Even though fall has started to fade away and winter has started to show its cold face, tour operators are offering one-day "fall tours" to destinations around İstanbul for city residents who are fed up with the dreariness of city life.




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İstanbul, a city of many millions, can sometimes be unbearable with its traffic and crowds, and working life is exhausting for many here. But if you think that the chance to grab a weekend away from İstanbul has gone because the summer has ended, you would be wrong. Although tours to seaside resorts for a few days at the beach have ended, you still have the chance to escape from this tiring city for a day or two.
There are many destinations less than 100 kilometers away from the city center of İstanbul that offer opportunities for rest and relaxation for city residents, many of whom are reluctant to go far away, even in the fall.

Bülent Bek, the general manager of Travel Terminal Tours, said this time puts people in the mood for a different type of holiday, one that echoes the changing spirit of the season, and it is now time for fall excursions.

"Fall makes people more emotional, thoughtful and romantic," says Bek. Visits to villages and small towns such as Ağva and Polonezköy spring to mind when putting together tour itineraries at this time of year, according to Bek. Ağva, a small, green town to the northeast of İstanbul, is ideal for a one-day break from the urban jungle. Just under 100 kilometers from İstanbul, Ağva has been traditionally associated with summer getaways, with its long and clear beaches, but is now the first choice of those who want to flee the noise of the city and holiday peacefully during this season. Maybe the most attractive thing about this town is it is located in the delta of the Göksu and Yeşilçay Rivers. "We start the day in the early morning with a six-kilometer-long trek. It is an indescribable feeling to walk through the forests of Ağva on the rustling leaves," Bek said, while talking about the tour he organized last weekend. "After having lunch at a restaurant along the banks of the Yeşilçay, we took up a cruise along the Yeşilçay, ending where it flows into the Black Sea," he explained.

Polonezköy, the "back garden" of İstanbul, is also an attractive getaway for İstanbullus. Located around 20 kilometers from the district of Beykoz, a suburb of İstanbul, it was founded by Polish settlers in 1846. This "Polish village" -- the translation of the name in English -- is situated inside a forest which was declared a natural park in 1996

The charming Polonezköy

A one-day tour is the best way for visiting Polonezköy. There are plenty of relaxing places to visit in Polonezköy: the house where the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Atatürk stopped once for a brief visit -- now a small museum; beautiful forested parklands; old wooden houses; and a few shops with local produce and crafts.

Those who like a more active outdoor life have quite a choice. Inland from the coast, the rolling hills and peaceful forests create an excellent environment for horseback riding; with horses available from the main square. There is also a very pleasant five-kilometer hiking path among cherry orchards. Although houses and restaurants serve a delicious selection of fresh local food in the village, having a picnic might be a better idea in Polonezköy since the restaurants are a touch expensive.

Tour operators note that fall is in fact the ideal season for trekking and walks in nature. "Nature shows off its splendor each and every season. The nature walks we organize are the best opportunity to enjoy the beauties of nature," said Cevdet Oğuz of the Tamzaratur tour agency. Stating that nature treks considerably increase in the fall, Oğuz said Tamzaratur organize journeys to various places, including the Menekşe, Erikli and Sultanpınar plateaus situated between İstanbul and İzmit.

"Apart from nature treks, local tourists mostly prefer tours which focus on culture in the fall and spring, which are more suitable for sightseeing since the weather is warm," Bek also said. One of the most popular cultural tours taken by İstanbul residents are those to Bursa's İznik district, formerly known as Nicea, which is famous because of its pottery and has been an important center of trade on the road to the East from İstanbul throughout history. İznik, an ancient town, was first established in 310 B.C. It was part of the Roman, Byzantine, and Seljuk empires and remained under the sovereignty of Ottoman Empire for an extended period of time. Since most of the historical buildings are well preserved, the area looks like an open-air museum.

A number of tour operators including Tamzaratur offer you a one-day trip to this town, which bears the traces of history. The former Ottoman capital of Edirne, along with Çanakkale, famous for the ancient city of Troy and the nearby World War I battlefield of Gallipoli are also among the alternatives for cultural enrichment that tour agents provide.

As for the cost of a day trip away from İstanbul, either by having a nature walk through Tamzaratur or by taking a rest amidst freshening weather in Ağva, one-day tour prices are generally around YTL 60-80 per person, all inclusive.

Kenan Oruç from Arnika Tourism said although there is a relatively less demand for fall tours this year due to the global financial crisis and its associated economic effects, a small trip to the unknown beauties of İstanbul is well worth the cost. Although a tour operator would recommend using a guide to get the most out of the places you visit, you can also travel to these spots under your own steam, which will help you save time and money as long as you are well equipped and well informed.



19 November 2008, Wednesday


ŞULE KULU İSTANBUL