Turkey Family Holiday with Teenagers

Hos geldin! Welcome to Turkey. Your adventure kicks off in the coastal city of Fethiye with a welcome meeting at 5 pm at your hotel. If you arrive early, get out and explore the town – with Lycian rock tombs carved into cliffs, a beautiful coastline and a renowned market, Fethiye is a gorgeous place to experience Turkish culture. Tonight, why not take the kids out for some traditional cuisine and get to know your group over a glass of raki (the national drink in Turkey made from twice-distilled grapes and aniseed).

This morning after breakfast, you’ll drive to Saklikent Gorge – a spectacular spot for photos, where steep sculpted walls soar high above. The whole canyon is around 18 km long (with 4 km accessible), and the vertical walls reach up to 300 m in height. Make your way along a suspended walkway through shaded cliffs and scramble over rocks as you explore the area. The shaded areas and swimming holes are a great way to cool off from the heat in summer. The kids can take a dip in the water that’s travelled down to the valley after the snow from the Taurus Mountains has melted while you cool off your feet near a waterfall. Grab some lunch at the cafes and restaurants set up on pontoons over the water. After, head back to Fethiye where you have free time to explore the town or relax by the pool. Maybe grab the kids and race each other up the steps to the ancient Lycian stone temples.   

This morning, head off to the town of Kayakoy where you can try your hand at making a local favourite – gozleme (a savoury stuffed turnover made with flour, salt and water, usually with a filling of spinach and feta or minced lamb) in a local restaurant. Then, enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch! After, you will have the option to check out the ghost village of Kayakoy – an eerie town that was abandoned in 1923 after the Greco-Turkish War. Later, head back to your accommodation in Fethiye, where you’ll have a free afternoon as a family to sit back and relax or head to a local restaurant in the town with some of your new travel buddies for dinner.

Today after breakfast, make the 2 hour drive to the seaside town of Kas along winding coastal roads taking in the views of the picturesque village, where whitewashed buildings covered in bougainvillea line cobbled streets. When you arrive, head out on a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings, then enjoy some free time to explore at your own pace. If you’re looking for a swim to cool off, the best places to check out are the waterfront restaurants, which have private water access. In the evening, relax as you watch the sun set over the ocean or perhaps explore the handicraft markets, where you can pick up some beautiful handmade wares with a distinct Turkish flavour. 

This morning after breakfast make the short drive to Kekova. When you arrive, you’ll board a local boat for a relaxing cruise through a series of peaceful islands, all with distinctive rock formations. Keep an eye out for the otherworldly sight of the ancient ruins submerged in the water. Sail from large bays to protected inlets, where there’s a chance to take a refreshing dip off the boat. Enjoy a homemade Turkish meal on board for lunch with your group. Later, explore the quaint village of Ucagiz – a township of stone houses drenched in colourful flowers. Return to Kas for the evening, where you’ll have free time to explore further or relax.

After a hearty breakfast this morning, depart early and drive approximately 1 hour to one of the most spectacular ancient spots in Lycian history – Xanthos. The city dates back to the 8th century BC and includes a pretty sobering (but pretty interesting) history. The city was the centre of culture and commerce for the Lycians, but it was regularly in the path of conquerors – think the Persian Empire, Alexander the Great and the Romans, who all took over the city. There’s an ancient theatre, a necropolis and many mosaic floors and temples to explore. After your visit, head to Patara Beach – the nestling place for loggerhead sea turtles, considered one of the best beaches in Turkey. This protected natural area is also ideal for a bit of body surfing! Take a swim and enjoy an included picnic lunch with your group before continuing on to Letoon – the sacred cult centre of Lycia. Here, you’ll visit the temple dedicated to the goddess Leto and her children, Artemis and Apollo, and see the inscriptions that were key to deciphering the Lycian language.

After breakfast today, you’ll visit Dekamer – a Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. This organisation rescues and rehabilitates any injured loggerhead turtles (the largest hard-shell turtle in the world) found along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. You’ll learn all about these turtles and how Dekamer works to protect them and conserve the local environment. You’ll also be directly contributing to rescue and rehabilitation efforts here, as Intrepid contributes a donation to Dekamer for every person on this trip! You’ll have the option to grab lunch and explore Fethiye Market at your leisure during a free afternoon. Later, see the town or take the kids to the beach for a swim before meeting your leader and the rest of your group to celebrate a trip well-travelled during an optional final dinner.

With no activities planned after breakfast, your adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to spend more time in Turkey, just speak to your booking agent.