This is the longest trip on our list and the most unusual. You drive past Antalya into the mountains of the Lycian coast to an ancient city hidden in a wooded valley, and finish the day at flames that have burned on a hillside for thousands of years.
Olympos
The ruins of Olympos lie along a stream that runs down a green valley to the beach. Tombs, walls and temple remains sit among the trees, and the path ends at a long pebble beach. It feels very different from the open sites of Aspendos and Perge.
The Chimaera (Yanartaş)
Above the village of Çıralı, natural gas escapes from the rocks and burns in small flames that never go out. In ancient times people linked them with the legend of the Chimera, the fire-breathing monster. The flames are reached by a short uphill walk and look best at dusk.
Tips for golfers
- Keep this for a full rest day: the drive is about two hours each way.
- Bring swimwear for the beach, good shoes for the uphill walk and a torch for the way down after dark.
- Time your visit so you reach the flames as the light fades.