Tour Type
Self-guided hotel and bike tour with a support vehicle following the group during the entire program
Duration
8 Days / 7 Nights / 6 Cycling Days
Arrival Airport
Dalaman International (DLM)
Departure Airport
Milas-Bodrum International (BJV)
Short Route
264 km in total, daily average 44 km and 498 m elevation
(Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route
393 km in total, daily average 65 km and 916 m elevation
(Grade 4 Challenging)
This unique bike tour along the Aegean coastline delves into the rich history of the Carian Civilization, homeland of Herodotus. It discovers the ancient cities of Halicarnassus and Kaunos, the Medieval Bodrum Castle, and Hellenistic rock-cut tombs. Our experience starts from Bodrum, a popular holiday destination for the rich and famous with a stunning blue coastline, high-end hotels, lively night-life, and a wealth of luxurious yachts. Our bike routes leave this hot spot behind and discover the hidden gems of the small towns and villages. The quiet rides follow the water’s edge, weaving in and out of small coves along the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea. We journey through the rural areas in the highlands offering perfect vista points overlooking deep canyons and the Gulf of Gokova. The last routes are around the unspoiled beauty of the river delta in Dalyan and Lake Koycegiz. The rides through the citrus and pomegranate orchards take us to the lovely setting of the ancient theater in Kaunos overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. En-route we use the best boutique hotels. Lunches and dinners are served mostly in local restaurants. This incredibly rich program combines the ancient Carian history with natural beauty of the Aegean coastline, the legendary Turkish hospitality with the charming boutique hotels on the beach, and the authentic Mediterranean cuisine with farmer markets.
Day-by-Day Tour Program
Print Friendly Itinerary
Day 1 Saturday, Welcome to Turkey
Arrive at Dalaman airport and take your private transfer to your hotel by the Dalyan River. Upon your arrival, check-in to the hotel and enjoy your rest before strolling through Dalyan town, which is known for its magnificent rock-cut tombs. Tonight, dinner is on your own in a local restaurant by the river with the night view of the ravishing royal tombs.
Meals: No meals
Destinations: Arrival in Dalaman International (DLM) at any time of the day
Accomodation:
Dalyan Resort Hotel or similar
Day 2 Sunday, Ortaca-Dalaman-Gokbel-Dalyan Delta
After breakfast we start cycling directly from the hotel. Our ride traverses the coastal plain of Dalaman through citrus orchards and farmlands. This fast route climbs to Gokbel pass for a stunning view of the delta opening into the Mediterranean Sea with the renowned Iztuzu beach where loggerhead turtles, known as caretta caretta, lay their eggs for hatching. A Mediterranean breeze accompanies us while descending to the delta towards the charming town of Dalyan by the river. Check-in to the hotel and explore the town for lunch and shopping on your own in the afternoon. The royal tombs carved on the sheer cliff along the Dalyan River provide the most rewarding scenery of Dalyan. We’ll meet for a boat tour in the delta and visit the ancient city of Kaunos in the late afternoon. Explore the ancient ruins with the theater overlooking the lake, the lush green of the river delta, and finally the deep blue of Mediterranean. Depending on the season, an evening dive in the Mediterranean Sea and dinner by the river is the grand finale of the day.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Dalaman Plain, Gokbel, Dalyan Delta, and Dalyan town
Accomplished
Short Route: 47 km Elevation: +275 m / -275 m, (Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route: 95 km Elevation: +695 m / -695 m, (Grade 4 Challenging)
Accomodation:
Dalyan Resort Hotel or similar
Day 3 Monday, Kaunos – Dalyan - Akyaka
After breakfast by the river, check-out from hotel. Ride through the town and take the ferry to cross over the river. Pedal the last route through fruit orchards along the emerald-colored Lake Koycegiz. The lush green plain with its evergreen pine forest around the lake is the constant tableau of an unspoiled nature for the entire ride. After a refreshment break in a tea house in the town of Koycegiz we’ll leave the shores of the lake and take a gradual climb to the natural springs where we enjoy our lunch on the shaded platforms over the cold streams. Transfer to our next hotel in the afternoon. Check-in to the hotel and enjoy the free time for shopping in town or swim from the deck of our hotel before your seafood dinner by the river on your own and return to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Full circle around Lake Koycegiz and Dalyan town
Accomplished
Short Route: 35 km Elevation: +650 m / -650 m, (Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route: 50 km Elevation: +990 m / -805 m, (Grade 4 Challenging)
Accomodation:
Baga Hotel or similar
Day 4 Tuesday, Akyaka–Ula-Karabogurtlen–Akyaka
A 25-minute transfer takes us to the highlands over the Gulf of Gokova after breakfast. Feel the elevation difference along the route with the minimal traffic among the small towns. Cycle into the rural areas through citrus orchards of the small farming communities. Our first stop is in sleepy Ula town which offers us a genuine experience of a Turkish rural lifestyle with its local economy away from crowds of tourists. We’ll descend with the twisting road down to sea level in Karabogurtlen while saluting the shepherds grazing their goats and sheep along the way. The royal tombs carved into the rock cliffs from 4th century BC are the surprises of Akyaka at the end of the ride. Then enjoy our lunch break in a local tavern in Akyaka. If you want to extend your ride the roller coaster route towards Akbuk and back to the hotel is the perfect choice along the Aegean Sea. We still have time for an afternoon swim before dinner on the deck over the sea in the tranquility of the Aegean sunset.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Kuyucak, Ula, Karabogurtlen, Gokova, Akyaka
Accomplished
Short Route: 58 km Elevation: +420 m / -1280 m, (Grade 3 Active)
Long Route: 70 km Elevation: +1300 m / -1300 m, (Grade 4 Challenging)
Accomodation:
Baga Hotel or similar
Day 5 Wednesday, Kuyucak – Kiran – Sarnic – Akbuk – Akyaka
Start the morning with a leisurely breakfast before today’s ride. A short transfer brings us to the starting point of the day, away from the coast up the highlands. We’ll follow narrow, car-free roads through small villages of the highlands until our break in traditional tea house of Kiran Village. Sip your Turkish coffee while chatting with hospitable villagers and visit the village mosque. Pedal through pine forests famous for honey producing before descent back to the sea level with a breathtaking vista of the Gulf. Our ride continues along the northern shore of the Gokova Gulf with a ravishing view of crystalline waters. Enjoy your free time for afternoon swim or rest at the beach before dinner on your own and return to hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Kuyucak, Kiran, Sarnic, Akbuk
Accomplished
Short Route: 45 km Elevation: +585 m / -1430 m, (Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route: 54 km Elevation: +725 m / -1585 m, (Grade 3 Active)
Accomodation:
Baga Hotel or similar
Day 6 Thursday, Akyaka – Oren
After your breakfast by the sea, we check-out of our hotel and visit the farmers’ market with fresh fruits, vegetables, and other local products. Our bike adventure starts from the hotel. We’ll pedal along the water’s edge, weaving in and out of small coves along the crystal blue waters of the Aegean Sea at the first part of our ride. After a warmup ride, climb to the charming villages of Kultak and Alatepe surrounded by steep cliffs and pine forests. Stop in a local tea house to taste the fresh bread and local delicacies prepared by the villagers. From there we’ll descend to Oren which is the least visited coastal town by tourists and serves mainly Turkish travelers. Choose one of the recommended fish restaurants for lunch. Transfer to our next hotel after lunch in Yaliciftlik and enjoy your afternoon swim before dinner at the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Akyaka, Akbük, Kultak, Alatepe and Oren
Accomplished
Short Route: 38 km Elevation: +380 m / -770 m, (Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route: 50 km Elevation: +860 m / -975 m, (Grade 3 Active)
Accomodation:
Ipek Garden Residence or similar
Day 7 Friday, East of Bodrum Peninsula
Start the day with your Mediterranean breakfast. After getting fitted to your bike, the ride will take us to the villages of Yali, Camlik and Kizilagac with several climbs through forested roads. The first climb reaches the highest point with a fantastic view of the topography over the villages we have been riding through. Stop by Camlik Village for snacks and refreshments with home-made lemonade and fruit sherbets prepared by villagers. After the refresments cycle further to Kizilagac village and enjoy the descend of 15 km to the hotel at sea level. After lunch and a refreshing swim enjoy your well-deserved rest by the pool. We’ll visit Bodrum Castle built by the Knights of St. John and the Underwater Archeological Museum in the afternoon. Enjoy your free time in Bodrum’s downtown and dinner in a local restaurant. Return to the hotel in the late evening after dinner.
Meals: Breakfast
Destinations: Yali, Camlik, Etrim, Yali, Bodrum sightseeing in the afternoon
Accomplished
Short Route: 42 km Elevation: +680m / -680 m, (Grade 2 Moderate)
Long Route: 74 km Elevation: +930 m / -930 m, (Grade 4 Challenging)
Accomodation:
Ipek Garden Residence or similar
Day 8 Saturday, Good-bye
After last breakfast (depending on the flight time) transfer to the airport (45min) Fly back from the Milas-Bodrum airport and see you next time!
Meals: Breakfast
Payment and Cancellation
€350 down payment upon reservation
31 days prior to the tour departure; full payment,
Cancellation within 40 to 31 days prior to the tour departure; down payment,
Cancellation within 30 to 21 days prior to the tour departure; 50% of tour cost,
Cancellation within 20 to 11 days prior to the tour departure; 75% of tour cost,
Cancellation within 10 to 0 days prior to the tour departure; 100% of tour cost will be charged as the cancellation fee.
info@eontours.com
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