In a world where ancient paths are disappearing under the weight of modernization, Altay and Rikki, the co-founders of Roots Adventure Travel, are doing everything they can to preserve and maintain the trails that connect landscapes, cultures, and histories. Their work goes far beyond leading guided hikes and outdoor adventures—it’s a hands-on mission to defend, maintain, and protect the very trails they explore.

Building and Maintaining the Carian Trail

Altay, a passionate explorer and advocate for sustainable adventure travel, is the founder of the Carian Trail, an 850-kilometer-long hiking route winding through Turkey’s stunning southwestern coast. What began as an ambitious personal project has become one of the country’s most spectacular long-distance trails, offering hikers access to breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and remote villages.

After spending four years developing the trail, Altay has continued maintaining it entirely with his own time and resources since 2013. Rikki joined the effort in 2016, and together, they have dedicated countless hours to waymarking, clearing overgrown brush, and ensuring the route remains safe and accessible. Whether working alongside volunteers or tackling the work on their own, they have remained steadfast in their commitment to keeping the trail open for all.

However, maintaining a trail is only part of the work. With increasing threats from mining, deforestation, and unregulated development, the couple realized that protecting the trail meant taking their efforts to the next level.

Conservation and Protection: A New Battle for Trails

The Carian Trail, like many others, faces relentless pressure from urbanization and industrial expansion. Trails have been bulldozed into roads, ancient paths have been swallowed by mines, and fences have gone up where footpaths once invited travelers.

In response, Altay and Rikki have partnered with the Mediterranean Conservation Society and local excavation directors to push for official protections. One of their most critical efforts is securing National Park status for the Latmos Mountains, a region of historical and ecological significance that is currently under threat.

This work is not easy. Protecting natural landscapes from development requires tireless advocacy, research, and collaboration with local authorities. But for Altay and Rikki, it’s a fight worth taking on.

Supporting Local Communities Along the Trail

Beyond conservation, Altay and Rikki believe that the best way to preserve a trail is to ensure it remains valuable to the people who live alongside it. They actively work with local villagers to develop sustainable tourism businesses, providing advice on how to set up guesthouses, cafes, and other services that cater to hikers. By encouraging responsible tourism, they help create economic incentives for local communities to support and maintain the trails rather than selling the land to developers or allowing it to fall into disrepair.

Expanding Their Reach: Supporting Trails Beyond Turkey

Their commitment to trails doesn’t stop at the Carian Trail. Through Roots Adventure Travel, they have sponsored the maintenance of trails used in their tours across Greece, recognizing the importance of protecting paths that connect cultures and histories. They have also built new mountain biking trails around their base in Kaplankaya and have led numerous garbage cleanup efforts along Turkey’s coastline.

Every project they take on—whether it’s marking trails, advocating for protection, or ensuring local businesses thrive—centers around the belief that trails are more than just paths through nature. They are lifelines that connect people to history, culture, and the land itself.

Looking Ahead: A Future Rooted in Protection

With national park status on the horizon for the Latmos Mountains and ongoing efforts to preserve existing trails, Altay and Rikki remain deeply committed to their cause. Their work is a reminder that adventure travel can be more than just experiencing nature—it can be a force for conservation, community support, and long-term sustainability.

By taking responsibility for the landscapes they explore, they set an inspiring example for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts everywhere: the trails we hike today should still be there for generations to come.

Two percent of our annual revenue is dedicated to building and maintaining local trails, ensuring outdoor access for our community while protecting the landscapes and trails we cherish.