Turkey - Valley of the Wild Horses

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from AF of Huntingdon on 31/10/2024

Day 1
Arrival (Saturday): Meet the other guests and have dinner together.

Day 2
Sunday: See the wild horses: After breakfast, set off riding up mountain trails in the beautiful Akseki National Park (approx. 1500m), and then descend into the valley to the farm for the lunch stop. This is a working cattle and sheep farm. In the afternoon, ride out to find the wild horses of the valley and relax, spend time watching them and taking photos. The horses stay at the farm whilst the riders are transferred back to the hotel for dinner.

Day 3
Monday: Forests, plateaus and milking a goat: Today's ride is along ancient nomadic trails through forest and open plateaus. Mediterranean herbs such as sage, rosemary and thyme grow wild here, and their scents fill the air. At a tea break, meet a local goatherd where there will be the chance to try milking a goat (if you would like to!) and to taste the fresh milk. Dinner back at the hotel.

Day 4
Tuesday: Caravan Trails and caves: Today's ride is along ancient caravan trails in the valley to visit one of the old caravanserai at Enifhan. After lunch, visit the dramatic Altinbesik Cave with its huge stalactites. Dinner and music with traditional dancing this evening.

Day 5
Wednesday: Ormana: Today, transfer to meet the horses and ride through the beautiful Baslar pass. Then ride through the ancient village of Ormana with its famous button houses. Back to the hotel.

Day 6
Thursday: Dilek National Park: After breakfast, today's ride is in the famous Dilek National Park along the scenic river banks. The wildlife is rich and varied, and it is possible to be lucky enough to see the long horned Ibex. Additionally, over 250 bird species are known to visit the park. This park covers the area where the Aegean Sea meets the fertile river delta, featuring diverse landscapes featuring rocky cliffs and sandy beaches to wetlands and forests.

Day 7
Friday: Non riding day in Side, an ancient port: After breakfast, transfer to Side, a resort town on Turkey’s southern Mediterranean coast. An ancient port city, known for long beaches and Greco-Roman ruins. There is plenty to do, so spend the day relaxing on the beach, sight seeing or exploring the markets. This last night is spent in the resort.

Day 8
Departure after breakfast.

Non-riders are welcome and can travel with the support car and meet their riding partners during breaks, there is also the opportunity to watch the wild horses and join the riders on the sightseeing excursions. The hotel is based in the National Park and non riders are also welcome to spend the day relaxing at the hotel.

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The horses at this stable comprise of Arabs and Arab crosses, ranging from 14-15 hh with English saddles. There are also some traditional Rahvan horses, gaited horses, ideal for covering long distances efficiently, similar to the Icelandic tolt. Like the Icelandic's, they are tough and small, usually 13-14hh

Rahvan is the Turkish word, which literally means ‘ambling’ and is used to describe their quick, surefooted walking gait.

Various paces can be accommodated. There are slower rocky trails and meadows good for cantering.

Walk, trot and canter. There are also opportunities to gallop. Riders of varying confidence levels can be catered for as there is a range of horses to choose from but you should be intermediate or above.

There are slower rocky trails and meadows good for cantering and galloping.

The weight limit for this ride is 187 lb/85 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The main hotel is located up in the mountains. It has rooms in the old restored main house (authentic original) as well as new 'tiny' bungalows, all of which are very comfortable, with air conditioning, TV, internet. After riding enjoy excursions around the area and see all the sights. The hotel is located an hour from the coast in a small village 1,500m above sea level in the mountains of the Akseki National Park. The second hotel is located right on the beach, in the old town of Side. This or a hotel of similar standard will be used for the last day at the beach.

Food is a mix of Turkish and Mediterranean style, with soft drinks included. Vegetarians and vegans dishes are available, please ask a consultant when booking.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip.

When visiting Turkey, your passport should be valid for at least 150 days from the date you arrive and there should be a full blank page for the entry and exit stamps. You can find more detail about the requirements for entry into Turkey on the website of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country.

Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa.

In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Turkey.html

In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/turkiye

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

Located at an elevation of 1500m meters above sea level, Akseki has a Mediterranean, warm summer climate The district’s yearly temperature is 13.58ºC (56.44ºF) and it is -1.38% lower than Turkey’s averages. Akseki typically receives about 61.02 millimeters (2.4 inches) of precipitation and has 106.67 rainy days (29.22% of the time) annually.

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

British-issued prescriptions are not accepted in pharmacies in Turkey, although some medicines may be available over the counter. You should always bring any regular prescription drugs you may need with you.

As a precaution against Avian Influenza it is recommended that you avoid being in close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds, and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked


Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Turkey and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

In Turkey the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly.

Cameras, phones etc can be charged at the hotel. If using a GoPro please get the permission of the group to be filmed

- Soft holdalls and backpacks are preferred in the transfer vehicle.
- Small backpack (20 l) will be very useful for air travel or in town, but not for on horseback where we have saddle bags.
- Leather gloves
- Sand Shoes (avoid shoes that are too wide because of the stirrups)
- Cotton tracksuit or comfortable large pants with large elastic bands under the feet so as to avoid the pants from riding up your legs
- T-shirts
- Sweat shirt
- Long sleeve shirt (against sunburns)
- Warm jumper
- Wind jacket
- Rain cape
- Light pair of long pants
- Scarf for dust
- Shoes for rest periods
- Hat
- Shorts
- Swimming costume
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- First aid kit and medicines.

For tours in spring or autumn, bring warmer clothes and a coat.
Because of the heat, avoid wearing synthetic clothes and underwear, tight jeans or pants with thick seams and boots.

8 days / 7 nights / 5 days riding programmes available departing every Saturday, March to December

2025 TBC: Every Saturday to Saturday between 1 March and 15 November

For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com 

A fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

For the non riding day, there is plenty to do in the ancient port city of Side. There are markets to explore, narrow cobbled streets, lovely gardens and long white beaches.
The area also has many archaeological ruins of note, such as the well-preserved amphitheatre and the temples of Apollo and Athena, having had a complex history due to it's strategic position.
Side museum is situated in the restored Roman baths where you can discover more about the town's history and view the archaeological relics that have been found nearby.

Southern Turkey is home to many rare plants and animals. The Dilek park is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with over 250 species, including flamingos, pelicans, and eagles.

The area has experienced below average rainfall recently and some of the rivers are very dry.

This south eastern European country is in south western Asia, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Georgia, and bordering the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, between Greece and Syria. It has a total area of 780,580 sq km. It has borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq and Syria. And has a 8,333 km coastline. The temperature is hot and dry in the summer with mild, wet winters. The terrain is mostly mountainous with narrow coastal plains and high central plateaus. The elevation varies from sea level to the highest point at Mount Ararat 5,166m. Norther Turkey can be prone to earthquakes.

Cappadocia occupies the centre of Turkey, the region between the Black Sea in the north and the Taurus Mountains, between the capital Ankara and the city of Malatya to the east. Famous for its spectacular natural rock formations and valleys, Goreme National Park, as it is known today, is strewn with underground cities, stone chapels, monasteries and dwellings that were hewn out of the weirdly eroded volcanic rock from as long ago as 400 BC.

Thousands of years of wind and rain erosion on a landscape of soft volcanic stone topped with hardened larva caps has created a fascinating landscape of rock cones and pinnacles that are known as ‘fairy chimneys’. The greatest concentration of fairy chimneys can be found within the triangle formed by the three main towns of the region, Avanos, Urgup and the main transport hub of Nevsehir.

Outside the triangle to the south are the remarkable underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, where layers of tunnels and an intricate system of caves hid generations of settlers and sheltered early Christians fleeing persecution. The Ilhara Canyon is another religious hideaway with more than 100 painted churches and about 4,000 dwellings carved into the rock walls or concealed within the cliffs; its river bed and lush vegetation stand in stark contrast to the dusty, seemingly barren land above.

Cave dwellings, ancient monasteries and painted chapels are well camouflaged, with entranceways that are barely noticeable among a landscape of perforated cliff walls and rock fissures. Houses of volcanic stone blend unobtrusively into the natural surroundings, pigmented in natural shades of ochre and yellow, to pinks, greys and greens, and many people still inhabit the cones and chimney formations. In tourist towns such as Goreme, delightful little hotels and pensions are built partially into the rock or are housed within a rock cone and offer cave-style rooms.