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A holiday with a
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A holiday with a difference
If you are interested in Turkey, enjoy Christian
companionship, the great outdoors and meeting other people, this might just be
the type of holiday that would interest you. If you also enjoy living simply
and can do without modern luxuries for a week, read on. 
This is a holiday offer with a difference!
The intention is to explore this fascinating country
in a small group, not merely as tourists, but in order to gain a genuine
insight into Turkish life and culture. We expect to encounter hospitable people
as they go about their everyday lives.
Although our destinations attract many tourists,
particularly in the summer, because of the beauty of the natural landscape (the
province of Muğla is well known for its beautiful beaches), we will
generally be exploring paths less frequented by tourists.
Our first week will be a “normal” holiday spent in
Muğla (the capital of the province bearing the same name, which boasts the
famous seaside resorts of Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye).
Although Muğla is the provincial capital and a
university town, it has retained the character of a small Turkish town. Its
scenic old town, built on a mountainside, is reminiscent of Greece because of
its narrow alleyways and whitewashed houses.
We will stay in
a beautifully restored old house there, one of the historically protected
“Muğla houses”, in the old part of town with 
an abundance of artistically crafted wood and a beautiful inner
courtyard with olive and pomegranate trees. 
You can still see traditional craft activities there
and often get the impression that the “Ustas” (master craftsmen) don’t ply
their trade for money, but that finance is merely a peripheral issue.
The mountain above the old town is also quite special.
It is easy to get to the top and up there you will find ruins and be rewarded
by a superb view of the town.
Don’t miss the colourful and lively weekly market
either, even if you don’t actually want to buy anything.
Muğla is situated approximately 600m above sea
level and after a journey through idyllic countryside lasting approximately
half an hour, you reach the sea.
There are
still some quiet and extremely beautiful bathing spots, which have not yet been
overrun by tourists.
Some of the biblical locations are also relatively
close and can be visited on a one-day excursion, e.g. Hierapolis above the
famous limestone sinter terraces of Pamukkale as well as Laodicea and Colossae
close to Denizli. 
It is also possible to go to Ephesus nearby modern day
Selçuk.
As well as bathing and excursions, we will spend time
each day worshipping God and studying the Bible together.
My friend,
Hans-Jürgen, who runs the office of CRG Travel here, and has lived in this area
with his family for several years, will acquaint us with land and people.
Muğla is an ideal gentle introduction to the
“real” Turkey; much remains unspoilt and genuinely “Turkish” because it is not
situated directly on the coast, quite the opposite of nearby Marmaris.
Nevertheless, its inhabitants are used to tourists and some (particularly the
students) create a modern impression.
Even in the hot summer months, Muğla’s location
(set away from coast and above sea level) ensures it has a pleasant
temperature. 
Our first holiday week in Muğla is particularly
suitable for families with children. Incidentally, Turkish people love children
and families with children (the more the better) find a place in the heart of
the people.
For the hiking week in Cappadocia, it is recommended
that children are slightly older because we will be on foot for 3-5 hours per
day. At the end of the first week we will travel by private luxury coach to
Cappadocia.
Buses within Turkey are comfortable; tea and coffee
are served during the journey and rest stops are made every 2-3 hours.
We will probably
take the overnight bus because it will bring us to our destination at the right
time: daybreak.
It is at this stage that our trip turns into an
“alternative” holiday. We will explore most places on foot and discover land
and culture more intensively than the “average” holiday maker. 
Sometimes we’ll have to do without everyday items such
as a flushing toilet with toilet paper.
The food will also be Turkish and we will usually eat
with Turkish families i.e. we will sit on the floor and not always have
individual plates. We’ll drink water or Ayran (a yoghurt drink) instead of beer
or lemonade.
After the meal it would be impolite to decline tea and
conversation. If you don’t understand Turkish at all, this might seem to take a
while!
We also want
to respect the feelings of the villagers and clothe ourselves and behave
accordingly. The main points of contention are alcohol and revealing clothing
(on occasion this might even means short trousers).
Of course, even in a small
Anatolian village, tourists are excused much, but if we really want to touch
the hearts of these people, we shouldn’t ignore these sensitive issues.
For the hiking trip, you should bring light walking
boots, a small rucksack with a torch and container for a drink and be fit
enough to manage 4 - 5 hours walking each day.
Given Cappadocia’s high elevation (1000-1300m), the
temperature cools down significantly in the evening, even in summer. We
recommend that you bring a piece of warmer clothing (this is also applies to
the overnight bus!) and leave your rain jacket behind. Despite this, it still
gets scorching hot during the day! 
Our accommodation will be in Ortahisar, a village at
the heart of Cappadocia’s lunar landscape of cliff pyramids, cave apartments,
more than a thousand year old churches and convent colonies.
Even though some of the region’s leading tourist
attractions, such as the open air museum at Göreme, are only a few kilometres
away, like Muğla this area has not been changed by tourism and has
remained virtually unspoilt.
In both weeks our accommodation will be in
very beautiful old houses, typical of the area.
However, in
Ortahisar the accommodation is very simple. There is only a (Turkish) WC and no
running water in any room; a well and simple washing facilities are in the
courtyard.
Since November
2002, as well as a small wash-hand basin with mirror and plug point, there is
also a shower (hot water!) below the staircase behind a wall topped with flower
pots.
The rooms are
also typical of those in a very old Cappadocian house, most with open fireplace
and a chest instead of a wardrobe.
Basically, you
will be spending a few days living like people used to do (even in the West) 50
– 70 years ago. Of course, people washed themselves in those days too, and in
three rooms there is a sort of shower.
However, the
bath cannot be compared with its modern day equivalent and getting washed can
be quite an involved process, but perhaps considered a novel experience during
the holiday.
Ideally, you should regard the time (no wardrobe,
bathtub, television) as an opportunity to experience history and culture at
first hand. I am convinced that this experience will allow us to see and
experience more. And I mean “experience” in the truest sense of the word. 
Usually there are 2 or 3 guests to a room, when there
are the desired number of participants (8-10 people).
Each guest is
responsible for their own arrival and departure arrangements.
The closest airports to Muğla are Bodrum-Milas
and Dalaman. Even Izmir (3.5 hours away by bus) is not too far away. A bus
journey to Muğla from Istanbul takes about 10 hours.
With regard to the return journey from Cappadocia,
there is an airport not far from Nevşehir, but at the moment there are
only two flights to Istanbul each week with THY.
Kayseri, 90 km
away, also has an airport. In summer it has direct flights to and from
Europe. The capital, Ankara, is 4 - 5
hours away by bus.
There is also
a direct overnight bus to Istanbul and, since 2002, also a bus which runs
directly to the airport in Ankara (departing Ortahisar at midnight, 1 o’clock
in the morning from Nevşehir, arriving Ankara Airport at 5:30 hrs).
You can also get to Turkey by bus or train. This is
for those of a more adventurous disposition and, in actual fact, only the bus
works out cheaper than a flight. If you have enough time, the ferry crossing
from Italy is a scenic alternative route.
You should check with a travel agent or on the
internet for flight prices from your local airports.
In Turkey itself between 15-20 Euros per day should be
adequate to cover accommodation, food and transport costs (we won’t just be
travelling on foot). 
This rough budget also applies to our holiday offer.
Extras such as long distance phone calls, taxi fares, gifts and other
miscellaneous purchases are not included.
You will definitely
need money over and above the budget because many things are much
cheaper in Turkey than in our home countries. This is particularly true of
craft work for which we would pay several times as much at home.
During our trip we will visit Avanos with its numerous
potteries and, if you are courageous and artistic enough, you can even try your
hand at the potter’s wheel!
If you want to be sure of enjoying this holiday with a
difference, you should:
have the desire to meet people and learn about their culture and lives
be able to do without luxuries for a short time (at least during 
the hiking week)
not be too much of an individualist. In Turkey it is almost an unknown
concept for each person in a group to have their own particular view about an
activity.
not necessarily measure everything by your own standards (e.g.
cleanliness and hygiene)
not have too delicate a stomach (the local food is good and easily
digestible), but unusual to newcomers.
be willing to accommodate the sensitivities of other people, even if it
does sometimes cost you personally (maybe a slightly less intense suntan!) and
not everything seems particularly obvious.
enjoy hiking (in week 2), meeting local people, a simple way of life and
Christian fellowship.
be able to see a good side to things (e.g. the very loud cries of the
Muezzin and the unfixed prices). For example, you could try and be glad to have
been woken up early to enjoy sunrise and enter into the spirit of haggling over
a price. 
It is possible for guests to arrive and depart a
couple of days earlier or later. Mid week flights may be cheaper and you might
want to spend a few days doing something on your own.
You could even
stay an extra week and explore Cappadocia under your own steam (or mountain
bike).
You can choose
to take part in either or both weeks.
In conclusion, let me to summarise the plus points of this holiday
offer:
You will experience real life in Turkey and get an insight into the
lives of its inhabitants. To do this, you will eat with ordinary Turkish
families as well as having contact with tourist office staff.
In the company of other Christians, you will have the opportunity to
explore two of Turkey’s most beautiful and fascinating regions in a very
special way.
Hans-Jürgen, who will accompany us, has extensive knowledge of Turkish
language, country and culture.
We will be accommodated in beautiful old Turkish houses full of history
and atmosphere.
Christian fellowship will be a key feature of the holiday.
The minor drawback:
The holidays have only been organised since 2000 and
experience is limited. The hiking week, in particular, may get better with each
succeeding year.
If you are interested in receiving further information
about dates and costs for this year, please contact me directly.
This offer does not apply in 2003 due to difficulties
arranging dates!
If you want to know more about Muğla and the
region we will be staying in, click here.
It is probably that we will be accommodated for the week in the “Orient” house.
A photo album with pictures from the holidays in 2000
and 2001 is planned.
It will give
you a clearer picture of the holiday (in every sense of the word), but will
take a little time to compile, as I need to get the permission of the previous
participants (even if I was bold enough to put in a couple of their photos on
this page without asking!)
My address and other contact details are given below:
Hubert Canal
Wichnerstr.
36
A-6850 Dornbirn
Tel./Fax 0043 5572 32124
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