Wish we were there again!

Our group of 3 adults and 4 kids (10 - 14) arrived back home in complete downers after two brilliant weeks in Sarigerme (Caria Resort).

Our hotel wasn't that amazing, so the entire holiday was saved by sarigerme.net .
We ended up going on excursions, seven of them and wished we'd been on more.

We pre-booked a couple of trips via Paypal (12-island trip and Dalyan mud baths) about three months beforehand and receipts were waiting for us when we first arrived in the village in august. Seeing as sarigerme.net was the only one that mailed me back after I sent out my first queries in the beginning of the year sarigerme.net wasthe only company we were prepared to try.

I really cannot think of anything negative to say about tours of sarigerme.net. We were picked up on time from our hotel for every trip and brought back again exhausted but happy. Tour Company make it very obvious that the customer is king, and treat everyone like royalty. Our own tour operator were offering jeep safaris for 50 euros. DON'T BOOK THROUGH THEM! Use your money to improve the local economy.

Jeep safari - we ended up booking two! Brilliant fun, a full day's tour all over the most amazing landscape as well as getting sopping wet, dunked in various pools, rivers and lakes, and enjoying the off-road experience at it's best. The restaurant is absolutely stunning (and the icy water great for a refreshing swim.)

12 - island trip - the Sarigerme 'must'. Perfect scenery, clear water, the ultimate day out. Not overcrowded, either, even though it's one of the most popular tours.

Tlos and Saklikent - although it takes about 1h 45m to get there this trip is brilliant. The morning's spent at Tlos with it's Roman ruins. It's nicely spread out so that it never seems crowded, but at the same time there's no long hikes in the sun to worry about. Our guide knew his stuff. Lunch at another spectacular restaurant with freezing waterfalls and tables shaded by greenery. Then the afternoon at Saklikent Gorge. Wow. Can't say much more than 'wow!'. Kids will definitely not get bored here.

Ephesus - we took the plunge and booked Ephesus. Not the best trip for kids as the journey is about 3 hours but they make so many stops .wandering round the massive site of Ephesus is right up there with the pyramids. For me it was, anyway. So I loved it, the kids didn't appreciate it. But then ST HAD warned us that's what would happen...

Moonlight Trip - this trip should be advertised more! They say it's a romantic trip but you can make of it what you wish. One of the best ways to relax ever. Small groups on the Braveheart boat, a quick stopover on a nearby island, lower anchor in the middle of the sea in the pitch black with only the stars (and corny romantic 80's hits....I'll send you a new CD for the Braveheart crew, Oz!) to keep you company. Or your partner, of course. Personally I preferred the stars. Wish we'd booked this one twice.

Dalyan mud baths - We missed the big rushes of other tourist companies both at the mud baths and also with the turtles. Which meant our two boats got the baths to ourselves for 30m before about 8 other boats arrived at once. Stepping into the mudbaths feels like stepping into loose stool (texture-wise, temperature-wise and smells a bit similar, too). But somehow it's fun. Wash it off with a dive into the river, then brave the heat and sulpher stench of the thermal pool. Cool off with a cup of tea and get back on the boat feeling like you've just been for an horribly expensive spa treatment.
The restaurant is OK, but by now we'd been spoiled by the real stunning places on the jeep safari and Tlos. A few scrawny dogs hang around for scraps but they weren't interested in taking a chunk out of any of the many kids that went to feed them.
Then on toward the sea via the turtle estuary. We got to see three turtles close up (again, not many other boats were close by as they had been here earlier in the morning). Amazing the emotions these animals brought out in everybody on our boats. The same kind of feeling people get from dolphins and whales, I guess.
Next time I'm booking the Turtle Watch trip.
Finally we arrived at Turtle Beach. My god! Brilliant waves!!! One of the best beaches I've been on. Loo's nothing to shout about, though. Better to pee in the sea ;-)
So this trip is a 3-in-1 trip. More than recommended! But then, all the tours we had with Sarigerme.net are brilliant - no negatives at all.

Wish we were back. Still got lots of trips we haven't tried yet and desperately want to: hacking, turtle watch, I'd actually love to go to Ephesus again but in a small group without the kids...