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In search of the Ionians... is a
14-days walking and cultural program. This 2- week program gives the
participants the opportunity to do sports and to obtain a broader
understanding of the region, its people and history, through cultural
visits and frequent contacts with the villagers. We learn about very old
traditions, different cultural values and a very rich historical past,
of which many elements have more than influenced Western civilization. The
program consists of 5 walking-days, cultural visits to archeological
sites situated on the Karaburun Peninsula and the Aegean coast like
Ephesus and Erythrai. A shopping visit to the folkloristic bazaar of
Izmir, a good scrubbing at the hamam of Çesme and a boat trip along the
shore are some of the fun activities of the program. Apart from sports and other activities this is the ideal program to get acquainted with a cultural synthesis starting with the Ionians some 3000 years ago and lasting until today. The participants are picked up at the Izmir Airport and transferred to Karaburun. All transfers are made in airconditioned busses of Aktif Azimut Ltd. Program... Day 1: Transfer from Izmir to Karaburun Transfer from Izmir to Karaburun following a picturesque coastal
road and driving through typical fisher-villages. Day 2: Free day Relaxation and general briefing on the activities and their details. Visit to the village center and the little port of Karaburun. Day 3 : The coastal trail ( 10,4 km – 3,5 hours) : We start off in the small village of Sarpincik, laying against a steep hill slope and follow an old path until the high cliffs of Hamzabükü. We then follow a curving path crossing deserted bays and beaches until the old fisher-village of Yeniliman (Newport in Turkish). The warm greetings of the villagers, the reviving scent en deep blue color of the sea as well as the gnarled trunks of the olive trees add extra beauty to this extraordinary trail. Day 4 : Monastir (9 km – 4,5 hours) With this trail we discover the valley of the
small town of Karaburun, giving an off-road start near a huge
plane-tree, where thousands of goats pass every day on their way to the
high planes. The trail leads us through a steppe like area with its many
water-wells. We then descend the mountain following an old marble path,
which has been used by shepherds and villagers since more than 2000
years. Once in the valley, we cross an olive-grove and reach the village
of Saip Köyü with its original mosque. In the little coffee-house of
the village we enjoy a nice glass of tea.
Finally we head for the small port of Saipalti following a path
along the sea. Day 5 : Visit to the market of Karaburun and swimming with picnic In the morning visit to the weekly market of Karaburun wit its various local products and herbs. In the afternoon we go for a swim in the beautiful little bay of Dolungaz, where we have a fruit and cheese party. Day 6: The
Valley of Uzundere (13,2 km – 5 hours We start at a fountain where hundreds of goats
gather every morning for drinking and where we also fill our bottles for
the walk. We then follow a trail through a pine-wood deep into the
valley. There we take a break at a small river midst the oleander and
plane-trees, enjoying nature and listening to the splashing of a small
cascade. An easy trail then takes us through the Valley of the Uzundere
River to the village of Bozköy which is still wearing traces of the
ancient Greek period. Day 7: Boat-trip Boat-trip
along the marvelous coastal line of the Karaburun Peninsula. During the
boat-trip we swim and
snorkel in the crystal clear bleu water of deserted little bays and
coves. An ideal opportunity to discover Karaburun underwater. Day 8: Cultural visit to Ephesus Visit to the antique site of Ephesus, second important city of the Ionian Confederation and once cult center of Artemis, the Goddess of Fertility. Ephesus is known in the whole world as the most spectacular historical site of Turkey. Visit to the little village of Sirince, where we have lunch in a magnificently restored old school building with view on the village and the surrounding vineyards. This visit is also the occasion to admire typical Turkish handicraft. Day 9: The phantom-village & barbecue (5 km – 3 hours) In the afternoon we leave for the abandoned
village of Sazak where we visit the ruins of this old Greek village. We
then descend towards a narrow valley and follow a riverbed until the
sea. On the beach we have a barbecue with the sunset as little extra. Day 10 : Visit to Izmir Visit
to the Archeological Museum of Izmir with its unique collection from the
Antique Period. Further discover and shopping trip in the Bazaar of
Izmir with its thousands of little shops and odd boutiques. Day 11: The forest-trail(16,2 km – 5,5 hours) Starting at the old village of Yaylaköy we
descend to the brooklet of Çirakli with its peculiar monolith. From
there we follow a trail through the pine-forest at the foot of the
Bozdag range until the valley of Karareis, where several small rivers
unite. Day 12 : Visit to Erythrai and visit to the hamam in Çesme Short break at the mountain village of Yaylaköy,
where time seems to have stopped. Beautiful ride along the West-coast of
the Peninsula of Karaburun. Visit to the ruins of the antique site of
Erythrai, one of the 12 cities of the Ionian Confederation known
for being the residence of one of the most famous Sibyls. Visit of the
holyday village of Çesme where we relax and have a thorough scrub in
the local hamam. Day 13: Parlak - Badembükü (short walk) Free morning. In
the afternoon short walk (2 hours) through the canyon and the olive
groves of Parlak, with swimming and fish-barbeque on the beach of Badembükü. Day 14 : Free day Day 15: Transfer to Izmir Note: although very rarely, it may occur that the guides are obliged to change or adapt the program for several reasons (weather conditions, fatigue of the participants etc.) The alternative programs are always selected in function of the safety of the participants. The guides will inform the participants as soon as possible of any change in the program. |
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Transport & accommodation... A large number of direct and indirect regular and charter flights links various European cities to Izmir, from where you can reach the Karaburun Peninsula. The travel expenses up to Izmir are not included in our prices. The participants to our programs are themselves in charge of the organization of their trip to Izmir. The transfer-costs between Izmir airport and Karaburun, as well as the daily transfer-costs for the walking-tours and cultural visits are included in the prices. Depending on your preference, you will be accommodated either in a three-star hotel or in an appart hotel in Karaburun with half-board formula (breakfast & supper). Both hotels are located on one of the four Blue Flag beaches of Karaburun. The accommodation costs on the basis of half-board are included in our prices. Beverages, extras and tips are not included. |
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Cultural visits... The cultural visits are organized by Aktif Azimut Ltd. in function of the preferences of the participants, the season and the weather conditions. These visits take one day and the transfers are organized by our company. |
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Click
here for price list.
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here to fill out the on-line booking form.
For more information :
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