Goodbye Melbourne, Hello Istanbul

Two o'clock in the morning is certainly an early start to a long trip, but that was when our group of 19 was gathered at the departure gate for our flight to Dubai. Our final destination was Istanbul,Read more
Two o'clock in the morning is certainly an early start to a long trip, but that was when our group of 19 was gathered at the departure gate for our flight to Dubai. Our final destination was Istanbul,Read more
After arrival at Istanbul, we were whisked by minibus to our hotel in the Sultanahmet district of Istanbul. This is a superb location, with views over the Blue Mosque and down to the Bosporus Strait.Read more
Today was our chance to explore some parts of Istanbul, within walking distance of our hotel. The most unexpected of these was the huge underground water cistern. We were certainly not expecting toRead more
After having most of the day free to explore Istanbul, a late afternoon flight took us to Nevsihir, in the east of Turkey. We then had a 70 km drive to Ihlara.
The highlight of today was an extended walk down the magical Ihlara Valley. With its incredible protected microclimate and the towering rock walls pockmarked with carved dwelling places, there isRead more
Today our journey took us to Goreme. The Göreme National Park was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985. This is a fascinating area of flute chimneys and stunning rock formations.Read more
What better way to see the incredible sights of Cappodocia, than from the gondola of a hot air balloon ? Although our guide did not want us to leave the ground, he eventually gave in when I demandedRead more
After an early start, our diminished group starting walking into the wilderness of the Taurus Mountains. It did not take long for us to leave any trace of green far behind. In all directions we wereRead more