Discover sustainable travel in Türkiye! Explore our off-the-beaten-path hiking, sailing, gastronomy, and wine tours. Carbon removals included!

Sustainable Travel in Türkiye | Yugen Earthside

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Yugen Earthside connects mindful travelers to responsible package trips around the world. CARBON REMOVALS INCLUDED WITH EACH BOOKING!

Connecting mindful travelers to responsible experiences around the world.

Prices exclude flights to/from the destination.

Prices are for double room occupancy unless indicated otherwise.

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Discover self-guided, privately-guided, & small group tours around the world. Our sustainable adventures are customizable, and include carbon removals with each booking!

Trips | Yugen Earthside | Sustainable Adventures

This sustainable, active adventure tour through Türkiye along the Lycian Way blends healthy outdoor activities with rich history & cultural sites.

[8 days] Lycian Way Active Adventure Tour in Türkiye | Yugen Earthside

This sustainable, active adventure tour through southwestern Türkiye along the Lycian Way blends healthy outdoor activities with rich history and cultural sites.

We’ll stay in the most charming villages and towns of the Lycian Coast, lying under the Taurus Mountains. We’ll hike scented hills and visit classical coastal sites, sea kayak to explore sunken cities, sail the Fethiye Bay, snorkel over sunken Roman ruins, and search for the fire-breathing monster, Chimaera of Mt. Olympos.

6 hikes (easy to moderate) 1-5 miles long

Sea kayaking for 3-4 hours (easy to moderate if windy)

Boating for a full day, with swimming breaks

Snorkeling at various locations, including over a sunken Roman bath

Visiting ancient cities: Olympos, Anti-Phellos, Lydae, Caunus, Aperlai

Searching for Chimaera, the fire-breathing monster, at Mt. Olympos

Exploring Kekova, an uninhabited Turkish island with sunken ruins

Meander Simena, a town near the ‘Sunken City,’ with a castle at the top

The Lycian Way is a popular trekking route in southwestern Türkiye that spans about 320 miles (520 km). The well-marked path hugs the Mediterranean coast, occasionally dipping inland, and runs from Fethiye to Antalya. The Lycian Way is Türkiye's longest hiking route and weaves between ancient cities and beautiful coastal views along the way. 

While walking the full length of the trail could easily take a month, this active adventure trip is a fantastic way to see more of it in a shorter time frame. You'll get to enjoy a perfect blend of the classic, leisurely hikes, along with relaxing time in beautiful Turkish waters, and fulfilling cultural experiences at historic sites.

You’ll be guided by a licensed professional who is sustainably minded and adept at interpreting the natural and cultural heritage of the region, as well as skilled at leading the active aspects of the trip. A private minivan supports the entire trip, and most meals are included.

This coastal trip along the Lycian Way is generally best from April through November.

April-May: This region of Türkiye is a bio-diversity hotspot, so if you are a wild-flower enthusiast, April and May will be especially fantastic!

June-August: During these peak summer months, you are more likely to observe (very discreetly) the “Caretta caretta” loggerhead sea turtles laying eggs, hatching, or swimming around. However, we suggest avoiding July and August if you are not used to very warm temperatures. It can be above 100°F (38°C) which you may find uncomfortably warm for hiking. If you are OK with the heat, go for it!

September-November: A pleasant time to visit as temperatures cool down and crowds lessen.

We believe beautiful places are beautiful all year round. If your schedule allows, we encourage you to travel in the shoulder season (April-May, September-November) for several reasons. It helps reduce the environmental impact of this popular trail, avoids over-tourism, and rewards you with more tranquil trails and site visits. Spring and fall offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

7 nights' accommodation in charming local hotels

A big container of water on the van for refills (please bring your own reusable water bottle)

Entrance fees to Olympos, Simena, Patara, Xhantos, and Caunus ancient sites

Private sea-kayaking tour in Kekova Sound

These are the optional activities for your free day on Day 5 in Kaş.

Coasteering – 50 Euros pp, including equipment, guide, support boat, and snacks.

Mountain biking – 40 Euros pp, including equipment, guide, support vehicle, lunch, drinking water, and snacks.

Scuba diving – 32 Euros pp for 1 tandem dive or 55 Euros pp for 2 dives. 

Patara Ancient Site and Beach & Xhanthos – 25 Euros pp, including transportation and entrance fees and guiding. 

We are the only active member of ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association) from Türkiye and we have signed the Travel’s Climate Action Agreement powered by ATTA. We are a signatory of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency and have published a Climate Emergency Plan.

We worked with ATTA-South Pole to calculate the carbon emissions for each of our itineraries. As a result, we modified some itineraries to reduce our carbon footprint. We're also proud to say that we're a "carbon neutral" company. We reported our 2020 emissions and will offset them at the end of 2021. We will also add 25 USD/person to our bulk carbon offset for this trip to be used in planting trees.

Our new itineraries are being designed with a "Slow Travel" perspective so that we spend at least two nights at each location and our new trips are more local. We stay in small or remote places, plan to stay more than 1 night at each location, travel in the shoulder season, and cover a small region, rather than traveling long distances. This travel format is not only safer but also helps to absorb and enjoy the experience even better.

This trip promotes tourism dispersal as it is in the less-traveled parts of the Turkish Riviera. We pick up our guests at Antalya Airport and immediately drive out of the heavily touristic region to small villages and towns. In these towns, tourism revenue is greatly appreciated, especially in the shoulder season.

During our trips, we prioritize the principle of "leave no trace" when visiting natural and historical sites, and we expect our travelers to uphold these expectations. To minimize our environmental impact, we take measures such as optimizing our driving distances and offering low carbon impact activities like hiking, sea-kayaking, snorkeling, coasteering, and para-gliding.

In line with our commitment to sustainability, we encourage our clients to bring their own water bottles. Throughout the day, we provide refills from large containers to reduce plastic waste. In the event that you forget to bring your own bottle, small bottles of water are available for purchase.

If you join us between June and mid-August, you may have a special opportunity to witness the remarkable sight of loggerhead sea turtles laying or hatching their eggs. Dedicated volunteers work to protect these precious creatures. If permitted, we may have the chance to observe them using red flashlights, as red light is the least disruptive method for observing the turtles. If this interests you, please remember to bring a red flashlight.

We understand that we have the responsibility to sustain our activities and support the local population. We choose to use the services of local accommodation providers, family-run restaurants, and women-owned businesses. The places we visit throughout the trip are highly dependent on tourism, so your visit will contribute to improving their well-being. 

A high-end, slow travel experience through Izmir in western Türkiye, where you'll experiment with, learn about, and taste local food & wine. Carbon removals included!

[8 days] Slow Travel Food & Wine Tour in Western Türkiye | Yugen Earthside

A high-end, slow travel experience through the coastal gem of Izmir in western Türkiye, where you will experiment with, learn about, and taste local food and wine.

Eat your way through the province of ancient Smyrna in western Türkiye, stay in charming hotels, and visit the world’s most impressive ancient sites in between bites!

This trip is designed for foodies who are interested in cultural experiences and love a relaxed and slow approach to travel. You won’t encounter long drives, big tourist attractions, and rushing from one place to another on this leisure adventure. Instead, you will taste organic wines and olive oil, partake in cooking classes, and learn about Turkish cuisine and ancient history. If you enjoy comfortable and charming accommodations, visiting cozy towns, and are also into arts and music, you will love this trip.

1 olive oil tasting at an olive oil museum

2 cooking classes, one with a passionate chef and one with a food researcher

3 wine tastings, including one along the Urla Wine Route

Visit Pergamon, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Witness a fish auction and visit a colorful local market

Meander the region's largest farmer's market, which includes many artisan stalls

Go to Ephesus, one of the biggest cities in ancient times

Visit Artemission, once rated as one of the seven wonders of the ancient world

Western Türkiye is famous for fertile river deltas which brought prosperity for centuries to the region and have a great impact on the food culture. Aegean cuisine in this region is best known for wild greens, seafood, vegetables, and wine. Our food and wine adventure deliberately balances rustic, traditional food, and top-of-the-line restaurants. You will experience street food, fine dining, and enjoyable cooking classes. We will visit the wineries of the Urla Wine Route and the Ephesus area, and go to colorful farmers’ markets.

This trip is not only about gastronomy and wine. We’ll also explore some of the world’s top archaeological and historic sites. These will include Smyrna, Asclepion, and the Museum of Ephesus. We’ll travel as little as 40-45 miles per day to spend more time experiencing Türkiye rather than on a bus. This form of slow travel is also better for reducing our environmental impact. We drive less and experience more.

The trip will start in Izmir, Türkiye’s 3rd largest city after Istanbul and Ankara, and sits along the Aegean coast. The Izmir province is not only a cultural and historical hotspot, but also the best area with charming and authentic accommodation choices.

It would be fair to say that this is the best food trip in Türkiye and the best value for your holiday budget!

This culinary adventure is available year-round, and depending on the time of the year, your experience will be slightly different. Guests particularly rave about this trip during the shoulder season, specifically early spring. But no matter the season there will be a diversity of wild greens, vegetables, fish, and fruits.

If your schedule allows, we encourage you to travel in the shoulder season (April-May, September-November) for several reasons. It helps reduce the environmental impact of this area, avoids over-tourism, and rewards you with more tranquil site visits. Spring and fall offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

7 nights' accommodation in luxury boutique hotels

All meals: 8 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 7 Dinners

Certified professional guide & their expenses

Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites

Price depends on group size. We will adjust the final balance due based on the below prices. 

As we encourage tourism dispersal in terms of season and areas, this trip takes place in less-traveled parts of the Aegean region of Türkiye. We pick up our guests at Izmir Airport and immediately drive out of the heavily touristic region to small villages and towns. Please take this trip during the shoulder season! 

Environmental Initiatives
We optimize our driving distances to reduce the total distance we cover. Food & Wine Adventure covers only 400 miles of driving for the entire 8 days. We offer low-carbon impact activities on this trip such as hiking, walking, street food, and wine tasting.

Most or all of our accommodations are small and serve local & organic food. Our trips embrace all diets. Turkish cuisine has great diversity and we understand that our guests have various preferences and restrictions about food. This trip is particularly great for vegetarians and vegans.

We expect our clients to bring their own water bottles and we provide refills from big containers during the day. If you forget to bring your own bottle, please purchase a small bottle of water and keep it.

Sociocultural Initiatives
We believe that the most fulfilling experiences occur spontaneously. We create the time and opportunity for such spontaneous interactions. The nature of our trips allows our guests and hosts and random locals to engage, in farmer's markets, artisan workshops, a cooking class, or at the local cafe over a cup of coffee.

Economic Initiatives
On this trip, we cover most of the Izmir province. In addition to the big city center, we'll also visit the most rural areas where tourism income is crucial - especially during the shoulder season. We understand that we have the responsibility to sustain our activities and support the local population. We choose to use the services of local accommodation providers, family-run restaurants, and women-owned businesses.


Slow Travel Food & Wine Tour in Western Türkiye

Sail the Turquoise Coast (the "Turkish Riviera"), swim in crystal-clear waters, & hike to explore antique villages by foot on this sustainable & authentic adventure in Türkiye.

[7 days] Hike & Sail the Turquoise Coast in Türkiye | Yugen Earthside

Sail the Turquoise Coast (the "Turkish Riviera"), swim in crystal-clear waters, and hike to explore antique villages by foot on this sustainable and authentic adventure.

Starting from Göcek, we will hike and sail the idyllic shores of ancient Lycia in a traditional wooden gulet. Slowly cruising along the coast, we’ll make stops on land to walk through scented hills and visit classic coastal sites. Explore the islands, kayak, and snorkel over sunken ancient ruins. Meet nomads, search for the gods of Mt. Olympos, taste local cuisine, and enjoy the atmospheric nights of charming towns.

This iconic trip is a best-seller for those looking for combination trips blending hiking and sailing.

Family Friendly: This trip is beloved for families traveling together. It's ideal for 2-3 generational families where members have different activity levels and interests. Children are delighted to be in the water swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking; while elders are content to snooze on the deck, or read a book. Everybody is welcome to join the short hikes and historic explorations (or not)!

Sailing the Turquoise Coast on a traditional wooden gulet

Swimming in Cleopatra’s sunken Roman Bath

Visiting Kaş and Kekova, the 'sunken city'

The Turquoise Coast, also known as the Turkish Riviera, is a stunning stretch of coastline along the southwestern coast of Türkiye, facing the Mediterranean Sea. The region is famous for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, rugged cliffs, pine forests, and numerous beaches and coves. Spectacular views of the Mediterranean await in these towns where mysteries and history are intertwined.

The area boasts a number of famous tourist destinations and historical sites, such as the ancient city ruins of Perge and the Lycian rock tombs found in Dalyan. On this trip, we’ll visit the Batik Hamam Cove, a bath about 5 feet under water – where Mark Anthony is said to have courted Cleopatra, and Kaya, a ghost town abandoned in 1930.

The region is also known for its beautiful beaches and protected nature reserves, some of which are accessible only by boat. Visitors to the Turquoise Coast can also enjoy water sports such as swimming and snorkeling – both of which you’ll have the opportunity to do on this trip – as well as hiking in the nearby mountains, exploring traditional villages, and indulging in delicious Turkish cuisine.

Our sustainable trip to the Turquoise Coast will captivate you with breathtakingly beautiful views. This diverse region of Türkiye offers a unique blend of natural beauty, culture, and history. The Turkish Riviera is a must-visit destination offering adventure and relaxation for anyone traveling to Türkiye. 

Come cruise the coast and swim in our sparkling waters!

This trip runs best from May through October (but November is the new October...)

May and September-October/November: These are the best times of year to visit the Turquoise Coast in Türkiye as the weather is generally warm and pleasant, with average temperatures ranging between 68-77°F (20-25°C), and there is less chance of rainfall.

June-August: During these peak summer months, the region can become quite hot, with temperatures often reaching over 86°F (30°C), and can have high humidity levels. This can make outdoor activities, such as hiking or sightseeing, uncomfortable during the daytime. This is also the busiest time for tourism. If you don't like high temperatures, we suggest a similar trip to the Dodecanese Islands or the Carian Coast, where there is more breeze. Contact us for details.

If your schedule allows, we encourage you to travel in the shoulder season (April-May, September-October) for several reasons. It helps reduce the environmental impact of traffic along the coast, avoids over-tourism, and rewards you with more tranquil trails and site visits. Spring and fall offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

6 nights' accommodation on a traditional wooden gullet

All meals except lunch on Day 1, with great representation of Turkish cuisine

Village lunch and dinner at a fish restaurant in Kaş on Day 4

All bottled water and beverages on the boat

Guided sea-kayaking tour over the sunken ruins of Kekova

Entrance fees to museums & archaeological sites

Minimum group size: 4
Contact us for pricing.

We worked with ATTA-South Pole to calculate the carbon emissions for each of our itineraries. As a result, we modified some itineraries to reduce our carbon footprint. We're also proud to say that we're a "carbon neutral" company. We reported our 2020 emissions and will offset them at the end of 2021. We understand that operating a gulet has carbon emissions, which should be compensated. In this regard, we will contribute 28 USD/person for this trip to be used in planting trees. We offer low carbon impact activities on this trip such as hiking, sea-kayaking, snorkeling, coasteering, and para-gliding.

Our new itineraries are being designed with a "Slow Travel" perspective so that we spend at least two nights at each location and our new trips are more local. We stay in small or remote places, plan to stay more than 1 night at each location, travel in the shoulder season, and cover a small region, rather than traveling long distances. This travel format is not only safer but also helps to absorb and enjoy the experience even better.

Environmental Initiatives
We are committed to minimizing our impact on the environment during our trip. Our guides ensure that we "leave no trace" whenever we visit natural and historical sites. This means that we take extra care to avoid damaging the natural environment or leaving any waste behind. We also encourage our clients to bring their own water bottles and provide refills from big containers during the day. This helps to reduce plastic waste and ensures that we have access to clean drinking water throughout our trip.


Economic Initiatives
Our trip is designed to promote tourism dispersal and support local businesses. We pick up our clients at Dalaman Airport and immediately drive out of the heavily touristic region to small villages and towns. In these areas, tourism revenue is greatly appreciated, especially in the shoulder season. We also use every opportunity to meet the people behind the tourism scene, such as visiting local shops, buying provisions from fishermen, and eating at a local home. By doing so, we hope to support the local economy and help sustain the tourism industry in the region.


Sociocultural Initiatives
We believe in promoting local culture and supporting the communities that we visit. To this end, we use the services of local accommodation providers, family-run restaurants, and women-owned businesses. This helps to support the local economy and ensure that tourism revenue is distributed more evenly throughout the region. We also make an effort to meet the people behind the tourism scene by having a cup of sage tea over a taste of homemade honey and bread or visiting a local home to enjoy a lunch cooked on an open fire.

Discover two of Türkiye's absolute gems by visiting the legendary Constantinople (now Istanbul), and the magical & surreal lands of Cappadocia. Carbon removals included!

[6 days] Gems of Türkiye: Istanbul & Cappadocia Tour | Yugen Earthside

Discover two of Türkiye's absolute gems with a visit to the legendary Constantinople (now Istanbul), followed by the magical and surreal lands of Cappadocia.

This compact trip allows you to soak in the impressive cities of Istanbul and Cappadocia with all they have to offer in a short time frame. Our experienced guides will waste no time with long bus rides during this tour. 

Begin by exploring Istanbul's architectural masterpieces of the last two millenniums, walk its timeless streets full of history and vibrant culture, relish exotic dishes, and stay in the Sultan's neighborhood to connect with Arabian traditions that are still alive today.

Moving on to Cappadocia, this area is renowned for its captivating, startling, and surrealistic landscapes. Its strange and unique scenery includes volcanic chimneys (called Fairy Chimneys). These were excavated for use as houses by early Christians. You'll also see gorges, vineyards, elaborately carved and frescoed rock churches, and entire underground cities!

Visit the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace

Take a Bosphorus cruise through the Golden Horn

Experience Beyoğlu nightlife, Taksim Square, street food, art, and shopping

See Fairy Chimneys - the iconic and surrealistic landscape made of unique rock formations

Visit underground cities, a cave hotel, and cave churches

Try authentic food from the tandoori culture of the region

Enjoy a classic hot-air balloon ride (extra cost)

This trip runs all year round. Türkiye is in a temperate zone and also geologically very diverse. For example, while it snows in the Cappadocia area, it may be spring-like in İstanbul. Both locations promise many things to see and do.

Mid-April to June and September-October: This is when Istanbul will have the best weather and is also therefore the ideal time to visit. Cappadocia presents similar moderate conditions.

July-August: Summers can be scorchingly hot and flooded with tourists, so we don't recommend traveling during this time if your schedule allows.

We believe beautiful places are beautiful all year round. If your schedule allows, we encourage you to travel outside of July-August for several reasons. It helps reduce the environmental impact of this area, avoids over-tourism, and rewards you with more tranquil site visits. Spring and fall offer the best balance of pleasant weather and fewer crowds.

6 nights' accommodation in charming boutique hotels

All breakfasts & lunches (except arrival day); 1 dinner in Istanbul; 1 dinner in Cappadocia

All land transportation and airport transfers in Türkiye

$30 of climate action per guest: $15 toward carbon removals, $15 towards sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)

Domestic flights between Istanbul & Cappadocia: Approx. $200 (subject to change)

Hot Air Balloon Ride: Approx. $250-$300, depending on season

Cooking Class: Approx. $50-$100, depending on season

If the group size grows after you've paid, such that the price per person decreases, we will automatically adjust your final balance due or reimburse you the difference.

We are the only active member of ATTA (Adventure Travel Trade Association) from Türkiye and we have signed the Travel’s Climate Action Agreement powered by ATTA. We are a signatory of Tourism Declares Climate Emergency and have published a Climate Emergency Plan. We are also a proud member of Tomorrow's Air, and issue $15 carbon removal contributions for each traveler.

Environmental Initiatives
Our commitment to the environment takes us to implement clear guidelines for reducing Greenhouse gas emissions from transport and selecting the most environmentally friendly transport options.


Sociocultural Initiatives
The activities are carefully chosen to help travelers connect with local products and get to understand the traditions and culture of the destination.


Economic Initiatives
This trip helps provide employment to local people. We work with suppliers that are locally owned or managed, use local and seasonal products and services, and benefit the local community by hiring locally and equitably and by providing fair working conditions.

Gems of Türkiye: Istanbul & Cappadocia Tour

Türkiye

Lycian Way Active Adventure Tour

Slow Travel Food & Wine Tour in Western Türkiye

Hike & Sail the Turquoise Coast

Gems of Türkiye: Istanbul & Cappadocia Tour

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