ROCK TOMBS ON THE DALYAN RIVER

DALYAN RIVER

At Ecincik we booked an early morning tour up the River Dalyan to visit the ancient settlement of Kaunos and the Kings Tombs.   

The launch left early and we were soon motoring around the coast to the river mouth. 

The rock face looked wonderful in early morning light  

we stopped to investigate a couple of caves – the literature said  ‘It’s very easy to get married with in one year for people who swim in the cave’ – none of us were game for this.

We passed deserted beaches to finally reach the Dalyan delta ..........

passing through waterways lined by bullrushes which were alive with birds, including kingfishers, egrets and herons.

KAUNOS, ANCIENT CITY

Alan takes the lead up to Kaunos

We left the launch to climb up to the ancient ruins of Kaunos, first settled by Anatolians in 9 century BC.  The whole place was thriving by 400 BC.   

Cathy and David in the amphitheatre

The theatre was in pretty good shape, despite some olive trees growing in the stalls………  

A row of spare stalls.........

There were also remains of the Agora (market place), stoa (covered walkways) a temple and Acropolis.  It was later taken over by Romans who added Roman Baths………..  However, yet again it was the location that was breathtaking – these ancients knew how to choose their sites.

THE TOMBS

After reclaiming our boat we travelled further upstream to view the famous Kings Tombs – tombs cut into the rock face with temple like facades built by the Carian people in 4^th Century BC for the Lycian King and his family.

Iztuzu Beach is a specially protected area for the Logger Head Turtle, it's a day resort with no one allowed in the area at night.  Boat skippers were trying to entice turtles with barbecued crabs – sadly the wise turtles stayed away from the hustle of the boats, but we enjoyed the crabs instead.  However I did see something rather special........

On the beach a goat had climbed into a tree.  

We left the Delta and headed back to Ecincik Bay, we were all looking forward to collapsing into the sea.........