13Dec
Kayakoy - Ghost Town
Formally known as Levissi by its former Greek inhabitants, Kayakoy used to be a town with about 25,000 population in the early 20th century. During the population exchange agreement signed between Turkey and Greece in 1923, the town was then completely abandoned by its Greek residents, and the Turkish people who brought from Greece were placed in the town who later didn’t want to stay in those houses and built another village right next to it. That’s why Kayakoy is also known as Fethiye ghost town. Kayakoy was nominated as a UNESCO World Friendship and Peace Village, non-government organizations have been working to restore its ruins in order to preserve the town as a historic settlement. This town also inspired Luis de Bernieres for his novel Birds Without Wings.
The main attraction in Kayakoy is the ghost town itself. When you stroll down cobblestone streets, it feels like you are in an open-air museum. There are roughly 3500 stone houses and 3 churches that stand on the hillside overlooking a fertile land. One of the churches sits on top of the hill and has a stunning view of the valley and the sea. There is also an old fountain that dates back to 1888. This old village is also a focus of Greco-Turkish reconciliation festivals, with an Orthodox diaspora visiting from Greece. Horse riding tours are another popular way of seeing Kayakoy. You can take a horse trail trip from Hisaronu to the ghost town.There are several small cafes and eateries around Kayakoy, where traditional Turkish delicacies that you can enjoy. If you prefer hiking around the ghost town, there is also a marked trail to a stunning bay that we often stop on our Turkey sailing tours. Heading south of the town you will find pebbled beach cove which is the nearest access to the sea from Kayakoy.
Because of the hills that the ghost town leans against, the sea isn’t visible at first sigh
The most convenient way is taking any of the frequent local minibusses from Fethiye. Those who love long walks can also hike from Fethiye by following an eight kilometers long medieval cobbled trail through the forest. Afkule Monastery is also a must-see place; an old monastery where you can see the impressive sweeping view that extended from the Gulf of Fethiye to Rhodes.
Kayakoy tour is an optional activity on one of the last days of our Sail Turkey tours.