Active Turkey

Our base for a week of adventure is Kas, a picturesque port town on the Turkish Riviera. With whitewashed buildings and a backdrop of green hills meeting the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean Sea, it's the perfect spot to unwind.



There are no activities today, so you\ re free to arrive at any time. Our tour leader will meet you in the hotel reception on the morning of day two for a welcome meeting - information for this and everything else that you will need for the day will be left at the front desk. If you\ d like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Dalaman International Airport (DLM), a three-hour drive from our hotel.



If you arrive earlier in the day, you might like to take a stroll around the town or enjoy a meal at one of the harbour-side restaurants.



Our base for the week will be the Club Phellos Hotel. Situated just a few minutes\ walk from the centre of Kas, it's perfectly located for exploring the seaside town. Our hotel has an outdoor swimming pool with sun loungers as well as an open-air terrace for enjoying al-fresco breakfasts. The pool generally opens at the start of May and closes in late October, depending on weather and visitor numbers, and at the start and end of the season will be cold. From November through to May the pool will be empty. Limited WiFi is only available in public areas.



All rooms have a balcony with a hillside or a sea view - these are allocated by the hotel. Each one is air-conditioned and has an en-suite bathroom with a toilet, shower and hairdryer. The rooms are basic in nature and have simple, slightly-aged decor.

This morning starts with a visit to Xanthos, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was the capital of ancient Lycia. We'll explore the city, which has influences from the Persians and Romans, before taking to the water for a canoeing trip down the Xanthos River to Patara beach. The canoeing will take about 4 hours, is suitable for beginners and no previous experience is needed.



Passing through the tranquil and unspoiled rural backwaters, those with keen eyes might be able to spot colourful kingfishers, egrets, grey and squacco herons and terrapins on the riverbanks. We'll find a spot on the banks for a barbeque lunch before continuing to the beach at Patara, where there will be time to relax and swim. With 18 kilometres of golden sand, Patara is one of the longest beaches in Turkey and is also a protected nesting area for giant loggerhead turtles.

This morning, we'll take a short drive inland to the starting point of our trek. Beginning in Kuruouva we'll pass through scattered villages and farmsteads, stopping at a local teahouse for a drink along the way. From there, we'll start to gain altitude and see the trees change from pine to oak, and finally ancient juniper and cedar forests. From these forest tracks, we'll rise above the tree line and stop for a picnic lunch before reaching the summit of Mount Bozkaya (Grey Rock). At 2,050 metres (6,725 feet), the summit has commanding views over the surrounding peaks and valleys. After a well-deserved rest, the descent takes us through high pastures, perhaps meeting some nomadic shepherd families along the way.



Our walk today covers 12 kilometres/7.5 miles and will take around four to six hours to complete with frequent stops along the way. It has a total ascent of 685 metres/2,250 feet and descent of 600 metres/1,970 feet. The terrain is mainly on smooth tracks, but it might get stony in places. A short drive brings us back to Kas where the rest of the afternoon is free to explore more or relax.



Please note, depending on the weather conditions, our tour leader may adjust our route on the day.

We'll have an early start today to enjoy a day of sea kayaking in the tranquil and protected bays of Kekova. It's one of the most scenic areas in Lycia; a set of picturesque islands, bays and small ancient cities. The early wakeup call will be forgotten as we kayak out onto the calm waters. The pace is relaxed, and no previous experience is necessary, we can just enjoy the scenery as we paddle through narrow channels. Our first port of call is the picture-postcard village of Simena, whose harbour is dotted with ancient sarcophagi (tombs) and Roman baths and houses that cling to a hillside beneath a medieval castle. We leave our kayaks for a short walk up to the castle where there's a tiny ancient theatre within its walls. Carved from solid rock, it's a wonderful place to sit and soak up the serene surroundings.



Getting back in the kayaks we'll glide past the sunken city of Kekova. Shifting land caused by earthquakes have partly submerged the streets and buildings, which are now visible in the crystal-clear waters and there are even steps leading down into the depths of the bay. Arriving at the stunning Tersane Bay, we stop for a swim and snacks, and can find remains of a Byzantine church and other sunken foundations. We then pass back across the straits of Kekova, passing the shoreline necropolis of Teimiusa to reach Ucagiz, our startpoint, where we'll have the opportunity to have a tasty lunch of meze and grills at a waterside restaurant. From here we drive back to Kas where the rest of the afternoon is free to relax.



We'll spend around three hours kayaking and will cover approximately eight kilometres/5 miles.

Today is free to explore at your own pace. For those with a hankering for culture, Kas is built around the remains of ancient Antiphellos and there are ruins of a Hellenistic theatre, the monumental Lion Tomb and some hillside rock tombs scattered in and around the town.



If you\ d prefer to stay active, there are optionals including horse riding or heading out on the water to one of Kas\ diving locations.



Alternatively, you might want to catch the local ferry to the Greek island of Meis. The island is just 2.5 kilometres from the Turkish coast but more than 100 kilometres from Rhodes, its nearest Greek neighbour. Kastellorizo is an idyllic seafront town with colourful buildings lining the harbour where yachts and fishing boats dock. The surrounding hills are home to typical Greek whitewashed buildings with terracotta-coloured roofs. Please note that the ferry does not always run daily in the quieter months.

After working our arms yesterday, today we give our legs a stretch with a mountain bike ride in the foothills of the Taurus Mountains.



A short drive takes us to Mt Asas where we take to our bikes. We follow a mix of on and off-road trails through cedar forests and sleepy villages that dot the region which has changed little over the centuries. The pace is relaxed, and we'll stop along the way at tiny local coffee shops, and for a picnic lunch to refuel. To make the most of the ride you need to be confident and competent on a bike, the route is primarily downhill, sometimes steep, and there are a few hills to test the legs. There are some sections of rough forest track, sometimes with rocks, and any difficult sections can be walked and there is a support vehicle. Possibly the trickiest part is the first 250 metres of steep descent with some rocks. The distance covered is around 30 kilometres/18.6 miles, which takes around three hours including stops.



On the drive back to Kas, we'll stop for a swim at the famous cliff-lined Kaputas Beach, a perfect way to cool off after a great bike ride.

After a leisurely start this morning, we walk down to the harbour to board a private wooden gulet boat for a ride along Turkey's Turquoise Coast and a day of pure relaxation.



The gulet has a spacious and partly shaded foredeck and comfortable indoor and outdoor lounge areas. Cruising through the calm bays around Kas, we'll stop to swim and snorkel in the clear, warm waters of the pleasant bays and rocky coves. While snorkelling, look out for ancient amphora (vases) lying on the seabed as well as marine life. In the early afternoon the crew cook up a delicious barbecue lunch before we cruise back to Kas.



Upon docking back in Kas, we'll have some free time before sharing a last meal together in one of the local restaurants.

Our tour ends at our hotel in Kas.



There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart at any time. If your flight leaves later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like a hotel transfer, you'll need to depart from Dalaman Airport (DLM), around a three-hour drive from the hotel.