Eastern Turkey cultural tour

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION

Efforts to Reduce Flying: Recognizing the environmental impact of flights, the tour minimizes air travel to two key segments, which is the most practical due to the large distances involved. Flying from Istanbul to Cappadocia avoids a 9-hour road journey, while the flight from Gaziantep to Istanbul circumvents a drive of over 12 hours. These decisions ensure that the time saved can be used to immerse travellers in cultural and historical experiences rather than extensive transit.

Wherever possible, the tour relies on shared, air-conditioned minibuses and coaches for other travel segments, optimizing fuel efficiency and significantly reducing the carbon emissions per traveller compared to private transport. This approach balances practical travel needs with sustainability, ensuring a more environmentally conscious journey without compromising traveller comfort or the richness of the experience.

Vegan and Vegetarian Options: Vegetarian and vegan options are available daily throughout the tour. The destinations we visit offer diverse plant-based dishes, ensuring a variety of delicious and authentic choices. Vegetarian and vegan traveller can enjoy satisfying local cuisine, and we recommend informing us of your preferences before departure for special arrangements.

Local and Seasonal Food: Meals provided during the trip include traditional Turkish dishes, which are typically sourced locally and seasonally, supporting nearby producers and reducing food transport emissions.

Human-Powered Transport: Walking is an integral part of the tour, offering an authentic and immersive way to explore Cappadocia, Göbeklitepe, and the surrounding areas. In Cappadocia, walking through the Göreme Open Air Museum allows travellers to appreciate the intricate rock-cut churches and Byzantine frescoes up close. The surreal fairy chimneys and rock formations are best explored on foot, providing opportunities for spontaneous discovery.
In the Pigeon and Red Valleys, gentle hikes reveal hidden cave churches, stunning vistas, and unique ecosystems. These walks offer an intimate connection with the landscape and its natural beauty, with the Red Valley particularly vibrant during sunset.

At Göbeklitepe, walking through the archaeological site lets travellers appreciate the monumental T-shaped pillars and intricate carvings, providing a deeper understanding of early human civilisation. The human-powered transport approach, focusing on walking, encourages a slower, more reflective pace that allows travellers to fully engage with the rich history and landscapes of the region.

Customer Guidance on Carbon Reduction: We advise customers on how to reduce the carbon impact of their holiday, focusing on making mindful, sustainable travel choices. Here are some of the key ways we encourage travellers to reduce their environmental footprint:

Choosing Greener Flights: We recommend considering the CO2 emissions of airlines when selecting flights. Many airlines and flight search websites (such as Google Flights and Skyscanner) now provide this information, allowing travellers to make informed decisions and opt for more sustainable flight options.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Minimising Plastic Waste: We promote the use of reusable water bottles, particularly with systems like Water-to-Go, which filter water and reduce reliance on single-use plastic bottles. This helps decrease plastic waste in areas where tap water may be unsafe to drink.

Conserving Resources: We advise travellers to be mindful of energy and water usage, turning off lights, air conditioning, and fans when not in use, as well as limiting water waste. We also recommend removing unnecessary packaging from items before leaving home to help reduce waste.

Respecting Local Environment and Culture: We encourage travellers to avoid littering and to be mindful of local customs and traditions. Simple actions like learning a few local phrases and following local etiquette, especially in sacred or cultural sites, can contribute to a positive experience for both travellers and the local communities.

Bosphorus Cruise: An optional half-day Bosphorus cruise provides a scenic way to experience Istanbul. Although motorized, this boat trip offers a unique perspective of the city’s skyline and landmarks, gliding along the strait that separates Europe and Asia. The cruise is a group activity, which helps reduce individual environmental footprints compared to private motorized tours, allowing travellers to appreciate Istanbul’s geography and history in an efficient, sustainable way.

Local Guides and Support: We ensure that fully trained, local English-speaking guides lead all sightseeing tours. This approach supports the local economy and provides traveller with authentic insights into Turkey’s natural and cultural heritage. By using local guides and representatives, we help ensure that tourism revenue directly benefits the communities you visit, encouraging responsible tourism.

Entrance Fees to Protected Sites:The tour includes entrance fees to all listed tourist sites, many of which are located in or near protected areas such as Göbekli Tepe and Mount Nemrut, both UNESCO sites, contribute to the preservation and maintenance of these culturally and ecologically significant locations. These fees contribute to the maintenance and conservation of important natural and cultural landmarks, indirectly supporting efforts to preserve Turkey’s biodiversity and cultural heritage. The fees help fund site conservation and contribute to local nature recovery initiatives.

Sustainable Travel Practices: As part of our commitment to sustainability, we aim to minimize environmental impact by limiting group sizes to 20 people (with smaller groups during the pandemic). This reduces crowding and allows for a more intimate experience with nature, while also ensuring that resources are used efficiently and sustainably. We also encourage responsible travel practices, such as respecting local wildlife and reducing waste.

While the trip doesn't directly involve formal donations to nature recovery or rewilding projects, the overall approach supports sustainable tourism, contributes to environmental preservation through entrance fees, and promotes local engagement with conservation efforts.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY
Locally Owned Accommodations: This tour features a mix of accommodations, including both locally-owned properties and internationally recognized chains. Notably, several accommodations are locally owned, ensuring a more authentic experience while contributing to the local economy.

Gamirasu Cave Hotel:
A particularly notable locally owned accommodation, this unique cave hotel is located in Cappadocia and offers guests the opportunity to stay in rooms carved into the soft rock, providing a memorable experience that reflects the region's natural beauty and cultural heritage.

Kasr i Hayak Boutique:
Another locally owned property, this boutique hotel offers a charming, intimate atmosphere with personalized service, allowing traveller to connect more deeply with the local environment and community.

While international hotel chains like the Yasmak Sultan Hotel and White Star Hotel may be included, the focus remains on providing accommodations that showcase the local culture and support the region's economy. These properties are handpicked to ensure quality, comfort, and an authentic travel experience. Please note that the hotels and accommodations listed above are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time, we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level.

Local Economic Opportunities:We are dedicated to maximizing local economic opportunities and supporting the communities we visit by incorporating a variety of experiences that directly benefit local economies.

Local Guides:
We employ local English-speaking guides who are not only experts on the sites visited but also deeply knowledgeable about the culture, traditions, and history of their regions. This ensures that the local economy benefits from the employment of skilled guides and contributes to the authentic experiences that travellers enjoy.

Craft and Cooperative Markets:
We include visits to places like Avanos, known for its traditional pottery. Here, travellers can interact with local artisans and witness the creation of intricate ceramics. This helps support the livelihoods of these artisans while preserving traditional crafts.

Village Visits:
We encourage a deeper connection to local life by incorporating village visits into the itinerary. These visits allow travellers to experience local traditions and customs firsthand, providing an economic boost to small communities by supporting local businesses, artisans, and hospitality.

Cultural Performances:
Optional evening activities, like folklore performances, immerse travellers in Turkish culture while supporting local performers and entertainers. This vibrant experience not only enriches the trip but also helps sustain cultural traditions and the livelihood of those in the arts.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY, AND DIVERSITY

Local Employment:
In Turkey, the vast majority of people employed by us or our operating partners are from the country, reflecting our commitment to supporting the local economy and ensuring authentic experiences for our traveller. This includes fully trained, local English-speaking guides who lead all sightseeing tours and local representatives in each town and city who handle the practical arrangements of the tour.Where possible, we prioritize hiring from the local communities in the areas we visit, which helps to ensure that our operations directly benefit the people and regions we explore while also offering traveller deeper insights into Turkish culture and traditions.

Support for Marginalized Groups:
We strive to create income-generating opportunities for individuals who are often excluded or marginalized, fostering inclusivity within the communities we engage with. In Turkey, this includes hiring local guides, representatives, and service providers, with a particular focus on supporting women in tourism and local artisans. For example, during our visit to Avanos, we engage with local pottery artisans, many of whom are women, by visiting their workshops and supporting their craft through purchases. Additionally, we collaborate with local accommodations and services that aim to provide employment opportunities to individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring our tours have a positive and equitable impact on the communities we visit.

Fair Wages and Diversity:
All employees, including guides and hotel staff, are paid above the minimum wage. The tour also maintains an inclusive environment, being LGBTQ+ friendly and welcoming travellers from all backgrounds.