Lavender Fields and Salda Lake Tour from Side

Karacaoren Lake and the breakfast stop

The day begins early with a long drive inland from Side, and the first pause comes at a restaurant near Karacaoren Lake. Long tables, tea and a simple Turkish breakfast set a relaxed tone, and guests wander to the water to take photographs of the still lake before the road continues into the Isparta highlands.

It is a short break but an important one on a long day, giving the group time to wake up, use the facilities and get to know one another. Bring a light layer, as mornings in the highlands can be cooler than on the coast, and keep a little cash for tea and snacks.

Kuyucak lavender village in Isparta

Kuyucak lies in the Isparta highlands, the region that produces most of Turkey's lavender, and a Kuyucak lavender fields tour from Side is the main reason people choose this day. Rows of blooming plants stretch toward the hills, and their scent reaches you before the coach stops. The group walks through the rows together, with time to look closely and take photographs.

Lavender usually blooms from about mid-June into July, and the exact peak changes each year, so ask our team about the timing when you book. The fields are completely exposed to the sun, so wear a hat and sunglasses and use sunscreen. Comfortable shoes help on the natural, uneven ground.

The lavender distillery

After the fields, the coach takes you to a traditional lavender distillery where the extraction process is explained step by step. You see how raw lavender is heated, how the steam carries the oil and how the fragrant oil is collected, using methods that local producers have refined over many years.

The guide puts the process into plain language, and this stop turns the photographs of the morning into real understanding of how the region's best-known product is made. Staff are happy to answer questions, and the same site often sells small bottles of oil and other products you can take away.

Lunch in Isparta and the rose and lavender shop

Lunch is served in Isparta, a full meal at which the group sits down together. Regional dishes use the produce of the surrounding countryside, and it is a good moment to compare favourite photographs from the lavender fields. Tell our team about any dietary needs when you book.

Isparta is also known for its roses, and the group stops at a shop selling rose and lavender products such as oils, soaps and dried petals, which make easy gifts. Bring some cash for shopping, and ask the staff about any product you want to try. The order of stops can change a little with the day's timings.

Salda Lake, the Turkish Maldives

Salda Lake in Burdur province is a crater lake with pale, almost white mineral shores and water that shifts between turquoise and deep blue as the light changes, which is why people call it the Turkish Maldives. Scientists have studied its minerals because the conditions resemble those found on Mars. The water is so clear that you can see the lakebed far from the shore.

The group spends time walking the shoreline and wading at the edge, with plenty of chances for photographs. Since Salda is a protected area, rules about where you can walk and swim are set by the authorities and can change, so follow your guide's directions. Bring a swimsuit and towel, sunglasses and sun protection, as there is almost no shade.

Kibyra on some departures

On some departures the route passes near Kibyra, an ancient city in the region whose ruins speak of centuries of settlement in this part of Anatolia. When it is included, you walk among old stone structures and imagine the city as it once stood.

Not every departure includes Kibyra, as it depends on timing on the day, and the main programme is the same either way. Our team can tell you after you book whether your date is likely to add this stop. Wear comfortable shoes and bring water, because the site is open and uneven.