Constantinople On Wheels

• Meet at 08:45 at Karaköy Ferry Terminal.
• Drive to Şile (h 15m). Make a short stop on the beach for a quick dip if the weather is right.
• Drive 15 minutes to Ovacık Village and meet our host.
• Enjoy a hearty breakfast prepared with 100% local products and local specialties.
• Go for a 4k hike. If you are not in the mood for a hike, you can sit with the ladies of the cooperative and enjoy their company, or walk in the village.
• Re-group and start the workshop. The workshops vary depending on the season. The most popular one is pasta making followed by making fruit jams, vinegar, pickles, cheese, yoğurt and fruit harvest.
• Enjoy drinks and chat while the lunch is getting ready.
• Enjoy a delicious, local lunch.
• End the day with a relaxing cup of tea or coffee and engage in a meaningful conversation with the members of the Women’s Seed Cooperative. Ask them questions about their enterprise, how they started, the challenges they face, and their vision for the future. Be open to answering their questions too, and create a space for mutual learning and exchange of ideas.
• Return to Istanbul.

This tour is ideal for families with children of any age, as well as small groups of friends. The opportunity to interact with the local women, who have taken their futures into their own hands, is both rewarding and educational. If you are a foodie or believe in empowering women and supporting local communities, this community-based experience is a perfect choice for you.

This trip is enjoyable year-round, as each season offers its own unique charm. In spring, the mountains are covered with wildflowers. Summer brings the opportunity to swim in the refreshing waters of the Black Sea. Autumn is the perfect time to pick ripe fruits directly from the trees. In winter, you can enjoy peaceful walks in the snow and then warm up by a cozy wood fire.

• This tour is rewarding all year round. Make sure you are dressed season-appropriate.
• Comfortable shoes. Best, hiking boots with ankle support.
• Suntan lotion.
• Hat.
• Please follow the weather forecast. Bring a raincoat if necessary.
• You may bring a light towel and a bathing suit. We can squeeze in a quit dip into the Black Sea. Şile has nice sandy beaches.

We meet at 09:00 am in front of the Sirkeci Train Station. Please find your guide carrying the Hike’n Sail sign.