In summary
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Sports
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Duration15 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationTürkiye / Cappadocia
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions1920 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
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Languages🇫🇷French
In a few words
Experience the best of Turkey in two weeks with enchanting Cappadocia, the wild Taurus Mountains, the laid-back lifestyle of the Lycian coast, and the ancient charm of Istanbul. A diverse journey for a complete discovery of this fantastic country and its incredibly welcoming people! We embark on a journey to another world in Cappadocia, in the tranquility of the arid plains of Central Anatolia. There, we enjoy beautiful walks among fairy chimneys and cave dwellings. We leave Cappadocia for the Taurus region and a three-day hike between the Emli camp and the Cimbar Gorge. We encounter nomads grazing their flocks in the valleys. Then, Antalya opens the doors to Lycia with its famous sites like Olympos, Cirali, and Dalyan, offering beautiful walks along the coast and beaches, with refreshing stops in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. Then, we end our journey through the meanders and bazaar of Istanbul on foot and by "vapor", those small popular boats crisscrossing the Bosphorus.
The highlights
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One of our most comprehensive trips to discover Turkey
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Discovering Istanbul at your own pace
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Hiking, swimming, exploring, boating in 3 of Turkey's most beautiful regions
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
In figures
Autre
- Average duration/day: 4h30
- Average daily elevation gain: 179 m
- Average daily descent: 149 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Languages spoken:
🇫🇷
French
Supervisor
Supervisor
Upon your arrival in Turkey, you will be greeted by your French-speaking guide. Your guide has been chosen for their extensive field experience, their specific knowledge of the geographical area and its associated culture, and their passion for sharing the country with you.
Program
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Kayseri
- Transportation 01h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Individual arrival at Kayseri International Airport. Transfer* on your own to Kayseri city center. Check-in at the hotel. Meet with your guide at the end of the day for a tour presentation and briefing. *Airport-hotel transfer included if you booked your flights with us.Day 1 -
KAYSERI - PINK VALLEY AND RED VALLEY
- Transportation 01h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Arrival in the early afternoon in the heart of Cappadocia. Hike to Gulludere and Kizilcukur, the legendary Rose and Red Valleys. This is the most beautiful collection of valleys in the region, their red hues illuminated by white streaks and punctuated by sulfurous patches, at the foot of the enormous Bozdag Plateau that overlooks central Cappadocia. Hundreds of meters thick, erosion has carved these more or less soft rocks into their folds, creating a succession of truly surreal landscapes that combine perfect detail with harmonious colors, gentle forms with the sheer scale of the terrain, contrasting the lush greens of the gardens with the superb pastel tones of the rock. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.Day 2 -
VALLEY OF THE DOGEON HOUSES - GUVERCINLIK
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
In the morning, we hike in the White Valley, where erosion has sculpted the volcanic tuff into such magical shapes. We then arrive at the village of Uçhisar and visit the fortress perched on a rocky promontory, dotted with cave dwellings. After lunch, we continue our exploration of this region in the Valley of the Pigeons. Indeed, from the 18th century onwards, many cave dwellings were converted into dovecotes. Today, it is still possible to see some with decorated facades. We then descend into the village of Göreme through the valley of the same name, which abounds with strange formations such as cones and penitents shaped like meringues. Upon arriving in Göreme, we encounter a cluster of gigantic fairy chimneys.Day 3 -
GOMEDE VALLEY - CEMIL VILLAGE
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Departure for the Zeminderesi Valley, dominated by high cliffs of soft rock, constantly sculpted by the flow of water, and dotted with numerous vineyards and apricot orchards. We gradually ascend to the plateau where a few dry-stone sheepfolds stand. We then arrive at the village of Ibrahimpasa, renowned for the warm welcome of its inhabitants and its houses with sculpted facades. We continue our walk through orchards and vineyards, from valley to valley, to reach the Gomede Valley. Short transfer to the village of Cemil. Overnight stay with a local family. This evening, our hosts will share the secrets of their delicious cuisine with us, and if we're so inclined, we can try our hand at cooking.Day 4 -
TAURUS MOUNTAINS - CIMBAR GORGE - SOKULLUPINAR CAMP
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Positive elevation gain 700 m
- Negative elevation 200 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We return to the Gomede Valley, which we left the previous day. Initially quite wide, it is then protected by high cliffs pierced with numerous openings: veritable apartment buildings for pigeons! It's truly magnificent. Then we depart for the Taurus Mountains, a stunning range that stretches across southern Turkey, along the coast to the Asian border. We arrive in the village of Cukurbag or Demirkazik and have lunch with a local family. We then enter the impressive Cimbar Gorge. We ascend this narrow canyon, with its steep and vertiginous walls, to our camp. Depending on the season, we may encounter nomads. Dinner and overnight stay in the camp (2,000m).Day 5 -
SOKULLUPINARS - EMLI CAMP VALLEY
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 438 m
- Negative elevation 638 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We gain altitude via a trail that climbs the slopes of Mount Karasay and leads to the Eznevit plateau at 2,438 meters. We then descend into the Emli Valley, through a coniferous forest crowned by the numerous peaks of the massif, towards our camp at Emli (1,800m). Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.Day 6 -
EMLI: ASCENT TO THE ALACA PLATEAU (2450m)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Positive elevation gain 650 m
- Negative elevation 650 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Early in the morning, we set off for the Alaca Plateau. We first cross the forest zone, composed of thuya, juniper, and fir trees. After a short break above the forest, we begin the long ascent of an increasingly rocky side valley, dominated by beautiful glacial creeks. We reach the plateau where we can sometimes see a nomadic camp (depending on the season). In summer, the semi-nomads of the region move up with their flocks of sheep to reach the cooler high-altitude pastures. After a walk offering splendid views of the massif's major peaks, we descend to a second shepherd's camp located on a flat clearing in the middle of a beautiful coniferous forest. Dinner and overnight stay at the previous night's camp.Day 7 -
Taurus - Konya
- Transportation 05h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning we leave the Taurus Mountains and head for Konya (a 5-hour drive) towards the coast. This city is one of the oldest in Turkey, having been the capital and major cultural center of the country during the Seljuk period in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was here, during this era of cultural, political, and religious development, that the mystic Mevlana Celalettin Ruli founded the Order of the Whirling Dervishes, those famous dancers who spin with one hand turned towards God and the other towards the Earth. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.Day 8 -
Lycia: Konya - Antalya - Ulupinar - Cirali
- Transportation 06h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
In the morning, we visit the Mevlana Mausoleum, which, with its vibrant green tiles, is the most famous in Konya. We then leave the former Seljuk capital for Antalya on the Lycian coast, a charming city with its shaded boulevards, its old quarter with winding alleyways, and old wooden houses. A short transfer takes us to the village of Ulupinar, from where we depart for the Mount Olympos pass to enjoy a splendid view before descending to the extraordinary site of the Chimera Flames. Mythology tells us that the fire-breathing monster Belleferon was buried here. Transfer to the seaside village of Cirali. Dinner and overnight stay at a guesthouse.Day 9 -
Lycia: Belbukcegiz - Minare
- Transportation 04h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we transfer to Belbulcegiz (a 3-hour drive) where our hike begins. A pleasant forest track gradually gives way to a trail offering magnificent views of the region's crystal-clear waters. After the pass, we reach the charming village of Bel, perched on the slopes of the Gavugaral hills. Here, we find a vehicle that takes us back to Dodurga, where our bus awaits to take us to Minare, a delightful little village near Pinara. Dinner and overnight stay with a local family.Day 10 -
Lycia: Minare - Kayakoy - Oludeniz Lagoon - Daylan
- Transportation 02h
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning, we visited Pinara. The ruins, scattered across three hills, have the advantage of being accessible only to hikers like us. After a two-hour stroll among the acropolis, the Hellenistic theater, and the temple dedicated to Aphrodite, we headed to Fethiye for lunch. This coastal town boasts turquoise waters, and from there we set off on foot to reach the Oludeniz Lagoon, where we met our bus for Daylan (a two-hour drive). Dinner and overnight stay at a guesthouse.Day 11 -
Lycia: Daylan - Caunus - Daylan Springs (boat)
- Activity Autre
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
A short transfer by small boat takes us to the shore facing the bay where the ruins of Caunus are located. We can see numerous tombs carved directly into the rock face, shaped like temples, overlooking the village of Daylan. Caunus was an important trading center in the 6th century thanks to its access to the sea. We visit its main monuments, which reveal the civilizations that succeeded one another there. We then take our small boat for a pleasant ride on the Daylan River to the hot springs where we enjoy a relaxing soak in the natural hot pools. Return to Daylan, dinner and overnight stay in a hotel.Day 12 -
Istanbul: Dalaman - Istanbul
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Transfer to the airport and flight to Istanbul (flight included in the trip price). Transfer to the heart of Sultanahmet and check-in at your hotel. Free time to explore the city. Meals at your own expense and overnight stay at the hotel.Day 13 -
Self-guided tour of Istanbul
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Continue the self-guided tour of the city and its exceptional sites: Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Grand Bazaar, the Galata district... Meals at your leisure and overnight stay in a hotel.Day 14 -
Istanbul (dispersion)
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Your stay ends after breakfast. Depending on your return flight schedule, you will have your own transfer* to the airport. *Hotel-airport transfer included if you booked your flights with us.Day 15
Note
Depending on weather and operational conditions, as well as summer temperatures, the guide reserves the right to modify this itinerary, the hikes, or the elevation changes for your safety and that of the group. Please note that it can get very hot in summer, especially in Cappadocia, which can make hiking more difficult.
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 14
- Hotels: they were selected primarily for their location, they are 3-star category and most often have a swimming pool.
- Overnight stay in a shared dormitory with a local family
- Overnight stay in a guesthouse, double room, basic comfort
- Overnight camping: three-person dome tents used for two people. The campsites are fixed; you don't have to pitch or take down the tents (showers available).
Access
Departure
Kayseri
Day 1
: 18h00
End of stay
Istanbul
Day 15
- 10h00
Hotel - airport transfer included if you booked your flights with us.
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Price details
The price includes
- Accommodation according to the standard double room program
- Camping equipment (two-person tents, mattresses and cooking utensils)
- Transfers by minibus according to the program
- Domestic flight Dalaman - Istanbul on Day 13 (please note, 15kg maximum hold baggage allowance)
- Meals according to the program
- Guided tours (except in Istanbul)
The price does not include
- International flights Paris / Kayseri and Istanbul / Paris
- Air taxes
- Drinks
- The 8 lunches and dinners indicated as being free in the itinerary, in Kayseri and Istanbul (allow 10-15€ per meal)
- Entrance fees to sites and museums: approximately €40
- Hot air balloon trip in Cappadocia: from €170 per person (price may vary depending on the season, up to €300), payable on site.
- Tips for the local staff (at your discretion)
Options
- Extra night before the stay in Kayseri - Single room : CHF76.00 / unit
- Extra night before your stay in Kayseri - Double room : CHF114.00 / unit
- Extra night after your stay in Istanbul - Double room : CHF114.00 / unit
- Additional night after your stay in Istanbul - Single room : CHF95.00 / unit
- Flight booking + airport transfer : CHF90.25 / person
- Sahiba Airport Transfer : CHF76.00 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Equipment
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Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
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For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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