Cappadocia to Eastern Turkey vacation

Planet

CARBON REDUCTION:

Due to the mandatory national programme in Türkiye, all accommodation suppliers must be certified in accordance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria.

We are a Travelife Certified company, audited by an independent third-party auditor. We specifically assess the sustainability performance of our accommodation suppliers, including their sustainability policies, sustainability training programmes, green energy usage, and energy consumption strategies.
We also maintain an internal sustainability reporting platform, and we collect documentation related to our partner hotels’ carbon reduction performance.
If required, we would be pleased to provide these documents.

This approach is not limited to this particular tour; it applies to all of our accommodation suppliers across our entire portfolio. This is published in our Sustainable Accommodation Policy and Action Plans for continuous improvement. Excluding the arrival and departure days, hiking and walking activities are included on all 7 touring days.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

This trip contributes to nature protection. In Cappadocia, entrance fees are included for protected heritage and natural sites such as the Göreme Open-Air Museum and Özkonak Underground City. These ticketed sites are managed under national conservation frameworks, and visitor income supports the preservation of both cultural heritage and the fragile volcanic landscape of the region. Cappadocia is a protected area where erosion control, visitor management, and landscape conservation are ongoing priorities, so regulated tourism plays an important role in sustaining the area.
We also include a meal experience at Hereni Women’s Cooperative in Ortahisar. This is a community-based initiative run by local women. They cultivate produce on their own farm using low-water (dry farming) methods, without chemical pesticides. They harvest seasonally and preserve food through traditional drying techniques for use in other seasons. By visiting and dining there, we directly support small-scale regenerative agriculture, local food systems, and women’s economic empowerment. The experience takes place in a local home setting where ingredients are sourced locally and responsibly.
All of our guides are local and university graduates (4-year degree), and we provide them with Travellife training that includes wildlife awareness and nature conservation modules. As a Travelife Certified company, sustainability is embedded in our operations. Our Sustainability Executive delivers dedicated training sessions for our guides, focusing specifically on wildlife protection and responsible tourism practices across all our tours.
Through the use of local guides, regulated heritage sites, and community-based food experiences that promote sustainable farming, the trip contributes both economically and practically to the protection of natural and cultural landscapes.


All our guides have graduated from a four-year university programme specifically in the Tour Guiding Department and are registered with the relevant association, holding valid licences. They have received specific training in wildlife, nature, flora, and fauna related to the destinations for which they are licensed. Moreover, we are a Travelife Certified company, and our guides are registered on the Travelife platform with their own login details to complete sustainability training. This allows us to monitor and manage their sustainability performance and ensure they receive annual refresher training.They also receive certification upon successfully completing the sustainability training programmes.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

All of our guides are local and are carefully matched with tours based on the region they live in and their specific areas of expertise. Our drivers and transportation services are also selected locally in each destination, ensuring authentic regional knowledge and direct economic contribution to the community. In Cappadocia, we include a special lunch experience at a women’s cooperative founded by local women. The cooperative supports women who previously had limited opportunities to participate in the workforce. By welcoming travelers, they create both economic and social impact. The meals are prepared using ingredients sourced from their own gardens and local village producers, preserving traditional cooking methods within the cooperative.
Travelers also visit a local carpet atelier, where they witness traditional carpet weaving and production techniques passed down through generations.

In Adiyaman, we include a visit to a rural village home, where guests meet local families in a warm and intimate setting. This experience allows travelers to connect with real daily life and gain meaningful cultural insight. Finally, in Mardin, the tour features a unique experience with the Assyrian Christian minority community, where travelers learn about and taste traditional Assyrian winemaking methods.

EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

It is included in our sustainability policy that we prioritise selecting local suppliers. Not only from Türkiye in general, but specifically from the region or destination in which they operate and guide.

In this particular tour, which includes Eastern Türkiye, we have intentionally incorporated local suppliers, including women from Cappadocia, members of the Assyrian community, and other minority Christian communities.

Activities and suppliers are specifically selected based on their local roots and their representation of Anatolia’s cultural diversity.