Ottoman Odyssey

Tour Itinerary from Damascus

Days 1 to 5:                Accommodation:

Days 7 to 12:             Accommodation:

Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp clear days of summer, and ice and snow in winter, we wend our way into Turkey. From here we travel inland and upwards for a day to the visually powerful, windswept landforms of Cappadocia. Over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area! We then head towards the Turkish coast and stop on the way at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing. We stay on the coast at either Olu Deniz or Olympus further down the Mediterranean coast. Our accommodation is tree houses and campsites and we spend the next couple of days relaxing on the beach. You can also take boat trips around the coast or hire small motor bikes.

Days 13 to 18:           Accommodation:  

We then travel via either Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains. We visit the well known ruins of Ephesus where we spend 2 nights. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, Ephesus boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years.  From here we visit the ruins of Troy before we cross the Dardanelle Straits and visit Gallipoli,, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. It is a moving experience to visit the war graves and battlegrounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. Australians and New Zealanders make a pilgrimage each year on ANZAC Day to pay their respects to their fellow countrymen who died here. We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day. where in World War I on this blustery and exposed peninsula

It is a half day drive from here to the final destination of our tour - the exiting and cosmopolitan city of Istanbul where we have our final night’s party! Istanbul as an amazing city and staying for a couple of days after the tour finishes to  experience this safe and friendly city and paying a visit to at least the Aya Sofya Mosque, Topkapi Palace or the Grand Bazaar to name but a few is recommended. Our crew can provide you with details and information of hostels to stay at in the Sultanhamet area of central Istanbul.

From Istanbul we begin our journey with a half day drive through olive groves and rural settlements to Gallipoli and the Straits of the Dardanelles. In World War I, on this blustery and exposed peninsula, ANZAC and British Forces struggled unsuccessfully for nine horrendous months to dislodge Turkish troops from the hills above the beaches. It is a moving experience to visit war graves and battle grounds where so much suffering and unnecessary loss of life took place. Australians and New Zealanders make a pilgrimage each year on ANZAC day to pay their respects to their fellow countrymen who died here.  We attend the dawn service on ANZAC Day. From here we cross the Straits, leave Europe and enter the continent of Asia. We visit Troy on our way to Ephesus and spend the next 2 nights camping on the coast. Built by the Greeks a thousand years before Christ and then rebuilt by the Romans, this immense ancient city boasts an amphitheatre that can seat 24000 and a harbour with no water - still in good condition after all these years. We then travel via either Pamukkale where you can swim in warm, mineral-rich water, or take the more visually scenic route towards Marmaris and camp in the mountains.

For most of the year we head to Olu Deniz or Olympus further down the Mediterranean coast. We stay in campsites or tree houses and spend the next couple of days relaxing on the beach. You can also take boat trips around the coast or hire small motor bikes and visit some of the small out of the way villages nearby. We then travel inland and upwards and stop on the way at Saklikent Gorge where there is the opportunity to go river tubing. From here we for a day to the visually powerful, windswept land forms of Cappadocia. Over the centuries houses, churches, fortresses and even underground cities have been carved into this eerily eroded, volcanic rock. The Goreme Valley provides us with an astonishing setting in which to spend a few days investigating the region. We will take you to one of the underground cities where you can explore alone or with a guide this ancient and mysterious area!

Driving through stunning mountain scenery in the crisp clear days of summer, and ice and snow in winter, we wend our way to Syria. Syrians are among the most hospitable people you will ever meet. The country has a rich and varied history with the Egyptian, Roman, Babylonian and Persian Empires having all passed through here along with Jesus and his disciples! Our first stop in this fascinating country is the market town of Aleppo. Nearby we visit Crac de Chevaliers - an 800 year old Crusader Castle - perched high on top of a mountain.  Then time permitting, we travel out to the oasis town of Palmyra we really get into the desert proper. Sleeping out in this vast wilderness, untainted by artificial light is an experience not to be missed. The night sky dazzles with stars, satellites and shooting stars. On the road to Damascus, we head to one of the friendliest and safest of capital cities. We spend two nights in this, the oldest inhabited city in the world. From here there is the option of taking a one day guided tour into Lebanon and Beirut.

NOTE: Adventure travel is not an exact science. It is this very unpredictability which makes it such a rewarding experience. Occasionally we must amend our itineraries to take into account changing local circumstances. In such situations we’ll always try to minimise any disruption, but you need to bear in mind that from time to time events occur outside our control. While our crew are experienced and knowledgeable of the countries through which we travel, they are not guides as such. The diversity and extent of the history and cultures in this region are second to none. At the most important historical sites we visit, we have the benefit of locally trained guides who have spent many years and have vast experience of such sites.