The second stage of the XWORLD Tour 2008/2009 took the participants from Istanbul, along the Turkish Riviera, through central Anatolia and back to Istanbul, the threshold to the Orient.

"Even from a distance we can see the white beaches, which are typical for the country as we landed at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul in the early afternoon. We immediately realise that we have not decided on a usual holiday, but rather that we have booked an adventure.
By taxi - the so-called dolmus - we travel directly to our hotel through one of the largest metropolises in the world. During this very hectic journey we are able to feel the vitality and uniqueness of this country for the first time, and discover that using the horn seems to be a fixed part of driving.
After a short introduction to the vehicle in the afternoon we then leave Istanbul to gain our first off-road experience. The day ends with our first evening meal together in one of the most popular restaurants above the roofs of the city. Together with the other participants and the guides we enjoy the breathtaking view over the red-tiled roofs of the city. The domes and minarets are simply impressive.

Well-rested and hungry for adventure we start our next day in Istanbul. By bus and on foot we explore the metropolis in the company of an experienced guide and take in the cultural highlights of this city. As well as the many attractions, the Blue Mosque particularly fascinates us. The unique play of colours, which dominates not only the outside of the building but also the interior, and the game with the number of minarets makes it a unique experience for us.

To the great delight of our female participants we spend the evening in the large bazaar. Here the first souvenirs and "exclusive" handbags find new owners.

On the third day we leave Istanbul - also known as Constantinople, the largest city in Turkey. Our journey takes us into the interior of Turkey and into the very mountainous regions of the Samanli Mountains. After visiting the old wood and stone buildings in the towns of Bilecik and Küplü, we reach the Baraj reservoir and put up our tents.

The next day begins with a deafening noise. A herd of goats has made itself at home right next to our camp, and the sound of their bells wakes even the last of the participants. After a short chat with the shepherd with the aid of our hands and feet, we start off on the next day's stage refreshed with goats' milk.

For most of the participants this will be their first experience of driving on unsurfaced terrain. Via dizzying hair-pin bends and roads whose edges are only recognisable by randomly placed heaps of rubbish, we discover the precipitous mountain landscape. In spite of the very physically demanding drive over boulders and rocks, we are continuously rewarded with breathtaking views over the mountain chains.

The following two days also take us through impenetrable terrain, past waterfalls from Kursunlu-Selalesi, whose immense height almost takes our breath away. We also allow ourselves a short excursion to the well developed tourist village of Antalya, and allow ourselves, even if only for a moment, the feeling of a perfectly normal holiday by mingling with the bathers for a few hours.

Day six begins at five in the morning. By a lucky coincidence, in the evening at the hotel in Antalya, we found out from the staff that the approach road to our next destination, the rock tombs in Myra, had been severely washed away by rain and were no longer passable. In spite of this we set out on the way and trust our GPS device, which shows us an alternative route, but with a 100km detour. The almost impassable stretches of the Taurus Mountains cost us over 3 hours of driving time.
In spite of this, we reach our destination, exhausted and with darkness falling. Because of the unique scenery and the late hour, we decide to set up our camp directly in Myra. With a camp fire and the singing talent of three of the participants, which we discover this evening, the evening closes in a truly mystical way.

The next day begins with a disappointment. Our destination, the "Saklikent Canyon", which means "hidden place", unfortunately does not live up to its name. We are met by a horde of tourists and the associated infrastructure around this magnificent canyon. We spontaneously decide to explore this area on our own, and after an hour's walk we are rewarded with a delightful but precipitous landscape.
Somewhat footsore, we reach our hotel late in the evening and today we are glad to fall into our soft fragrant beds.

Refreshed with a fantastic breakfast, we leave Fethiye early in the morning and leave the gigantic Taurus Mountains behind us. On well-built roads we gradually approach the other side of Turkey. Our route along the Aegean cost of the Mediterranean is bordered by a simply endless number of cypresses and olive trees. At midday, in the interest of everyone, we take a short break near to an orange grove, and with the permission of the owner, who is taking a siesta under a tree, we enjoy the simply unbelievable juiciness of several oranges.
Today's highlight is a visit to the Sultaniye hot springs.

After camping for the night in a little village near Milas, today's programme includes a great deal of culture.
After a drive of only two hours to Ephesos, we enjoy a spontaneously booked guided tour of the ancient ruins of this unique town. With his fascinating stories, Fadil, our Turkish guide, spirits us away into this secret world and we hardly notice how quickly time has passed until we start the second stage of the journey towards Kusadasi in the afternoon.
When we arrive in Kusadasi, we are met by a delegation of staff from the hotel which we have booked. With regret, they inform us that because of a mistake by the reception, the hotel has been overbooked. With profuse apologies they suggest another hotel and ask us to excuse this incident with the use of a free 'hamam'. The stress and strain of the past few days and the prospect of a well-meaning massage prompts us to accept this offer with a twinkle in our eyes.

Relaxed and rested, on the 10th day we start from Kusadasi to Aksaz and pass through a wonderful landscape characterised by the mountain region of the Aegean.
 

The next day also takes us over gravel roads and through several risky situations along the slopes of the Alcam Mountains and further to the north.
During this drive we enjoy the remoteness of this country and only a few small towns occasionally remind us that we are unfortunately returning to so-called civilisation and our final destination - Istanbul.
We decide to postpone this feeling for a while and decide to set up our camp in the midst of this lonely landscape, instead of in the civilisation of Lake Gölü at Ulubat. Accompanied by a few passing herdsmen, we enjoy our last evening in complete peace and quiet.

Travelling past olive groves and countless fruit orchards, on the 12th day we approach our destination: Istanbul. Our route takes us along the Gulf of Izmir and once again we enjoy the uniqueness of the country.
In front of the gates of Istanbul we risk another detour with our off-road vehicles and decide to drive to the Sea of Marmara.
When we arrive there, we are greeted by a fantastic sunset which makes us realise that the special quality of this kind of independent travel can be found in each and every detail.

Our last day in Turkey greets us with truly glorious weather. After a boat trip together on the Bosporus, which should be part of any standard trip to Istanbul, we say goodbye to each other in order to take in our own personal impressions of this city."