Date published: 01.09.08 - not release date

Inspiring New Exclusive Holidays Ideas From Exclusive Escapes

Activity, flexibility and authenticity provide the inspiration for the exciting new 2008 Turkey and Cephalonia luxury holiday programme from Exclusive Escapes. Now in its fifth season, the tour operator has added a host of new activities enabling guests to combine stylish accommodation with adventure activities and learning holidays, in addition to experiencing authentic Mediterranean life.

Combining the luxury of a boutique hotel or private villa in Turkey with an adventure in the great outdoors has never been easier with a new, flexible range of exclusive activities in Turkey: these can either make-up the whole vacation, or be taken over a few days of a main holiday.

Exclusive Escapes is offering set activities on specified dates as well as tailor-made holiday adventures for private parties at any time. Teenagers, parents or singles looking for an adrenalin rush – possibly away from their main holiday party – can choose from:

•Itinerant trekking in the magnificent landscapes of the Taurus Mountains or along the ancient Lycian Way, with accommodation en route in remote local village houses, enjoying traditional food. Flexible durations of 1,2,3 or 7 nights.

•A sea kayaking adventure along the deserted coastline, discovering ancient springs and sea caves and paddling over the remains of the sunken city of Kekova, camping each night under canvas or the stars on a deserted wild beach. Flexible durations of 1,2,3 or 7 nights, with an option to combine sea-kayaking and trekking over 4 nights.

•Multi sporting activity weeks involving sea kayaking, canyoning, scuba diving, mountain trekking, climbing and mountain biking.

For those looking to broaden their horizons at a more relaxed pace, a number of new learning courses, designed for first-timers and the more experienced, are taking place on set dates and include:

•Vegetarian cookery – learning to cook some of Turkey’s finest Meze dishes and bake bread on an open wood fire, led by host Semra Aydeniz at the remotely located Yediburunlar eco lodge.

•Method Putkisto - a blend of yoga and pilates which uses deep-breathing and stretching to help realign muscles, reshape the body and relax and calm the mind. Led by Marja Putkisto from the canyon-top Dionysos hotel, with its own spa and beach club.

•Creative writing - budding writers can get started on that novel or poem they’ve always dreamt of writing taking inspiration from course leader Sara Bailey in the fabulous surroundings of the Dionysos.

Exclusive Escapes has also added a selection of new villas to its discerning portfolio which now consists of 14 boutique hotels, 41 villas with private pools, 3 serviced apartments and 3 gulets. These include the White Collection of contemporary villas in Kalkan, plus other new unique and inspiring villas in the Dalyan Delta, the boat building village of Selimye and a one bedroom ‘honeymoon’ villa in the mountains above Goçëk. Three top-end Turkish gulets will provide crewed cruising along the coastline, with several exciting new routes for charter guests to choose from. All of the properties in the 2008 programme can only be booked directly through Exclusive Escapes.

Made from sustainable sources, the new 2008 brochure uses inspirational images of locations, scenery and interiors reproduced beautifully across double pages spreads, with bite-size picture menus inviting guests online to view full details of all properties and regions. A redesigned website will be launched in spring 2008 allowing guests not only to book but also to manage all aspects of their holiday online.

For more info or to request a brochure, call Exclusive Escapes on 020 8605 3500 or visit www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk

Sample Price: Departing 3 and 17 May, six days’ trekking on the Lycian Way from Hisaronu to Patara costs £760pp sharing, including seven nights’ accommodation in local village houses, return flights to Dalaman (ex Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester), transfers, the services of an expert guide and all meals.

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Press Enquiries: Julia Spence Public Relations:

Fliss Hoad: Phone: 01491 652568 / 07775 621780 / felicity.hoad@btinternet.com
Julia Spence: Phone: 01491 824524 / 07802 443113 / julia.spence@ukonline.co.uk