The daily Patara tour from Saklikent combines two UNESCO-listed Lycian sites with an afternoon on one of Turkey's longest sandy beaches. This fully guided day tour is an easy-paced daily excursion for anyone staying around Saklikent who wants to understand the ancient Lycian civilisation and still have time to swim, with an English-speaking guide, coach transport and hotel transfers in both directions.
Letoon was never a true town; excavations show it served mainly as a place of worship, and its sanctity reaches back to the earliest days of Lycian culture, before Greek influence arrived. The sanctuary was dedicated to the goddess Leto and her twins Apollo and Artemis, and the temple foundations and theatre still stand among olive groves. A short drive away lies Xanthos, the leading city of the Lycian League. Founded long ago and later ruled in turn by Persians and Greeks, it grew into a centre of both culture and trade. Today its pillar tombs, theatre and hilltop views make it one of the finest ruins on this coast, and the city also keeps a mystery: historians still debate whether war, fire or natural disaster brought about its end, as no record survives.
In the afternoon the tour continues to Patara, once a thriving Lycian harbour city that was briefly renamed Arsinoe, set beside the small village of Gelemis. Its long golden beach is protected and remains wonderfully undeveloped, perfect for relaxing in the sun or swimming before the return. This Patara day trip from Saklikent includes entrance fees for the sites in the programme; lunch is not included, so bring cash for food, swimwear, a towel and sun protection.
Your full day programme — click to see every stop.
Letoon, Xanthos & Patara Beach Programme Your guide meets you in the hotel lobby in the morning, and the air-conditioned coach leaves Saklikent for the Xanthos valley. The first visit is Letoon, an ancient sanctuary that was never fully settled as a town but served chiefly as a place of religious worship, with roots reaching back to the beginning of Lycian civilisation. Your guide explains the temples and the cults practised here before the group continues to Xanthos, once the capital of the Lycian Federation. Excavations at Xanthos have uncovered finds dating to the 8th century, and the city passed through Hittite-era beginnings and Greek and Persian rule while flourishing as a centre of culture and commerce. Walk among its well-preserved ruins, enjoy the wide views and hear the competing theories about the city's sudden decline, for which no written record exists. In the afternoon you head to the celebrated Patara Beach, where there is free time to sunbathe, relax or swim in the clear sea. At the end of the day the coach brings you back to your hotel in Saklikent.
Saklikent → Patara → Saklikent Letoon → Xanthos
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!