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. Sip on Turkish Coffee and learn about the traditionally female art of fortune-telling, which was 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.
- By travelling on this trip, you’ll learn about our Intrepid Foundation partner, CYDD (Çağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği). Donations help them provide scholarships and educational programs for economically disadvantaged youth in Turkey. Intrepid will double the impact by dollar-matching all post-trip donations made to The Intrepid Foundation.
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Max Group Size
Trip includes
- Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
- Istanbul - Historic Peninsula orientation walk
- Istanbul - Visit to Nahil Dukkan by KEDV Foundation
- Istanbul - Spice Market
- Istanbul - Bosphorus Cruise
- Istanbul - 5 o'clock Tea & coffee in a local home
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace & Harem Guided Tour
- 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 - Sultankoy Carpet Cooperation
- Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
- Selcuk - Hatice Lunch
- Selcuk - Ephesus Ancient City
- Sirince - Village visit and fruit wine tasting
- Sirince - Manti Cooking Class
- 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...
Today we'll head to Topkapi Palace & Harem and learn about The Sultanate of Women; a period when wives and mothers of the Sultans of the Ottoman Empire exerted extraordinary political influence. In suburban Istanbul to meet a local mother and daughter in their ho...
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 (5.5hrs) 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 ancien...
Drive to Selcuk (3hrs) and visit a local social enterprise; Sultanköy for a carpet weaving demonstration and learn about the art of traditional carpet weaving. Carpet weaving holds incredible history in Turkey and has been dated back to the early Neolithic age. Sultan...
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. This historic hammam, designed by the renowned architect Mimar Sinan, was completed in 1584 and carries an air of elegance and opulenc...
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 & more.
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.
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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.
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- No.11 Hotel & Apartments
- Balyoz sok no 11 Asmalı Mescit beyoglu
- Istanbul
- 34430
- TURKEY
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