Would you like to diversify your beach vacation by visiting interesting tourist attractions in Turkey and enriching yourself with cultural and historical knowledge? Then you will definitely like the excursion to Manavgat Demre Myra Kekova Tour.
Respecting the national heritage of humanity allows us to see with our own eyes how our ancestors lived before us. How cities were built, how the dead were buried. How the culture developed and various historical events took place. During the journey you will delve into the past of ancient people who lived long before our time.
Early in the morning, depart from your hotel in a comfortable bus to Demre, next to which is the ancient city of Mira. St. Nicholas the Wonderworker himself lived and carried his flock here. Valuable not only for Christianity but also for all of history, the city today contains several preserved buildings, a large amphitheater and amazing rock-cut tombs. According to the legend of ancient people, the higher a person is buried, the closer he is to paradise. Maybe they were right and maybe they weren’t. But these tombs will capture your imagination.
In Demre, visit the Church of St. Nicholas, where the miracle worker is buried, and shop for various religious paraphernalia in the church shop.
After lunch, take a short boat trip to Kekova Island, which is encumbered with the underwater realm of the sunken city of Simena, the outline of which is visible under the transparent azure waters. The underwater ancient city will leave vivid impressions and beautiful photos on your cameras.
On the way back you will stop at a wine shop where you will be offered various masterpieces of local winemakers as well as an onyx workshop. And in the evening you will arrive back at your hotel.
Having visited Manavgat Demre Myra Kekova Tour, you will learn a lot from history steeped in the secret life of ancient people, see a charming underwater city and take away a lot of good impressions and souvenirs.
Manavgat Demre Myra Kekova Tour price is 40 Euro for adults, 20 Euro for children from 4 to 7 years old and for children under 3 years old free.
Please note that we have ‘no hidden costs’
In the morning at 6:30 AM you will be picked up from your hotel and transported by comfortable transport on your journey through the ancient cities of Turkey. On the way you will stop at a picturesque place to rest, have breakfast and drive to the city of Demre, next to which is the ancient city of Myra. After seeing all the sights and taking a lot of photos against the backdrop of the amphitheater, beautiful landscape and impressive rock tombs, return to Demre to visit the Church of St. Nicholas and the church shop, which has a variety of unique items.
Next, you will have a delicious and hearty lunch consisting of local dishes and a boat trip to Kekova Island. You will be amazed by the breathtaking view of the ancient city under the emerald waters of the Mediterranean Sea. After the walk, go to the wine shop and the onyx workshop and appreciate the creations of the craftsmen.
After an eventful trip, you will comfortably drive to your hotel and around 19:30 you are already resting, unpacking souvenirs and looking at the resulting photos.
At the beginning of your journey you are in a very beautiful place and you are offered breakfast against the backdrop of a beautiful landscape. All dishes are prepared simply and tastefully. The fresh air is filled with aromas of Turkish coffee that will keep you in a good mood throughout the day.
The ancient city of Myra, near the modern city of Demre, was a developed city and the center of ancient Lycia. Coins were minted here, which speaks of the main economic value of the city. The city has been repeatedly conquered by different peoples, and earthquakes, which are not so rare in this area, have repeatedly destroyed it. But life in this place was reborn every time.
The great amphitheater, the main attraction of Myra, survives to this day. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the architecture contains elements of both Greek and Roman culture. The ancient Greeks and then the Romans gave grandiose performances. Its excellent acoustics have survived to this day.
In addition to the amphitheater and other buildings, witnesses of antiquity, you will see unique rock tombs. The ancient Lycians believed that it was necessary to bury their deceased ancestors as high and closer to the sky as possible. The richer the ancestor was, the higher his grave was. In addition, the indentations in the rock were sometimes carved in multiple tiers connected by pillars. The absolutely incredible view of the cliffs with tombs reaching up to the sky will surely amaze you.
In Demre you will visit the Church of St. Nicholas, which was built in the 300s AD. after the death of the saint. Nikolai lived and preached in the city for 43 years. During his life he performed many miracles, after which they called him the Miracle Worker. According to legend, he secretly gave children gifts at Christmas, and now this saint is revered as Santa Claus throughout the Catholic world.
In the cruciform church you can see many interesting frescoes, as well as the marble sarcophagus in which the saint was once buried. The relics of Nicholas were taken to the Italian city of Bari, where they are kept to this day.
Many believers note the miraculous effect of visiting this church. Pilgrims come here specifically to pray and ask for a miracle. In St. Nicholas Church you will feel filled with the strong energy of this place.
In the church shop you can see wondrous icons, candles and other church attributes. Luxurious inlaid icons, icons in carved frames, bag icons, prayers, stone products and much more. If desired, you can buy products for yourself and your loved ones.
After visiting the city and the Church of St. Nicholas, you won’t notice how dinner time has come. You will be invited to a local restaurant to enjoy delicious Turkish cuisine and gain strength for your onward journey.
To get to the island of Kekova, you need to go swimming in a small, comfortable sea vessel. A sea voyage always conveys a sense of adventure. You will also get to know the sunken ancient city.
Simena was once a thriving Lycian city where great beautiful buildings and structures were erected. Some of the buildings were several stories high. But constant destructive earthquakes destroyed it from time to time, and the city gradually sank under water until it was completely empty.
As you approach the city, you can see fragments of columns, walls of buildings and stairs leading into the sea surface. You will feel like part of a great story. Your guide will tell the history of the city and you will put yourself in the place of the inhabitants who lived and enjoyed sunny days. They worked in workshops, traded in the square, fell in love and had families. Discuss or praise their rulers. And suddenly everything collapsed overnight and equated the poor and the rich with a misfortune.
You will remember this amazing place, in the depths of which you can see the azure sea water, from which you can see the remains of an ancient civilization and feel the secret life of ancient people. Against the backdrop of the city, you get absolutely stunning photos.
On the way back, visit a wine shop that sells wines made from local grape varieties. Wines of different ages, colors and flavors will delight you with their diversity. You can buy a bottle, another wine you like for yourself and your friends.
In the onyx stone workshop, you will be amazed by the art of Turkish craftsmen. Onyx has been highly revered by local people since ancient times. Amazing products are made of stone. The range includes a variety of jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets and pendants as well as stone trees, statues, chess boards and more. Upon your request, you can purchase any products of your choice.
After an eventful journey, during which you will see the most interesting places and learn a lot of new things, you will be transferred back to your hotel in Manavgat. Picturesque landscapes and a new view will give you your dose of dopamine, while stunning color photos will tell your friends about an amazing trip.
You may like to take a look at our another Activities and Excursions in Manavgat
