Guided Walking Weeks at Mandarin & Mango Boutique Hotels

18 - 25 April, 16 - 23 May and 24 September - 1 October 2024.

Mandarin & Mango's rural setting close to the ancient Lycian Way makes this the perfect base for keen walkers. For those who are happy to walk by themselves, we are always pleased to offer suggestions and advice, but for those who prefer walking in like-minded company with expert local guidance, our dedicated Walking Weeks in spring and autumn are ideal. Run in small groups of no more than 8 people, these weeks will not only enable you to discover some of the most beautiful local scenery, but also to learn more about rural life in Turkey and to visit some of the lesser known archaeological sites.

For just €110 per person on top of the cost of your stay, the week includes five daily walks with our guide and transportation on those days where we explore further afield. A reasonable level of fitness and sturdy walking boots are required but the routes are designed to allow you to enjoy the countryside at a fairly leisurely pace and not to test your endurance.

Please contact us for availability and to reserve your place.

Itinerary

Day 1:

Informal welcome dinner to get to know your hosts and fellow travellers.

Day 2:

We explore the fertile Kaya Valley, walking to Afkule with its Byzantine Monastery, and stopping for local specialities in the atmospheric ruined village of Kayakoy (approx. 10 km walking). For those who are interested, there is the opportunity to enjoy a two-hour horse-riding excursion around the Kaya Valley (payable locally).

Day 3:

A walk above the coast with stunning views down to the Butterfly Valley. We descend through the forest and walk along Aktas Beach towards Kabak where we have a light lunch. Those who wish can walk down to Kabak beach for a swim before the return walk (approx. 14 km).

Day 4:

We will take transportation from Mandarin & Mango to Ovacik, which is the starting point of the Lycian way. Walking above Oludeniz beach and lagoon up to Kozagac, we enjoy stunning views over the sea and mountains. After a break in a pancake house, we then walk along the tarmac road to the Village of Kirme, from where we will start our descend towards Faralya. (Approx. 18km walking).

Day 5:

A short drive to Uzumlu, famous for its grapes, then a walk up to the atmospheric archaeological site of Cadyanda which we will explore at leisure (approx. 9 km).

Day 6:

A free day to relax at base, go shopping in Fethiye or visit the lagoon at Oludeniz. For any qualified divers, we can arrange a diving excursion with a local dive centre (payable locally).

Day 7:

Drive up to Alinca and walk down to Faralya along part of the Lycian Way, with spectacular views over Kabak Bay and Gemiler Bay before returning to Mandarin & Mango for your farewell dinner.

The itinerary is subject to change according to local conditions.

For those with a keen interest in botany, we particularly recommend our walking weeks in the spring, when the local countryside is awash with a wide variety of wild flowers. Please click here for a list of some of the species identified by two of our more expert guests during their stay from 27 April to 4 May 2015, with kind thanks to Anne and Ronald Richardson.

Furthermore, Turkey is very rich in different species of orchid, and our region (Mugla) is the province with the greatest proliferation. Many of the rarer species are inconspicuous and only likely to be spotted by specialists. For those with an interest in orchids, please click here for a list of local species kindly provided by Maria Jonker, a retired teacher based in Dalyan, who together with her husband runs the environmental and educational volunteer group Riverbums.

Private Walking Groups

If none of the above Walking Week dates should suit, or if you are planning to travel with your own group or walking club, we are also happy to arrange private walking tours for groups of between 4 and 22 people. Itineraries can be tailored to suit your group's particular preferences, including shorter or longer stays. Please don't hesitate to contact us to discuss your plans without any obligation.

In October 2015, we arranged a private walking week for a group of 19 walkers from Nottinghamshire, which was deemed a resounding success by all concerned. We were delighted to receive the following note from the group's organiser, Dr Foster:

Dear Ghislain,
I just want to say personally that I cannot thank you enough for all you did for our group of walkers.
You made us feel very special and contributed so much to the enrichment of our walking experience with the local history, culture, archeology, flora & fauna, and the sampling of local eateries. And, on top of all that, a magical hotel with a superb team of staff to look after us. Many in the group have said this was the best walking holiday they have had to date. And that is saying a lot as we have never been disappointed!
You dealt with us with such good humour and tolerance given our very varied personalties. On reflection, perhaps the only thing which keeps us together as a group is our ability to laugh at each other's foibles. I think you quickly realised that after the first 24 hours! Well done you!
David has sent a glowing report to trip advisor. Well deserved, Ghislain.
Best wishes to you and your team both at Mandarin/Mango and at your Cachet Travel London base,
Dinah

In addition to her kind words, Dr Foster also gave us permission to share her photographs of the group's holiday, so for an impression of the landscapes, views and archaeological sites experienced on one of our walking weeks, please view our Walking Week image gallery.

All our tours in 2024 are covered under the Tursab-licence of our agent, Light Tours (Tursab Nr. 1739).