12 Days | Discover the many marvels of Turkey on a women-only expedition
Turkey is often cited as the ultimate convergence of east and west – traditional spice bazaars and ornately adorned mosques thrown together with bustling cosmopolitan cities. On this women-only expedition, you’ll discover both the traditional and modern wonders of Turkey through the lives of the women who live here. Meet the women changing the face of the tourism industry through food, learn about the tradition of Turkish coffee fortune-telling and even visit a women’s-only Turkish hammam. You’ll meet many extraordinary local women and experience what life is like through their eyes.
Trip overview
- Start
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Finish
- Istanbul, Turkey
- Theme
- Women's Expeditions
- 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
- ERSF
- Discover both the traditional and modern wonders of Turkey through the lives of local women, including your female leader and driver – Turkey’s first female ambulance driver and now a proud founder of her own transport company.
- Meet a local mother and daughter in their home in Istanbul to try their 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 home-cooked meal in the small town of Avanos with a local woman who’s working to provide for her family, after they had to move from Hatay (a UNESCO World City of Gastronomy) after the 2023 earthquakes.
- 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.
- It can get hot in Turkey from May to October and some of the more traditional hotels will not have air-conditioning. Evening temperatures are usually very pleasant and an open window with a breeze should do the trick.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2024
Inclusions
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 1 dinner
Private Vehicle, Plane
Guesthouse (5 nights), Hotel (6 nights)
- Istanbul - Grand Bazaar
- Istanbul - Historic Peninsula orientation walk
- Istanbul - Visit to Nahil Dukkan by KEDV Foundation
- Istanbul - Spice Market
- Istanbul - 5 o'clock Tea & coffee in a local home
- Istanbul - Topkapi Palace & Harem Guided Tour
- Cappadocia - Goreme Open Air Museum
- Goreme - Orientation Walk
- Goreme - Cooking Class with Oznur
- Cappadocia - Soft Hike in Soganli Valley
- Cappadocia - Doll making with local woman
- Konya - Felt Making Atelier & artist visit
- 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
- Ayvalik - Copmadam (trashyteyze / Tara Hopkins)
- Ayvalik - Leader-led Orientation Walk
- Assos - Temple of Athena
- Assos - Leader-led walking tour
- Adatepe - Village Tour & Alter of Zeus
- Istanbul - Turkish Hamam
- Istanbul - Hagia Sophia - EUR25
- Cappadocia - Kaymakli Underground City - EUR13
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Regular Flight - EUR275
- Cappadocia - Hot Air Balloon Deluxe Flight - EUR325
- Goreme - Whirling dervish performance - EUR30
- Konya - Visit to Mousaleum of Rumi - Free
- Pamukkale - Cleopatra Ancient Pool - TRY340
- Selcuk - Meryemana (Mary's House) - EUR15
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 1, 2 & 11 and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. This trip includes one internal flight. Checked in luggage is restricted to 15kg checked-in and 8kg for hand luggage. It is possible to store a small piece of luggage at the starting and ending point guesthouse in Istanbul.
3. This trip starts with a Welcome meeting at 1pm on Day 1. Please ensure you arrive in time to join this important meeting.
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