Taste of Turkey: Sirince Guided Day Tour from Kusadasi

This is a great tour if you have been to Kusadasi before or if you want to do something off the beaten path. Start your day with a trip through the ardent countryside on your way to the lovely town of Sirince (pronounced as she-RIN-jay), a wonderful little Aegean village of 600 inhabitants, located in the Turkish hillside about 1000 feet above sea level. Most of the houses in the village date back to the 19th century or earlier and were built when Sirince was predominantly a Greek village. The people of the village are proud of their rich history and heritage. The name of the village, Sirince, comes from the word Cirkince which means 'ugly' in Turkish. The village used to sit, deserted on the top of a mountain with very limited access and very dry weather. Today, Sirince is a famous location due to its wonderful vineyards and rich wine. The smell of the fruits and the taste of the wine are all there for you to enjoy. After exploring the village of Sirince with a stop in one of the wine houses for a tasting of the homemade fruit wines, your tour will continue with a ride to the mountains of Camlik where you will reach the village of Kirazli Koy to explore the village along with its tiny mosque. The name means "cherry village" and it is famous for growing fruit and along with its friendly residents. This will be a highlight of the day as lunch will be served in one of the villagers restaurants. They will be happy to welcome you with real Turkish coffee and friendly conversation, regardless of language barriers. You will be offered warm plates of their favorite Turkish and household dishes as well as fresh homemade bread.

Returning to the town of Kusadasi, guests will have the option to end their tour in the shopping area, where they can attend a Turkish carpet explanation and shop, explore the shops filled with jewelry, carpets, leather ware, and copper goods, or both. Turkish salespeople expect you to haggle and quite often you can get 10-15% off the listed price. Treat it as an adventure. The cruise pier is a 5-10 minute walk from the main shopping area.

Guests not wishing to attend the optional carpet shopping should advise their guide and they will be taken directly back to the pier.