Walking Through History:
Bulgaria & Georgia & Turkey
Fall 2021

These can be combined for trips of 1-4 weeks. All trips include 2 full days of tours in Istanbul. A partial list of visits includes

With a maximum of 12 participants we eat at small local restaurants and go where larger groups cannot. We stay in 3-4 star hotels, often with 2 night stays. We travel in an air conditioned, private minibus.  

Segment A: After arrival in Istanbul we head north to explore Bulgaria which we scouted in 2019 for this trip. We'll traverse beautiful mountain valleys hiding Orthodox monasteries completely covered in bright frescoes. We'll explore the medieval hilltop fortress of Tsarevets guarding an antique town set along a ox-bow river gorge.

Segment B: GEORGIA - NORTHEASTERN TURKEY Combine A + B

Segment C: EASTERN TURKEY TO MEDITERRANEAN COAST Combine B + C

Segment D: On the Aegean coast we hike along the Lycian Way featuring less traveled villages, a 5th c monastery, ruins of Roman silk road routes, aqueducts and a tiny Greek city that held off Alexander the Great witha spectacular theater. We finish in Bodrum with its fortress of the Knights of St. John Hospitaller. Combine C + D

Segment E: In Cappadocia we'll walk on easy hikes through its strange geological formations.   Pottery and carpet weaving are among the many crafts to be found here. Combine D + E

A sense of adventure is required as some of these areas are not visited very often, and we may adjust the itinerary due to local conditions, weather or unique opportunities. Expect to walk 1-4 miles each day (We'll offer alternatives for those who decide not to walk)

Our friend of 20 years, Lutfi Atay, is licensed as a guide by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism and is a professor at the University of Canakkale. He has been our guide for previous trips and will be with us throughout this trip. I'm licensed as a State of Washington Seller of Travel and will escort this trip. I've visited Turkey many times and led similar tours over the last 20 years. 

Contact us for pricing or 3 segment combinations

Rila monastery