Turkey: Women's Expedition
Overview
Highlights
- Discover both the traditional and modern wonders of Turkey through the lives of the women who live here including your female leader, and female driver; Turkey’s first female ambulance driver and now proud founder of her own transport company.
- Meet a local mother and daughter in their home in Istanbul and try homemade borek. You’ll also learn about the traditionally female art of fortune-telling from coffee grounds, which is passed down between generations in Anatolian culture.
- Enjoy a traditional meal in a Cappadocian cave home, cooked by a local woman who is changing the face of tourism in Turkey.
- Wander through the Soganli Valley on a gentle hiking trip, taking in the arid surrounds and towering vistas, then learn how to make a popular Cappadocian souvenir, a ‘kitre.’ Local women have been making these dolls for many years now to earn a living.
- Stay in a female owned and operated hotel in Istanbul, and visit a social enterprise which supports the economic empowerment of low-income women through handicrafts.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Trip includes
- Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
- Istanbul - Historic Peninsula orientation walk
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace & Harem Guided Tour
- Istanbul - Spice Market
- Istanbul - Visit to Nahil Dukkan by KEDV Foundation
- Istanbul - Bosphorus Cruise
- Istanbul - 5 o'clock Tea & coffee in a local home
- Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
- Goreme - Cooking Class with Nuray
- Goreme - Orientation Walk
- Cappadocia - Soft Hike in Soganli Valley
- Cappadocia - Doll making with local woman
- Konya - Felt Making Atelier & artist visit
- Pamukkale - Lead Pouring by women
- Pamukkale - Hierapolis Ancient City & Travertines (Cotton Castle)
- Selcuk - Selcuk Manti Cooking Class
- Selcuk - Sultankoy Carpet Cooperation
- Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
- Selcuk - Ephesus Ancient City
- Selcuk - Hatice Lunch
- Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
- Adatepe - Ayvalik Copmadam (trashyteyze / Tara Hopkins)
- Adatepe - Orientation Walk in Ayvalık
- Adatepe - Village Tour & Alter of Zeus
- Assos - Temple of Athena
- Adatepe - Gozleme Demonstration and lunch
- Assos - Leader-led walking tour
- Istanbul - Turkish Hamam
Itinerary
Merhaba! Welcome to Turkey. This women’s only expedition kicks off in Istanbul, the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have previously all called home. Your welcome meeting commences at 1pm at your hotel, so make sure you...
This morning take a short walk to KEDV; a social enterprise founded in 2003 to support the economic empowerment of low-income women. KEDV’s goal was to establish a platform from which women throughout Turkey could sell their handicrafts, which would then help empower...
Transfer to airport this morning for a mid-morning flight to Kayseri, located in the Cappadocia region. From here you’ll take a one-hour drive to Goreme, the most recognisable part of Cappadocia. Goreme lies in a valley of cones, needles and columns, fashioned by natu...
If you don’t mind an early start, a hot air balloon ride over the majestic Cappadocian landscape is a highly recommended experience. Please advise your local leader in advance if you want to book it, as it needs to be arranged with one of the certified operators Intre...
After breakfast watch the Turkish countryside pass you by as your drive to Konya (3hrs). Traditional Turkish arts are at high risk of dying out. Like so many traditions, there's a lack of new artisans and even fewer felt makers. During this visit meet one of the rema...
Drive to Pamukkale (4hrs) where we step back in time and explore the wonders of Hierapolis, an ancient city nestled in Turkey's Pamukkale region. Immerse yourself in its rich history as you wander through captivating ruins, including an impressive theater and ancient ...
Drive to Selcuk (3hrs) and enjoy an orientation walk on arrival. Learn the art of Mantı a traditional Turkish dumpling from women in a local restaurant. Delve into the secrets of creating delicate dough and learn the intricate folding techniques that make Mantı a cul...
Visit the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus – one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical cities in the world. Once the capital city of Roman Asia Minor, the city has a fascinating history, which really comes alive with a local guide to enhance your experience....
Drive to the charming coastal town of Ayvalik (3hrs). Begin your orientation walk by strolling along the picturesque streets, admiring the colorful Ottoman houses and quaint cafes. Visit a project; "Cop (m)adam" (Garbage Lady) which transforms waste material into ve...
This morning we'll head to Assos; a picturesque coastal town steeped in ancient history and natural beauty. Its charming streets, lined with stone houses and quaint cafes, lead to the magnificent Temple of Athena and a breathtaking hilltop acropolis, offering stunning...
After breakfast we'll begin our journey back to Istanbul (5hrs with stops). You’ll finish your adventure with a women’s only hamam. Named after Hürrem Sultan, the influential wife of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, this historic bathhouse carries an air of elegance ...
With no activities planned for today, your epic Turkish adventure comes to an end after breakfast. However, if you wish to spend a few more days checking out the sights of Istanbul, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Want a tailor-made trip instead?
Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:
- You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
- Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Intrepid Travel Reviews & Ratings
Other Intrepid Travel Reviews
We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food…
We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information....
Central Asia Explorer
This was my third trip with Intrepid, and I'll continue to plan future trips with them. I choose Intrepid to travel to parts of the world where I don't feel comforta...
Do not book a tour with Intrepid
Do not book a tour with Intrepid. Their “policy” on deposits is unreasonable, inflexible and downright thieving. I booked a tour in India with them over seven month...
Tour Operator
The Intrepid Travel Experience
If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.
Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.
Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.
Why Intrepid?
- Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
- Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
- Local leaders - authentic perspectives
- Local transport - get close and personal
- Local accommodation - experience real living
- Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions
History
Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.
Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.
Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.
Values
On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:
- Integrity – Doing the right thing
- Responsible – Think global, act local
- Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
- Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
- Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
- Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer
Associations
About Travelstride
Find your perfect trip
Save time
Save money
Travel confidently
Logistics
Accommodation
Transportation & Flights
Transportation & flights
Become a member
- Save up to $700 per person
- Access members-only specials
- Personalize trip recommendations