The desert, the sanctuary and the capital!

A lovely Turkish breakfast with hospitable people in a cozy town - what could be more pleasant?

One of the largest cities and the main port of the Lycian Union. Because of its proximity to the mouth of the Xanthus River, opening the way to a densely populated valley, it was of great strategic and commercial importance.
In ancient times the city was the site of the famous sanctuary of Apollo and his oracle in the Greek world.
Apart from the sights of the main street, as well as the baths, the granary, the theatre, the city council building and the necropolis, the ruins are almost completely covered by sand. The site of the former harbour is now swampy and has no connection with the sea. Archaeological works are being carried out on the territory.

It's not just a beach, it's a branch of the desert. The blue water and endless sand dunes are more reminiscent of the landscapes of African deserts than the Mediterranean. From July to September, turtles lay their eggs on the beach, so you can often see the characteristic tracks in the sand during this period.
The Patara beach stretches for 18km, so it's not difficult to find a completely deserted area. Be careful and stock up on sunscreen.

An ancient sanctuary of the goddess Leto (Latona in Roman mythology) and her twin children Apollo and Artemis. The earliest archaeological finds found on the site of the sanctuary date back to the 7th century BC.

Xanthos, the former capital of the Lycian state, is one of the most famous ancient cities of Turkey. It was once the largest political, commercial and cultural center in the Mediterranean region and maintained this status for 8 centuries.
The exact time of the founding of Xanthos is not known. Historians claim that settlements in the area existed already during the Iron Age.
Despite its age, Xanthos is very well preserved. The ruins of the city walls and the agora and the remains of the commercial units can be seen here. However, the main attraction is the famous "Obelisk of Xanthos". It is a high mausoleum, on one of the columns of which there is an inscription in the Lycian language. At one time it helped scientists to solve the mystery of this ancient language.
The Tomb of the Harpy, a huge stone sarcophagus erected at the end of the 5th century BC, is another place of pride. When you first see it, you are impressed not only by its size (over 8 metres in height), but also by the sumptuously decorated walls of the burial chamber.
Not far from the sarcophagus there is another monumental structure that combines two tombs. On the lower tier is an ancient tomb dating from the 4th century BC, and on top of it is a traditional Lycian sarcophagus.

Pınara is one of the largest ancient cities once located in Lycia. It was founded by natives of Xanthos in the middle of the 5th century A.D.
The city was founded by the natives of Xanthos in the middle of the 5th century A.D. The remains of the numerous structures that were built there by the Hellenes and the Romans have survived to our time.

The city was founded around the twentieth century BC. The first known mention of the city is found in the Hittite chronicles of the fourteenth century BC. Later Tlos was one of the six major cities of the Lycian Union and the sports center of the Federation. Tlos belonged to both the Romans and the Greeks, and later belonged to the Ottoman Empire. Up until the 19th century the city was inhabited by the Turks.
The city of Tlos is known for its acropolis, the fortress on the mountain and the Lycian rock tombs. The entrance fee is 6 liras.

Recreation base with entertainment and cafes, in the middle of a picturesque forest! It's a beauty! You can have a good meal and relax!

Tomorrow is the last day of the trip, not much left, but there's still a lot to see, so we need to get a good night's sleep before the final push!