Termessos is one of the best preserved ancient cities in Turkey founded by the Solymi people, from Anatolia. Extremely scenic located in a rugged mountain valley at a height of 1,665m/5,462′ …View image. Today was one last but very long day scheduled before the entire Explore group headed home with the exception of us who were going to spend a few days relaxing in Antalya. We hiked up to the many ruins scattered among the pine forests with many concealed and overgrown by vegetation.

The important remains are the 4,200 seat Amphitheatre and Roman stele built by Augustus in the 1st century AD. There is also an Agora, several temples, gymnasium, watch towers, a meeting hall with seating for 600, and more than 1,200 rock tombs.

ex-Marine in the Termessos Amphitheatre, Turkey 

a Termessos grave, Turkey
Back in the bus for a short ride to the Duden and Kursunlu Falls, closer to Antalya. East of Antalya and easily reached by public transportations or with a rented car on well prepared asphalt roads. The Duden River drops from the Taurus Mountains on to a lower plateau next to Antalya. There are stairs that lead down into the valley where people can walk along the Duden River and also a few places with stalagmites and stalactites. TIP: We were told that the waterfalls are greatly diminished during the summer and not worth visiting.

Kursunlu waterfalls, Turkey 

Sheila and Mustapha, our wonderful Turkish bus driver
It was goodbye to the group and our all time favorite bus driver, Mustapha who taught Steve and myself a few words of Turkish that we actually remember. One is, and not only is this phonetic but it took our pea brains days to remember, High-diggie-dell-em. Move it in Turkish. (We can also say “move it” in Japanese and Arabic…impressed?)

Lycian Turkey gets a big recommendation from us. The ancient sites, small towns, diversity, along with excellent food makes this a trip anyone can enjoy. If you don’t want to hike or walk, take one of Adventure Center’s more cultural trips. Of course, even on this particular tour, a person could always “opt out” if they didn’t feel like doing any of the hikes or walks. Don’t let the usual hyped terrorist fears in the media discourage you from visiting Turkey and, “high-diggie-dell-em”….