Day 01: ISTANBUL

• Arrive in Istanbul and attend the welcome meeting at 01:00 p.m., where you’ll meet your leader and fellow travellers on this women-only journey.

• Visit KEDV, a social enterprise supporting the economic empowerment of low-income women, and browse locally produced handicrafts at Nahil Dukkan.

• Highlight: Begin the journey with an experience centred on local women, social enterprise and traditional Turkish craftsmanship.

• Continue to Istanbul’s historic Old Town for a leader-led orientation walk through Hippodrome Square.

• Explore the famous Grand Bazaar, filled with colourful textiles, ceramics, spices, jewellery and traditional goods.

• Optional Activity: Visit Hagia Sophia for EUR 25.

• Accommodation: Hotel

Day 02: ISTANBUL

• Visit Topkapi Palace and Harem on a guided tour and learn about the Sultanate of Women and the political influence wielded by Ottoman royal women.

• Meet a local mother and daughter in their home and enjoy homemade borek and Turkish coffee.

• Highlight: Discover the traditionally female practice of Turkish coffee fortune-telling, passed through generations of Anatolian culture.

• Explore the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Market, and meet a local spice merchant to learn about Turkish spice blends.

• Visit a traditional Turkish Delight merchant before enjoying the remainder of the evening at leisure.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 03: CAPPADOCIA, KAYSERI, GOREME, AVANOS

• Take an included mid-morning flight to Kayseri, then continue by road into the extraordinary landscapes of Cappadocia.

• Arrive in Goreme and join your leader for an orientation walk among the region’s caves, rock formations and fairy chimneys.

• Visit the UNESCO-listed Goreme Open Air Museum, home to ancient rock-cut churches and monasteries.

• Highlight: Experience Cappadocia’s distinctive landscape before sharing an intimate home-cooked dinner with a local woman.

• Continue to Avanos, where a local family originally from Hatay prepares a traditional meal and shares culinary traditions from the region.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast and dinner.

Day 04: CAPPADOCIA

• Explore Pigeon Valley before continuing on an easy hike through the striking landscapes of Soganli Valley.

• Take part in a traditional kitre doll-making experience with a local woman, using Anatolian-patterned fabrics.

• Highlight: Combine Cappadocia’s natural landscapes with a craft traditionally used by local women to generate an income.

• Optional Activity: Kaymakli Underground City – EUR 13.

• Optional Activity: Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon – EUR 200 regular flight or EUR 230 deluxe flight.

• Optional Activity: Whirling Dervish Performance in Goreme – EUR 30.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast.
  Hiking distance: Approximately 3 km.

Day 05: KONYA

• Travel through the Turkish countryside to Konya, a city closely associated with Turkey’s spiritual and artistic traditions.

• Meet a traditional felt-making artist and learn about the history of this endangered Turkish craft.

• Highlight: Gain insight into an art form at risk of disappearing as fewer artisans continue the traditional felt-making practice.

• Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore Konya independently.

• Optional Activity: Visit the Mausoleum of Rumi free of charge.

• The Konya Tropical Butterfly Garden may also be explored independently during your free time.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast.

Day 06: PAMUKKALE, HIERAPOLIS

• Travel to UNESCO-listed Pamukkale and explore the ancient city of Hierapolis.

• Discover historic ruins including the impressive ancient theatre and remains of Roman baths.

• Continue to Pamukkale’s famous travertine terraces, formed by bright calcium carbonate deposits.

• Highlight: Experience the brilliant white landscape known as the Cotton Castle, one of Turkey’s most distinctive natural attractions.

• The remainder of the afternoon is free to relax or explore independently.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast.

Day 07: SELCUK

• Travel towards Selcuk, stopping at Sultankoy for a traditional Turkish carpet-weaving demonstration.

• Learn how the social enterprise provides employment opportunities for local women while preserving centuries-old weaving traditions.

• Enjoy an included lunch at a restaurant run by a local woman who built her business from preparing gozleme and now employs other women.

• Highlight: Experience women-led initiatives that combine traditional Turkish craftsmanship, local cuisine and economic empowerment.

• Arrive in Selcuk and join your leader for an orientation walk through the town.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 08: EPHESUS, SIRINCE, SELCUK

• Visit the ancient city of Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved Greco-Roman archaeological sites.

• Explore its historic structures, including the theatre and the celebrated ancient library.

• Continue to Sirince, a traditional Greek-Ottoman village surrounded by orchards and distinctive hillside architecture.

• Enjoy a tasting of locally produced fruit wines, including regional flavours such as kiwi, pear, peach and quince.

• Highlight: Join local women for a hands-on manti cooking class, learning how to prepare and fold traditional Turkish dumplings.

• Optional Activity: Visit Meryemana – Mary’s House for EUR 22.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 09: AYVALIK

• Travel to the coastal town of Ayvalik and join your leader for an orientation walk through its historic streets.

• Admire colourful Ottoman houses, traditional stone buildings and local cafés as you explore the town.

• Visit the Cop Madam project, which transforms discarded materials into reusable handbags.

• Highlight: Learn how this women-focused social enterprise combines environmental awareness with sustainable income opportunities for local women.

• Enjoy the remainder of the afternoon exploring Ayvalik independently.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast.

Day 10: ASSOS, ADATEPE, AYVALIK

• Travel to Assos, a historic coastal town characterised by stone houses, cafés and ancient archaeological sites.

• Visit the Temple of Athena and explore Assos on a leader-led walking tour.

• Watch local women prepare traditional gozleme, then sit down together for an included lunch.

• Continue to Adatepe, a traditional Greek-Turkish village in the foothills of the Ida Mountains.

• Highlight: Visit the Altar of Zeus archaeological site and discover the heritage and landscapes of Turkey’s Aegean region.

• Return to Ayvalik for the evening.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast and lunch.
  Important: The Altar of Zeus may close during periods of wildfire risk; local information will determine access.

Day 11: ISTANBUL

• Travel back to Istanbul before concluding the journey with an included women-only Turkish hammam experience.

• Visit a historic hammam designed by renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan in 1584.

• Learn how hammams developed into important spaces for women to socialise, gather and participate in traditional bathing rituals.

• Highlight: Experience a centuries-old women-only hammam tradition rooted in Ottoman history and local social culture.

• The evening is free, with the option to enjoy a final dinner with your fellow travellers at your own expense.

• Accommodation: Hotel
  Meals: Breakfast.

Day 12: ISTANBUL

• Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before the organised journey comes to an end, with no further scheduled activities today.

• Highlight: Extend your time in Istanbul independently to discover more of the city’s historic, cultural and culinary attractions.

• Additional accommodation may be arranged separately for travellers wishing to remain in Istanbul.

• Meals: Breakfast.

IMPORTANT TRIP INFORMATION

• Group Size: 1 to 12 travellers.

• Minimum Age: 15 years old.

• Physical Rating: 2 out of 5.

• Transport: Private vehicle and plane.

• One domestic flight is included, with checked luggage restricted to 15 kg and hand luggage restricted to 8 kg.

• A small piece of luggage may be stored at the Istanbul starting and ending point.

• A single supplement is available for travellers who prefer not to share a room, subject to availability.

• Arrival airport transfer is not included automatically and may be pre-booked separately.

• No triple, adjoining, connecting or family-room configuration is guaranteed

• The Cappadocia hot-air balloon experience is optional and can only be arranged locally through the trip leader.

• Hot-air balloon departure times are subject to local regulations, while the stated price may change between seasons.

• Access to the Altar of Zeus can be affected by wildfire-related closures.

• Travel Insurance: Compulsory for international travellers, with at least medical expenses and emergency repatriation cover required; specific waiver provisions apply to travellers residing in the EU, Switzerland or USA.