Turkey: A Creative Journey by Land and Sea
Sunday, April 26 - Sunday, May 10, 2026
With an Optional Extension Trip in Cappadocia
If you're seeking a transformative journey featuring adventure and creative discovery, join master writing teacher Laura Davis and artist and hiking guide Brenda Porter for an immersive exploration of Turkey's rich cultural heritage and breathtaking natural wonders.
Our voyage begins in Istanbul, a modern city steeped in ancient wonder. Here we embark on a collective journey of writing, art, and personal discovery. After visiting the charming mountain village of Şirince, we’ll explore the sprawling Greek ruins of Ephesus, some of the best preserved of the ancient world. Then we make our way to the Turquoise Coast for an entire week cruising the azure waters, hiking picturesque cliffsides, and relaxing to the sound of the waves on a traditional Turkish gulet ship. With an optional five-day extension discovering the breathtaking valleys and cave cities of Cappadocia, this journey of writing, hiking, art, nature, and culture is sure to leave you renewed, inspired, and awed by the richness of Turkey and the transformative power of travel.
The Trip at a Glance:
- Five days exploring the ancient and modern wonders of Istanbul, including the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and a traditional Turkish bath at Hürrem Sultan Hammam. A transcontinental ferry from the European to the Asian side of the city, a street food tour, and much more!
- Seven days reveling in the extraordinary beauty of the Mediterranean’s Turquoise Coast, cruising aboard a Turkish gulet, a traditional wooden yacht; each day docking in a different bay to hike through breathtaking coastal landscapes, ancient villages, and hidden ruins.
- Two days in the charming mountain village of Şirince, gateway to the vast archaeological mysteries of Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.
- Guided sessions in both writing and watercolor by two master teachers, infusing your days with creative expression that captures the deep meaning of your journey (beginners welcome!)
- Fascinating English-speaking guides introducing you to the vast history, cultural landscape, and rich traditions of Turkey, from the rise and fall of ancient civilizations to the complex tapestry of modernity.
- Savory starters, colorful mezzes, and local artisanal products create daily feasts celebrating Turkey’s rich culinary heritage, deeply satisfying your palette.
- An optional five-day extension to Cappadocia, hiking through a unique wonderland of fairy chimneys, cave cities, and striking rock canyons.
Here's what you can expect on this magical journey:
- Drink in Turkey’s stunning landscapes: a kaleidoscope of ancient cities, breathtaking coastal vistas, bays of crystal clear water, otherworldly rock formations, and charming villages nestled in mountains.
- Immerse yourself in Turkey's vast and rich cultural heritage, from the classical beauty of Ephesus to the striking majesty of the Hagia Sophia.
- Explore your artistic self through writing, sketching and watercolor. With your imagination unleashed by novel experiences and the supportive guidance of your teachers, you'll pour yourself onto the page with greater freedom and fluidity.
- Let your creativity flourish with the support of two master teachers, each providing generosity, warmth, expertise, and encouragement. One teaches you to write from your soul; the other helps you see the world’s beauty with new eyes. You've never felt so safe to explore, express, share, and grow.
- Relax in comfort as you experience world-famous Turkish hospitality, whether being pampered at the spa-like baths of Istanbul, sampling rich local delicacies, or enjoying a soothing breeze on the wooden deck of a traditional gulet yacht.
- Become a part of a supportive community of friends, comrades, and confidants as you share stories, laughter, adventures, and the joy of discovery.
- Tantalize your taste buds with the delightful flavors of Turkish cuisine: the smoky aroma of freshly grilled kebabs, warm baked bread dipped into colorful mezzes and drizzled in small-batch olive oil, richly spiced aromatic stews simmered to perfection, and a myriad of other dishes celebrating Turkey's culinary heritage.
- Leave renewed, with a deeper passion for life inspired by the constant stream of wonder, creativity, pleasure, and joy you savored throughout this unforgettable journey.
The Exquisite Pleasure of Cruising the Turquoise Coast
Journal in hand, you recline on the wooden deck chairs of the gulet, a traditional Turkish yacht. Staring out at the crystalline waters, you savor the sun’s warmth on your skin, soothed by the gentle lapping of waves on the hull. As you put pen and brush to paper, your only challenge is how to capture such beauty.
This is the Turquoise Coast, a breathtaking stretch of the Mediterranean, full of hidden coves, sprawling forests, forgotten ruins, and dramatic cliffs.
After a sumptuous breakfast of traditional Turkish delicacies–local jams, artisanal honey, handcrafted cheeses–it’s time for the day’s adventure. Step ashore to hike the coast’s hidden treasures: ancient Lycian tombs carved into rugged cliffs, Byzantine monasteries with paintings still intact. Wander through the remnants of Roman baths and marvel at the grandeur of palatial Greek amphitheaters.
Your feet carry you over small shepherd’s paths, past crumbling rock walls and ancient olive groves. You visit tiny mountain villages and small, family farms, where you learn about the lifestyle, culture, and cuisine of the locals.
After your daily hike, you return to the gulet to write, paint or simply relax. You can’t believe you’re here, in this slice of paradise, exploring hidden places few tourists ever reach. As the gentle rocking of waves lulls you to sleep at night, you breathe a sigh of gratitude that you are here on this boat, with this community, in this incredible place.
Your art teacher, Brenda Porter, at work
About the Writing, Art, and Hiking on this Trip
This is an adventure travel retreat, enhanced with creative elements to enrich and deepen your experiences. Writing and drawing will accompany and enliven your journey, but this trip will not provide a deep dive into either discipline.
Beginners in both writing and watercolor are welcome to attend.
I'm not a "real" writer. I haven't published anything. I just write for myself. Can I come?
There are no specific writing qualifications for this trip. If you enjoy writing while you travel, are open to using writing as a path to self-knowledge, and would like to create a travel journal to record your experiences and memories while in Turkey, you’re welcome to join us.
In our classes, Laura will teach you the basics of travel writing, and we will focus on honing our skills of observation and descriptive writing. She will also guide you in using writing to deepen your experience by teaching you to document the thoughts, feelings, and insights that arise as we travel through Turkey.
Our focus will not be on craft or polishing work through to completion. If your primary goal is a deep dive into writing with long hours to write, this isn’t the right trip for you. This is adventure travel enriched with creative exploration.
But I'm not an artist. Can I come if I can't draw?
Yes! Drawing, like writing, is a practice and a craft. Some of us will be total beginners (like Laura) and others have been practicing for longer and are more skilled.
Detailed drawings are very different from the techniques for quick sketches and watercolor that we will utilize to take in and savor our journey more deeply. Our focus will be on learning to see through a different lens and slowing down to savor the details of our surroundings.
Brenda will help us shift from 'left brain' thinking of "I know what a tree or house or (blank) looks like," (which gets in the way of drawing) to 'right brain' exploration of edges, values, and colors through exercises and practice woven into our daily activities.
And, if you don't enjoy sketching, you can still add color and borders to your written work.
After my lessons with Laura and Brenda, what will I come away with?
After two weeks in Turkey, immersed in beauty and the loving support of a creative community, you’ll return home with new friends, a grateful heart, and a beautiful personal journal that documents your journey. The time you’ve devoted to writing and art under the guidance of two master teachers will bring you new ways to express your creativity, write from the soul, and observe and document the world around you.
Am I fit enough for this trip?
This trip is appropriate for anyone in reasonable physical health, with good balance, who enjoys walking and can traverse irregular terrain without hand railings or standard step heights. To comfortably participate, you should be capable of walking on uneven surfaces, both on city streets and in nature, at a relaxed pace, for up to three-four hours at a time.
You should also be able to:
- Carry or roll your luggage over uneven pavement (possibly several blocks) and up stairways to reach your hotel room.
- Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to three hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions.
- Sleep with street noise in an urban environment.
- Sleep in a small cabin on a moving boat.
We begin our trip in Istanbul, a city built on seven hills. We’ll explore this magnificent city, as well as the ancient city of Ephesus, primarily on foot. You’ll encounter uneven pavement, stairs, and hills. Our trip also includes hikes in nature through a variety of terrains. You will be walking on city streets, small roads, village pathways, wooded trails, and rocky coastal paths, and loose rock. These hikes will average 3-5 miles per day, with one longer 7-mile trek. Hiking boots and poles are recommended.
During our week cruising on the gulet, you can opt out of our daily hike and stay on the boat and relax or write and sketch on shore.
Main Trip Itinerary
Important: Your trip begins and ends in Istanbul, Turkey. If you’re coming from the United States, your flight will probably depart the day before your arrival in Istanbul.
Meals listed in parentheses are included (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner).
Travel times and hiking distances are approximate.
Note: Our itinerary is designed to integrate creative expression with a transformative journey featuring adventure and discovery. Like all adventure travel trips, the itinerary may need to be altered due to weather, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests. Weather may also cause changes to our itinerary. There will be no refunds for any activities that participants do not attend. Anyone who leaves the tour itinerary at any time FOR ANY REASON will be responsible for their own costs and safety.
Optional Trip Extension: Exploring the Wonders of Cappadocia
From the moment you arrive in Cappadocia, a feeling of otherworldliness takes over. You stare around you in amazement, trying to take it all in. Everywhere you look, the land, rocks, buildings, and vistas seem distinctly alien, different from anywhere else you’ve ever been.
A large plateau in central Turkey, Cappadocia is defined by its unique geography, formed through volcanic explosions when ash coalesced into soft, porous rock. Wind and rain carved these surfaces into dramatic canyons filled with towering rock pillars and knobbed “fairy chimneys.” Multiple communities settled in this area, many fleeing persecution. Hiding within the landscape, they carved entire cities from the soft hillsides, living concealed in cave houses, traveling through miles-long tunnels through the mountains.
You learn about this history as you hike past dramatic viewpoints, above red-rose valleys with smooth, undulating surfaces broken up by sharp, conical rocks. Our guide leads you down into the ravine. Now you are eye to eye with giant boulders, staring up at hand-carved windows high up in impossible places.
You visit small villages and explore ancient churches, marveling at colorful, hundred-year-old frescoes. You absorb the culture and history of this place, a refuge for so many with its rich history of human settlement in harmony with nature.
The sun begins to set, and the landscape is bathed in a warm glow. The colors grow more vibrant, the angles more pronounced. You’re filled with awe and wonder. You will never forget this incredible place.
Cappadocia Extension Itinerary
Our extension begins and ends in Istanbul.
Meals listed in parentheses are included (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner). Travel times and hiking distances are approximate.
Cappadocia’s remarkable landscape is best explored on foot. Our five-day Cappadocia extension includes 5-7 mile hikes along rural roads and village pathways, through spectacular lunar landscapes and fairy chimneys. You will encounter loose gravel and a variety of surfaces. Those who opt for this extension should be fit enough to hike up and down these gravel paths.
We won’t have formal writing or art classes in Cappadocia, but there will be opportunities to write and sketch throughout our time in this stunning landscape.
Note: Our itinerary is designed to integrate creative expression with a transformative journey featuring adventure and discovery. Like all adventure travel trips, the itinerary may need to be altered due to weather, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests. Weather may also cause changes to our itinerary. There will be no refunds for any activities that participants do not attend. Anyone who leaves the tour itinerary at any time FOR ANY REASON will be responsible for their own costs and safety.
Our Main Trip Includes:
- Fourteen nights lodging in twin/double rooms (or a single if you upgrade)
- Airport transfers (if you arrive with the rest of the group)
- All transportation within Turkey, including two domestic flights
- All meals with the exception of two lunches.
- Seven days cruising the Turquoise Coast on a traditional gulet yacht. Guided hikes, visits to ruins, and all meals included
- Five days exploring ancient and modern wonders in Istanbul
- Two days in the charming mountain village of Şirince, our jumping off point for exploring Ephesus
- A guided visit to the extraordinary Greek city of Ephesus, including the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
- Entrance to all historical and archeological sites visited as a group, including the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Ephesus, the Byzantine ruins of Caunos, the Ghost Village of Kayaköy, and more
- A traditional Turkish hammam at Hürrem Sultan Hammam, a sumptuous Ottoman bath house dating from 1556
- Guidance throughout the trip, including hiking support, as well as creative support in writing, sketching, and watercolor designed to help you capture the beauty and meaning of your journey
- A small journal, travel watercolor sketch kit with watercolors, pen, and water brush
- A small field notebook for taking notes on what you're seeing, hearing, observing and thinking
- A copy of Laura's award-winning memoir, The Burning Light of Two Stars
- Extensive pre-trip information
- A wonderful experience of community and connection with a creative, adventurous group of fellow travelers
- Multiple opportunities for deep relaxation, personal insight, intimacy, adventure, and joy
What's Not Included:
- Round trip flights to Istanbul
- Overnight accommodations en route if necessary for your flight itinerary
- Two lunches
- Laundry
- Personal, medical, or the required travel insurance
- Souvenir shopping
- Personal phone calls
- Alcoholic beverages
- Extra snacks and drinks
- Extra taxis or transit not included in the itinerary
- Add-on massage or spa treatments beyond what we provide
- Extra baggage fees for internal flights if your bag weighs more than 33 pounds
- Optional tips for local guides, hotel and other service staff
- Anything you're inspired to do that is not included in the itinerary
The Cappadocia Extension Includes:
- Group transportation during the trip, including internal flights from Istanbul to Kayseri and back
- Airport transfers (if you arrive and depart with the rest of the group)
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, with the exception of one lunch
- Visits to the traditional villages of Kavak, Bahçeli, and Aravan
- A guided tour of the Goreme Open Air Museum, an incredible monastic valley filled with dramatic rock formations, well-preserved, colorful frescoes, and hand-carved rock churches dating from the 10th century
- Entrance to all historical and natural sites visited as a group, including Uçhisar Castle, Pigeon Valley, and the Goreme Open Air Museum
- A whirling dervish ceremony, an incredible spiritual tradition held in a 13th century building
- Four nights lodging in a traditional cave hotel.
- Guidance throughout the trip, including hiking support and suggestions of additional activities if desired in free time
- Time to write and sketch, although no formal classes will take place
What's Not Included:
- Optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia
- One lunch
- Laundry
- Personal, medical, or the required travel and trip cancellation insurance
- Alcoholic beverages, special drinks, and extra snacks
- Extra taxis or transit not included in the itinerary
- Massage or hammam treatments
- Extra baggage fees for internal flights if your bag weighs more than 33 pounds
- Optional tips for local guides, hotel and other service staff
- Anything you're inspired to do that is not included in the itinerary
Your Guides
Laura Davis: Writing Teacher
The author of seven non-fiction books, including The Courage to Heal, Becoming the Parent You Want to Be and I Thought We'd Never Speak Again. Laura's groundbreaking books have sold more than 1.8 million copies around the world. Laura has also worked as a columnist, talk show host, radio reporter, radio producer, blogger, editor and speaker. Words have always been at the core of her work and her self-expression.
Laura's 2021 book,The Burning Light of Two Stars: A Mother-Daughter Story, her first memoir, tells the story of her dramatic and tumultuous relationship with her mother from the time of Laura's birth until her mother's death.
Laura has been mentoring and supporting writers for the past 20 years. It is truly the work of her heart: "I love teaching. I love watching my students find their natural voice and their rhythm. I love it when they find their true stories and discover the courage to put them on the page. I feel like a midwife as my students birth their stories, and I feel honored to witness their bursts of creativity and pure life energy pouring out on the page. Our writing circles are safe places where skills are honed, tears and laughter are welcome, and each writer is seen, heard and deeply known."
Laura leads weekly writing groups and retreats in the Santa Cruz, CA region and online, as well as retreats internationally. She has taken writers to Bali, Scotland, Greece, Vietnam, Peru, Laos, Cambodia, and Spain.
Brenda Porter: Hiking Guide and Art Instructor
Brenda Porter is a passionate world traveler. Just out of high school she traveled to India on a Girl Scout exchange and fell in love with experiencing other cultures. After college, she worked with women's groups and lived in rural Honduras as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
She has guided adventure travel trips across the world for more than 20 years from Everest Base Camp to Kilimanjaro and Machu Picchu, as well as in Turkey.
Brenda is a watercolor artist and her secret goal on most trips is catching moments to sketch and encouraging others to do the same, while forging connections with nature. She leads Hike and Sketch trips and is delighted to add sketching instruction and opportunities to our creative journey in Turkey.
Brenda lives with her wife, Jen, along with Kali, their golden retriever, in a co-housing community in Colorado.
FAQ
We will be creating an intimate travel experience conducive to creativity and the formation of a close, supportive community. Our trip has a 14-person minimum. We will take a maximum of 16.
Our first four nights and the last night you will be staying in a beautiful boutique hotel in Istanbul. For two nights you will be at the Nişanyan Hotel in Sirence, near Ephesus. And for seven glorious nights you will be in a cabin on board a gulet, a traditional Turkish wooden sailboat.
For those who opt to go on the Cappadocia extension trip, you will get to experience the magic of spending four nights in a unique cave hotel.
Each boat has eight cabins with twin or double beds, each with its own private bathroom, bedside reading light, porthole window, small wardrobe, under-bed storage, and hairdryer. Cabins are smaller than you'll find on a cruise ship but larger than those on a sailing yacht. It’s also possible to spend the night on the deck under the stars, a special treat on warm, clear nights.
Most of our time on board will be spent above deck where comfortable chairs and cushions abound. The fore deck features plenty of sunbeds and a cozy seating area where you can write, draw, paint and enjoy wonderful views when cruising.
Meals will be served on the aft deck with a different view of mountains, forests and coves every day. The onboard chef cooks meals using fresh, local vegetables and can accommodate vegetarian, vegan and other special dietary needs.
While there are always lights on board, power and hot water won’t always be available in your cabin. You can charge your electrical appliances at various times during the day or evening when the generator is working and hot water and electricity are plentiful. Wi-fi will be available but may be limited in some coves. If you use a CPAP machine, you’ll need to bring a portable battery.
You can learn more about gulets and the boat company we’re traveling with here.
It’s impossible to know for sure, but Anne, owner of the gulet we’ll be cruising on, responded to the question this way: “This is our 18th season of cruising on our gulet East Meet West and in all that time fewer than half a dozen passengers have ever gotten seasick. If you are nervous about it, then it’s worth bringing wrist bands. I’ve seen some people use them and there’s no way of knowing for sure if they work, but those people did not get seasick. It really is a wonderful trip with beautiful turquoise and blue waters. Hope to welcome you onboard.”
We also we be disembarking every day to hike and explore the surrounding countryside.
Singles will be available on a first-come basis. We have six singles available.
If you don’t have anyone in mind, we will help match you with a compatible roommate.
There will be wifi at our hotel in Istanbul and Ephesus. Wifi will be intermittent on the gulet, depending on our daily location.
Turkish cuisine offers a wide variety of dishes, including pastries, soups, salads, and vegetable and meat dishes, which incorporate a wide variety of herbs and spices. Meals are often accompanied by a range of small appetizers called “mezzes.” Examples include eggplants and peppers stuffed with rice and vegetables, okra and green beans cooked in a sauce, vine leaves stuffed with herbs and rice, spicy borlotti beans, and hummus. Yogurt is served with most meals, and rice or bread generally accompanies main dishes.
The traditional Turkish breakfast, or “kahvalti” involves a range of small mezzes and local, artisanal delicacies, such as jams, honey, butter, nuts, olives, and dried fruits. It is generally served with black tea, which is also drunk throughout the day, along with rich, aromatic Turkish coffee.
In addition to well-known dishes like doner kebab, is gözleme, a delicious flatbread common in the countryside, often served with zaatar, cheese, or potato.
Turkish foods usually incorporate olive oil, butter, or sunflower oil as the frying agent.
Vegetarians will find enough to eat, though meals may get repetitive. Accommodating vegan and other special diets will be possible on the gulet, but challenging elsewhere in Turkey. Contact us if you’d like to discuss your dietary situation.
You will fly in and out of Istanbul. Our travel agent can help you arrange your flights so that your arrival and departure is coordinated with the rest of the group. She can also help you if you want to arrive early or extend your stay, and can help you purchase the required trip insurance.
If you can, we recommend arriving a day or two early to ensure that you’re able to join the group at our designated meeting time. This will also give you time to acclimate, get over your jetlag and take in some sights not on our itinerary.
Yes, we require travel insurance that includes trip cancellation and medical coverage to protect your investment in the trip.
To cover pre-existing conditions, insurance must be purchased soon after you pay your initial deposit, usually within two weeks. We will send information about purchasing insurance as soon as you register. Our travel agent can assist you in finding and purchasing a travel insurance policy that meets our requirements and your particular needs.
If you buy your own insurance, be sure to read the fine print as policies can differ greatly. Confirm with your insurance provider what COVID-19 related issues are covered. No policy covers all COVID-19 travel risks so check your policy carefully and ensure you understand who will pay for additional costs if incurred.
In keeping with changes in CDC policies regarding Covid-19, we’ve updated our health policies to cover all infectious diseases. Our goal is to keep everyone healthy and minimize the spread of infectious disease in our group. You can read about our health policies here.
Absolutely! We love hearing from potential participants and answering any questions you might have. Feel free to contact us.
Ready to Sign Up For This Amazing Adventure? Registration Steps Are Below.
Turkey: A Creative Journey by Land and Sea
Sunday, April 26 - Sunday, May 10, 2026
with an Optional Extension Trip in Cappadocia
Your Investment:
The Pricing for the 2026 Retreat Has Mot Been Set.
Main Trip Cost: $ per person for double occupancy based on two people sharing a twin-bedded room.
Single Supplement: $ for a single occupancy room based on one person in a room (main trip cost + single supplement=total of $)
Only 6 singles are available total.
Cappadocia Extension Cost: $
Cappadocia Extension Single Supplement: $
Roommates: If you register for a double and do not have a roommate in mind, we will try to help you find a roommate. If one cannot be found for you, you will be charged the single supplement fee.
Payment Schedule: A deposit of $ is due for a double occupancy room spot and $ for a single for the main trip. A $ deposit for a double occupancy room spot and $ for a single in the Cappadocia Extension trip. The final balance will be due by January 15, 2025. Please read the cancellation and refunds section carefully so that you understand the policy.
Cancellations and Refunds: A cancellation fee of $ will be collected between October 15, 2024 and January 15, 2025 for the main trip and $ will be collected for the optional Cappadocia Extension trip, if you elected to sign up for it. After January 15, there will be no refunds. Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. After this point, travel insurance will provide your only option for recouping your investment in the trip.
We reserve the right to cancel the trip if it is not meeting the trip minimum of 14 people. If we cancel, everything you've paid directly to The Writers Journey LLC will be refunded.
It's essential that you carefully read and understand the refund policies from any airlines and travel insurance companies you use, so that you know exactly what is covered and what is excluded.
Step 1: Choose Your Rooms
1. DOUBLE ROOMS
Shared Double-Occupancy Room - $ per bed
Room contains two twin beds. Pricing per person.
NOTE: If you sign up for a double occupancy room without having a roommate in mind, we will do our best to pair you with an appropriate roommate.
2. SINGLE ROOMS
Standard Single Room - $
Private room. Pricing per person.