We pick up when John lands. Ölüdeniz, Pamukkale, Selçuk, Cappadocia, Istanbul.
John Beans lands Dalaman Wednesday 21 October at 12:35 and comes on to Ölüdeniz. David Littleton lands Izmir Friday 23 October at 19:00 and joins us in Selçuk. We end in Istanbul.
Last ridge to the lagoon, then Pamukkale, Ephesus, Cappadocia, and the city. 21 October – 1 November 2026
We start when John lands. Catherine has already left Kabak that morning. Jill is still in Ölüdeniz through Thursday and flies Dalaman Friday 23 October, TK 2555 at 10:25.
We meet at the lagoon tonight. Tomorrow we walk Kayaköy and come back over the ridge.
Night museum hours at Ephesus end 1 October, so we do this as a daylight ruins day. Terrace Houses are the close work; we do them in sun.
We close in Karaköy — Metin, the food walk, roof fireworks.
Cash from Wednesday 21 — drivers, Metin, tips, and the two Ölüdeniz trail days. Site tickets are card-OK at major windows; we list them with prices but do not add them to “bring cash.” Culinary Backstreets is prepaid ($600) and not listed. Metin is €350 total for the four of us (~€87.50 / ~$100 each), paid day-of in cash.
Cash — bring this
| When | What | Who | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 | John, Dalaman → Ölüdeniz | JB only · estimate | ~$70 (range $50–85) · arrange |
| Fri 23 | Ölüdeniz → Pamukkale → Selçuk, driver arranged by Elvira | SB, SS, JB · /3 · Jill gone, David not yet | $440 · ~$147 each |
| Fri 23 | David Littleton, Izmir Airport → Selçuk | DL only | €50 car (planning) / $70–85 taxi |
| Wed 28 | Metin Koca full-day guide | SB, SS, JB, DL | €350 total · ~€87.50 / ~$100 each · pay day-of |
| Anytime | Tips — guides, drivers | whoever is there | TRY or USD · ballpark ~$40–60 / person |
| Wed 21–Thu 22 | Trail lunch + dinner (Elvira estimate) | SB, SS, JB · as we go | Cash · ~$30 / person / day |
Card OK — pay at the window or online (not in cash totals)
| When | What | Who | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 | Pamukkale / Hierapolis | SB, SS, JB · each | €30 |
| Sat 24 | Ephesus site | SB, SS, JB, DL · each | €40 |
| Sat 24 | Terrace Houses add-on | SB, SS, JB, DL · each | €15 |
| Sat 24 | House of the Virgin Mary, if included | SB, SS, JB, DL · optional · each | ~₺700 / ~€12 · card only at site |
| Wed 28 | Hagia Sophia | SB, SS, JB, DL · each | €25 |
| Wed 28 | Topkapı + Harem + Hagia Irene | SB, SS, JB, DL · each | ₺2,750 |
| Wed 28 | Basilica Cistern, daytime | SB, SS, JB, DL · each | ₺1,950 · card / İstanbulkart only |
| Open | Galata Tower, if you go up | SB, SS, JB, DL · optional | €30 |
| Open | Chora (not Friday 30 Oct) | SB, SS, JB, DL · optional | €20 |
| Cities | Taxis | mixed | Apps / BiTaksi often card; street taxis often cash — keep a little TRY |
| Sat 24 | Ephesus → Şirince taxi | SB, SS, JB, DL · /4 | €15–20 · ~€4–5 each · either; lean cash for a short rural hop |
Planning totals below are in USD. € and ₺ at ~17–18 Sep 2026 rates: €1 ≈ $1.15, ₺1 ≈ $0.0205. Round up. Rates move.
From Wednesday 21: drivers, Metin, tips, and two trail days. Optional extras stay separate; card site fees are out.
Cash includes: Fri 23 driver /3 (~$147), Metin (~$100). Food: Oct 21–22 (~2 days). Sites on card.
Cash includes: same as Susan Beans — Fri 23 driver /3, Metin. Sites on card.
Cash includes: Dalaman → Ölüdeniz (~$70), Fri 23 driver /3 (~$147), Metin (~$100). Sites on card. Food: Oct 21–22 (~2 days).
Cash includes: ADB → Selçuk (€50 car ≈ ~$58, or $70–85 taxi), Metin (~$100). Not on Fri 23 Pamukkale driver. Sites on card. No trail food.
Trail meals those two days are usually cash in small villages — Elvira’s ballpark was about $30 a person a day. Major site tickets take card (Visa/Mastercard); Basilica Cistern is card-only; House of the Virgin Mary is reported card-only. Bring a little TRY cash anyway for outages, tips, and short taxis.
Ölüdeniz and Kayaköy, then east — Pamukkale, Selçuk, Cappadocia, Istanbul.
Ölüdeniz through Istanbul. This page reads weather.json next to it. Horizon cards are a late-October climate sketch. Each day below has morning / afternoon / evening best-guess slots (longer-range until daily models reach these dates).