We hike ten days along the Teke coast, Demre to Ölüdeniz, then Pamukkale, Selçuk, Cappadocia, and Istanbul.
Susan Beans, Susan Stevenson, Catherine Gump, and Jill Parker arrive Antalya / Çıralı October 11–12. They hike together October 13–20. Catherine leaves from Kabak on the 21st. John Beans lands Dalaman that day at 12:35 and comes on to Ölüdeniz. Jill flies Dalaman Friday 23 October, TK 2555 at 10:25. David Littleton lands Izmir that evening at 19:00 and joins in Selçuk. We end in Istanbul.
Susan Stevenson is not in yet. She lands Monday at 12:30 and a booked car collects her at 13:00.
Route summary — elevation and how hard each day feels, from Elvira’s tour notes. Tough days are 6 and 9.
Catherine’s continuous walk with us ends here. We three finish the last ridge tomorrow; John is in for the lagoon days.
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.
What to bring for the whole journey, in two blocks. The walk is Elvira’s five walk-page transfers, trail meals, and tips through Ölüdeniz. Luggage is in the tour price. Myra and Phaselis take card at the window and stay out of “bring cash.” From Wednesday 21: drivers, Metin, tips, the Tue 27 van, and the two Ölüdeniz trail days. Oct 21–22 trail food is in the walk food line and again on the east cards (~$60). Count those two days once. Site tickets are card-OK and are not in the cash totals. Culinary Backstreets is prepaid ($600) and not listed.
What we bring in cash for the walk — Elvira’s five walk-page transfers, trail meals, tips. Luggage is now in the tour price. Myra and Phaselis take card at the window; those tickets stay out of “bring cash.” Pamukkale and Dave’s Izmir car are in the Wednesday 21 block below.
Bring this
| When | What | Who | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 11 | Antalya Airport → Odile, one car at 19:00 | CG, JP, SB · /3 | $80 total · ~$27 each |
| Mon 12 | Antalya Airport → Odile, 13:00 | SS only | $80 |
| Tue 13 | Odile → Demre, 11:00 | SB, SS, CG, JP · /4 | $115 total · ~$29 each |
| Tue 13 | Optional turtle canoe | optional · each | ~$10 |
| Mon 12 | Phaselis ride, only if we re-request it | SB, SS, CG, JP · /4 · optional | $120 total · $30 each |
| Wed 21 | Catherine, Kabak → Dalaman Airport, 06:30 | CG only | $90 |
| Fri 23 | Jill, Unsal → Dalaman Airport, 07:00 | JP only | $80 |
| Anytime | Tips — guides, drivers, boatmen | whoever is there | TRY or USD · ballpark ~$30–40 / walker |
| Trail days | Trail lunch + dinner (Elvira estimate) | walkers · as we go | Cash · ~$30 / person / day |
Card OK — pay at the window or online (not in cash totals)
| When | What | Who | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 13 | Myra archaeological site, if you go | each walker · own ticket | ~$15 / €13 |
| If visited | Phaselis site ticket (separate from driver) | optional · each | ~€10 · card or cash at window |
| Sat 17 | Payam Spa, Deep Cleansing | SB, SS, CG, JP · each | ₺4,100 · ~$84 |
| Towns | Taxis | walkers | Apps / BiTaksi often card; street taxis often cash — keep a little TRY |
Planning totals below are in USD. € and ₺ at ~17–18 Sep 2026 rates: €1 ≈ $1.15, ₺1 ≈ $0.0205. Round up. Rates move.
One cash total each: drivers on the trail, tips, and trail food. Optional extras stay separate; card site fees are out.
Cash includes: Sun 11 airport /3 (~$27), Demre /4 (~$29). Luggage is in the tour price. Optionals: Phaselis ride /4 ($30), canoe (~$10). Pamukkale is in the Wednesday 21 block below.
Cash includes: Mon 12 airport collection ($80), Demre /4 (~$29). Luggage is in the tour price. Optionals same as Susan Beans. Pamukkale is in the Wednesday 21 block below.
Cash includes: Sun 11 airport /3 (~$27), Demre /4 (~$29), Kabak → Dalaman ($90). Food: trail days Oct 13–20 (~8 days).
Cash includes: Sun 11 airport /3 (~$27), Demre /4 (~$29), Unsal → Dalaman ($80). Food: trail days Oct 13–22 (~10 days).
Trail meals are usually cash in small villages — Elvira’s ballpark was about $30 a person a day. Myra and Phaselis take card at the window. Bring a little TRY cash anyway for outages, tips, and short taxis.
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. Tue 27 van is €50 cash in the vehicle (~$58). John booked it; we pay in the van.
Bring this
| When | What | Who | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 21 | John, Dalaman → Ölüdeniz | JB only · estimate | ~$70 (range $50–85) · arrange |
| Fri 23 | Hired car, Unsal → Pamukkale → Selçuk, time TBC | SB, SS, JB · /3 · Jill gone, David not yet | $440 · ~$147 each |
| Fri 23 | David Littleton, Izmir Airport → Selçuk, 19:00 | DL only | $90 · Elvira · needs name + PC 1528 |
| Tue 27 | Merry Tourism van, IST → Bank Hotel, 19:30 | paid in vehicle · John booked | €50 · ~$58 |
| 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. The Tue 27 van (€50 / ~$58) is paid in the vehicle — John booked — and sits outside these four totals.
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 ($90), 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.
Orange is our walking days; teal dashed van; blue dashed boat. Day 6 van Kaş→Karadere. Alternates omitted. Pins continue east — Pamukkale, Selçuk, Cappadocia, Istanbul.
Çıralı through Istanbul. This page reads weather.json next to it — Lycian coast days, then Selçuk, Cappadocia, and Istanbul. 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).