If you haven't visited from yesterday the Pamukkale travertines & the ancient city of Hierapolis now is the time but keep in mind that this route is already long and requires about 10 hours to arrive in Konya so attention on it. A personal suggestion is to have a free day here to visit the place and maybe have some spa in the hotel and then start your trip to Konya without to have in the schedule this leg.

Leaving the surreal terraces of Pamukkale behind, the ride east feels like a transition, not just in scenery but in mood. The green valleys fade, the road stretches straighter, and before long you’re cruising toward Lake Salda, in south-western Turkey’s Burdur Province, a striking crater lake known for its turquoise waters and white magnesium-rich shores. Often called the “Turkish Maldives,” it is surrounded by unique volcanic landscapes and endemic flora. The lake’s high mineral content gives it therapeutic properties, attracting nature lovers and tourists seeking swimming, hiking, and photography opportunities.

A short distance from Lake Salda and you can enjoy the view of Lake Yarisli to your right. The lake is a salt lake and is one of the smaller lakes in an area known locally as the Turkish Lakes Region. Its size varies considerably depending on the season, sometimes drying up completely in summer and forming salt flats. It supports limited wildlife, but is an important stopover and wintering location for various bird species, including the ferruginous duck and flamingos.

Next comes Lake Burdur, another salt lake which is among the largest and deepest lakes in Turkey, the formation of the lake began 5 million years ago as a tectonic depression. Aquatic plants are not observed in the lake because of the amount of sodium sulphate and chlorine content. Since the lake does not freeze in winter, it serves as a winter refuge for the birds.

From there, a short detour takes you for a coffee stop in Sagalassos, an ancient city in Pisidia (modern-day Turkey), renowned for its strategic mountain location, Hellenistic and Roman-era architecture, and status as the "first city" of its region. The well-preserved archaeological site, located at an elevation of 1750 metres, features impressive structures such as the Antonine Fountain, a Roman bath, and a large theatre. It was a prosperous city known for pottery and agricultural exports. Its ruins were rediscovered by archaeologists in 1985.

We then head to Eğirdir Castle, a historic fortress with origins spanning Lydian, Roman, Byzantine, Hamidid, and Ottoman periods. Located on a peninsula in Eğirdir Lake, it features inner and outer walls, though many sections are ruined. Built with alternating stone and brick, it offers panoramic lake views. Despite partial decay, the castle remains a culturally and historically significant site, attracting visitors interested in architecture, history, and scenic landscapes.

I suggest a lunch stop at the nearby Melodi Restaurant on the shore of Lake Egirdir offers a variety of seafood, Mediterranean, and Turkish dishes. Guests can enjoy fresh fish, including specialties like sudak and sazan, prepared in traditional styles. The restaurant provides outdoor seating with scenic views of the lake, creating a pleasant atmosphere for meals. The establishment is known for its attentive service and clean environment, making it a popular choice among both locals and visitors.

After lunch you will travel around the southern end of the lake to Lake Egirdir viewpoint which offers nice views across Lake Egirdir towards the peninsula of Yesilada. The Western Taurus Mountains act as a backdrop with the peak of Barla Dağı being the highest at 2700 metres.

The next lake we see is Lake Beysehir, a shallow freshwater lake with a mean maximum depth of between 5m and 9m. It is the largest freshwater lake in Turkey with a surface area of 650 square kilometres. The lake is primarily fed by waters from the nearby Sultan and Anamas mountains and it has over 30 islands providing a home for thousands of water birds who nest there, including swans, cormorants, ducks and divers.

The destination, Konya, hits you with a completely different kind of energy. This isn’t a flashy city, it’s a place steeped in spirituality and tradition. Konya is best known as the home of the Mevlana Museum, where the poet and mystic Rumi is buried. His teachings gave birth to the whirling dervishes, and even today, ceremonies are held where dervishes spin in meditation, skirts flaring in hypnotic circles.
Walking through the museum, with its turquoise tiled dome and manuscripts filled with poetry, feels like stepping into another world. But Konya’s Seljuk legacy doesn’t stop there: madrassas, mosques, and caravanserais remind you that this was once a powerful hub on the Silk Road. The Aladdin Mosque, perched on its hill, offers sweeping views of the city and a reminder of how faith and history intertwine here.

Compared to Pamukkale’s dazzling white cliffs, Konya feels more grounded, more contemplative. The roads into the city don’t challenge you with mountain passes or technical climbs, but they do test your patience and focus endless straights can be mentally tiring in their own way.

This stage may not deliver the adrenaline of twisty canyons, but it delivers something else, the steady beat of Anatolia’s heart and a glimpse into the spiritual core of Turkey.