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EURYMEDON ODYSSEY
Koprucay
(
Bridgend
River
) Basin Bicycling Tour
-source to the sea-
ALL INCLUSIVE (airport-airport) (9 Days- 8
Nights)
ISPARTA - > ANTALYA
It's a program in which you may enjoy the
nature, sun and the cultural features of the region, besides
having an exciting and adventurous time. We can assure you
that it's going to be a "full" vacation.
You'll explore the historical and natural beauties of the
Eurymedon River basin by means of bicycles (MTB).
Emerging from the Toros (Taurus) Mountains and
running through a number of amazing canyons, Köprüçay(Bridgend
River) flows into the Mediterranean Sea to the south of
Serik. The Köprüçay stream is always being rejuvenated
and surrounded by greenery. It originates at the Sorkun
Plateau on the Dedegöl Mountains from the small rivers out
of the southeast of Lake Egirdir. It is 184 km / 114 miles
long. The Sorkun creek, which originates in this plateau and
flows towards the south meeting the Baspinar, carries the
first few kilometres of the Köprüçay. However when the
water of the Sorkun creek dries up in the summer time, the
water of the Baspinar stream, in the north of the Aksu
district, becomes the starting point for Köprüçay. It
finally empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
It passes through the Koprulu Canyon (14 km / 8 miles) and
flows into the Bay of Antalya. There are two Roman bridges
on the river. In ancient times the Eurymedon was navigable
as far as the city of Aspendus.
Fed by underground springs(karst waters) in gorges that cut
through steep, some impassable canyons, the Köprüçay
River basin constitutes one of Turkey's most beautiful
natural recreation areas. The numerous archaeological sites
in the area, especially the ancient city of Selge (Zerk),
the fortresses on the banks of the river, arched Roman
bridges and historic roads add to the significance of the Köprülü
Canyon. The route to Mediterranean Sea follows the Köprüçay
in wonderful places. Köprülü Canyon National Park covers
36,000 hectares, including part of Köprüçay and the
ancient settlements cities. As well as being Turkey's
largest forest of Mediterranean Cypress, the National Park
is also rich in red-pine, black-pine, cedar, fir, oak and
wild olive trees. The wild animals in the region include
fallow deer, wild goat, wild boar, bear, wolf, fox, rabbit
and
various bird species. One can find red speckled trout in the
upper reaches and grey mullet in other parts of the Köprüçay.
The 9-day odyssey ends on the shores of
Mediterranean Sea, at the mouth of river Eurymedon, where
the Athenian admiral Cimon defeated the Persians in 465 in a
double battle. During the day, he defeated the Persian navy
at the estuary of the Eurymedon, and during the night, he
unexpectedly attacked the camp of his enemies. At the
Persian court, the news of the defeat created great unrest,
and king Xerxes was murdered. On the west bank was the town
of Aspendus ( Aspendos).
ITINERARY
DAY 1:
Upon meeting at the Antalya Airport and being assisted at
the airport, transfer to the hotel and check in.
After lazing for a while and having a briefing about the
tour itinerary, visit the Topcam Beach for resting, swimming,
walking, and Antalya Archaeological Museum, a good
introduction into the regional archaeology.
Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
Lunch, Dinner
This program is subject to change according to arrival hours.
DAY 2:
Following an early breakfast, drive to Egirdir
and stop on the way visit to Insuyu Cave which is 12 km to
the city of Burdur and also stop at the city of Isparta for
one a half-hour visiting Isparta Ethnological Museum.
The most appealing feature of Burdur is Insuyu the second
largest cave of the world. There are millions of stalactites
and stalagmites as well as nine pools in the cave which is
597 m long, with nine distinct pools and it is good for
wandering in little boats. Since the water in the cave is
curing for diabetes it is widely visited by diabetics.
Isparta, high in the Taurus Mountains, is a city of lakes
with lovely coastal areas overgrown in the spring and summer.
with an exuberance of wild flowers. In the city you should
stop at the Ulu Mosque built in 1417 by the Seljuks. The
Bedesten, or covered bazaar, dates from 1561. The great
Ottoman architect Sinan built Firdevs Pasha Mosque in the
16th century. Be sure to see the 14th-century Isparta Castle.
Rose gardens that produce rose oil for the cosmetic industry
surround the city and fill it with their sweet scent. Other
souvenirs include a thickly piled Isparta carpet.
Arriving in the town of Egirdir. After getting in hotel,
city walk and visits to some historic/ancient places in
Egirdir .
Egirdir, at the southern end of Lake Egirdir, is set in
idyllic natural surroundings. Among the man-made monuments,
Egirdir Castle built by the Lydian King Croesus shows the
additions and renovations of the Romans, Byzantines and
Seljuks. The Seljuk Kemerli Minare has felt the changes of
the modern world today it stands in the middle of a road. A
boardwalk connects the shore to Egirdir Island where weavers
erect their looms and work outside their houses.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3:
En route
driving to the source, start to pedal..
Visiting and exploring Eurymedon Sacred Site, Zindan Cave
and Roman Bridge
Aksu district is one of the spots where the Köprüçay was
called the Eurymedon during the Classical era. There is an
open air temple in Aksu presumed to have been dedicated to
Eurymedon during the Roman era. There are some ruins of a
temple, which stand in front of the Zindan Magarası (Dungeon
Cave). A stone bridge which dates back to the Roman era is
situated in front of the temple. .
Difficulty Level : 2A
Camp-1
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4:
En route.
This road's many sharp bends and very rough surface demand
careful riding. The mountain landscape is spectacularly
beautiful. Deep gorges clothed in cypress and cedar recedes
into the distance in ever higher. Occasionally the bright
green of Styrax officinal is may be glimpsed through the
darker foliage. The Selgians valued this shrub so highly
that it appeared on their coins. According to Strabo an
aromatic gum which it produced was much in demand in ancient
times It was, and still is used in the manufacture of
incense and perfume.
As well as being Turkey's largest forest of Mediterranean
Cypress, the National Park is also rich in red-pine, black-pine,
cedar, fir, oak and wild olive trees. The wild animals in
the region include fallow deer. Wild goat, wild boar, bear,
wolf, fox, rabbit and various bird species. One can find red
spackled trout in the upper reaches and grey mullet in other
parts of the Köprüçay.
Difficulty Level : 2A
Camp-2
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5:
En route.
Visiting Selge(Zerk) ruins.
Selge is one of the most difficult sites in Southern Turkey
to visit. The Turkish village of Altinkaya has grown up amid
the scant ruins of the Roman theatre, city walls, agora
temple of Zeus, and of a Byzantine church .Selge is 900m
above sea level the difference between
It used to be a powerful city government in the antique
times. Since the local people are now endeavouring to
continue their lives between those remains in deep poverty,
one can't stop thinking about the conditions of the region a
thousand years ago, when 20,000 people used to live happily
there. The historians state that the region on which Selge
is set up is a rather productive land and the viniculture
and stockbreeding have been very well known in the area.
Now, the only means of subsistence for the local people is
stockbreeding. Selge's first historical reputation is based
on the 5th century B.C like the other cities in the region,
when Alexander the Great has passed by with his army.
However, the people of Selge had been tolerant to the army,
sent messengers to Alexander the Great and showed the right
way out. Selge kept its independence until the 3rd century
A.C. Then it entered the Rome sovereignty.
Difficulty Level : 2A
Camp-3
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6:
Day-off
.Resting day!
12 km rafting trip on the Köprüçay River.
The river is favoured by white-water rafters because of its
relatively easy rapids (Class 1 & 2) along a scenic
course through the dramatic gorge.
What about a rafting tour on the spring water with a heat of
13 degrees, when it's 30-45 degrees under the sun and 24-27
degrees in the sea? Boat, oar, life jacket and helmet are
provided by our agency. The only thing you have to do in
order to join this enjoyable tour is to bring your bathing
suit and a pair of shoes, which can get wet.
Since it is fed by underground springs, Köprüçay is
suitable for 'white water rafting. The 'Köprüçay
Passageway' in the river has 2-3 degrees of difficulty of
which bends and sharp turns offer great excitement. The
lower course of the river, just before joining the sea has a
1-2 degree of difficulty. It is good for beginners.
At 8:00 am in the morning, you're going to be taken from the
tents for transfer to the Bügrüm Bridge, the start of the
rafting track. Around 11:00 am, we arrive at the starting
point. After the rafting equipments are distributed and
being settled down in the boats, the professional river
guides give a briefing about the track and rafting. Now it's
time for the fun and excitement which persists about 4 hours.
10 minutes after getting on the boats, we have a brake on
the Bügrüm Bridge for photographing and sightseeing. If
you wish, you may jump into the river from the bridge or the
rocks. As we finish the track's first half (7 km), we stop
over for lunch at a restaurant on the river coast and
following lunch, we go on with rafting. As we finish the two
tracks (5 km), we carry our boats to the coast and end our
rafting tour. At 6 pm, we go back to the camp.
Difficulty Level : 2A
Camp-4
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7:
En route.
You're now about to enter a nature wonder, Köprülü(Bridgend)
Canyon. A Roman bridge is found at the entrance of the
canyon, which is formed by the continuous efforts of the Köprüçay
for thousands of years. You may fill your lungs with the
fine smell of pine.
Difficulty Level : 2A
Camp-5
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8:
En route.
Visiting Aspendos ruins.
Aspendos was a river port city in the ancient times and the
best preserved theatre of antiquity dating from the 2nd
century is dominating the site today.
Located on the Pamphylian plain 47 km east of Antalya,
Aspendos is 4 km north of the Mediterranean shore on the
banks of the Köprücay stream.
Once called Belkis, Aspendos was founded by the Hittites,
but it was Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180 AD) who
ordered its great theatre to be built. Still used for
performances today, the theatre really allows you to imagine
what it was like to attend a dramatic performance in Roman
times.
The ruined city includes a substantial aqueduct and less
impressive remains of an agora, basilica and stadium, and
you can wander through the farmers' fields to find them,
though it's the theatre that you really want to see.
The Seljuk Bridge on the Eurymedon River, 2 km south of the
Aspendos Acropolis is interesting for its structure. It has
a 5 m. width and makes two turns of 90°, approximately in
the middle. The common explanation for these turns is, that
a twisted bridge can be protected more easily. However, the
author does not agree with this and according to him
technically the turns are not necessary.
On the right side of the bridge there are remains of a ramp-like
structure of Roman architecture. Today this isolated piece
reminds one of the existences of o Roman bridge prior to the
Seljuk Bridge. It is observable that Seljuk architects
reused the Roman material of this bridge to rebuild it in
the 13th century. The incomplete Seljuk inscription on the
bridge gives some information about its construction.
The Persian sailors were probably the sons of the men who
fought with Xerxes, and were terrified. The ships retreated
into the mouth of the Eurymedon river. The Athenians
captured 200 ships not yet evacuated by the Persians. Those
who did escape fled to their land army who outnumbered the
Athenians. The Greeks flushed with victory compelled Cimon
to order them to land on the beach. They charged the
Persians, who stood firm. It seems that pure adrenaline and
courage, plus probably the inferior ability of the Persian
soldier, gave the Greeks victory. The date of this battle
will probably never be known but since the Persians had a
reasonable force and the Greeks had their navy operating far
from Greece, would indicate June to August. The year was
most likely 466 BC but could be 465. Immediately or soon
after the 80 Phoenician ships were captured at sea by Cimon.
In the words of Plutarch: "he surpassed that of Salamis
and Plataea in a single day."
After finishing the tour at the edge of Mediterranean coast
near a lagoon, you may have time for swimming, birding and/or
lazing on the sandy beach.
Transfer to the hotel in Antalya.
Difficulty Level :2A
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 9:
Breakfast, and transfer to Antalya airport.
PRICES ARE ALL INCLUDED UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED.
MORE DETAIL ON THIS TRIP IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.
INDIVIDUAL RESERVATIONS ARE ACCEPTABLE.
WHEN THE MINIMUM GROUP NUMBER IS REACHED,
YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED AT A REASONABLE TIME PERIOD.
prices are subject to change without notice
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Travel Turkey - 2006
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