Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Calis Beach Forum => Calis Beach Questions and Information => Topic started by: sarah d on July 22, 2016, 17:10:51 PM
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Hi all
We have been coming to Calis 5 years now, but despite always having the intention to, we have never made it to Saklikent Gorge yet. We will do this next month. Do any of you recommend trips there or just getting a bus from Fethiye? Your help would be as always appreciated :)
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Personally I prefer getting a dolmus from behind the big white mosque in Fethiye. Then you can spend as little or as much time as you want at the many interesting places along the route.
If you really want to go with one of the trip companies, I'd recommend going with Karacay. http://karacayturizm.com/
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I would get the dolmus too. That way there are no carpet factories or gold shops to stop at on the way home
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Dolmus for me too, that way there are no stupid & potentially dangerous, waterfights
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Thanks for the info guys I think I will go via dolmus route :)
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When we first started goin we used the tour companies for everything as our kids were younger so we did the jeep safari,quad,white water rafting etc.However we now much prefer to do our own thing using the dolmus to get everywhere sometimes jumping off without a plan just because a place looks interesting etc.
Dolmus every time for us
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One day a friend of mine decided to drive to Tlos. He wasn't sure of the way but saw a Fethiye-Tlos dolmus and decided to follow it. After about twenty minutes the dolmus came to a cottage and pulled into the yard. It was then that my friend realized the dolmus driver was going home for his lunch.
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My son is coming out tomorrow and hasn't been to Saklikent for a few years, can anyone confirm how regular the dolmus runs and last time back as he is planning to visit, i seem to recall 8.5 lira but that may be wrong?
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I would definitely go on your own rather than on a trip as I don't believe you will get to see it all otherwise.
We went on our own (by car) and were still heading into the gorge whilst others on trips were turning back for their bus.
You didn't mention driving, but for the sake of maybe £25 you can easily explore the gorge and Tilos in the same day on your own timetable.
Ian
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Below is a "Turkish Tale" I posted almost exactly 12 years ago and refers back to Saklikent 1997. It was our first time in Turkey and we were very naive. Today I know that what we did is rather silly - see the warning after the tale.
Saklikent Gorge
On our first visit to Çaliş Hilary and I went with our two daughters. The younger one had her fifteenth birthday when we were there and the manager of the hotel restaurant (Hulki at the Bambu) took us all out in his car on his day off. We went to Saklikent and the five of us set off up the gorge. First we waded through the freezing water at the bottom of the gorge, and then walked up the easier river bed for some way. After half an hour or so the numbers of people began to thin out, and the river bed got more difficult, but still we went on following our guide. At one point we had to climb a ten foot boulder with cold water running over it. Once we were over this obstacle I asked, "How much further does this gorge go?". Hulki said, "I have no idea. I have never gone this far before!". I think we had all been driven by national pride; neither Brit nor Turk wanting to show weakness by quitting. Now we agreed to turn back and quickly slipped and slid over the rocks back to the bottom and went to dry out at one of the platform restaurants built over the river at the mouth of the gorge. Then we spent some time eating trout and drinking Efes/coke and watching the energetic folk doing white-water rafting. A great day.
WARNING. If there is a sudden thunderstorm in the mountains you probably won't hear it and it could well cause a flash flood through the gorge. If you are deep into the gorge, as we were, your chances of getting out may be rather small. None of us knew that then.
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Driving would be my choice.
It's a great idea to visit Tlos (great fellow called Nail will show you around if he's not at school - no charge; he wants to be a tour guide when he leaves school/uni) and although he's only 15 or so he's very knowledgeable - you can go either before or after Saklikent - it's only a few short miles between them.
Nail's (pronounced Neil) dad does carvings/etchings from soapstone and sells postcards etc. from a stall next to Tlos excavations.
By driving there you can travel at your own pace and leave when you want.
It's a lovely drive from Calis/Fethiye and easy to find.
Fresh trout and chips for about 6 Lira at Saklikent (2015 prices)
At Tlos there's fresh orange juice and cold drinks at very reasonable prices.