| Turkey Walk details |
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Departures 2008 :
September 24 | Duration: 11 Days/10 Nights
Departing from: Istanbul, independent arrival at hotel, Day 1
Finishes in: Istanbul airport, mid-afternoon, Day 11 Price: €3,400 based on double occupancy. Single supplement: €450. |  |
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Santa Sophia, Istanbul
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Turkish lessons over baklava & coffee
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Exotic cargo at the
Egyptian Spice Market
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Fabulous food & cold beer
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Luxury in the harem,
Topkapi Palace
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Your own private yacht!
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Delicious breakfast at sea
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Ancient Lycian rock-cut tombs
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Swim in the "Turquoise Coast"!
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Find your inner Lycian...
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Your guides take their jobs
very seriously
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Turkey Walk |
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Turkey Walk Itinerary
Preview - Turkey is a must for those who love to travel and discover new lands and cultures. This trip features three days in amazing Istanbul before a short flight to the Mediterranean coast to board our 90-foot all-wood yacht. The yacht serves as our hotel and our transport to access wonderful walks along the coast. We walk and cruise the Turkish coast for a week, and anchor in secluded bays at night. The sea is a gorgeous turquoise, backed by a majestic landscape of soaring mountains and Mediterranean pine forests. Our walking paths are often only accessible by sea, so there is a real sense of exploration as we follow ancient paths to deserted Greek, Roman, and Byzantine ruins. This really is a unique trip, a wonderful combination of stimulating discovery and indulgent relaxation.
Istanbul - One of the world's most fascinating cities, with the Blue Mosque, the Aya Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the Bosphorus. There is so much to see and do here that two full days is only enough to scratch the surface. We will have a guided visit of Istanbul both to optimize our time and to better understand the thousands of years of history that Istanbul has known. However, there will also be free time for you to explore on your own.
Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul, independent check-in at the hotel. We will be staying in the Sultanahmet district, one of Istanbul's oldest and most fascinating areas. Our first night's dinner is on a rooftop terrace with spectacular views onto the Blue Mosque and the Aya Sophia. Hotel and dinner included.
Day 2: Guided visit of the Topkapi Palace, imperial residence of the Ottoman Sultans. We have lunch overlooking the Bosphorus and then walk to the Egyptian Spice Market and Grand Bazaar. Free time in the afternoon to explore on your own or enjoy tea and baklava in a leafy garden. Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 3: This morning we have a guided visit of the spectacular Aya Sophia, erected 1,500 years ago by Emperor Justinian and once the largest church in the world. Then we descend beneath Istanbul to the vast cisterns that enabled Constantinople to withstand numerous sieges. After lunch we visit the "Little Ayasofia," precursor to the great Saint Sophia and the oldest church in Istanbul. Then head over to a 400 year old Turkish bath to wash your cares away! Hotel, breakfast and dinner included.
Day 4 - Morning transfer to Istanbul airport for our flight to Dalaman, on the Mediterranean coast. Short van transfer to Gocek where we board our yacht. We get ourselves stored away and then cruise out to a secluded bay for lunch and a swim. After lunch we take a hike along the Lydae peninsula past Roman ruins and down to the sea to meet the yacht. Cruise to a secluded bay, anchor, and dinner. Lunch and dinner on board.
Day 5 - We leave around 8:00 this morning and "motor" in to the town of Fethiye for a short van transfer to our trailhead. We start out on an ancient Lycian road, hiking on the 2,000 year old paving stones! We wind our way through a lush pine forest to the farming village of Kaya, where we stop for a special lunch prepared for us by friends. After lunch, explore the eerie remains of the Greek town of Kayaköy, deserted in 1923 when many of the town's inhabitants were forcibly "repatriated" to Greece. At the end of the day we will moor near Gemiler island. You can explore the island's Byzantine ruins before sundown. Dinner on board.
Day 6 - After a morning swim and breakfast, we motor to Ölü Deniz, one of the Mediterranean's most beautiful bays. From here we will take a van up to the village of Kirme and begin our walk. We stop on the way for tea in Faralya, with great views over Butterfly Bay, then continue along terraced olive groves and through pine forests to reach Kabak Bay, where we have lunch at a small restaurant overlooking the sea and our yacht in the bay below. Boat moored near Gemiler island. Dinner on board.
Day 7 - Today we make a virtue out of necessity and go inland to get a glimpse of rural life and to explore the ruins of ancient Lycia. Our one-hour transfer along a beautiful backroad takes us to Pinara, a Lycian city whose acropolis is perched high on a rocky promontory. The surrounding rock walls are honey-combed with carved rock tombs from the ancient necropolis. After our visit of Pinara we will walk down to the village, passing the ancient Greek theater as we go. We have lunch in a small restaurant nearby, or else picnic beneath a shady tree. After lunch we continue on to Kalkan, where the boat will pick us up and take us out to the secluded bay of Finaz Liman. Dinner on board.
Day 8 - A morning walk takes us up to an extraordinary Roman aqueduct. Beautiful sea views abound as we walk to the next bay to meet up with the boat. Time for a swim and then lunch. We will then cruise to Kas, a bustling fishing village full of lovely cafés and tea houses and of course carpet shops. You will have the afternoon and evening to explore Kas's many shops. If you like, I can ask my favorite carpet guy to give us an interesting lecture about Turkish carpets, not just the different styles but also the cultural importance and significance of the weaving tradition in different parts of Turkey. Tonight we will be docked in or near Kas Harbor and have a "free night" dinner on shore, so you can eat wherever you like. Lunch on board. Dinner not included.
Day 9 - After a leisurely morning we sail out to Aperlae, where you can swim above the sunken remains of the ancient Greek port. We will have time to explore the ruins and then have lunch. After lunch we will carry on to the fishing village of Üçagiz for a short afternoon walk through the evocative, rustic countryside, passing by massive Lycian sarcophagi as we go. Lunch and dinner on board.
Day 10 - We have a short cruise this morning to the trailhead, then we begin our walk to the forgotten ruins of Istlada, which have been practically untouched over the centuries. Shards of 2,000-year-old pottery still dot the pathways between the ruined temples and houses. The walk then goes into Kapalki, an isolated and rural village whose lifestyle has not changed much in hundreds of years. From the village we take an ancient track down to the sea where we meet the boat for a swim and then lunch. After lunch we motor over to the village of Kale and disembark for a visit of the ruins of a beautiful Genoese castle, a mute testament to the region's warring Crusader past. Overnight on board at Kapalki Liman. Lunch and dinner on board.
Day 11 - We have a relaxing morning to pack and have a swim before transferring back to Göçek and on to Dalaman for our flight back to Istanbul. The trip officially concludes with our arrival in Istanbul later this afternoon or evening. For those with early flights the next morning, we suggest you stay at the new and modern hotel at the airport. Those wishing to extend their stay in Istanbul can head back into town and try out one of the city's many interesting hotels. We can give you suggestions and help you with the details if you wish.
The Boat - There is no better way to travel along this beautiful coast than by one of the many luxurious "gulets" available for charter. A "gulet" is an all-wood two-masted sailing ketch. These yachts are very broad beamed for extra stability and deck space, and the boats we use range from 26 to 34 meters in length, or 84 to 105 feet. All cabins have an en suite bathroom and shower.
The boat allows us to get to parts of the coast that are only accessible by sea. Using a boat means we can unpack for a week and yet our floating hotel has a different view every day! Furthermore, it means that some members of the group can choose to relax on the yacht, enjoy a swim, try sea kayaking, or just lie around on one of the sun beds or in the shade of an awning while the others walk. The crew of four are very friendly and available to serve you drinks and snacks. The crew cleans your cabin daily, and sheets and towels are changed every three days. All of the sea travel is done during the day, so nights are generally serene (no seasickness!).
The Walking: we take paths that are cleared from frequent use by shepherds and local farmers. The terrain is often rocky (hiking shoes are a must), and we do some climbs. We walk anywhere from 2-5 hours a day, with options to extend or shorten the walk. Of course, the boat allows us the option of really relaxing and watching the beautiful coastline unfold as you lie on deck with a good book. The choice is yours.
Food on board: The food is a highlight, with an emphasis on fresh, simple Turkish fare with a few pastas thrown in for good measure. Turkish "Efes" beer is excellent, especially nice and cold on a sunny deck. They have some decent wine, but I suggest you do what we did and bring four bottles of good wine per person with you when you arrive in Turkey! All of the crew members that I have encountered were very attentive and took pride in giving good service.
General Information
| Note on Itinerary: Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
Trip Cost Includes: ten nights accommodations (3 nights in Istanbul, 7 nights on private yacht); 10 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 9 dinners; 2 days guided visit of Istanbul, including entrance to Topkapi palace and Aya Sophia; at least one Customwalks guide; passage aboard a luxury yacht (all cabins with en suite toilets, showers, and air-conditioning, crew of four); van transfer from Istanbul to Istanbul airport, pick up at Dalaman airport and transfer to Gocek; transfer to Dalaman airport for the flight back to Istanbul; and round-trip airfare from Istanbul to Dalaman in economy class.
Not Included: Round-trip airfare to Istanbul from your home country; airport/hotel transfers not mentioned in the itinerary; one dinner in Kas; travel insurance; gratuities; beverages other than water at dinner; and items of a personal nature.
Reservations and payment: In order to reserve a space on the trip, a non-refundable deposit of €500 is required. Please contact us at info@customwalks.com or go to the Reservations page on our website for more information. We will send you a trip agreement that outlines the terms and conditions of payment and cancellation.
Trip Cancellation Insurance: Should you have to cancel your trip because of illness, injury or death to you or a family member, Trip-Cancellation insurance protects most of your deposits and payment for both air and land cost. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip-Cancellation Insurance. If you wish, you can purchase this through Customwalks, Inc. when you book your trip. Contact us for more details.
Qualifications: This trip is rated moderate to easy. Some prior hiking experience is beneficial but anyone in good physical condition will have no problems with the walks. We will regularly be walking between 10-14 km a day (6-8 miles), which translates into about 3-4 hours of walking a day, more or less equally divided between morning and afternoon. This may sound like a lot, but there are lots of opportunities for breaks to take pictures or simply stop and admire the view. However, a regular conditioning program consisting of walking/running and a daily stretching regimen is recommended, beginning at least 2 months prior to departure. This will get you in shape and ensure that you are able to enjoy fully all that this wonderful trip has to offer.
Luggage transfers: One of the beauties of this trip is that you unpack for a week, and yet the view from your room changes every day! While we walk, the boat moves along the coast and we often have lunch on board and then embark on another walk. At any point you can choose not to walk and just relax on board, have a swim, or practice your Turkish with the cabin crew!
Weather: Late September to early October is an ideal time to travel to Turkey. The days are still warm-to-hot, while the evenings are still warm enough to eat on deck. The sea is a perfect temperature for swimming. Some rainfall is possible on any of the departures, requiring participants to arrive equipped with appropriate raingear.
Getting there (this will redirect you to our "Getting to the Trip" page)
General Information: This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the CustomWalks, Inc. reservation information and trip agreement. Please read this information carefully and e-mail us (or use the "Contact Us" page) if you have any questions. We highly recommend the purchase of Trip Insurance which you can do through CustomWalks, Inc. or by clicking on the logo below (another window will open up on your screen).
We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited. Send us an e-mail or fax to reserve your trip. Full trip details including detailed pre-departure information, train timetables, and a gear list are sent upon receipt of deposit.
Come join us! |
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