Published on Jun, 2023
Our shuttle driver arrived right on time at our hotel and drove us out of old town to meet our guide, Farida, who was friendly, funny, and easy to understand (we only speak english).
We first went to Perge, where we were the first visitors. We were “escorted” around the ruins by friendly sheep herding dogs and had the place to ourselves. We learned so much about the history and architecture of the area, and of course Perge, specifically.
We then spent time in Side, which seemed quite crowded, but Farida whisked us around showing us interesting sites and explaining the history, while making sure we took breaks in the shade and a few air conditioned shops (most have glass floors showing ruins below). The harbor was beautiful.
After sharing the interesting history of the theater at Aspendos, Farida gave us lots of time to climb around and explore. Because our group was small and up for more walking, we also hiked up to the basilica and other ruins on the hill behind the theater, which provided a great view of the region.
We also enjoyed a cool and refreshing stop at a waterfall and then a delicious traditional Turkish lunch with a great view overlooking another river.
We highly recommend Gref Travel — they are very easy to work with. They also helped us arrange a shuttle ride to our next destination (Cirali) and also an early morning shuttle to the airport.
