Turkey family holiday
| country: | Turkey |
| location: | Turquoise Coast |
| departures: | 2010: 23 Jul, 30 Jul, 6 Aug, 13 Aug, 20 Aug 2011: 22 Jul, 29 Jul, 5 Aug, 12 Aug |
| price: | From £849 - £919 (8 days) per adult and from £849 - £919 per child including flights from the UK. From £539 - £589 per adult and from £539 - £589 per child excluding flights. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
read 1 travellers review
the amazing things you'll be doing
A break for the whole family with a great mix of activity, exploration and relaxation along Turkey’s beautiful Turquoise Coast
Rural Idyll
Your base for the first couple of nights is the Black Tree Cottages in Karaagac, a rural mountain retreat located close to Fethiye. From here there are various activities to enjoy - including walking and treasure hunts!
Vibrant Kas
Next you transfer to Kas - self-styled adventure holiday capital of the Med. Here you’ll take a glass-bottomed boat to discover the sunken city of Kekova and jeeps to explore the countryside and villages surrounding Kas.
Gulet Journey
You board your traditional, wooden-hulled gulet, relax and admire the passing scenery. Days are leisurely - you might sail in the morning and stop in an inlet for lunch. There’s also time to soak up the sun or swim in the crystal-clear Aegean waters.
Dalyan
A small and lazy village, Dalyan is a great place to spend your last day enjoying either a river cruise or a visit to the old Lycian tombs. For those brave enough, why not try a mud bath?
Rural Idyll
Your base for the first couple of nights is the Black Tree Cottages in Karaagac, a rural mountain retreat located close to Fethiye. From here there are various activities to enjoy - including walking and treasure hunts!
Vibrant Kas
Next you transfer to Kas - self-styled adventure holiday capital of the Med. Here you’ll take a glass-bottomed boat to discover the sunken city of Kekova and jeeps to explore the countryside and villages surrounding Kas.
Gulet Journey
You board your traditional, wooden-hulled gulet, relax and admire the passing scenery. Days are leisurely - you might sail in the morning and stop in an inlet for lunch. There’s also time to soak up the sun or swim in the crystal-clear Aegean waters.
Dalyan
A small and lazy village, Dalyan is a great place to spend your last day enjoying either a river cruise or a visit to the old Lycian tombs. For those brave enough, why not try a mud bath?
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Depart London Following your flight, you'll transfer to Karaagac – a journey of approximately two hours – for your first night’s accommodation. Cottages / farmhouse - possible multi-share - 2 nights (Swimming Pool) Note: The accommodation we use is basic, but clean and comfortable, reflecting typical Turkish country living |
| Day 2: | Karaagac Turkey’s south-west coastline has long been famous for its extensive stretches of beaches, dotted with timeless villages where local residents still tend their crops and animals. Nestled in the foothills of Mt Babadag, Karaagac is one such place, and is the perfect setting for families! Overlooking the beaches below, your accommodation is situated at 1000m and hidden away amid pine trees and limestone plateaus – great territory for inquisitive kids to explore. There’s a free day here so you can get to know the area better. A wander through the countryside, along countless trails is a great way both to relax and to discover the local flora and fauna. You may also be able to try a craft activity, such as pottery and the area surrounding the farm is great for treasure hunts and other games. All activities are optional, allowing you to see and do as much or as little as you choose. (B) |
| Day 3: | Boat Excursion To Kekova Transferring by bus to Kas – a journey of about three hours – you arrive in this charming port in time for a boat excursion to Kekova Island, a few kilometres to the east of Kas. Off its northern shore, the fascinating remains of an ancient settlement - known locally as Batik Sehir (the Sunken City) - lie submerged in a few metres of translucent, turquoise water. It was destroyed centuries ago by earthquakes but today one can still see the ruined walls and stairs of houses, and the outline of its jetty. In one of the coves the remains of a Byzantine apse and the ruins of an ancient village can be seen. As the boat cruises past, half-submerged ruins are visible along the edge, part on land, part underwater, which shows the upheaval wrought by the earthquakes. As this is a protected archaeological site, swimming and snorkelling are not permitted; however it remains very atmospheric and makes for an enjoyable day out for kids and adults alike. Hotel with swimming pool – 2 nights (BL) |
| Day 4: | 4wd Safari Today you have an exciting 4WD safari into the hills above Kas, in a vehicle specially designed to travel over the rough tracks and steep terrain. The route winds into the back-country through undiscovered villages - the kinds of places package tourists never even dream about, let alone reach. A stony track climbs high to emerge on the shoulder of Cukurbagh hill, giving fabulous views over the Greek Island of Kastellorizo and the entire Kas peninsula. Heading up toward the yayla (highland plateau), you may well meet nomadic shepherds who leave their lowland villages to bring their goats and sheep up to graze. The views are stunning as you descend to a pretty mountain village for a lunch of traditional Turkish home-cooked food in a village house. After lunch you continue your mountain journey, finally descending to the scenic coastal road for the drive back to Kas. (BL) |
| Day 5-6: | Sailing The Turquoise Coast This morning you'll step aboard your gulet, for two days of idyllic relaxation. There’s no firm plan; much depends on the tides and local conditions. Needless to say your days are usually spent cruising between the little coves and islands that dot this beautiful part of south-west Turkey. Naturally there are plenty of opportunities to take a dip in the inviting waters of the Aegean. Parents can sit back, relax and watch the world go by while the kids can emulate their favourite sea-borne characters, maybe Captain Jack Sparrow, or even Popeye! Below is an outline of a typical sailing. Once everyone is aboard you’ll cruise along the jagged limestone cliffs and shoreline to the resort town of Kalkan, stopping for lunch en-route. After lunch there’s time for a swim as well as possibly the chance to go ashore to visit the harbour or spend some time on the beach. Leaving Kalkan you will sail onwards, to your overnight mooring at either Aquarium Bay or Firnaz Bay. The beautiful waters will doubtless entice you in for another swim or some snorkelling, before the crew call you back aboard to get ready for dinner. The next morning you’ll slip anchor early in the morning, aiming to arrive at Butterfly Valley in time for breakfast. There’s another chance to swim here as well as a visit ashore to visit the nature reserve which is home to many different varieties of butterflies and moths. Your next port of call is the legendary Blue Lagoon at Oludeniz: one of Turkey’s most photographed coastal spots. After time to relax, you cruise on to reach Gemiler, also known as St Nicholas Island. Gemiler is a popular anchorage for gulets and visiting yachts and overnighting here will give you time to step ashore to see some of the islands many Byzantine ruins.Shared cabin on gulet (2 nights) - (Bx2, Lx2 Dx2) Please note: The route may vary depending on conditions and is at the captain’s discretion |
| Day 7: | Dalyan This morning you’ll make the short journey across to the mainland, where you’ll disembark your gulet in Fethiye harbour, saying farewell to your captain and crew. Waiting transport then drives you north west along the coast to Dalyan. Dalyan is a relatively small and lazy place to look around; its many bars line the river which runs alongside the city’s core. Named after the wooden traps placed across the river to ensnare fish, Dalyan was once an agricultural centre and today retains a lot of that Turkish charm. Upon arrival there should be free time to relax and, if you want, take a river cruise in one of the brightly coloured boats which line the shores. It’s also fun to visit the mud baths near to the centre, or for those with a hunger for historic sites a visit to the old Lycian tombs that shadow the town may be in order. Dalyan is a great place to spend your last night in Turkey. Hotel with swimming pool – 1 night (B) |
| Day 8: | Fly to London Clients travelling on our group flights take the short drive to Dalaman airport for the flight to London. (B) |
travellers' tales
We thoroughly enjoyed the boat trips, especially the gulet and being able to experience the mud baths. (more)
small group family holiday
This is a 'small group family adventure' - typically you will join several other families and travel in a group of approx. 16 people. The trips are great value and a great way for you and your children to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of time to yourselves. Most adventure kids tend to be aged between 7 and 15, but some are younger (minimum age is usually 5) and some older (perhaps travelling as part of a larger family group). Please check with the operator to confirm the minimum age for this trip how this holiday makes a difference
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We stay in small, family owned accommodation, using the services of a Turkish local agent. We also use many local service provides, from gulet crew to jeep drivers and restaurateurs. This means more of the money we spend goes into the pockets of local people. Your accommodation in Karaagac is a converted Turkish farm and prides itself on offering meals prepared with locally grown produce.
Our Responsible Travel Code: Clients who travel with us will automatically receive a copy of our Responsible Travel leaflet. This contains details and advice on how you can make a positive difference when you travel. If you would like a copy in advance of travel please contact us. Charity Partnerships: We work in partnership with Plan International. Plan works with some of the world’s poorest communities where three out of four children die before the age of five. We also support Friends of Conservation – an international charity committed to working with local people to develop a balance between their needs and the wildlife with which they share the natural habitat and ecosystems. Carbon Balancing: Global warming is a real issue and is a direct result of your travel. We have teamed up with Climate Care to give you the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from your flight. You’ll be asked upon booking if you want to donate – with set amounts from £5. As a company we offset the carbon emissions from all staff travel in full. Our Foundation: We’ve highlighted a few of the ways in which we offer our support, financially or otherwise, and now you can, too. We have set up our own foundation, which will administer funds donated by you. A small donation of £1 per person will be taken when booking a holiday and that money will be put to good use by one of our carefully selected projects. If you don’t want to make the donation, just tell us when you book. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |