Tiger footprints. We stop in our tracks. Excitement rises. Our guide kneels and studies them, and concludes they are old ones. Disillusion comes with a hidden sense of relief.
There is a gun-carrying guard with us, but still.
Tiger footprints. We stop in our tracks. Excitement rises. Our guide kneels and studies them, and concludes they are old ones. Disillusion comes with a hidden sense of relief.
There is a gun-carrying guard with us, but still.
In the 1960s-1980s, North Korea dug tunnels under the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) into South Korea in an attempt to surprise attack their neighbors from underground. Depending on the size of the tunnel it could funnel 10,000-30,000 soldiers an hour and some are big enough for vehicles as well.
Unfortunately for North Korea, the tunnels were discovered.
Living-root bridges? Bridges made of natural materials that last hundreds of years?
Yes, they exist!
On the northern side of South Korea is the Peace Dam and next to it are a Peace Park and a World Peace Park.
What’s this ‘peace stuff’ all about?
With only another 120 kilometers, the days suddenly pass very, very quickly. The western section of the Datça Peninsula is one of the remotest sections of the 850-kilometer-long Carian Trail.
Few villages, mostly footpaths meandering through forests and traversing headlands that divide dozens of secluded bays.
“Never be so faithful to your plan that you are unwilling to consider the unexpected. Never be so faithful to your plan that you are unwilling to entertain the improbable opportunity that comes looking for you.”
~Elizabeth Warren
Hiking the Datça Peninsula and rolling up your sleeves to get your hands dirty in a greenhouse?
How do those two activities match?
“Ruins are more beautiful than adorned castles, for ruins are the cathedrals of
~Ben Caesar
When a trail exists of five sections, not all of them can finish at the top of your list.
As such, the Muğla Environs Section won’t be our #1 of the Carian Trail. However, don’t scrap it from your list immediately; this trail did have some worthwhile surprises.
“Dogs are not our whole life but they make our lives whole.”
~Roger Caras
The Carian Hinterland is a 175-km-long hiking trail in Southwestern Turkey and part of the 850-km-long Carian Trail. In the previous blog post, Carian Hinterland part 1, I described sections of the first half of that trail.
Here is part 2, day 6-11.
“The best thing one can do when it’s raining is to let it rain.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Carian Hinterland is one of the five sections of the 800-km-long Carian Trail that runs through Southwestern Turkey.
If you like the idea of combining hiking and Turkey and you have some two weeks of time, this is our tip: hike the Carian Hinterland. Depending on your level of fitness and speed it may take 8-13 days (we took 11).
Simply fly to Bodrum, take a bus to Bozalan and hit the trail.
“Turkey’s true master is the peasant”
~Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
We have followed a path twisting up through the woods and following a watercourse. On our left side is a wall built of boulders and rocks collected from the adjacent fields.
The wall invites us to sit on it, rest our feet for a bit while our sweated shirts dry in the sun.
“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
~John Muir
After our 10-day hike on the Bozburun Peninsula – our introductory section of the 800-kilometer-long Carian Trail – we returned to Marmaris.
We were ready for a day of rest.
“For the
(From: Carian Trail Guidebook)
What’s there NOT to like about this? So, let’s go!
“Simplicity and slowness are core components of virtually all the best adventures. Walking is
~Alastair Humphreys
“What do you mean, nobody sells food? We need a meal! We’re hungry,” I gasp.
It’s Day 3 of waiting out the storm, which hopefully will be our last before we can finally start our 850-km-long hike along the beautiful coast of Southwestern Turkey.
We are ready for the Carian Trail!