Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

This morning we will meet our local guide and head out to explore the city. On the tour we will see the extraordinary imperial residence of 25 Ottoman Sultans- Topkapi Palace- with its library, royal jewelry and gem collection, and imperial living quarters, all surrounded by serene gardens and fountains. We will also see the Hippodrome- the stadium of ancient Byzantium, which held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. The morning will conclude with a visit to one of the highlights of Istanbul- the fabulous Blue Mosque, one of the most important places of worship in the world. It is named for the blue Iznik tile work that decorates its interior and its iconic dome and six minarets.

We will have lunch at a local restaurant before venturing to the city’s famous Old Spice Market where you can find a vast diversity of spices, sacks of henna, many varieties of oils and herbs, and of e the world’s very best Turkish delight. Your evening is at leisure. 

Overnight Istanbul, Orientbank Hotel Istanbul or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

This morning we will head out again to explore the Karakoy neighborhood, one of the oldest areas and a commercial hub since Byzantine times. Highlights include the SALT art & cultural institution, the Camondo Stairs pedestrian walkway donated by a Sephardic Jewish family of the same name. We will then take part in a workshop for traditional Turkish baklava- the Karakoy Gulluoglu. Not only is it the best of Turkey, but also one of the most well-known baklava makers in the world. 

We will have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the Grand Bazaar, one of the most famous must-see attractions of Istanbul. A unique atmosphere reflects Istanbul’s spirit, offering an almost endless selection of Turkish carpets, gold, jewelry, and artworks offered in over 4,000 shops! The evening and dinner are at leisure. 

Overnight Istanbul, Orientbank Hotel Istanbul or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

This morning we will visit the Old Town to see the extraordinary Church of St. Sophia/Aya Sofya Mosque. Built in the 6th Century by the Emperor Justinian, this church stands as a testament to the sophistication of the former Byzantine capital and influenced architecture in the medieval world for centuries. Its original design was supposedly created as a mirror image of the heavens. From there we will head to the beautiful Byzantine Underground Cistern built in the 6th Century as a secure water reservoir for the city. It is one of Istanbul’s most unusual tourist attractions! It was laid out in 532 under the rule of Justinian.

Afterwards we will continue to Istiklal Street, closed to traffic except the trams. We can explore the many shops and the atmosphere of the neighborhood. We will also be sampling some of the best examples of Istanbul street food! While sipping our Turkish coffee, we will be amazed with the spectacular view of the Golden Horn and the old buildings located on its shores. We will also have a chance to explore the Fener-Balat neighborhood, another hidden gem of Istanbul. There will be an optional Turkish cooking class for those interested! 

Overnight Istanbul, Orientbank Hotel Istanbul or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

After breakfast we will say goodbye to Istanbul and head to the airport for our flight to Kayseri. We will venture to the magical, otherworldly landscape of Cappadocia. The caves, fairy chimneys, and rock formations must be seen to be believed!

Enroute to Cappadocia we will have lunch at a local restaurant and make a visit to one of the best vineyards in the region for a wine tasting before arriving at our Cave hotel. 

Overnight Yunak Cave Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

For those who don’t mind getting up before sunrise, you have the option to take a hot air balloon ride - one of the most popular activities in the Goreme Valley. The pilots follow the air currents and float along the valleys, often below the ridgeline and close to the famous natural phenomena – the chimney rocks, truly a once in a lifetime experience. 

After breakfast we will visit the heart of local Christian history at Goreme Outdoor Museum– a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Carved here within the earth are 15 churches, 7 refectories and numerous storerooms and living quarters. The churches are decorated with frescoes of stories and symbols of the New and Old Testaments dating back to the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries. The frescos also provide records of visits by St. George, St. Theodore, and St. Barbara. These structures at Goreme are a marvel of ingenuity, engineering, and faith. Goreme Valley is where thousands of people once lived in homes cut into the soft rock walls of caves and “fairy chimneys”. Many of the churches in Goreme are from the 11th century.

Lunch will be a truly unique local experience, cooking, and dining at a local family-owned restaurant. The locals will show us how MANTI (Turkish Ravioli) is prepared and cooked. We will enjoy various local tastes of Cappadocia with Turkish mezes and experience true Turkish hospitality. 

After lunch, we will make our way to the village of Avanos, famous for its beautiful old houses, pottery, and onyx. People have been working terra cotta here for thousands of years. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date back to the Hittites. On our way back to the hotel, we will see the famous Pigeon Valley where the guano of revered pigeons was collected and used as a fertilizer.

Overnight Yunak Cave Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner 

Today we will explore Zelve and the Red Valley. The architecture of Zelve is made from deep red stone, versus the white stone of Goreme. The central ridge that runs through the valley used to be the natural divide between the Christian and Muslim communities. Here we can visit two of the most interesting churches in the area: The Church of Grapes and the Fish Church. We will also visit Pasabagi (Monk's Valley) known for multiple stems and caps, peculiar to this area.

We will have lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Underground city Kaymakli, which was cut out of volcanic rock as deep as 300 feet during the period from the 6th to the 10th Centuries. You can go as deep as seven floor levels in the underground city through an intricate labyrinth of tunnels. 

This evening, we will enjoy a fabulous barbeque party in a private valley with local food & beverages for a memorable farewell dinner in Cappadocia.

Overnight Yunak Cave Hotel or similar 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we will check out of the hotel and transfer to the Kayseri Airport for our flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, if you are taking the post extension you will connect to your flight to Izmir. If you are heading home, you can connect to your homeward bound flight, or transfer to your hotel in Istanbul for one last evening at leisure. 

Post Extension: 

Upon arrival at the Istanbul airport, you will connect to your flight to Izmir. Once you land you will be met by your private guide and driver and transferred to Izmir. This port city was, in Ottoman times, a melting pot that included Greeks, Armenians, Jews, French and Italians.  Seaside Izmir is Turkey’s third largest city, yet it oozes with the laid-back charm of an Aegean coastal village. Said to be the hometown of Homer, Izmir (once called Smyrna) dates back some 5,000 years. We will visit the Roman Agora, the open-air museum of Izmir (used as a square shaped marketplace during the Roman rule of the city), and a visit to the antique Bazaar where we can taste a great variety of delicious local street food.

Overnight Izmir, Swissotel Grand Efes or similar 

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at the hotel, our guide will meet us in the lobby of the hotel for our private sightseeing tour of the world-famous ancient city of Ephesus. Ephesus was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era. We will see the Odeon, the stream baths of Scholastika, the temple of Hadrian and the impressive library of Ephesus. The Grand Theater, where Saint Paul preached, is the largest theater in antiquity with a capacity of 24,000 seats.  We will have a very special visit to the Terrace Houses which will give us a magnificent picture of the daily life of the Romans and the wealth of Ephesus. 

Lunch will be at leisure at a local restaurant. 

After lunch, we will drive to the House of Virgin Mary, which is the place where Mary might have spent her last days. See the small stone house, built by the Apostle John who, according to popular belief, brought Mary with him from Jerusalem to Ephesus. After this stop we will transfer to our hotel in Bodrum (approx. 3 hours). Dinner will be at leisure. 

Overnight Bodrum, The Marmara Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast at our hotel, we will meet our guide to explore the city of Bodrum with its picturesque setting on the Aegean. Named Halicarnassus in ancient times, Bodrum was the birthplace of Herodotus and the home of one of the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of which only ruins remain. On a small promontory lies the Castle of St. Peter, built in the 15th century by Crusader knights and later captured by Suleiman the Magnificent. It houses the fabulous Museum of Underwater Archaeology, where we’ll have a special visit, seeing many items excavated from shipwrecks of the Bronze Age and subsequent eras, including artifacts from all over the Mediterranean. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure. 

Overnight Bodrum, The Marmara Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch 

We will enjoy a leisurely breakfast at our hotel before transferring to the pier to board our private wooden gulet, or yacht, for a day cruise on the Aegean Coast. We will visit Tavsan Burnu, Haremten and Aquarium Bay. Lunch will be served onboard. After the cruise we will transfer back to our hotel for dinner at leisure. 

Overnight Bodrum, The Marmara Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast

You will be picked up from your hotel for your private transfer to Bodrum Airport for departing flights to Istanbul and homeward.