Discover Turkey

Discover Turkey Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Our trip begins today in Istanbul,Turkey. We will rendezvous with our guide and other group members in the lobby of our Old Town hotel at 9 a.m.. Immediately following introductions and a short orientation we will head out into the bustle of Istanbul. A vibrant city of huge historic significance, Istanbul is often referred to as the bridge between Asia and Europe. Today it is a colorful montage of the modern and ancient woven together and is the cultural hub of Turkey. We take in the lay of the land as we explore some of Istanbul's most famous sites including Hagia Sophia Church (the most renowned Byzantine cathedral), Topkapi Palace (famous for its glittering treasury), and the Blue Mosque (built in the early 1600s and one of the most prominent features of Istanbul). This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner – the first of many delicious meals featuring the aromatic Turkish cuisine. Lunch and dinner included.

• Day 2

  This morning we take a short flight to Cappadocia located in the center of Turkey. This unusual landscape is a geological and historical wonder composed of extensive underground cities (churches, schools, frescos, homes, ventilation systems etc.) carved into eerily eroded volcanic tuff. After checking into our hotel, we walk to Uchisar Castle, an impressive rock formation long use by locals as a castle. It offers a superb panorama of the surrounding area. We continue to hike through the Love Valley, famous for its magical fairy chimneys as well as explore the Goreme Open Air Museum with its excellent examples of Byzantine rural art. We finish the day with a stop at a local carpet factory. Turks started making knotted carpets in the 5th century BC in Central Asia and they have been given as highly prestigious gifts since medieval ages. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 2-3 hours; rough terrain.

• Day 3

  We start our day with a hike through the picturesque Red Valley. With its high walls and narrow canyons, it may remind you of the American Southwest. Our hike passes ancient monasteries and churches as we make our way back towards Goreme. This area of Cappadocia is well known for its pottery, and this afternoon we may stop to visit a local studio to learn more about this ancient art. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 3-4 hours, rough, rocky terrain.

• Day 4

  Cappadocia has dozens of subterranean towns, but the most impressive are Kaymakli and Derinkuyu. These elaborate settlements are up to eight stories deep (only yet partially excavated) with a tangle of tunnels leading to churches, private living quarters, storage areas, deep water wells, carved chimneys for air shafts and even wine producing chambers. There is one tunnel nearly 6 miles long that connects the two underground cities. Up to 60,000 people lived here for months underground. The determination and motivation behind the creation of these subterranean fortresses is nearly inconceivable. Next, it's off to the beautiful stream-lined canyon of the Ilhara Valley for an afternoon of hiking. This narrow canyon is simply delightful with dozens of hidden, Byzantine churches, along with their original frescos, to explore along the way. After lunch in the valley at a small cafe situated on the banks of the river, we head back on a different track, perhaps stopping to visit a 13th century Caravansarai from the Seljuk period. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 3-4 hours + easy walks.

• Day 5

  Today is a day of cultural delights as we gradually make our way to the mountain village of Urunlu where we will spend the night as guests of a local Turkish family. Our first stop is the amazing Sultanham Caravanserai, a resting point for caravans along the silk and spice road. Be sure to visit the impressive camel stockade! Our next stop is Konya, renowned as the home of Rumi, the great Sufi poet of the 13th century, and the Whirling Dervises. We continue to the remote mountain village of Urunlu on seldom-used back roads. We spend the night with a family in the village, eating and sleeping in the local tradition. This is a tight-knit community rarely visited by western travelers. Our lodging is simple tonight with our group sharing five bedrooms and a single bathroom, but our hosts are gracious and excellent cooks to boot! It's a very fun experience and a real slice of Turkish culture. All meals included.

• Day 6

  In the morning we enjoy breakfast together before bidding our hosts goodbye. Our scenic drive over the Taurus Mountains brings us to the coastal city of Antalya. En-route we stop to see Aspendos Theatre, the best preserved Roman Theatre in the world. Antalya is situated south of the Mid-Taurus mountain range and is the Turkish citrus and cotton capital. The ancient heart of the city, clustered around the old harbor, is where Attalus II, the king of Pergamon, founded a port in 2nd century BC. This district, known as Kaleiçi (meaning 'within the fortress') now is a pretty cove, encircled by low cliffs, which serves as a haven for gullets and fishing boats. Spend the night in old Antalya in one of the boutique hotels. All meals included.

• Day 7

  This morning we depart for Termessos National Park where we enjoy a hike to the magnificent, ancient Pisidian site at the foot of Güllük Dağı. This is a wild and splendid landscape in a part of the country less visited by foreigners. Termessos is Turkey's "Machu Picchu" containing some fine ruins including a fascinating necropolis and mountain-top Roman theater. We eat a picnic lunch today surrounded by ruins or perhaps from the fire tower that affords sweeping views of the countryside below. We proceed this afternoon to the seaside village of Cirali where we will stay for the next two nights. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 3-4 hours; Terrain: steep with roughly 1,000' elevation gain.

• Day 8

  Today we enjoy a lovely hike to Olympos, a village with an incredibly beautiful crescent beach. Our walk follows a section of the Lycian Way – the ancient footpath running along the coast from Anatyla to Fethiye. Lycia is the historical name for the Teke Peninsula, the very fertile bump of land on Turkey's Mediterranean Coast. Walk through fields of poppies and chrysanthemum, orchards of pomegranates, goat pastures and stony graveyards while taking in lovely views of Mt. Olympos. Enjoy some free time this afternoon to take a refreshing dip in some of the clearest water anywhere. Dusk is the perfect time of day for a pre-dinner walk to see the Chimera flames. This is an inextinguishable series of flames that in ancient times were believed to be the breath of a monster and was the origin of the legend of Chimera. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 5 hours, roughly 8 miles.

• Day 9

  In the morning we drive to Ucagiz Lagoon for several hours of exploring the coast by sea kayak. Ucagiz is an excellent base to meander the Kekova Sound, the ancient Lycian settlements of Simena and Teimiussa, and the sunken city of Kekova Island. After lunch at a local cafe there is also the option of hiking one hour to swim over the sunken ruins of Aperlai where we can see the foundations of temples, harbor buildings, fragments of columns and lots of pottery under the water. Then it's off to the charming Mediterranean village of Kas for evening. All meals included.
  
  Sea Kayaking: 3-4 hours, boat supported; hiking: 1 hour.

• Day 10

  An hour drive takes us to Fethiye Harbor where we board a traditional wooden gullet-style boat for a relaxing morning of cruising and swimming. In the afternoon we have the option of hiking to Batik Hamam (Sunken Bath) Cove on the Keci Peninsula. The trail winds through fragrant pine forests and past ancient stone tombs along bluffs that afford spectacular views of the Mediterranean. Tonight is spent in Dalyan - a sleepy town surrounded by green mountains and a beautiful stretch of beach that is the breeding grounds of the loggerhead turtles. Don't miss the impressive Lycian rock tombs carved into the cliffs above the river. All meals included.
  
  Hiking: 2.5 hours, 6 miles on undulating terrain.

• Day 11

  Today we drive to Ephesus – the best preserved and most impressive classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean (for instance, the Temple of Artemis was four times the size of the Parthenon!). Ephesus was inhabited from the end of the Bronze Age onwards and enjoyed the status of the second largest city in the ancient world after Alexandria. The name of the city is thought to have been derived from "APASAS", meaning the "city of the Mother Goddess." After stopping at the Archeology Museum to learn more about the ongoing excavation of Ephesus, we explore this expansive site at a leisurely pace so that you can truly take a step into the past and soak up the atmosphere of Roman times. This evening we wind our way to a quaint mountain village that is home to abundant flowers, charming shops, and lovely views of the valley below. All meals included.

• Day 12

  Following a leisurely breakfast in our charming lodgings this morning we catch a noon flight back to Istanbul. We have some free time this afternoon to explore this fascinating city on our own before our evening cruise. We board one of the evening commuter boats on the Bosphorus, the narrow straight that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul into the east and west. Upon reaching our restaurant, we'll enjoy a celebratory farewell dinner and toast to a grand adventure. All meals included.

• Day 13

  Transfer to the airport on your own anytime today.  

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.  The final hiking selection is left up to the trip leader due to weather and trail conditions.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate.

If you are traveling alone and specifically request single accommodations, you will be asked to pay the full single supplement noted on the trip itinerary. If you wish to share accommodations, we will assign you a roommate if one is available. If a roommate cannot be found, you will be asked to pay a reduced single fee which is half of the full single supplement. Please be advised that there are a limited number of single rooms available on most departures; there is one night when single accommodations are not available.

All accommodations; all meals as noted in the daily itinerary; private transport throughout as outlined in itinerary; boat trips and sea kayaking; entrance fees to museums and archeological sites; bilingual certified leader throughout.

Airfare to Istanbul, Turkey; airport transfers upon arrival and departure; two internal flights (mandatory add-on, price subject to change); optional excursions, excess baggage charges; airport taxes; trip cancellation insurance; alcoholic beverages, soft drinks (bottled water provided); gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3] and will be enjoyed by anyone who is physically fit and likes to hike.  Prior hiking experience is recommended. The hikes vary from 2 to 8 miles with negligible elevation gains.  Walking, jogging, and hiking to condition are highly recommended.  Try to include some hill hikes as well.  We do several hours of sea-kayaking in a protected bay – no experience is needed.

Spring and autumn are the best months to travel in Turkey. Whereas June and July can be very hot, the spring and autumn months are still warm (70° - 80° average highs) but comfortable as well as being months with minimum rainfall (averaging between 1-2 inches per month).  The climate in general will be warmer on the coast and cooler in the north (Istanbul).

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering.  To obtain maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection.  This gear list has been created to help you choose equipment for the trip.  Try to bring only what is necessary - this will help you and the field staff. 

Weather

Spring and autumn are generally considered the best times to visit Turkey. Along the coast, daytime temperatures in May and June range up to 80°, with nights in the 60s. It is usually five to ten degrees warmer in September and October. Inland, it’s about 10 degrees cooler than the coast.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider