Kicking Off Our Turkish Adventure: Scenic Stops, Surprises & a Few Breaks

Yediler Monastery Hike

Sunset by the Monastery

Random Onions everywhere

Yedlir Monastery
We quite literally stumbled upon this 8 mile hike, and what a find it was! The trail took us through jaw dropping views and, admittedly, got us a little lost a few times, not that we minded. Our wandering rewarded us with a stunning sunset view from the monastery itself. This route, nestled by the picturesque Bafa Gölü Lake, is a must do. Highly recommended!

Miletus Ancient City

Dorris on the Ampethiter steps

Look out form the ramparts

Miletus Ancient City
Located just north of Didim and south of the famous Ephesus, Miletus Ancient City turned out to be a hidden gem. After discovering that Ephesus costs around €40 to enter, we opted for this fantastic alternative at just €5 per person. The well preserved amphitheater is a highlight, and you can wander through the remnants of the old city behind it. A budget friendly and fascinating step into history!

Some random place to park

Big social beach parking

Outside Old Ottoman fort

Park Ups
Turkey has truly delivered when it comes to scenic park up spots, and these are just a few highlights from our first couple of weeks on the road. At one random spot, we met a group of German cyclists who quickly became friends, crossing paths with us all the way to Fethiye. Another favourite was Big Social Beach though it was much busier than it looks in the photo. That spot gave us a night to (try to) remember, thanks to some newfound trucker friends!

Gallipoli WW1 cannon

Walking on water near Avylik

Stick sunbathing

Random Snaps
Here’s a collection of fun moments we’ve really enjoyed! At the WWI battlefields of Gallipoli, I got to embrace my inner child, reenacting battles (armed with a beer, of course) beside a massive cannon. Then there was the water crossing at Ayvalık, where we waded waist deep to reach a tiny, secluded island, it felt like the middle of nowhere. Little did we know the water was teeming with sea urchins, which added a surprising twist to the adventure! And, of course, here’s Stick, our new best friend, soaking up the sun in style.

Worlds most expensive steak

Broken waste pipe for shower

leaky shower fixes

Some Things That Went Wrong
If we had a euro for every time something broke or went awry on this trip, we could probably fund another adventure! From creative repair jobs to moments of misplaced trust, it's been a journey of learning. Like the time we ordered steak, only to discover it was ten times the price we expected, though, to be fair, it was absolutely delicious.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a day in the life of Ollie & Darian without something breaking. This time, it was the bathroom’s turn to act up, with water leaking from just about everywhere. A quick reseal of the joints and some TLC for the waste pipe later, and we were back in business!