Lake Bafa
Kapıkırı or Heracleia-by-Latmos
An enchanting spot on the North shore of Lake Bafa, where the old village of Kapıkırı mingles with the ruins of ancient Heracleia- by- Latmos.
An extinct volcano rises in the back, hiding in its folds a dozen medieval monasteries in ruins and hidden pré historic rock paintings.
An islet bearing another Byzantine monastery faces the village beach.
Now known as the Beşparmak (five finger) mountains,the environs of the Ancient Mount Latmos have attracted people and mysticism for millenia.
It was here that Selene, the Moon godess fell in love with
Endymion, the sheperd as he lay asleep by the shore. She begged Zeus to grant the youth eternal sleep and she bore 50 children from their nightly encounters
Today the Lake Bafa and Beşparmak mountain are home to small villages,
‘ so quiet that you can hear the cattle communicate ‘
The Lake is home to many bird and animal species.White taled eagle, flamingo , dalmatian pelican , great white heron and othere species can be observed
In spring and early summer the water is clear but thanks to surrounding farms , slow flowing water and evaporation the water turns brakish and begins to small in mid summer
Walks :
1. Kapkırı -Heracleia Ancient city ( 7,2 km)
2. Karahayıt-Kapkırı (2 routes possible)
Short .
Karahayıt-Neolithic rock paintings of Balıktaş-Yediler monastry-Gölyaka-Kapkırı
(8,5 km)
Long :
Karahayıt-Neolithic rock paintings of Balıktaş-Yediler monastry-Kapkırı (14 km)
3. Kapkırı- Gökkaya- pré historic Pantokrator cave-ruins of monastry- Kapkırı (13 Km)
4. Bağarcık- Kapkırı. Beautiful but difficult route to mountain pass , Stylos monastary and old Roman road. (20 km)
5. Pınarcık- Ancient Marble quarries – ruins of monastry – Mersinet İskelesi (8-9 km)
Boottransfer Mersinet jetty to Kapkırı
Program.
Day 1. Arrival.
Transfer from Bodrum airport to the guest house in Kapkırı (60 km) on Lake Bafa
Optionally explore the village and surroundings, such as the ancient city of Herakleia, city walls, the ancient agora and the higher temple of Athena.
Overnight: Kapıkırı -Selenes pension (BB)
Day 2:. Karahayıt-Kapkırı ( easy- Moderate)
Prehistoric rock paintings and early Christian frescoes.
Following a transfer ( 40 mins), the tour starts at the village of Karahayıt and after about 1 hour you will reach the prehistoric rock paintings of Balıktaş. On old paths through olive groves the route continues to the imposing ruins of the monastery ‘Yediler (the monastery of the 7 brothers) with Byzantine frescoes right next to it.
The original Carian trail descends to Gölyaka village and then follows an asphalt road to Kapkırı.
A new trail past Yediler monastery takes you through the mountains to Kapıkırı
Both routes have a beautiful panorama and seaviews
Distance: 8,5 km/ 3 – 4 hours / + 150 m/ – 320 m
or
14 km/ 5-6 hours/ + 312 m/ – 565 m
Overnight: Kapkırı- Selenes pension (HB)
Day 3. Bağarcık- Kapkırı ( moderate – steneous )
After a transfer ( 60 mins) to the inlet of Bağarcık,€ 535 you follow the Ancient road to Kapkırı . The route climbs to a high forested pass in the mountain; then past the ruins of Stylos monastry where there there are still frescoes remaining , descends to a labyrinth of fractured rock and olive grove to a tiny hamlet . The route continues descending on sections of an Ancient road and ends at the lakeshore . The views and mountain scenerey during the hike are magnificient
Distance: 18,5 km/ 8 hrs / + 535 m/ – 1350 m
Overnight: Kapkırı – Selenes pension.
( possible to skip this route and walk the easier Kapıkırı-Gökkaya- Kapıkırı instead ( 13 km)
Day 4. Pınarcık to Ancient marble quarries and remains of monastry at Mersinek
Following a short transfer ( 7 mins)
You start the walk in Pınarcık village. The walk follows the route to the Ancient marble quarries and ruins of a monastry at Mersinek.
In the Ancient marble quarries of Pınarcık the marble for the Temple of Didyma was digged and taken to Ioniopolis (nowadays Mersinet) harbour. Loaded on boats the manufactured marble drums and cut stones were transported to the harbour of Panormos ( nowadays Mavişehir ) near Didyma.
You will be met at the jetty of Merinek and taken back by boat .
Distance: 8,5 km( 3-4 hrs)
+ 150 m/ 150 m
Day 5. Onward travel
Transfer to Bodrum airport
What else
In the region are remains of many Ancient sites
It’s only 60 mins drive by car to the amazing Apollon temple at Didyma
Labraunda-Alinda – Ephesus- Miletos and Priene are not far away
The houses in Çomakdağ and Sarıkaya villages are an example of the traditional architecture in the region.