Discover Turkey

Discover Turkey Itinerary:

• Day 1

  Arrive in Istanbul by 11:00 am today and transfer on your own to our hotel in the Old Town.  Rendezvous with your guide and the other group members in the lobby of your hotel at 1:30 pm.  After introductions and a short orientation to your upcoming trip, we 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 on board one of the evening commuter boats on the Bosphoros, the narrow straight that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara and divides Istanbul into the east and west. Enjoy a welcome dinner – the first of many delicious meals featuring the aromatic Turkish cuisine.  Dinner included. 

• Day 2

  This morning we take a short flight to Cappadocia located in the dead 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. We take time today, after checking into our hotel, to walk to Uchisar Castle, an impressive rock formation long used 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, and explore the Goreme Open Air Museum with its excellent examples of Byzantine rural art. Hiking: 2-3 hours; rough terrain with lots of ups and downs.  All meals included.

• Day 3

  From our hotel we begin our hike to Goreme by way of the lovely Kodarak Valley and onto the Red Valley.  This is more of an amble through a gorgeous setting of mulberry, peach and walnut orchards, small vineyards and farmlands of sunflowers. We stop to enjoy a tasting of one of the local wines and to learn about its making. Turkey may not yet be famous for its wines but it certainly is renowned for its fine carpets. Turks started making knotted carpets in the 5^th century BC in Central Asia and they have been highly prestigious gifts among rich European people since medieval ages.  We visit one of the local carpet factories on our walk today.  Hiking: 3-4 hours, easy terrain. All meals included.

• Day 4

  Cappadocia has dozens of subterranean towns, but the most impressive are Kaymakli or 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 connect the two underground cities. Think “troglodyte” – up to 60,000 people lived here for weeks, 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 at a small village tavern on the river, we head back on a different track, visiting a 13^th century Caravansarai from the Seljuk period.  Hiking: 2 hours + easy walks.  All meals included.

• Day 5

  On route to a mountain village, we visit Konya renowned as the home of Rumi, the great Sufi poet of the 13^th century, as well as the home of the Whirling Dervises. Visit the Mevlana Museum. Continue to the remote mountain village of Urunlu via Beysehir Lake 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 conservative community rarely visited by western travelers. Villagers who have chosen to participate with us in this authentic cross-cultural encounter have recently added a few amenities (“few” being the operative word here).  Bedding is on the floor in one or two rooms shared by the whole group - it’s a very fun experience and a real slice of Turkish culture. All meals included.

• Day 6

  In the morning we enjoy a scenic drive over the Taurus Mountains 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 2^nd 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 the Termessos National Park where we enjoy a vigorous 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 of the finest ruins to be found, including a fascinating necropolis and mountain-top Roman theater.  We proceed then to the seaside village of Cirali for the evening where, at dusk we take a walk to see the Eternal Flame (definitely the best time to view the 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: 3-4 hours; Terrain: steep with roughly 3000’ 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.  Lovely views of Mt. Olympos.  End of the day – take a refreshing dip in some of the clearest water anywhere!  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. There’s 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 sleepy 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 Agalimani Cove in Fethiye Bay where we board a traditional wooden gulet for a relaxing morning of cruising and swimming.  In the afternoon we have the option hiking to Batik Hamam (Sunken Bath) Cove on the Keci Peninsula.  Through fragrant pine forests, the trail winds along the bluffs offering 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. Hiking: 2.5 hours, 6 miles. All meals included.

• 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".  We explore this expansive site at a leisurely pace so that you can truly take a step way back in time and soak up the atmosphere of Roman times. Visit the Archaeological Museum.  All meals included.

• Day 12

  This morning it’s an early flight back to Istanbul giving us time in the afternoon to visit a few more of this exotic city’s historical sites: Topkapi Palace (home to all the Ottoman sultans for nearly four centuries), Hagia Sophia Church (the most renowned Byzantine cathedral), Blue Mosque (built in the early 1600s and one of the most prominent features of Istanbul).  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.

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 are several nights when single accommodations are not available. 

All accommodations; 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 ($285 mandatory add-on); optional side trips; excess baggage charges; airport taxes; trip cancellation insurance; alcoholic beverages / soft drinks (bottled water provided); optional tips to the guides 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, except one hike (Day 7) with a gain of 3,000 feet.  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 within 21 days of your initial trip deposit, 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.

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