Audley features Turkey for the first time

Audley has introduced Turkey as a destination for the first time. They are offering tailor-made tours throughout the country and can arrange culture-focused trips, longer overland explorations, coastal breaks or a mixture of all of the above.

As well as visiting some of the well-known sites, Audley suggest some more unique, local experiences such as wine tasting in a top vineyard, a pottery workshop or a cookery lesson in a family home, thereby enabling clients to really get under the skin of this fascinating country. They have also carefully selected a range of excellent and characterful accommodation including family-run guesthouses, cave hotels and stylish modern boutique properties.

Due to the country’s enormous size, Audley recommend traveling from place to place by both private car and driver, and for the longer distances, using domestic flights. They have chosen the very top private guides and drivers who will give clients the flexibility to try and avoid the crowds at the most famous sites as well as getting off the beaten track and seeing some lesser-known attractions.

Some of Audley's favorite places to stay are:

• Vault Karakoy, Istanbul — located in an ancient bank, it still has a number of old-fashioned vaults — one of which is now the hotel's wine cellar. The building has been restored but with original features retained and simply embellished with touches of modern luxury throughout.
• Alavya, Alacati — an exceptional property with just 25 rooms set in six traditional houses, which are all around a central garden, courtyard and swimming pool. An excellent base from which to explore and relax.
• Gullu Konaklari, Sirince — surrounded by vineyards and with its own farm and orchards, guests are treated to excellent meals using the hotel’s own produce. Gullu Konaklari has 12 rooms spread between an attractive mansion and a more traditional stone house. The property is a haven for those wanting time to relax after sightseeing.
• Argos, Cappadocia — a beautiful example of a series of restored cave dwellings with outstanding views. The hotel has an ancient underground tunnel and a subterranean warren, which has been converted into extensive wine cellars including wine from its own vineyard. It also has a kitchen garden and dried chilies can often be seen hanging from a fairy chimney within the grounds.
• Kimera Lounge, Cirali — overlooked by the impressive Mount Olympus. Kimera Lounge is set in expansive grounds brimming with fruit trees and flowering shrubs. Each of the 54 villa-styled rooms is named after a different type of fruit, which denotes its size. The hotel has a very good spa and hammam.

A 10 day tailor-made tour of Turkey costs from £2,340 per person to include return flights, a private guide and driver and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. For a more comprehensive itinerary, Audley suggest an 18 day Grand Tour of Turkey, which takes in many of the historical sites as well as exploring some of the country's staggering landscape. This trip costs from £5,095 per person.