Walking Tour of Turkey

I am dying to go to Turkey. It is the next destination on my radar. Why? Turkey is a land of striking variety – a vibrant crossroads where continents and cultures meet. Throughout history, more than a half-dozen great races have contributed to this exciting cultural mosaic.

One of the best ways of discovering this magical place is with Butterfield & Robinson’s Turkey Walking trip. Discover hand-carved churches buried in rock formations, biblical sites, ghost towns, an underwater archaeology museum and, of course, the famous baths. Meet rug-makers and poets and take in a whirling dervish ritual.

Along the way, meals are locally prepared specialties – this means fresh Mediterranean fish and grilled meats done to perfection.

Mid-trip, you abandon the soil for travel by gulet (a traditional Turkish yacht), making land daily to discover the best of the Mediterranean coast. And on your final night you take residence at the exquisite Marmara Hotel in Bodrum. There is a light walk for those who choose – but the hotel boasts a stellar spa, so you might just find yourself staying in today.

Even with days packed full of activities and events, what you’ll most likely take away from a visit to Turkey is the extraordinary hospitality of the locals. If you stopped and accepted every offer of çay (Turkey’s national drink), a simple hike would become a lifelong journey.

Sound cool? I think so too.