Ancient Wonders: Miletus, Karina, and Doğanbey Village Tour

1 Days
14
Aydın

Experience the charm of Turkey's Aegean coast with this private tour combining historical exploration and natural serenity. Begin your journey in Miletus, an ancient Ionian city known for its magnificent theater and grid-style city planning, which became a model for urban design in antiquity. Discover the fascinating history of this once-thriving port city.

Next, immerse yourself in the tranquil beauty of Karina, a peaceful spot nestled by the Aegean Sea. Here, enjoy a delicious lunch featuring fresh, local flavors while taking in stunning coastal views that soothe the soul.

Conclude your adventure at Doğanbey Village, a historical settlement with Greek roots. Stroll through its cobbled streets lined with restored stone houses, reliving the cultural transitions that shaped this unique village. Witness how history and tradition seamlessly blend in its serene environment.

This tour offers a blend of history, culture, and nature, creating a day of unforgettable discoveries along Turkey's scenic coastline.

Program ( 1 Days )

We start this Daily Tour by collecting our group from Didim at 8.30am and depart around 9am. Before we head off to Miletos we will visit the Apollo Temple first, since being the 2nd largest oracle centre during antiquity. It also played a big role in the Christianity history, so Apollo Temple of Didyma is a site you should not miss! Afterwards we head off to the antic city of Miletos. Miletos was the first colonised city of the Greeks and with a history thought to date back as far as the 16th, perhaps even the 17th, century BC.

In addition to its commerce and colonization, the city was distinguished for its literary and scientific-philosophical figures, among them Thales (the founder of the solar eclipse), Anaximander, Anaximenes, Athemius (the architect of Hağia Sofia of Istanbul) and Hecataeus. As you will understand it was a very intellectual place during antiquity. The very well preserved amphitheatre of the city is the main highlight. We will also visit Faustuna Roman Baths and Miletos museum.

Then we will move on to our next destination Karina, where will will have a break where you can spend free time to look around or/and have lunch. Karina is a peaceful place situated by the Aegean sea. After lunch we will head to Doğanbey Village, which was once occupied by the Greeks. After they evacuated it became populated with the Turks.

We will take a walk through this village and stop at the village café for a Turkish coffee and maybe we can chat with the locals. You'll love the character of this little sleepy village with narrow streets and stone houses and feel so glad you came. From here, is where our day ends so we'll head back to Didim to arrive at 18:00.