Türkiye
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A sunrise over the fairy chimneys from your cave hotel terrace, the marble streets of Ephesus and a day swimming off a boat in Bodrum: this is the best of Türkiye without the long bus rides. You’ll fly between Istanbul, Cappadocia and the Aegean coast, so your days go to the good stuff. Along the way you’ll share a home-cooked lunch in a Cappadocia woman’s kitchen, eat a feast made by village moms outside Ephesus and taste fruit wine in the hilltop village of Şirince. Your nights are spent in a boutique hotel by the Bosphorus, a cave hotel carved into the rock and a spa hotel in Bodrum, before one last swim in the Aegean.
Inclusions
Handpicked stays
Boutique hotels in Istanbul, Selçuk and Bodrum, plus two nights in a cave hotel in Cappadocia.
13 meals
8 breakfasts, 4 lunches and a welcome dinner, including a home-cooked lunch with a local woman in Cappadocia and a spread made by village moms near Ephesus.
All activities, included
- ✓A sunrise hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia
- ✓Two nights in a cave hotel
- ✓The cave churches of Göreme
- ✓An underground city at Kaymaklı
- ✓A home-cooked lunch with a local woman in Cappadocia
- ✓Ephesus and the Temple of Artemis
- ✓A village moms’ feast near Ephesus
- ✓Wine tasting in Şirince
- ✓A full day on a boat in Bodrum
- ✓A hands-on Ottoman marbling class
- ✓The Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar
- ✓Bodrum Castle
A local female guide
A local woman leads you from the welcome dinner to the last breakfast. She knows which bazaar stalls are worth your time, where the good tea is and how to dodge the crowds at Ephesus.
All transport
Airport pickup when you land in Istanbul, two domestic flights, a private air-conditioned vehicle on the coast and a boat out into the bays of Bodrum.
A matched roommate
Our compatibility quiz pairs you with someone you’ll actually click with. Hello, cave hotel roommate. Want your own space? Private rooms are available.
Two domestic flights
Istanbul to Cappadocia, then Cappadocia to İzmir, so you skip the long drives across the middle of the country. One checked bag of up to 15kg (33 lb) plus a carry-on.
Highlights
Float over Cappadocia in a sunrise hot air balloon
Walk the marble streets of ancient Ephesus
Eat a home-cooked lunch in a Cappadocia woman’s kitchen
Sleep in a cave hotel carved into Cappadocia’s rock
Spend a full day swimming off a boat in Bodrum’s bays
Float over Cappadocia in a sunrise hot air balloon
Drift above the fairy chimneys and rose-colored valleys as the sun comes up
Walk the marble streets of ancient Ephesus
Then taste fruit wine in the hilltop village of Şirince
Eat a home-cooked lunch in a Cappadocia woman’s kitchen
Family recipes and a real look at everyday life in Anatolia
Sleep in a cave hotel carved into Cappadocia’s rock
Stone walls, a terrace over the valley and balloons drifting past at breakfast
Spend a full day swimming off a boat in Bodrum’s bays
Turquoise water, swim stops and lunch on deck, with nowhere to be
Your Itinerary
Pick a day to see where you are and what you’ll do.
AFTERNOONLand in Istanbul and walk straight out to a friendly face at arrivals, then check in to your hotel in Karaköy, right by the Bosphorus.
EVENINGMeet the women you’ll spend the next 9 days with at 5pm, then head down into an ancient underground cistern for your first dinner together, all stone arches and candlelight.
Dinner
MORNINGSwirl color across a tray of water in an Ebru workshop, the old Ottoman art of marbling, then lift your pattern onto paper. No two come out the same, and yours comes home with you.
AFTERNOONWalk the heart of the old city with your guide, from the Hagia Sophia and the Hippodrome where chariots once raced to the Blue Mosque, covered in more than 20,000 hand-painted tiles. Grab lunch wherever your guide points you.
EVENINGLose yourself in the Grand Bazaar, a covered maze of spices, lamps and gold, then spend the rest of the evening your way.
Breakfast
MORNINGCatch an early flight to Cappadocia, then explore the Göreme Open Air Museum, a valley of rock-cut churches with Byzantine paintings still glowing on the walls after 700 years.
AFTERNOONSit down to lunch at a restaurant run entirely by local women, cooking the food they grew up on, then stop at a family pottery studio.
EVENINGSettle into your cave hotel with the rest of the day free, or join an optional quad bike or horseback ride, or a Turkish night with dinner and dancing.
Breakfast, Lunch
MORNINGFloat over the fairy chimneys at sunrise on your hot air balloon flight, included in your trip, as hundreds of balloons rise around you. Then head underground into Kaymaklı, a city carved deep into the rock where whole communities once lived.
AFTERNOONShare a home-cooked lunch hosted by a local woman, then block-print your own Anatolian tote at a women’s cooperative in Ürgüp and watch silk go from cocoon to thread in Ortahisar.
EVENINGSpend your last night in Cappadocia your way, with your guide on hand for dinner tips.
Breakfast, Lunch
MORNINGSay goodbye to Cappadocia on an early flight west to İzmir, then drive about an hour to Selçuk, a small town in the hills just inland from the Aegean.
AFTERNOONTake the rest of the day easy. Nap, find a café or wander the town before tomorrow’s big day in Ephesus.
Breakfast
MORNINGWalk the marble streets of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, then see what remains of the Temple of Artemis, once one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
AFTERNOONDig into a homemade buffet lunch cooked by moms from a nearby village, then wander up to Şirince, a hillside village of white houses known for its fruit wines, and taste a few.
EVENINGHead back to your hotel for a slow evening.
Breakfast, Lunch
MORNINGDrive south to Bodrum, about three hours, and check in by the sea.
AFTERNOONGrab lunch wherever your guide recommends, then explore Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights of St John in the 1400s and now home to a museum of treasures pulled from ancient shipwrecks.
EVENINGStroll the marina and the old town, or claim a seaside table for sunset.
Breakfast
MORNINGSet off on a boat into the bays of the Bodrum peninsula, where the water is so clear you can see the bottom.
AFTERNOONSwim off the side, dry off in the sun and eat lunch on deck with nowhere in the world to be.
EVENINGSpend your last night out with the group, swapping photos and plotting your next adventure.
Breakfast, Lunch
MORNINGShare one last Turkish breakfast, hug it out and head off whenever your flight calls.
Breakfast
From $4,595 · 9 days · Max 14 women · $550 holds your spot
Where you’ll stay
ISTANBUL · 2 NIGHTS
Root Karaköy Bosphorus
A boutique stay in Karaköy, Istanbul’s waterfront neighborhood of cafés and galleries, a short walk from the Bosphorus and the Galata Tower.
CAPPADOCIA · 2 NIGHTS
Agarta Cave Hotel
Your room is carved straight into the rock, with stone walls and a terrace looking out over Çavuşin. Step outside at dawn and the balloons drift right overhead. Plus one of the best Turkish breakfasts around.
BODRUM · 2 NIGHTS
Bodrium Hotel & Spa
A calm hotel with a spa, close to Bodrum’s marina and old town. Come back salty from the boat day and let the spa do the rest.
Roommates, matched
Our compatibility quiz, built with a matchmaker and psychologist, pairs you with someone you’ll actually click with. Or upgrade to a private room.
Who you’ll travel with
Up to 13 other women, most of whom booked on their own. They range from 28 to 88, and it’s the cave dinners, workshops and boat days that bond you. 92% of our travelers say they keep in touch after the trip ends.
✓Meet your group on WhatsApp before you fly
✓A welcome dinner on night one, with your guide making the introductions
✓Solo time built in, so you’re never forced to be “on”
“This group of SoFe women has been amazing, just great positive energy and lots of support.”
Kelly · Türkiye
The people behind your trip
Your guide
Feyza
A licensed guide and former chef who knows Türkiye inside out, from the backstreets of Istanbul where the good tea is to the quiet bays most people miss. She loves guiding women most of all.
Feyza is the cool sister you always wished you had. She will crack jokes in that dry Turkish way, bring you to the freshest baklava stalls you didn’t even notice, and have deep chats over sunsets and a beer if that’s your vibe.
Your driver
Fatma
Fatma is one of the only women drivers in all of Türkiye and a very loved member of the SoFe team. She knows the sweetest roadside melon stalls and while she doesn’t speak English you will always know how much she adores you. She’s so proud to be our driver that she got our logo tattooed on her arm, and we love her just as much.
When you’re winding through Cappadocia or cruising down the Aegean coast, you’re riding with a legend. That’s her in the photo with our founder, Amanda.
Founder
Amanda Black
After getting robbed as a backpacker, Amanda vowed no woman traveling alone should ever feel that stranded. Since 2018 and hundreds of group trips, she’s still keeping that promise.
Behind the scenes
Our operations team
You’ll see Feyza and our local partners. Behind them, our team follows every day of your trip to keep you safe and on track.
In their words
★★★★★ 4.7 on Trustpilot · Read all reviews
★★★★★
“I went on this trip totally solo, but left with friends for life!”
Stephanie
Türkiye
★★★★★
“We go into people’s homes to appreciate and understand their culture and traditions.”
Aiheeya R.
Türkiye
★★★★★
“Nothing was too much trouble and the whole trip was filled with joy and love.”
Amanda M.
Türkiye
Your Safety on tour
Never on your own, unless you want to be
“This was my first solo trip and first experience of SoFe and I was not disappointed!”
Amanda M. · Türkiye
A local female guide, every day
We meet you at the airport
Private transport, vetted routes
Pre-trip guides, so you land prepared
Guides who handle the bazaar hustle
One guide in front, a whole team behind her
“This was my first solo trip and first experience of SoFe and I was not disappointed!”
Amanda M. · Türkiye
Choose your departure
$550 holds your spot
It comes off your total.
Pay at your pace
As much and as often as you like. Balance due 90 days out.
Plans change? Transfer for free
Move your spot to another date or trip with 90+ days’ notice.
Per person, USD · Other currencies at checkout · 🔒 Secure checkout with Stripe
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Questions women ask before booking
Is this trip right for me?
Two early flights. You’ll fly Istanbul to Cappadocia and Cappadocia to İzmir, both in the morning.
Pack light. Domestic flights allow one checked bag of up to 15kg (33 lb) plus a carry-on.
Cover up for mosques. Bring a scarf and cover your shoulders and knees for the Blue Mosque. Everywhere else is relaxed.
How active is this trip?
Moderate. You’ll walk a few miles most days, on cobblestones in Istanbul, the uneven marble of Ephesus and the valleys of Cappadocia. The underground city has low, narrow tunnels, worth knowing if you’re claustrophobic. Balloon morning means a pre-dawn start.
Thanks to the two flights, there are no long drives. The longest is about three hours, from Selçuk to Bodrum.
Where do I arrive and leave from?
Arrive: Istanbul Airport (IST), any time on day one, and we’ll pick you up whenever you land. We recommend landing by 2pm so you’re settled in time for the welcome meeting at 5pm.
Leave: Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV), any time on the last day. It’s an easy hop back to Istanbul for flights home. Your airport drop-off isn’t included, but your guide can help you arrange a ride.
Do I have to share a room?
Only if you want to. Twin-share rooms are included in the price, or you can upgrade to a private room. If you share, you’ll take our roommate compatibility quiz, built with a professional matchmaker and psychologist, and we pair you with someone who fits how you travel: early riser or night owl, social butterfly or quiet recharger.
Will we stay in the places shown on this page?
Usually, yes. These are the places we book. Now and then one is unavailable, and we swap it for a stay of the same standard or better.
Do I need a visa?
For most travelers, no. Passport holders from the US, Canada, the UK and most of the EU can visit Türkiye visa-free for up to 90 days. Some other passports need an e-visa, which you apply for online.
Requirements depend on your passport, so once you book, we’ll walk you through exactly what you need, step by step, until you land in Istanbul.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, travel insurance is required for every traveler. When you book your spot, you can add a plan from our preferred insurance partner in a couple of clicks, or choose your own provider and add your policy details any time before departure.
What’s not included?
International flights.
Travel insurance, which is required.
Visas, if your passport needs one.
Tips for your guide and driver.
Your airport drop-off on the last day.
Meals not listed in the itinerary.
Optional extras
What if I need to cancel?
90 or more days before departure: we’ll transfer your deposit to another SoFe trip, any date or any destination. Or we’ll hold it for up to a year until you’re ready to choose.
Fewer than 90 days before departure: payments are non-refundable, so you’d claim through your travel insurance. That’s exactly what it’s there for.
Everything you need before you go
The dress code, a printable packing list, and books and films to get you in the mood.
Your spot is waiting.
From $4,595 · 9 days · Max 14 women · $550 holds your spot
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