Walking in Cappadocia vacation

Planet

Carbon Reduction

We have designed this walking vacation in beautiful Cappadocia to have a relatively low carbon footprint. Basing ourselves for the week in a comfortable and locally-owned hotel helps to minimise the need for transport, with only short drives in a vehicle provided by a local company at the start and or end of each walk. The highlight of each day is human-powered with walks through the varied and stunning valleys and unique landscapes. Some of the walks start and or end at the hotel which helps to minimise transport further. There are 5 included moderately graded day walks and a further optional easier walk as a rest day.

For many of the meals that are not included our trip leader will arrange group meals at local restaurants where is it possible to try some of the tasty and healthy Turkish food. Often these will be made from locally sourced, fresh ingredients. Be sure to try pottery kebab, a local specialty cooked in handmade bowls from nearby Avanos. Dolaz is a local dessert with a type of halva mixed with grape molasses. It is also easy for vegetarians to find tasty and heathy alternatives to meat or fish dishes.

As a travel company we are acutely aware of our impact on the environment. All of our tours display a carbon footprint, and we strive to reduce our emissions by regularly reviewing our tours and embracing low-impact styles of travel such as trains, public buses or walking – which offer the added benefit of getting a closer connection with the destination and local community.

Environment & Wildlife

Our comfortable hotel base for the week has been designed to help reduce the environmental impact and support nature. The hotel has a solar system to heat water, the hotel grounds has been planted with trees and flowers and there are bird boxes. We strive to support nature and biodiversity through protection and regeneration projects, and for every customer that travels with us we make a donation to Rewilding Britain and Cool Earth. We encourage customers to avoid single-use plastic on tour, and our leaders give advice on refill points each day. Where tap water isn't safe to drink we recommend Water-to-Go bottles, a filtration bottle allowing you to drink water from any source.

People

Local Economy

We have been working for over three decades with our local partner that runs this trip. They are a Turkish owned company and they employ local staff in both the office as well as the hotel. We encourage the promotion of local crafts and specialties by including a pottery experience in Avanos, learning about the local wine-making industry in Urgup (as well as trying the lovely wine!) and a Turkish cookery lesson in Goreme. Our trip leaders will also proudly promote local culture wherever relevant, mention local crafts and products and choose locally owned Turkish restaurants. On walks that pass through villages we often take a break at a local cafe or suggest lunch in a local place along the way.

Our leaders are the heart of tours. They bring passion and unrivalled knowledge of the destinations and communities that we visit. Their guidance ensures we observe the cultural norms in a destination, they act as a bridge between travelers and the local community and ensure that tourism is a positive experience for both host and guest. We believe in supporting local; staying in locally-run hotels, exploring markets, buying snacks from street vendors, and by doing this we add money to the local economy and enhance our connection with the local community.

Employment, Inclusivity & Diversity

Our local partners are an inbound Turkish tourism agency based in Nigde, Central Anatolia. It is run by Turkish nationals, employing 6 to 7 staff from the local community. The hotel that we stay in for the duration of this vacation is owned by the same company and employs around 10 local staff to run the property - all from the Cappadocia region. Between 30-40 local guides and tour leaders, all Turkish nationals, are employed across the season.