Explore Worldwide has rearranged a Turkish tour itinerary in response to the growing popularity of the villages visited by British tourists.
Head of product Peter Crane said the Lycian Village Hike through Turkey’s Taurus Hills had originally been created more than 15 years ago to give customers the opportunity to visit an area of the country unspoilt by mass tourism.
However, as the area has become more popular with UK tourists, Explore has re-routed the trip through more remote villages.
He added: “When we first operated in this part of Turkey there wasn’t even a surfaced road and now there’s a highway. Last year our groups were arriving in some of the villages to find St George’s Crosses hanging from the windows because of the Football World Cup, which wasn’t what they wanted.”
Crane said the operator aims to set up new tours in eastern Turkey where it is hoped the remote setting will remain unmarred by mass tourism.