Turkey holiday, cultural tour

country:	Turkey
location:	Turquoise Coast, Istanbul, Cirali beach, Cappadocia
departures:	2008: 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct
price:	£1550 (16 days) excluding flights, based on 2 sharing. Single supplement £200. Max group size 8 people
late availability:	Only 2 spaces remain for 13 September departure

read 3 travellers reviews

Turkey holidays

Cultural tours

the amazing things you'll be doing

A charming and intimate way to discover some of Turkey's delights. This is a suggestive tour, one that tries to submerge the traveller in atmosphere, in the subtleties of local culture, cuisine and lifestyle, and in the magical landscapes Turkey is blessed with.

It is a tour that seeks to stimulate the imagination rather than cram it with textbook detail, a tour that aims to show the best of Turkey but one that also gets beneath the skin to give you an insight into the quirky soul of this fascinating country.

Marvel at the magnificent rock formations, cave churches and awesome landscapes of Cappadocia. Enjoy some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean. Explore the ruins of ancient civilizations. Visit grand Ottoman palaces, mosques, Byzantine churches, hamams and ancient bazaars. Feel the charm of coastal villages and the vibrant energy of Istanbul itself. Witness the profound ceremony of Whirling Dervishes.

Spend a day onboard a Turkish gullet cruising over an ancient sunken city. Experience the legendary local hospitality, immerse yourself in Turkish music and of course in the sensation that is Turkish cuisine, one of the finest in the world.

day-by-day itinerary

Day 1:	Istanbul. You arrive in Istanbul and are transferred to your hotel. A relaxed tour briefing followed by a short orientation tour to soak up the atmosphere of the orient. Dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2:	Istanbul. A guided walking tour of Old Istanbul exploring its Byzantine and Ottoman treasures. You will visit the famous Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Church and the magnificent Topkapi Palace. After lunch visit the Grand Covered Bazaar with over 4,000 shops. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3:	Istanbul to Assos. Set course for the enchanting hilltop village of Assos. En route there is an opportunity to visit Gallipoli / Anzac Cove. Lunch in Tekirdag, home to the best meatballs in Turkey. Overnight in Assos.
Day 4:	Assos to Pamukkale. Set course for Pamukkale. Lunch in Bergama and time to explore it's impressive ruins. Arrive in Pamukkale and explore the calcium pools. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Day 5:	Pamukkale to Kas. Drive to Kas via Saklikent Gorge and Patara Beach. Stop for lunch in Saklikent and a trek along the amazing gorge. Then explore the beach and ruins of Patara. Continue to Kas. Dinner at one of the excellent hilltop restaurants overlooking the harbour. Overnight in Kas.
Day 6:	Kas. Free day in Kas. This is an excellent place to scuba dive, there are many dive schools and some of the best dive sites in Turkey. Alternatively we suggest a boat trip to Kekova island, exploring the sunken city and the picturesque village of Simena. Overnight in Kas.
Day 7:	Kas to Olimpos / Cirali. Drive to Olimpos. A short stop in Demre to visit the church of St. Nicholas (the original Santa Claus), the impressive Lycian Rock tombs and Roman theatre. Arrive in Olimpos. Explore the amazing ruins of the Lycian civilization hidden away in the forest. At night a visit to Chimera, The Eternal Flame. Overnight in Cirali.
Day 8:	Olimpos / Cirali. A free day in Olimpos. The beach here is simply magical so you may want to just hang out and relax. There are also great walks in the forests and mountains overlooking the beach. Overnight in Cirali.
Day 9:	Olimpos to Konya. Drive to Konya. This is a drive that takes you along some very dramatic mountain scenery into the heart of Turkey. On route a brief stop in Aspendos to visit the perhaps the finest Roman theatre in Turkey. Then on to Konya, the spiritual home of Whirling Dervishes and of the great mystic philosopher Celaleddin Rumi. Visit the Mevlana Museum. Overnight in Konya.
Day 10:	Konya to Cappadocia. Set course for Cappadocia, a drive that takes in the vast central plains and the giant Mount Hasan. A short stop in Sultanhani to visit the 13th century Caravanserai. Continue on to Cappadocia and visit Ihlara Valley. Descend into Ihlara canyon and hike along the river to Belisirma village enjoying fresh trout by the river’s edge for lunch! A day of truly stunning landscapes! Then onwards to the beautiful town of Goreme and settle into your cave suite! Overnight in Goreme.
Day 11:	Goreme, Cappadocia. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum, Avanos, the pottery town, the Natural Citadel of Uchisar and the mind blowing 'Underground City' of Derinkuyu. Test the wines in the local wineries or go shopping for a kilim, the ceremony of buying from an authentic carpet seller is an experience in itself. Overnight in Goreme.
Day 12:	Cappadocia. A free day in Goreme. Explore this amazing village and its surroundings at your own pace. Be sure to have plenty of film in your camera. Alternatively you may want to try Hot Air Ballooning. Overnight in Goreme.
Day 13:	Cappadocia to Safranbolu. Set course for the charming town of Safranbolu passing the great Salt Lake. See the old Ottoman houses tucked away in the hills, wonder through the cobbled streets and delight in the centuries old crafts of the region. Overnight in Safranbolu.
Day 14:	Safranbolu to Istanbul. Set a leisurely course back to Istanbul along scenic mountain routes. There is an opportunity to have lunch in the charming old village of Yoruk Koy. Evening at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 15:	Istanbul. Today you can unleash the shopper in you. Visit the mind boggling grand bazaar or the aromatic spice bazaar. Alternatively, a relaxed boat tour of the Bosphorus. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 16:	Istanbul. Tour ends after breakfast. Transfer to airport.

travellers' tales

Each sense has been impressed with a memory that will not be forgotten... Breath taking vistas, melodic calls to prayer, whiffs of wild herbal hedges (more)

how this holiday makes a difference

Since our launch we have been striving to present an authentic and uncommercial vision of Turkey with independently minded travellers from across the globe.

Whole-heartedly opposed to the usual tours on offer, where hundreds of tourists are bundled on coaches, whizzed around the obvious sites, then herded into carpet, leather and jewellery shops, our tours offer the traveller a much more subtle, personal and intimate way to discover the country.

Our vision of low impact sustainable tourism is achieved primarily by keeping group numbers small. In small groups we are able to see and do things that are simply not practical with large numbers. We are thus able to contribute to the smaller community economies since we are able to utilise small accommodations, small local shops and eateries.

In addition, we are currently trying to draw attention to an important archaeological excavation, one that is racing against time to rescue the ancient city of Allianoi before it is submerged under the waters of Yortanli dam. The damn, currently in construction, has serious cultural and environmental consequences. Tourism could help save the site, since it would generate an alternative source of income, locals may realise the site’s cultural value over the dam.

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.