Walking and Sailing holiday from Istanbul to Antalya, Turkey
Our walk begins in Istanbul, the only city in the world, which embraces two continents, one arm reaching out into Asia, the other into Europe.
The museums, churches, palaces, mosques, bazaars and the sight of natural beauty seem inexhaustible. As you recline on the shores of the Bosporus at sunset contemplating the red evening light reflected in the windows and on the slender minarets on the opposite shore, you understand why so many centuries ago settlers chose to build on this remarkable site.
We leave the city along the shoreline of the Marmara Sea and visit Gallipoli. From here we continue south and visit ancient Troy, a 5,000 years old legend, the archaeological ruins of Ephesus and the rock pools of Pamukkale.
The shores along the Aegean region are among the loveliest landscapes in the country. The magnificent coastline, lapped by the clear water of the Aegean Sea, is abundant with vast and pristine beaches, surrounded by olive groves, rocky crags and pinewoods.
We trek in the most beautiful coastal area of the Turkish Mediterranean. Known in the past as Lycia, this fabled coast of clear turquoise blue water is rich with archaeological sites. Fragrant pine forests tumble down a slope to end abruptly in red cliff secret coves and sandy beaches. We visit splendid Greco - Roman ruins of the Lycian period: Caunos, Letoon, Pinara and Xanthos before we join our splendid gulet for seven days of sailing along this magnificent stretch of coastline.
Highlights
Begin your tour in one the world's most vibrant and colourful cities - Istanbul
Travel the Gallipoli Peninsula with an opportunity to visit the famous battlefields
Visit historic Ephesus, Troy and Aphrodisias
Discover the ancient ruins of the Greco-Roman period and the Lycians
Experience the natural wonders of the Pamukkale frozen waterfall
Stay in boutique style and Spa hotels
Dine in authentic restaurants showcasing the delicious Turkish cuisine
Sail for 7 days along the Turkish emerald coastline in our own private and luxurious gulet - sleeping and eating in style onboard.
Featured hotel
Vinifera Vineyards Hotel »Selçuk, Turkey Set among the vineyards, this winery hotel features a unique stone-built structure constructed by an Austrian architect.
Walking Tour Combination
Departure dates have been arranged to allow the "A Mediterranean Odyssey" and "A Taste of Europe" walks to be combined.
An excellent itinerary and interesting hotels. Fatih grew in stature as a guide during the tour and was excellent company along with our accomplished driver. Turkey is an interesting country to visit and walk in. There was no sense of security threat and I venture to suggest that going to Brazil would be a lot riskier." Jeff from Sydney, NSW, Australia [2016]
What a great trip! It was loaded with history and beautiful scenery. A great start was the afternoon at Gallipoli, in particular setting the context of Australians in Turkey with the moving quote from Attaturk. Our wonderful guide Fatih took us to wonderful places of ancient, Greek and Roman history as well as places of 20th century significance. The walks were beautiful and the food and accommodation was extremely good. Fatih and our driver Ozkan made the trip particularly special. Fatih's commentary on Turkish history, current affairs and each locality were terrific. Meeting Fatih's family was a bonus, and typical of Turkish hospitality and generosity. Highly recommended!" Julie from Wollongong, NSW, Australia [2016]
The warmth and friendliness of the Turkish people everywhere made this such a memorable walk. Knowledgeable guides, cooks providing hands on help, head-scarfed farmer's wives scurrying across the fields to sell us their handicrafts, gifts of home-made marmalade and even the iman's ever present calls to prayer were all welcomed as part of the enriching blend of rural Antolian culture. Dramatic olive covered rocky crags, intensively farmed fertile valleys, turquoise coloured seas with marble ruins everywhere, show how long these parts of Turkey have been settled by wealthy civilizations that have shaped both European and Western Asian history." Euan, Adelaide, SA, Australia [2014]
A Mediterranean Odyssey 
