Saklikent - Kadikoy

SAKLIKENT is another "must see-must do." It is about a 30 minute drive inland to the gorge. At the entrance you pay admission – remember in Turkey they have special prices for kids, teachers and seniors. The cost to get in is about 50 cents for adults and 25 cents for students. Follow the path to the gorge. Along the way you will see unique restaurants – take note that they use the cold waters of the gorge to refrigerate their food and drink. After your expedition to the gorge - you must relax at one of these restaurants and have fresh trout or a 'goreme," one of the special crepes made in this area.

The gorge itself is very interesting. It also provides a great hiking opportunity if you are in good shape. I have heard that you can get all the way to the top of the gorge (I will try that next time), but go in as far as you feel comfortable - it is loads of fun and what an adventure! The rock formations developed from hundreds of years of erosion have made the most beautiful shapes and the rock surfaces are so smooth, and the countless never-ending waterfalls are just awesome. One area in particular is stepped with perhaps six alternating waterfalls all made of smooth whites stone – it is a feast for the eyes. Other areas are in complete darkness and frightening until the gorge opens to the light again. It feel like your on an amusement park ride in Disney World – but it was so much better! On the way back down it is even more fun because you can slide down some of the waterfalls on smooth rocks into shallow pools of water. 

TIP: At the place where they rent the plastic shoes you can ask for a guide. Do it! He knows all the ropes and can help the kids through the difficult passages. You can get much further into the gorge this way. You can tip him at the end - I usually tip $5 per person. The hike will take about 2 hours. You will be wet and the water is cold, so wear a bathing suite and a t shirt or long sleeve T shirt, Tevas or water shoes are a must, you need both hands free, and do not bring cameras or wallets, etc. They will get wet. Make sure you bring beach towels (the boat has some) and have them ready when you finish.

For those who are not comfortable hiking the gorge, you can rest at one of the restaurants inside the gorge. You can even read, paint, or take a nap there and sprawl out on the towels you will be holding. The proprietors will not bother you. You can stay for hours if need be. After the others return from their hike, you can lunch on fresh trout or goreme and hear about their adventure..

After your gorge expedition, you can go tubing down the Xanthos River. It cost about $6 per person. It is great fun! I recommend this to everyone. Make sure kids wear life preservers (some guides do not provide them). You will see the guides near the restaurants outside the gorge.

After Saklikent, you're off to our next adventure to learn the fine art of rug making in Turkey in KADIKOY. This village has a carpet cooperative. The ladies of the village make the rugs but share in the profits. They maintain the area’s designs, natural dyes and wool & silk quality. We watched as the ladies turned lambs wool into thread and silk cocoons into thread. They mixed and colored the threads with natural dyes made from onion-skins, sage, flowers, and roots. Then the threads are turned into carpets.

Turkish carpets are unique in that they are double knotted so that the threads never slip. It takes about 3 ½ months for a woman to make a normal wool carpet with 5 knots per inch – the carpet would sell for about $600. You can't help but think that it is an incredibly time consuming process from shaving the sheep, making the thread, dying the thread, tying the knots to selling the carpet - how many hours are spent? We estimated over 700 hours for one carpet. Think of that the next time you bargain for a carpet! 

You will learn so much in those few hours. The evolution of the carpet, modern carpets, making the carpets, the carpet regions and villages, designs, symbols, and colors. Like studying the great masters of Goya, Picasso, and Rodin, the carpet is a form of art to be held in high respect and admired. By the time you leave  Kadikoy it will be very late afternoon - so head straight for Patara before it's too late!

A copy of this information is available onboard the Gundogan for your convenience.