tour.

Thanks for the info --- at least we'll know what to expect and wont be too disappointed if we don't see it all. When hubby went last time on a 2 day tour he did the Pamukkale day first and spent quite a lot of time at Ephesus on day 2. Perhaps someone does it that way ????

Thanks again ---

Hi,

St. Nicholas Heights is in Hisaronü Village and has got very nice location..And has got quiet atmosphere as well..As the trips to ephesus and Pamukkale trip organised as 2 day trip with the hotel overnight...You will certainly enjoy!!!

nicholas hieghts is set in a beautiful location with stunning views over looking olu deniz, it looks a bit specialist to me, for a certain type of holiday maker but still very nice

I am surpized that with all the great historical areas in and around the Hisaronu and Fethiye areas..no one has even mentioned Kaya Koyu. Translated literally, this means 'rock village', which is quite apt as the crumbling cottages are now blending back into the hillside. Kaya Koyu is a memorial to the, at times, uneasy relationship between the Turks and the Greeks. It was left empty when the Greeks were expelled in 1923 after the Greco-Turkish war.

http://www.fethiyelife.com/history.html

http://www.lycianturkey.com/lycian_sites.htm

As well as Myra, Kekova, Kas, Kalkan, Xanthos, Pınara, Letoon, Tlos, Telmessos, only to name just a few...

you are quite correct carretta this does sometimes get lost but most people know about the vast amoumt of history in this country and most beb sites do cover kaya village as an historic area

Hi maverick

Re 'a certain type of holiday maker' ---------- what does that mean?

Hi maverick...you might be right about many having knowledge of the historical area...but to be very honest...and not to offend any one here... the average visitor to these forums is more concerned with the price of a bira in Marmaris than wanting to learn about the wonderful history the entire country of Turkey offers...One only needs to read the titles of some of these posts...

We are visiting Olu Deniz in June. Although we do like a nice evening out with some beer we do like to visit historical sites, villages, see the history and learn about where we are visiting. Can anyone recommend a tour guide/company, that are a bit less touristy (i.e. take you to see the real area rather than just the main ones).

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

*Merged to current topic Briar

Tlos and Saklikent and Kaya Koya are all well worth a visit. We went in October last year and hired a car, we were based at the villa in Ovacik but it's so close to Hisaronu it's practically the same place. Kaya Koya is so close you could walk it if you were fit! The other 2 are easily found and well signposted although they do spell Tlos with 2 LLs on some signs. The roads to get to them are very quiet, not like the manic driving you see in the town centres. I'll post my pics up of them if anyone's interested?