Road trip from Istanbul to Antalya

After Akyaka, we decided to explore  the area where Kaunos Tombs of the Kings are located. It was an incredible sight, massive, temple-like facades carved high into the vertical cliffs. Standing there, looking up at those ancient stone columns from over 2,400 years ago. It was the perfect, dramatic final stop before we pushed on to finish our journey.

And did I tell you on the way to Dalyan, when we left the highway, we drove through Döğüşbelen and Hamitköy. These two villages were like stepping back in time. Just imagine endless rows of orange and olive trees, and then the drive along the lake, a twisty, windy road and total silence. It was so authentic. Every few minutes we would pass a small house with a tiny wooden shop set up right at the front. The most beautiful part was that no one spoke a word of English. We stopped at one of those fruit shops selling homemade olives and oranges but for Turkish coffee, and the people were just so hospitable, treating us like guests.

After that, we got back on the road to cover the final stretch in the fading light. We finally rolled into Fethiye and checked into our hotel, and this time we actually arrived early. We hadn't planned any other stops because we were determined to get there while it was still light out. The road ahead and the entire landscape surrounding us as we pulled into the city were just too beautiful to describe. 

Day 5: Fethiye to Antalya

When we entered Fethiye, the first thing we noticed was how the giant, green mountains seemed to grow straight out of the bright blue sea. The air felt fresh, and the whole place felt alive and grand. It looks like someone designed the most beautiful place on Earth on AI and gave it to God; He made the necessary changes to make it more beautiful and human, and now we call it Fethiye. Well, I think even this description still doesn't do justice to this place.

We checked into the Alesta Yacht Hotel, which was right across from the marina where all the boats were docked. Even though we were tired, we wanted to see the town, so we headed out for a walk. We grabbed a quick, delicious dinner at Burger Yiyelim to refuel. Walking through the streets with the harbour lights reflecting on the water, we knew we had arrived somewhere special. With the dreams of tomorrow we had a very good sleep. And next morning we saw .... just see the photos.

We wish we could have stayed longer. But guess what we had to travel to even more beautiful place which was not only half an hour away but also on the way to Antalya called Ölüdeniz. So technically we were still in Fethiye while leaving Fethiye. As we drove over the mountain and looked down, the view hit us like a lightning bolt. The water of the Blue Lagoon was so blue it doesn't look real. As you leave the flat resort area of Ölüdeniz and head toward Antalya following the D400 or coastal mountain roads, the scenery gets even more dramatic. Look at the photos below you'd know what I mean.

We spent a brief time there before moving on, as we had a lot of distance to cover. The drive ahead became the best I had ever experienced; the road turned incredibly dramatic, winding through sharp hairpins as we climbed the mountains through Karaağaç and Boğaziçi. The route through Karaağaç and Boğaziçi takes you high above the coastline, offering steep inclines and technical hairpins that provide bird's eye views of the Mediterranean before reconnecting with the main D400 highway. Once we hit the D400 again, the drive was breathtaking. Breathtaking is understatement I just don't have words.

We took a break for lunch in Kalkan, but our plans to stop in Kaş were washed out by the rain. It was impossible to stay, so we pushed through the storm. Along the way, we made it to the Ancient City of Myra in Demre, another incredible piece of history. The site is legendary for its massive Lycian rock-cut tombs carved directly into the cliffside and its stunning, well-preserved Roman theatre. 

The Lycians carved tombs high into cliffs because they believed height brought the dead closer to heaven. They thought winged creatures would descend from the sky to carry souls to the afterlife, so placing tombs on mountain faces literally shortened the journey. These towering "vertical gateways" also reflected social status, with the highest, most elaborate tombs reserved for kings and nobles. After visiting here we headed towards Antalya once again only to stop at Çıralı for munching break.

Right next to this Çıralı Beach, we stopped at a quiet café for Turkish tea and Turkish delight. The rain was relentless, so we couldn't explore much, but we were actually sitting right next to the Ancient City of Olympos. Hidden in the trees just at the end of the beach, Olympos is a wild, overgrown site where Roman ruins are tangled in vines. We also missed Mount Chimaera, where "eternal flames" have been burning naturally out of the rocks for thousands of years. Because of the weather, we had to leave the mystery behind, hitting the D400 one last time to finish our journey to Antalya. The D400 once again left me at a loss for words to describe its beauty. Rain made it even more beautiful and we arrived in Antalya.

Day 6 and 7: Antalya

We spent two nights in Antalya at Citrus Luna Suite Hotel. I won’t write much; I’ll leave it to you to research. But I was sitting on Konyaaltı Beach with the Mediterranean breaking over the stones and palms lining the shore, all the signs of a warm coastal city around me. Yet just behind it all, the Beydağları mountains rose dark and huge, with snow still sitting on their highest peaks.

Like, what the duck? What made this moment feel so strange was how everything in front of me seemed like it belonged to a different season. The sea, the beach, the palm trees, and the winter mountain did not feel like they should exist together in one glance, but somehow, in Antalya, they did.

We explored Antalya at a really slow pace. We spent two nights here just taking it easy, letting the sheer wonder of the journey sink in.

We wandered through Kalekapısı, where the Saat Kulesi stands as the gateway to the ancient world. From there, we wound our way down the narrow cobblestone streets of the Old Town until we reached the stone stairs that lead straight to the Old City Marina. Standing at the bottom, looking at the wooden boats tucked into the Roman sea walls, it felt like the perfect place to reflect. We enjoyed the food, the culture, and the layers of history one last time before finally leaving on the eighth day.