12 Days | Explore Turkey’s Mediterranean delights and surreal Cappadocia on an active tour
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Experience Turkey from a different perspective. Abandon well-worn routes to forge a path through unexplored terrain, deep in the historical heart of Turkey. Travel from the minarets of Istanbul city, visiting Turkey’s holiest sites, hiking through valleys for fairy chimneys, tackling the Lycian Way, cycling the streets of Kas and kayaking over sunken cities on the Turquoise Coast. Take up the challenge and be amazed by the diversity that's revealed on this active adventure.
Trip overview
![Map of Turkey: Hike, Bike & Kayak including Turkey](/v3/assets/blt0de87ff52d9c34a8/blt071dbf3495d02bbb/64f7680f56febb7c0989ba8f/erxt_2023_(1).gif?branch=prd&width=75&quality=35&blur=1&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
- Start
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Finish
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Theme
- Multi-active
- Destinations
- Turkey
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 12
- Trip code
- ERXT
- Get a taste of incredible Istanbul and its bustling backstreets with your local leader.
- Hike the valleys of Cappadocia and picnic among surreal fairy chimneys that dot the landscape.
- Visit Ephesus’s astounding Roman ruins, where the Greco-Roman world still feels very much alive.
- A kayak trip over a sunken city is the perfect way to experience the lush blue waters of the Mediterranean.
- Hike the famous Lycian Way with breathtaking views of the Turquoise Coast.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.
- Though you don’t need to be an athlete to take part in this trip, you do need to have a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy it fully. Most activities are moderate and slow paced. Hiking activities range from 3 km to 14 km in a day, and they can be uphill and in full sun. The cycling activity is 30 km and basic mountain biking skills are required. The kayaking is approximately 2.5 hours of paddling (12 km), with no previous experience required.
- Most travel is on public buses. The aim behind this is two-fold: to give you a taste of local life and to minimise the carbon footprint. In fact, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find most Turkish buses have wi-fi and serve coffee and cake!
- You will need to carry your own bags to and from hotels, bus stops and train stations. So it's a good idea to travel light if you can.
- There is a homestay on Day 8 in a local village. This cabin accommodation is comfortable and clean but basic with share bathroom facilities. There is a pool to cool off and the view of butterfly valley is breathtaking. This is an authentic local experience and a way to experience Turkish hospitality at its best.
- Where possible, we have tried to plan the hiking and cycling to mornings and afternoons, but please be aware it can get hot in the summer months.
- You will need to pack good hiking shoes, a hat, some sunscreen, and a daypack. Don’t forget a jacket and swimming gear.
Itinerary
Inclusions
10 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner
Private Bus, Public Bus, Overnight Train, Plane
Hotel (9 nights), Guesthouse (1 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
- Istanbul - Orientation Walk
- Cappadocia - Valley walk
- Cappadocia Red Valley Hike
- Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
- Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
- Lycian Way - Hike from Kayakoy to Oludeniz Beach
- Lycian Way - Ovacık to Faralya Guided Hike
- Kas - Leader led orientation walk
- Lycian Way - Kabak to Alinca Guided Hike
- Ancient Theatre of Antiphellos
- Kekova - Sunken City Kayaking
- Kaş- Limanagzi Guided Hike
- Kas – Cycling Tour
- Lycian Way - Delikkemer to Patara hike
- Delikkemer Roman aqueduct visit
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace Combined Ticket (Topkapi Palace + Hagia Irene + Harem) - TRY1500
- Istanbul - Turkish Hamam (inc. massage) - EUR100
- Istanbul - Archaeology Museum - EUR15
- Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
- Istanbul - Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts - EUR17
- Goreme - Wine & Sunset Tour Cappadocia - USD100
- Cappadocia - Hamam Turkish Bath - EUR60
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR210
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR240
- Selcuk - Basilica of St John - EUR6
- Selcuk - Ephesus Archaeological Museum - EUR10
- Ephesus - Terrace Houses entry - EUR15
- Fethiye - Fethiye Museum - Free
- Kas - Handicraft market - Free
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. This trip starts with a welcome meeting at 1 pm on Day 1 in Istanbul.
2. There are internal flights on this trip and most internal flights in Turkey have a luggage restriction of 15kg checked and 8kg cabin.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 (overnight train), Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest information on travelling in Turkey before your departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas of your itinerary. We have links to prominent government travel advisories and regular updates on issues affecting this trip on our Travel Alerts page: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts
5. Due to climate change and hotter summers in Turkey, bushfires have become a challenge on the Lycian Way. Your safety is our priority, your itinerary will be amended if any of the areas visited are affected.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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