Since 1986 our founder Mike Belton has worked in a wide variety of destinations around the world, designing and operating activity, adventure and cultural tours. Somehow Turkey always pulled him back and, in 1994, he settled in the country and founded Amber Travel.
Mike and his wife Karen combine their passionate love of Turkey with a commitment to customer satisfaction: they research all new itineraries themselves and strive continually to keep programmes fresh and interesting. This has made Amber Travel one of the country’s most respected and admired travel operators, both within and outside the industry.
Expertise and Specialisation
Turkey-wide special interest tours together with activity and walking holidays in Lycia, on Turkey’s beautiful south coast.
Licences and Associations
Amber Travel are members of the Turkish Association of Travel Agents, licence number 1377. This is a ‘Class A’ agency status, the highest availableWe hold public liability and activity-specific insurance cover.
Responsible Travel
In our view there are cultural, economic and environmental aspects to Responsible Travel. Our programmes try to address all of these aspects:
Environmental:- we are always looking for ways to reduce the environmental impact of our tours. One major aspect we are addressing at the moment is the amount of waste created by disposable plastic water bottles, discarded by travellers. Our efforts are currently 3-fold:- we encourage our travellers to bring re-usable water bottles, we encourage hotels with which we have contracts to provide drinking water in large volume re-usable containers (from which travellers can re-fill for a small fee) and we are lobbying the national hotel associations to promote this idea.
Economic:- we do not just purchase locally, we also encourage the packaging and sale of local products in the villages where we visit and stay. For instance, if a farmer who hosts our travellers produces olive oil or honey (mainly for his own family or village use) we endeavour to provide appropriate containers to hold that product and allow its sale and transport to the travellers’ home country.
Cultural:- being responsible for the cultural aspects of responsible travel we ensure all our clients are sensitive to the practices and experiences of the people they meet when they travel.
Walking & Trekking Tours
Season: Year round
Explore the treasures and secrets of Turkey on foot and at your own pace. We offer various programmes of hotel-based hiking in different areas of the region with all levels catered for, from easy rambles to high-traverse treks! On such treks your main luggage is transported separately; only personal items and picnic are carried by hikers. Each route is uniquely researched and continually refreshed and updated. Each trip is designed to reflect the unique characteristics of the area. Walks can be arranged at any time of the year – all 4 seasons offer something new.
Cycling & Mountain Bike Tours
Season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Graded to suit your needs from rugged to relaxed. Discover the stunning natural beauty of Turkey from the comfort of your own saddle. Rides can be made year-round.
Special Interest Tours
Season: Year round
Textiles of Turkey, Islamic arts & Anatolian crafts (the folk art & fine art of Turkey), archaeology, cookery, architecture, wildflower weeks, art, painting and photography. Available all year-round.
Sea Kayaking Tours
Season: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
From day-trips to the sunken ruins of Kekova to fully-supported, multi-day sea kayaking expeditions with a support-boat. Available year-round with the exception of January and February
Study Trips
Season: Year round
This is a service we offer to universities and colleges from around the world: a study trip designed specifically in itinerary and content to meet the specific course requirements of the students/tutors. Meetings with course directors, research assistants and students in similar fields in Turkey can be arranged. The trip can be as active or academic as you like and can be designed to include elements of challenge for the students, such as overnight camping, overnight train journeys, hiking and sea-kayaking. Field projects can be devloped. Available year-round.
2 or 3 night private gulet trips
Season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
Charter a traditional wooden-hulled Turkish gulet and cruise your stresses away. Available late spring to late autumn.
Scuba Diving
Season: Year round
PADI-approved courses. Available year-round.
Paragliding
Season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
From Babadağ near Fethiye and from Asardağ above Kas.
Canyoning
Season: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
1 and 2-day trips are available depending upon local conditions, between June and October.
Off-Road Cultural Exploration
Season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov
1 or 2-day trips. Over-night in village houses or small rural hotels and see something of rural Turkey that tourists just don’t see.
Daily Boat Trips
Season: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Islands and bays of the area or day trips to the Kekova region. Enjoy an international day trip visiting the Greek island of Meis (Castellorizo) which lies just offshore from Kaş. The island boasts a museum, several churches, a ruined castle, attractive stone-built cottages, several excellent swimming spots and an array of cafés and restaurants dotted around the harbour – enough to keep everyone happy. Available April to November.
Food and Beverages
Included food and beverages are clearly explained for each trip or activity, there is a wide variety dependent upon the programme. On all tours we ensure that our clients enjoy different food styles to reflect the wide and nutritious variety of Turkish cuisine.
Accommodation
Whilst 3* and 4* hotels are the norm we also offer trips that utilize simple village houses or camping. When camping we use Salewa and Tatonka tents and provide both a dining tent and toilet tent. All rubbish is removed from camp areas to be disposed of at base, in line with our Responsible Tourism policy.
Transport
All vehicles used have seat belts. Small minibuses are generally Volkswagen, larger minibuses may be Mercedes or Volkswagen. Our boats vary in size according to our needs but all are required to undergo regular inspection for seaworthiness. They carry all required safety equipment and undergo stringent checks by the coastguard.
Local Guides
We carefully choose our guides to fit with our company policy: they should of course have the appropriate training and qualifications but also be personable and have a wide knowledge of the country and its culture; being able to impart that knowledge with interest and good humour.
Age Restrictions
Varies depending upon the trip or activity – please see each for details.
What to Bring
Varies widely depending upon the trip or activity. Full details are available before booking.