A cave hotel is one example of the interesting accommodations that await clients

Istanbul-headquartered Fez Travel clearly isn’t kidding when it says it likes to have its clients overnight in “alternative or cool” places.

For instance, “we always stay in a cave hotel in Cappadocia,” the company’s Canan Karaarslan says of the lodging opportunities in the interior Turkiye destination, known for its many caves that Christians used to shelter in during the religion’s earliest days, a time they faced persecution and so were often eager to keep a low profile.

A cave hotel is similar to the other underground shelters found in the area in some ways but has modern amenities as well.

Fez Travel was started in 1997 by Karaarslan’s brother, catering mostly to backpackers but eventually reaching out to a more mature clientele with more disposable income. Karaarslan noted during a recent webinar that it now has its vehicles and offices in different parts of Turkiye and in Athens, with clients able to opt for tours of Turkiye alone or combine it with an itinerary that features both Turkiye and Greece.

Some tours feature the western part of the country, but others include eastern Turkiye as well, among them 19-day Flying Discovery.

The company can also customize tours and caters to those seeking 3-, 4- and 5-star vacations.

Fez Travel can accommodate clients who speak English or French and a number of other languages, and has three group sizes, one which limits groups to 12 people, another which caps groups at 16 and a third that has a 20-person maximum.

Karaarslan noted that Fez Travel clients can opt for the likes of pottery or cooking classes, and it works with the likes of church groups eager to see Turkish Biblical sites.

Karaarslan praised her country as being particularly historic, noting it has 19 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and has been shaped by 10 civilizations, among them the Roman, Byzantium and Ottoman Empires.

Historic sites include Ephesus, where Karaarslan recalls hearing an opera performance in an ancient amphitheater, found among ruins known for their Roman influences. “Even these days we still have shows,” she said of some of her country’s ancient venues.

An Ephesus dwelling is believed by many to have been the final home of Mary Magdalene and is routinely visited by Christian pilgrims.

Karaarslan said Cappadocia is best known for its “underground city,” but is also renowned as an ideal place for hot-air ballooning. Hiking and Jeep safaris await visitors as well.

Pamukkale is another site that has been awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO, where attractions include Cleopatra’s Pool, where tourists can swim among Roman columns.

Eastern Turkey is home to Mount Nemrut, which has also drawn UNESCO World Heritage Site status recognition, and is known for the massive stone heads of such gods as Zeus, Apollo and Hercules. The origins of the ancient heads are somewhat murky.

Karaarslan noted during the webinar that she lives in Istanbul, which straddles the dividing line between Europe and Asia. “When I go to the office I cross between two continents. It’s always so cool to say I live in Asia and my office is in Europe.”

Istanbul is a “vibrant, exotic city” that tourists can easily spend several days exploring, she added.

Meanwhile, Karaarslan said Fez Travel clients can also spend time on gulets, traditional hand-built Turkish boats. Sailings of up to a week can take people to bays that can’t be reached by road, she noted.

A captain and cook will be on board, and passengers can overnight in a cabin, although “some prefer to sleep on the deck under the stars,” she said.