Carian Coast
Bodrum to Marmaris
The carians, like the Lycians and Lydians, are considered indigenous peoples of Anatolia. The Carian script has not yet been deciphered, and it has not been possible to determine to which group of languages it belongs. They were neighbors of the Lydians and are also thought to have been seafaring people. The Greeks captured the Carian cities of Halicarnassus, Cnidus, and Barygylia. Halicarnassus, today's Bodrum located on a peninsula jutting into the Aegean on the southwestern coast of Anatolia, was the principle center of Caria.
East Lycian Coast
Marmaris to Antalya
The history of Lycia is a story of fierce struggles against those who sought to invade and dominate it, as it was a very desirable region. It appears that Greek efforts to colonize Lycia during the first millennium B.C. were largely unsuccessful even though there were several Athenian expeditions.The first recorded instance of Lycian resistance fighting occurred around 540 BC when the Persians under the commander Harpagos overran all Asia Minor during the rule of Cyrus II (The Great). The Persians attacked the Lycian capital city of Xanthos and the Xanthosians put up a heroic fight. In the end however, they chose mass suicide over surrender. The men of Xanthos gathered their wives, children and possessions in the acropolis and set fire to all before rushing out fighting to die to the last man.
West Lycian Coast
Datca to Marmaris
Herod held that the Lycians came from Crete, yet archaeological finds and other historical show no records of any cultural or political relationship between the two areas.
In fact, Egyptian sources (~1300 BCE) mention a people called Lukka along these coasts as enemies of the Pharaoh, which corroborates the theory that the Lycians where endemic to Asia Minor.
In the Lycian society, women were held in high respect. Herod even tells that - when asked to which family he belongs - a Lycian would state the lineage of his mother. Moreover, children of a female civilian where free even if their father was a slave!
Dodecanese Islands
Rhodes - Symi - Cos - Tilos - Nissiros
The Dodecanese islands are located in the southeast part of the Aegean Sea and consist of twelve major islands and a number of smaller islands: Astypalea, Leros, Lipsi, Nisyros, Kalymnos, Karpathos, Kastellorizo, Kos, Patmos, Rhodes, Tilos … Some of those Greek Islands are located at the border to Turkey. They have everything to offer to the visitors: whitewashed houses, beautiful beaches with crystal waters, charming villages, exciting nightlife and more…This site about the Dodecanese and its islands provides info about the different islands: history, churches, architecture, beaches, pictures and much more such as a large choice of hotels and other accommodation.
- Turkish Coast
- Carian
- East Lycian
- West Lycian
- Dodecanese
Amorgos Island
Few beaches but great swimming off the rocks in the main port of Katapola. Many tavernas and nightlife.
Most boats arrive at inconvenient times, (like 3 in the morning), which gives a traveler a strange first impression. The Northern port of Agiali has nice beaches and is more of a resort area and is also reached by ferry.
The capital town or Chora is up in the mountains. The island grows on you. Fantastic Monastery of Chozoviotissa built into the wall of a cliff on the other side of the island from the port of is definately worth the trip.
The small beach below is excellent for snorkling through a maze of boulders that have fallen from the cliffs. Easy connections to Paros and Naxos, the daily (in summer) trip from Pireaus is about 8 hours.
The local boat Skopelitos visits the Small Cyclades islands of Schinousa, Donousa, Koufonisi and Iraklia.