Global Trips for Women, destination Turkey

Turkey

Turkey has long been a popular travel destination, and it is easy to see why: Turkish food is really tasty, the sun seems to shine all the time, the markets are full of exotic treasures, and there is more history than you can poke a stick at. On top of all that, the locals are warm and friendly and it has a fascinating culture! What more could you want?

The Venus Adventures trip to Turkey is a great mix of our usual three ingredients, culture, adventure and fun. We will visit the fascinating ancient cave-dwellings of Cappadocia, swim in warm coastal waters, sea kayak in Kas, visit ancient ruins, and the mosques and palaces of Istanbul, eat lots of great local food, plus much more in between. See you there!

Turkey Highlights

• Exploring the mosques, palaces, bazaars and other treasures of Old Istanbul.
• Visiting the Gallipoli battlefields, a moving experience.
• Ephesus, Troy, Bergama and more – lots of fascinating Roman ruins and history.
• Dining in the charming old Greek town of Sirince and sampling famous local fruit wines.
• Seeing Pamukkale and the famous white travertine terraces with their thermal waters – try a rejuvenating mudbath!
• Taking a relaxing boat cruise around the bays and islands of Fethiye.
• Kayaking over the sunken city of Kekova.
• Visiting the fascinating cave homes and underground cities in the fairylands of Capadoccia.
• Sampling delicious Turkish cuisine, Turkish coffee and tea.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1, Istanbul

Welcome to Istanbul, an enchanting city full of treasures to be discovered in every corner! You will be met at the airport and taken to the hotel to freshen up. The remainder of the day is free for you to stroll around and take in the exotic sights, sounds and smells, and maybe stop at a street café for a delicious Turkish coffee, a sweet pastry or some Turkish delight. We have dinner together in the evening to kick off the trip.

Meals - D

Day 2, Istanbul

Istanbul is a fascinating mix of East and West, set on the banks of the Bosphorous. Today is spent getting to know all the main sights of Istanbul, such as the Blue Mosque, St. Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Hippodrome. No trip to Istanbul is complete without a stop at the Grand Bazaar – slalom your way through the maze of intriguing shops and charming merchants! (…and see if you can get out of there without buying a rug).

Meals - B, L, D

Day 3, Istanbul to Gallipoli, Cannakale

We set off early for the Gallipoli Battle fields. The shores of Gallipoli are intensely significant to Australians and New Zealanders. This now serene yet moving site, located at Turkey’s most Westerly point, played a crucial role in 1915 for the allied forces. We spend time visiting the battlefields, memorial monuments and cemeteries before returning to our hotel in the afternoon. Tonight we stay in Eceabat.

Meals - B, L, D

Day 4, Eceabat to Bergama

Next stop: Bergama, with a stop in Troy on the way, a World Heritage Site with a romantic past! After visiting Troy we finish the day at the Bergama Acropolis, visiting the Roman ruins of various temples, palaces and theatres, as well as the Asklepion (an ancient medical centre). As we sit on the hilltop, overlooking Bergama from the amphitheatre, we try to imagine what life was like all those centuries ago…

Meals - B, L, D

Day 5, Bergama to Selcuk

Today we have a 3 hour drive to Selcuk, situated near the infamous and amazing ancient city of Ephesus, with its temples, library, agora, gates and baths. Over the centuries Turkey has been invaded by many different peoples and civilizations, which is what makes it so fascinating today. All the history is somewhat mind-boggling, so with what is left of the afternoon, you can stroll around Selcuk and take in some Turkish life.

Meals - B, L, D

Day 6, Selcuk

It's nice to have a little time out, so you can choose what you want to do: explore more of Aegean Turkey by visiting the interesting Selcuk Museum, or take a break at the beach. Late in the afternoon we visit the old Greek town of Sirince, well known for its delicious fruit wines and divine olive oil soaps. The cobbled streets of Sirence are filled with small shops offering wine tastings, soap, and jewellery, and lovely, old Turkish ladies selling crocheted doilies. Choose from one of the many inviting restaurants to have dinner in. We go back to Selcuk to spend the night.

Meals - B

Day 7, Selcuk to Pamukkale

Another of Turkey’s famous sights is Pamukkale, just 3 hours from Selcuk. The infamous white travertine terraces are backed by the ancient city of Hieropolis. We take a stroll around these amazing ruins to take in the history, stop for a swim at one of the warm thermal pools, and later on you have the option of wallowing in a mineral mud bath – bound to make your skin feel soft as a baby!

Meals - B, L, D

Day 8, Pamukkale to Fethiye

We head back out to the coast and to the seaside town of Fethiye. After checking in to our hotel the day is yours to spend how you like: the more adventurous members of the group may like to try a thrilling paragliding flight (optional), or possibly a relaxing hammam (Turkish bath), a little shopping, or perhaps a swim in the Mediterranean sea – or maybe all of the above!

Meals - B, L, D

Day 9, Fethiye

Being this close to the sea, a scenic boat cruise on the turquoise ocean is a must! This morning we are picked up from the hotel for our wonderful boat cruise. We take a relaxing cruise around the bays and islands, stopping for swims along the way. Definitely a relaxing way to spend the day.

Meals - B, L, D

Day 10, Fethiye to Kas

After breakfast we continue on our way to Kas, stopping on the way for a walk in the spectacular Saklikent Gorge, cut deep into the Akdaglar Mountains. We dine here on fresh trout for lunch on the banks of the Esen River. Before getting in to the town of Kas we also stop to visit one of the biggest ancient Lycian cities: Xanthos. French excavations have made this Roman city well worth seeing.

Meals - B, L, D

Day 11, Kas

Time for a little exercise to work off all that wonderful Turkish food we have been devouring: today we take an easy sea kayak trip out to the sunken city of Kekova. We paddle through clear blue waters over Kekova, which reveals its ruins beneath us. The trip ends around 4pm, so you have some free time before dinner to stroll around the charming alleyways, exploring the unique boutique shops of Kas. Choose from an array of mouth-watering restaurants to dine at tonight.

Meals - B, L

Day 12, Kas to Antalya

Our journey takes us to the bustling coastal city of Antalya today, stopping on the way to visit the church of St. Nicholas and the rock city in Myra, complete with fascinating rock-hewn Lycian tombs and a Greco-Roman theatre. Never a dull day in Turkey!

Meals - B, L, D

Day 13, Antalya to Göreme, Cappadocia

Today is a longish drive, but we will be well-rewarded at the end with the incredible sights of the region of Cappadocia. To break up the drive we stop at Manavgat waterfalls, and also visit one of the largest caravansarai in Anatolia, dating from the Selcuk empire. A caravanserai was, in medieval times, a fortress-hostel, and these were dotted along important trade routes to shelter merchants and protect them from the predatory instincts of bandits and wolves. We stay the night in Goreme, in the heart of the fantastical fairylands of Cappadocia.

Meals - B, L, D

Day 14, Göreme, Cappadocia

Welcome to Cappadocia, the magical, fairytale lands of Turkey! You will be amazed by the extraordinary geography of the Cappadocia area and the culture lying beneath. We will visit Göreme open air museum, Uchisar Castle, Dervent Valley and Pidgeon Valley. A local guide will fill our heads with all the fascinating history of the area. In the late afternoon we test our culinary skills with a cooking session to learn how to make some of that delicious food we have been feasting on for the past 2 weeks. Tonight you are free to eat where you like (if your own food wasn't enough!).

Meals - B, L

Day 15, Göreme, Cappadocia

To see all the incredible sights of Cappadocia a bit of walking is involved. Today we take a 4 km hike through the volcanic ash valleys of Rose Valley and Red Valley. After lunch we visit one of the biggest underground cities in Cappadocia, Kaymakli. to explore a section of this maze of tunnels. The tunnels have adequate ventilation and had enough room for supplies to hide its population almost indefinitely from marauding armies. Amazing!

Meals - B, L, D

Day 16, Göreme to Istanbul

Why not start the day with a magical sunrise balloon ride (optional) over the fairylands of Cappadoccia! We then say goodbye to this extraordinary place and fly back to Istanbul. You have the afternoon free to do any last minute shopping, indulge in your last Turkish coffee, buy a few boxes of Turkish delight to take home…before we go out for a final farewell meal together.

Meals - B, D

Day 17, Istanbul

Your wonderful trip to Turkey is over. Transfer to airport for flight home.

Meals - B

Next trip to be advised . . . . .

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