Did you know I originally started this blog as a place to store all my travel photos? Where else would I put them without eventually forgetting about them? It seemed like the perfect way to keep my favourite memories somewhere I could easily revisit. And because I had always kept a diary, starting my travel blog, Sweettravelbee, felt like the natural next step. It also allowed my family and friends to follow my adventures. So why am I telling you this now? Because I’m writing this blog about hiking to Termessos mainly because of all the amazing photos I took during this hike. It was an incredible day and certainly worth the trip.
But before we start hiking to Termessos, near Antalya, let me tell you about…
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Renting a car in Antalya
During my stay in Antalya, I hired a car for two days. I wanted to explore the surrounding area, and some destinations were simply too far away to reach by scooter. So, adding another little adventure to my trip, I walked into a local car rental shop, tried communicating in Turkish with the help of my phone, and managed to organise a very cheap deal. And let me tell you… it really was cheap. In fact, I think I actually overpaid for the car I received!
I’m not quite sure where the guy found it (he disappeared for about ten minutes before returning) but it looked as though he’d picked it up from a scrapyard. I never expected a brand-new car. After all, the more I blended in with the local drivers, the better! But I’m still not sure how I managed to drive it safely to and from my hike to Termessos.
After another entertaining conversation with the rental agent, I managed to upgrade the car for my second day, when I planned to visit the Theatre of Aspendos. At least this one had working door locks and no holes in the seats. I’m not convinced it drove any better, but I made it back in one piece. I was definitely relieved that I wouldn’t need to rent another car in Turkey.
Despite everything, the staff remained friendly and smiling throughout the whole experience. If anything, they seemed surprised that I didn’t complain, and perhaps even more surprised that I managed to drive the car at all! And returned safely!
And now, let’s get back to hiking to Termessos.
Read my blog post about Antalya here – My favourite coastal city in Turkey.
Hiking to Termessos
I was really looking forward to it, as it had been a while since my last proper hike. My long walks through Istanbul were still ahead of me. Perched 1,050 metres above sea level in the stunning Mount Güllük National Park, Termessos is one of the best-preserved ancient cities in Turkey. Amazing!
You enter the national park through the main entrance just off the highway near Antalya. From there, it’s an 8 km drive, or walk, to the ancient city of Termessos. Naturally, I chose to walk.
A few websites mention that you can catch a bus to Termessos. However, be aware that the buses don’t go all the way up to the ruins. Even if you manage to hitchhike the 8 km to the archaeological site, there’s no guarantee a bus will be waiting to take you back down after your hike to Termessos.
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For me, it was the perfect day to enjoy a leisurely walk through Mount Güllük National Park. Once I reached the second entrance, where the ancient ruins of Termessos begin, the real hiking to Termessos started. Following the 2 km trail through the forest, I finally spotted the first ruins.
I headed straight to the theatre to enjoy the spectacular view while having the delicious lunch I had packed, lots of Turkish goodies!
Only after lunch did I take my time exploring the ancient city, climbing up and down the ruins and taking plenty of fun photos. Everywhere I looked, the views were breathtaking. Termessos is an incredible ancient site, and for me, hiking to Termessos made the experience even more memorable. It’s absolutely worth the trip.
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History tells us that Alexander the Great chose not to invade Termessos as he passed through the region because of its strategic location, perched like an eagle’s nest high in the mountains. It seems this has become my second Eagle’s Nesthike. The first, of course, was my hike to Germany’s Eagle’s Nest (Kehlsteinhaus) more than four years ago.
If you’re interested in learning more, you can read about the fascinating history of Termessos here.
During my hike to Termessos, I also met a young family who had become stranded after catching the bus to the ancient city. They weren’t sure how they would get back to Antalya. With two young children, they had persuaded the ticket attendant to drive them up to the ruins so they wouldn’t have to walk the 8 km.
After chatting for a while, we agreed to meet near my car once we had finished exploring. I happily gave them a lift back to Antalya, and they were incredibly grateful.
As for me, hiking to Termessos turned into another unforgettable outdoor adventure. Now, let’s see how my legs feel tomorrow…
(post 180)
