REVIEW · OLYMPOS CABLE CAR & CHIMAERA
Phaselis, Ulupinar, Khimera, Çirali, Olympos Beach Tour
A long coastal day, with real variety. This tour strings together Phaselis ruins in pine-and-cedar forest and a Çıralı/Chimaera stretch of coastline tied to protected sea turtles, so you’re not stuck doing the same thing for 8 hours; the trade-off is that you’ll likely pay extra for things like lunch and drinks even though you’ll have time to eat.
You’ll start with hotel pickup and ride in an air-conditioned minivan to the quieter corners near Kemer and Olympos Beydağları National Park. I like how the pace is split into chunks—ruins, a nature stop with animals and waterfall time, a sea-coast walk, then another archaeological site—so it feels like a route, not a single museum visit.
Because it’s a private tour for your group, you can move at the local rhythm instead of feeling rushed or blended into a big crowd.
In This Review
- Key things that make this tour special
- 7–8 Hours Around Antalya: How the day is paced
- Phaselis Koyu: Greek and Roman ruins under pine and cedar
- Ulupinar: lunch time with waterfall and animal viewing
- Çıralı and the Chimaera area: why the sea turtle coastline matters
- Olympos Beach and the Olympos Archaeological Site: ruins plus a coastline walk
- Price and what you’re really paying for ($163.21 per person)
- Logistics you’ll care about: pickup zones, group setup, and language
- Quick tips to make the day easier (and more comfortable)
- Who this tour suits best
- Should you book the Phaselis, Ulupinar, Chimaera, Çıralı, Olympos Beach tour?
- FAQ
- How long is the Phaselis, Ulupinar, Chimaera, Çıralı, Olympos Beach tour?
- Where is hotel pickup offered?
- Is transportation included?
- Is this tour private?
- Is lunch included?
- Are drinks included?
- Is an English guide included in the price?
- What stops does the itinerary include?
- Are admission fees included?
- Can I cancel for a full refund?
Key things that make this tour special
- Phaselis in the forest: Roman-and-Greek remains surrounded by pine and cedar
- Çıralı Chimera focus: a specific coastline zone inside Beydağları National Park
- Sea turtle conservation angle: you’re in the Caretta caretta breeding-area region
- Ulupınar break with views: time for lunch and a nature-focused stop with waterfall and animals
- Olympos Beach + ruins pairing: you get a coast walk and an ancient-site visit in the same day
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7–8 Hours Around Antalya: How the day is paced
This is built as a full-day loop, clocking in at about 7 to 8 hours. The structure matters, because you’re not just “going places”—you’re switching settings: forest ruins, a lunch-and-nature stop, then a protected-coast environment, and finally Olympos.
You’ll be picked up from areas around Antalya and the Kemer side, including Lara, Kundu, Belek, Belbibi, City Center, Kemer, and Tekirova. Then you’ll transfer by air-conditioned minivan, which is a real comfort upgrade when you’re moving between coastal villages.
One practical note: the itinerary shows Admission Ticket Included for multiple stops, but the “not included” section lists admission fees generally. That usually means the fine print can vary by operator or ticket type. When you book, ask the exact question: what entrance costs are covered on your voucher and what you’ll pay on-site.
Phaselis Koyu: Greek and Roman ruins under pine and cedar

Phaselis is the kind of site that feels good even before you start looking at stones. The ruins sit inside Olympos Beydağları National Park, surrounded by pine and cedar forest, so the walk has a cooler, greener feel than many coastal archaeology stops.
In the schedule, Phaselis Koyu is a 1-hour stop with admission included (as listed in the day plan). That’s not long enough to do everything slowly and still have energy later. But it’s a sensible window if you want highlights: enough time to get oriented, see key remains, and then enjoy the setting rather than turning it into a sprint.
Why this stop works for most people:
- The forest setting adds shade and breaks up the “hot ruins + direct sun” problem.
- You get a clear sense of Phaselis as a Greek and Roman city rather than only seeing random fragments.
If you’re the type who loves photos and quick “walk-and-look” archaeology, this timing is right. If you prefer long guided explanations and deep, stone-by-stone context, you may wish you had more time here. Still, the overall tour balances that with nature and coastline later.
Ulupinar: lunch time with waterfall and animal viewing
After Phaselis, the tour shifts to Ulupinar for about 2 hours. This is your break from ruins and roads, with time for lunch and a nature-focused experience that includes waterfall time and animals.
The itinerary notes “lunch ower there, waterfall.animals, jungle.” In plain terms, you’ll have a chance to eat and stretch while staying in the green. The schedule marks admission free for this stop, which suggests you’re mainly paying for food if you choose lunch rather than for an attraction ticket.
This part is valuable because it interrupts the day with something sensory: cooler air, moving water, and the chance to see local wildlife or at least animal enclosures/animal encounters (the exact format can vary). It’s also a good moment to reset if earlier sites felt too much like “standing and reading.”
Two practical considerations:
- Lunch and drinks aren’t listed as included, so budget for it.
- Waterfall areas can be slippery. Wear shoes you trust, not flimsy sandals.
Çıralı and the Chimaera area: why the sea turtle coastline matters
This is the heart of the nature angle. Çıralı sits inside Olympos Beydağları National Park, and the tour connects you to the Chimaera area, where the coastline is described as a sea-turtle breeding region for the protected Caretta caretta.
The details provided for the beach environment are specific, and that’s what makes this stop more interesting than a generic beach break:
- It’s a 3-kilometer beach stretch.
- The sand is fine-grained.
- The beach slopes gently up from the sea.
- Cliffs border the beach at both ends.
- There’s a stream bed in the north that flows only in winter.
- At the south end, a stream reaches the sea after coming through the ancient city area of Olympos.
The description also splits the beach into two areas: Olympos Stream in the south and Çıralı in the north. Even if you don’t memorize every geography label, you’ll feel the logic when you walk: the coast has structure, not just open sand.
The tour allocates about 2 hours for this segment, with admission included as listed. That’s a realistic chunk for a coastal walk and time to take in how this protected coastline functions.
One thing to keep expectations grounded: the tour frames this as a chance to spot protected sea turtles. Seeing turtles is never guaranteed on a beach day, but the reason this stop is worth it is the conservation context. You’re visiting a place that’s specifically tied to the turtles’ breeding habitat, so your time here has meaning beyond views.
Olympos Beach and the Olympos Archaeological Site: ruins plus a coastline walk
The day finishes with a two-part feel: Olympos Beach for the coastline view, plus the Olympos Archeological Site.
You’ll spend about 2 hours at the archaeological area, and the experience description frames it as a “valley with ancient city ruins” and also a kind of holiday setting. That matters because Olympos often isn’t just a quiet ruin you visit and leave. It’s a place people come to enjoy the area, which can make the atmosphere feel more lived-in than purely museum-like.
Then there’s the planned walk along Olympos Beach, where you’re meant to take in the coastline perspective. This pairing is strong: you get to compare the ancient city setting (valley ruins) with the modern coastline draw (beach and sea views).
Why the combination is a good value for your time:
- You get variety without backtracking.
- You’re not forced to choose between “ruins” and “sea air.”
- The scenery carries you from one segment to the next.
The main trade-off is that your day ends after a full schedule, so if you’re tired, the beach portion can feel short. Pace yourself. If you have energy, stop for photos. If you don’t, just enjoy the walk and keep it simple.
Price and what you’re really paying for ($163.21 per person)
At $163.21 per person for about 7 to 8 hours, you’re not buying a “cheap transfer-only” deal. You’re paying for organized movement between several major stops: hotel pickup/drop-off, air-conditioned minivan, and time at multiple sites within the Beydağları National Park area.
Here’s where the value becomes clearer:
- You’re packing multiple distinct environments (forest ruins, nature/waterfall break, protected coastline, and another ruin site) into one day.
- You avoid the hassle of coordinating several separate local trips.
- Your group is private, meaning you’re not squeezed into a larger crowd experience.
Where value may depend on the details you confirm at booking:
- The “included” versus “not included” sections conflict slightly on admission fee language. The itinerary lists admission tickets for several stops, and Ulupınar is marked as free for admission. Still, confirm what you’ll personally pay versus what’s already handled.
- Lunch and drinks are not listed as included. The Ulupinar stop includes time to eat, but you should expect to pay for your meal and any beverages.
If you want a structured route with pickup and minimal logistics stress, this price can make sense. If you love independent travel and you’re comfortable hiring local transport and paying admissions yourself, you might be able to piece together a similar route for less. But you’d spend more time organizing and less time experiencing the day.
Logistics you’ll care about: pickup zones, group setup, and language
This is offered as a private tour/activity, meaning only your group participates. That’s a big deal if you want a smoother experience—fewer delays from other guests and a more consistent pace.
Pickup is offered in several areas around Antalya and the Kemer region, so the tour is designed for people staying in the main tourist corridors. You’re also riding in an air-conditioned minivan, which helps keep the day comfortable between stops.
Language is listed as English. But the exclusion notes mention an English Guide is not included (listed as 100 Euro per day). So you can’t assume you’ll have a full-time English guide included in the base price. When you book, ask what English support looks like for your exact departure.
Quick tips to make the day easier (and more comfortable)
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll move around ruins and coastal areas, and waterfall zones can be slick.
- Bring sun protection. Coastal Turkey days can run hot even when the route includes forest shade.
- Plan for extra spending on lunch and drinks since they’re not listed as included.
- Ask about admission coverage before you go. The schedule suggests many admissions are covered, but the general pricing notes list admission fees as not included.
Who this tour suits best
This tour fits you well if you like variety and you want to see multiple places in one day without map-work. It’s especially good for:
- People staying on the Antalya/Kemer side who want Phaselis + Olympos + Çıralı/Chimaera in one hit
- Travelers who enjoy nature stops as much as ruins
- Groups that want a private experience rather than a long day in a big bus crowd
If you’re the kind of traveler who wants a long, slow archaeology deep-dive with extensive guidance at each stop, the time allocation may feel tight. In that case, you might prefer a longer, site-focused tour instead of a multi-stop sampler.
Should you book the Phaselis, Ulupinar, Chimaera, Çıralı, Olympos Beach tour?
I’d book it if your goal is a single-day route that mixes ruins, waterfall-and-forest time, and a protected sea turtle coastline area into one smooth plan. The value is strongest when you want pickup, transport, and organized timing, plus you’re happy to handle lunch/drinks as extra.
I’d think twice if admission fees must be fully predictable for your budget or if you specifically need a guaranteed included English guide. In that case, confirm coverage and language support before paying.
If you want a day that feels like both countryside and coastline—without you driving yourself—this is a solid choice.
FAQ
How long is the Phaselis, Ulupinar, Chimaera, Çıralı, Olympos Beach tour?
It’s listed as about 7 to 8 hours.
Where is hotel pickup offered?
Pickup is offered from Lara, Kundu, Belbibi, the city center (Antalya), Belek, Kemer, and Tekirova.
Is transportation included?
Yes. You’ll travel by air-conditioned minivan, with hotel pickup and drop-off included.
Is this tour private?
Yes. It’s described as private, with only your group participating.
Is lunch included?
Lunch is not listed as included, even though the Ulupınar stop is planned as a place where you eat.
Are drinks included?
No. Drinks are listed as not included.
Is an English guide included in the price?
No. An English guide is listed as not included, and it’s noted as 100 Euro per day.
What stops does the itinerary include?
The day includes Ulupınar, the Chimaera/Çıralı sea turtle coastline area, Phaselis Koyu, and the Olympos Archaeological Site, plus time to walk along Olympos Beach.
Are admission fees included?
The itinerary lists admission tickets as included for several stops, but the pricing details also say admission fee is not included. Confirm what your voucher covers for each site.
Can I cancel for a full refund?
Yes, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
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