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Natural Hatay: Flora and Fauna 3 Days
Price on request based on your dates and group size
About this tour
Three days of nature in the most biodiverse corner of Türkiye, where the Mediterranean, the Amanus Mountains and the migration routes meet: birds at the Milleyha wetland, the beach where green turtles nest, the forest of Mount Musa and the laurel valley of Harbiye. With an expert English-speaking naturalist guide, domestic flights and a private vehicle.
Trip details
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Destination
Hatay
Category
Exclusive
Type
Private tour
Accommodation
1 hotel
Meals
6 included
Flights
2 domestic
Route
Day-by-day itinerary
1
Arrival — the Milleyha Wetland and the Turtle Beach
Arrival
Istanbul Samandağ Hatay
We fly from Istanbul to Hatay (2 h) and head straight to the Samandağ coast. The Milleyha wetland is one of the key stopovers on the migration route between Africa and Anatolia: more than 250 species have been recorded, with flamingos, black-winged stilts and waders in abundance depending on the season. In the late afternoon we walk the beach where the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests, always keeping outside the marked strip. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.
Flight:
Istanbul (IST) → Hatay (HTY) (Turkish Airlines)
Visits:
Milleyha Wetland (migratory birds), Samandağ turtle beach
Hotel:
Standard hotel Hatay · Half board
Meals: Dinner
2
Mount Musa — Humid Forest, the Village of Vakıflı and the Laurel Valley
A day in the mountains. Musa Dağı shelters one of the best-preserved forests in the eastern Mediterranean: oaks, pines and wild laurel, with birds of prey riding the morning thermals. We go down to Vakıflı, the last Armenian village in Türkiye, among orange and pomegranate trees, and finish in Harbiye, ancient Daphne, where waterfalls feed the laurel valley that scents the soap of the whole province. Lunch by the water. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.
Visits:
Mount Musa (Musa Dağı): forest and viewpoints, Harbiye and the Armenian village of Vakıflı
Hotel:
Standard hotel Hatay · Half board
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch · Dinner
3
Antakya Among the Plants — the Laurel Bazaar and the Flight Home
DepartureHatay's nature is also sold in the bazaar: in the morning we visit the Habib-i Neccar Mosque and the Uzun Çarşı with fresh eyes — those of the laurel, the za'atar and the mountain herbs that fill the spice sellers' sacks. A lunch of seasonal mezes — here the menu is written by the garden — and transfer to the airport for the flight back to Istanbul. End of our services.
Flight:
Hatay (HTY) → Istanbul (IST) (Turkish Airlines)
Visits:
Habib-i Neccar Mosque, Uzun Çarşı Bazaar and laurel soap workshops
Meals: Breakfast · Lunch
Planned accommodation
We work with several hotels in each category in every city; the exact hotel is confirmed when you book.
The hotels shown are the planned ones. If one isn't available, we'll offer another of a similar or higher category.
What's included
Included
- 2 nights at a standard hotel in Antakya on half board
- 2 lunches at local restaurants (days 2 and 3)
- Expert English-speaking naturalist guide for birds and flora, all 3 days
- Spare binoculars and field guides on board the vehicle
- Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver
- Transfers Hatay airport (HTY)–hotel–airport
- Entrance tickets and visits: Milleyha wetland, Samandağ turtle beach, Mount Musa, Vakıflı and Harbiye, the Habib-i Neccar Mosque and the Uzun Çarşı Bazaar
- Return domestic flights Istanbul–Hatay with Turkish Airlines, taxes included
Not included
- Return international flights
- Drinks with meals
- Tips: the usual amount is €3 per person per day for the guide and €2 for the driver
- Travel and cancellation insurance
- Personal expenses and anything not listed under included services
Frequently asked questions
What's included in Natural Hatay: Flora and Fauna 3 Days?
Natural Hatay: Flora and Fauna 3 Days includes: 2 nights at a standard hotel in Antakya on half board; 2 lunches at local restaurants (days 2 and 3); Expert English-speaking naturalist guide for birds and flora, all 3 days; Spare binoculars and field guides on board the vehicle; Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver; Transfers Hatay airport (HTY)–hotel–airport; Entrance tickets and visits: Milleyha wetland, Samandağ turtle beach, Mount Musa, Vakıflı and Harbiye, the Habib-i Neccar Mosque and the Uzun Çarşı Bazaar; Return domestic flights Istanbul–Hatay with Turkish Airlines, taxes included. Anything not included is listed just as clearly in the "What's included" section of this page.
Do I need to speak Turkish for this trip?
No. Your guide, Sinan, speaks fluent English and is with you throughout the trip. He takes care of all the arrangements, translations, bookings and negotiations for you.
Can I customise Natural Hatay: Flora and Fauna 3 Days?
Yes. Natural Hatay: Flora and Fauna 3 Days is a private tour, so this 3-day itinerary is flexible: you can change stops, add extra days, swap hotels or adjust the pace of the trip. Message me with your preferences and we'll design your tailor-made trip, with no extra charge for the planning.
When is the best time to visit Hatay?
Türkiye can be visited all year round. Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) bring pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. Summer is ideal for the coast, and winter has its own charm in Cappadocia, with snow-covered landscapes.
Why can't I see a price on this page?
Because this is a private tour and its price depends on your dates, how many of you are travelling, the hotel category and the visits you want to include. I'd rather work it out by hand and send you a real quote, with everything itemised, than show you a "from" price that ends up looking nothing like what you pay. Request it with the quote form on this page and you'll have it within 24 hours.
How do booking and payment work?
Once you request a quote, you receive a private link with the final price and the full itinerary, with no obligation. To confirm, you pay a 30% deposit. The balance is paid 31 days before departure, by bank transfer or card (+3% surcharge). If you cancel more than 90 days before departure, only the handling fee and any penalties charged for flights and services already issued are retained; closer to departure, the cancellation policy scale applies, the same one you'll see in your quote.
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