Great family adventures. A time to recharge, rejuvenate and reconnect. Our biking vacation in Turkey is the perfect getaway for you and your brood to do all those things and more. Spend days exploring the warm, friendly Turkish coastline and split your nights between spectacular hotels, like Mehmet Ali Aga Mansion, and a Turkish gulet, serenely floating on the Mediterranean. Pedal past pine forests and olive groves then pass evenings marveling at the constellations, munching on small plates of almonds, honey and fresh cheeses and just shooting the breeze. It's a family memory just waiting to be made.
Day 1 Pine-dappled hills, olive groves, lively seaside resorts and friendly villages
Greetings of merhaba! (hello!) fill the air as you pedal the countryside outside Bodrum Splash in the Aegean Sea, then get to know your fellow travelers during a feast of Turkish specialties.
Days 2-3 The ruins of Knidos, once a jewel of Greek civilization
Ferry across the Aegean, then spin along the beautiful coast and mountainous spine of the rugged Datça Peninsula You and your gang are welcomed like family at a restaurant overlooking the marina The sparkling Mediterranean beckons - care for a swim? A delicious lunch of grilled fish awaits your two-wheeled arrival in Datça Bike to the tip of the peninsula to explore the ruins of Knidos.
Day 4 Experience the magical, colorful crossroads of East and West
In Turgutköy village, witness the intricacies of silk weaving and carpet making Explore the quiet nooks and crannies of Selimiye, a hamlet known for boat building Secluded Ekincik Bay hosts our first evening under the stars.
Days 5-7 Ship ahoy! Sail the Mediterranean for three days in traditional wooden <i>gulets</i>,
dropping anchor to swim, snorkel and snooze Remote coves provide shelter for fun-filled water activities, and coastal hills invite exploration on foot and by bike Check out the well-preserved Roman theater and remains of Lycian and Carian tombs in Kaunos Beneath towering cliffs, kayak through reed beds to thermal mud baths thought to have healing properties A nomadic family shares an insider's view of life in Turkey's remote high valleys How's your swan dive? Plunge into Cleopatra's Bay, where partially submerged ruins of an ancient Greek monastery are visible in the crystal-clear water.
Trip Highlights
- Experience the crossroads of East and West
- Rides through pine-dappled hills, olive groves, craggy outcrops, sunny beaches and friendly villages
- The ancient ruins of Knidos and Kaunos
- Break bread with a Turkish family at their traditional home
- Sail the Mediterranean in traditional wooden gulets, dropping anchor to swim, snorkel and slumber
Premiere Inns
The Marmara Bodrum (1 night): Hideaway Report calls it a "sophisticated contemporary hotel commanding a spectacular vantage point high above Bodrum." (pool, spa, tennis)
Mehmet Ali Aga Mansion (2 nights): This 19th-century country home has been restored and converted into a beautiful hotel with a Turkish bath and atmospheric gardens. (pool)
Turkish Yachts (3 nights): Traditional wooden gulets, featuring private rooms and fresh regional cuisine prepared by the crew, carry us along the coast by day and into peaceful coves by night.
Routes For All Abilities
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of
interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one
day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat
from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each
day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
| Daily Route Options | ||||||||||
| Day | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | ||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | |
| 1 | 19* | 1300 | 27 | 1900 | ||||||
| 2 | 15* | 1200 | 32 | 1600 | ||||||
| 3 | 16* | 1800 | 25* | 2600 | 45 | 5400 | ||||
| Visit to the ruins of Knidos | ||||||||||
| Cooking class in Datça | ||||||||||
| 4 | 25 | 1300 | 40 | 1900 | ||||||
| Cruising on the Mediterranean | ||||||||||
| 5 | 15* | 1200 | ||||||||
| Cruising on the Mediterranean | ||||||||||
| Kayaking on Lake Koycegiz | ||||||||||
| 6 | Cleopatra`s Bay hike (3.1 miles; 700` elevation gain) | |||||||||
| Optional afternoon activities on Gocek Bay | ||||||||||
| Cruising on the Mediterranean | ||||||||||
| 7 | Conclusion of the trip | |||||||||
To make for the most comfortable ride to this particular trip, we've outfitted our titanium road bike with slightly wider tires.
* Includes a shuttle
2013 Dates & Pricing*
FAMILY TRIPS
- 6/25-7/1 Price: $6098 pp dbl. occ., (+ $990 for sgl. occ.)
*Prices may change. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.
Recommended Kids Ages
Minimum Ages:
- Recommended minimum age for the trip: 9 years
- Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 9 years
- No Burleys or Piccolos available on this trip
General Info on Minimum Ages:
We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:- 12+ amount of cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities, routes
- 9+ difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions, routes
- 6+ several longer dinners; routes are difficult for pulling a Burley and therefore not appropriate for younger children; difficulty of activities/activity age restrictions
Guest Trip Reviews
We're pretty sure this will be a vacation your family will rave about long after you all return home! By day you'll pedal through rugged pine-dotted countryside, investigate the remains of long-disappeared civilizations, barter with shopkeepers in the local bazaars and swim in secluded bays. And at night you'll indulge in unforgettable feasts before being lulled to sleep by sultry Mediterranean breezes. What could be better?- Regional Manager, Europe