NOMADS OF TAURUS MOUNTAINS & TEXTILES OF ASIA MINOR – Summer 2027

Nomads of Taurus Mountains & Textiles of Asia Minor - summer 2027

Tour Start Dates:

GUARANTEED DEPARTURE: Minimum 4 people

In the footsteps of ancient Anatolian Turkmens and Lycians

: 16th century Lotto Carpet, TIEM, Istanbul

: Galata Tower 14th century; Istanbul

: Taurus pastures/Antalya/Turkey

: Antalya Archeological Museum

Textiles of Asia Minor & the Taurus Mountains is an immersive 13-day journey designed to develop a deeper understanding of Turkish culture, textiles, cuisine, nature, and local history.

We will explore the history of Anatolian and Turkish textiles in the Taurus Mountains and the wider Antalya region, living for several days among the nomadic communities of Anatolian Turkmens.

The Nomadic Way

For part of our journey, we will experience the world through the eyes of real nomads. We will stay in a traditional black nomadic tent, woven by carpet weavers on a rug-weaving loom, and migrate from one pasture to another.

Along the way, we will follow the entire journey of wool—from fleece to textile. We will learn how to wash, comb, spin, and dye wool, and explore the fundamentals of weaving. We will walk through forests and open pastures to reach one of the largest nomadic encampment areas of southwestern Anatolia.

We will also learn to prepare traditional Anatolian Turkmen bread and cheese, sharing meals and daily life with the people who continue these traditions today.

THE ITINERARY

Day 1 – Arrival in Istanbul

Our group leader, Deniz, will welcome you at Istanbul Airport and accompany you to the hotel. After your long journey from Canada, there will be time to settle in and rest before we gather for our first dinner together.

Day 2 – Istanbul to Kaş

We will transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Dalaman. From Dalaman, Deniz will lead the group on the scenic 3–3.5-hour drive to Kaş, on the Mediterranean coast. After checking into our hotel, there will be time to relax, swim, enjoy the sun, or simply rest before our mountain adventure begins. Deniz will take the group to lunch, followed by an orientation meeting in the evening and a welcome dinner in central Kaş. B.L.D.

Day 3 – Patara Ancient City

We will travel to Patara Ancient City, one of the most important cities of ancient Lycia and a major port of the region. Patara is also traditionally associated with St. Nicholas, who was born here in the 3rd century AD. After lunch, we will return to Kaş and enjoy the remainder of the day by the sea, with time to relax before dinner. B.L.D.

Day 4 – Into the Taurus Mountains

The morning will be free from breakfast until lunch. After lunch, we will drive for approximately one hour into the Western Taurus Mountains, reaching our encampment at around 1,000 meters / 3,000 feet. Here we will meet our team and settle into our large black nomadic tent, woven by Turkish carpet weavers on traditional handlooms. Each guest will receive a chuval, a traditional nomadic storage bag, handwoven on a rug loom, which will serve as personal luggage during our migration. We will explore the construction of the tent and discover how the same space functions as a living room by day and a bedroom at night. Dinner will be shared with a genuine nomadic family living among several hundred sheep and goats, offering us a rare glimpse into their traditional way of life.

Day 5-Migration Day

We will rise at 07:00, enjoy coffee and a light snack of walnuts and molasses, load our personal belongings onto the pack animals, and begin our migration. We will follow ancient Turkmen migration paths for approximately 2.5 hours, reaching our resting point around 10:30. We will spend several hours here enjoying a traditional Turkish breakfast and lunch, resting beneath cedar and juniper trees, and taking in the surrounding landscape. At 16:30, we will continue our journey toward our overnight camp, located in a vast cedar forest at approximately 1,800 meters. Thyme, wildflowers, and mountain air will accompany us along the way. We will finish the day with a delicious Turkish village dinner and spend the night in our black nomadic tent. B.L.D.

Day 6-Life on the Pasture

We will wake at 09:00 and begin the day with breakfast before walking along the forest roads. As we explore the landscape, we will discuss the close relationship between people, animals, and nature that has shaped nomadic life for centuries. Lunch will be served in our tent. Afterwards, we will watch demonstrations of wool combing and spinning—the first stages in the transformation of fleece into textile. We will then begin dyeing yarn for the small textile project we will develop during the following days. Deniz will introduce the traditional techniques of wool processing and natural dyeing. We will also learn how to prepare Anatolian Turkmen bread, making and enjoying it throughout our stay. Before dinner, we will explore the relationship between music, rhythm, nature, and the human body, including a discussion of the traditional understanding of music's healing qualities. Dinner and overnight in the black tent. B.L.D.

Day 7 –Meeting the Nomads

After breakfast at 09:00, we will walk along the forest road to visit a nearby nomadic family. We will spend time with them, learning about their lifestyle, listening to their stories, and experiencing their generous and deeply rooted understanding of life. After returning to our tent for lunch, we will learn how milk is processed into traditional nomadic cheese. We will prepare enough to enjoy during the remainder of our journey. In the afternoon, we will continue experimenting with natural dyes and discover the remarkable range of colors that can be obtained from materials found in nature. Dinner and overnight in the black tent. B.L.D.

Day 8 – Moving to a Higher Pasture

Today we will continue our migration. A shuttle will take us to our new camp at approximately 2,100 meters, passing through beautiful and fertile apple-growing country. The afternoon will be devoted to continuing our natural dyeing work. Together, we will dye wool and explore the chemistry behind natural colors and the relationship between traditional knowledge and the natural environment. We will also gather selected herbs to use in tea, cheese, food, or dyeing. Before dinner, Deniz will introduce us to the fundamentals of nomadic weaving techniques. Dinner and overnight in the black tent. B.L.D.

Red Yarns Dyed with Madder Root

Nomad Bread Making

Wool Combing

Day 9 – Pasture Life and Felt Making

We will wake at 08:00, have breakfast, and follow an old nomadic migration route for approximately one hour before reaching our destination. Surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery, we will meet members of a neighboring nomadic community and learn more about their lives and traditions. After returning to camp for lunch, we will wash fleece and learn how to make felt, one of the oldest and most important textile materials in nomadic life.

Day 10 –Green Lake, Waterfalls & Sufi Traditions

We will wake at 08:00 and visit Green Lake and the Flying Water waterfall, both located around 1,800 meters near our camp. We will then travel by shuttle to a Sufi shrine, where we will meet local dervishes and learn about the spiritual traditions of inner Anatolia. We will listen to Sufi music and witness a traditional sacred dance performance. Lunch will be served nearby before we return to the pasture. In the afternoon, we will begin preparing for our departure from the mountains. Our belongings will be packed for the following day's transfer to the town center. Dinner and overnight in the black tent. B.L.D.

The nomadic adventure will begin in minutes, the black tent will be packed, and the hand-crafted bags that we use as luggage will be loaded onto the horses. We will migrate like real nomads and experience the wisdom of the nomadic lifestyle and the beauty of nature during our journey. Come and join us.

Day 11 -Barak Village, Myra & Return to Kaş

We will travel by shuttle to Barak, a village with deep nomadic roots. Here we will visit a women's cooperative and see how traditional nomadic rugs are produced. We will then continue to Myra Ancient City, where St. Nicholas served as bishop after completing his religious education. We will explore the Lycian necropolis and visit a small local museum before returning to Kaş. After checking into our hotel, we will gather for our farewell dinner.

Day 12 –Return to Istanbul
After breakfast, we will drive to Dalaman Airport for our flight to Istanbul. Once we arrive, we will check into our hotel.
The remainder of the day will be free to relax, explore Istanbul independently, or simply rest before our journey home.

Day 13 –Departure

After breakfast, we will transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight to Canada.

The tour ends at Istanbul Airport.

Anatolian Turkmens from Fethiye

Anatolian Turkmens from Fethiye Region

Tour details:

Tour type: Cultural & Textile adventure

Activity rating: Moderate, walking on countryside pathways and trails, with easy walks in old nomadic migration paths.

Tour length:

9 days for the nomadic tour.

Tour cost: (Per person, sharing a double room)

-$ xxxxx per person,

- Kaş Hotel Single Supplement – $ 1xxxxx

Price Includes (For the nomadic adventure):

– 1 Night hotel and 8 nights camping accommodations,

–Dalaman Airport-Kaş -Dalaman Airport transfers with a 14 - 16-seat A/C Van;

– All meals included with selective local fresh choices. We have no restrictions – we provide all kinds of food (vegetarians are welcome);

– Bottled water at meals, during transportation, and at hotels;

– Full nomadic service in the mountains, including 2 helpers and several horses and donkeys for the group.

– A seaside 4- or 5-star hotel day, including the beach.

Price Excludes:

– Personal needs – laundry – alcoholic drinks, hotel extras, and phone calls, etc.

– External flights from the country of origin to Turkey and from Turkey to the country of origin;

– Gratuity to the black tent crew: $ 60 per participant (2 or 3 people will be in our 24-hour service during countryside camping).

Contact for more information:

DENIZ COSKUN – [email protected]

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