Discover Culinary and Cultural Treasures of Turkey

Day 1 Saturday  ISTANBUL

Arrive at New Istanbul Airport, where you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul

Day 2 Sunday    ISTANBUL

Today we will take you on a tour of of Istanbul’s iconic monuments.
You will visit the Blue Mosque, a famous 17th century mosque that dominates the Istanbul skyline,, Hagia Sophia, the church of the Divine Wisdom, which was a church (circa 548 AD), now a mosque and after lunch The Underground Cistern built by Emperor Justinian to provide water for the city of Constantinople. It is difficult to describe the beauty and uniqueness of this experience.

Welcome Dinner will be at one of Istanbul’s popular restaurants. Overnight in Istanbul (B,L,D)

Day 3 Monday    ISTANBUL 

Visit Topkapı Palace and its Harem the residence of the sultans for almost three centuries. You will also visit The Palace Kitchens, Helvahane and Quarters and learn about our culinary culture of 400 years.

After lunch we will drive to the pier for our cruise on the Bosphorus.

Upon disembarkation you will proceed to Selin’s home to enjoy a hands- on cooking class learning to cook home-style, family recipes and taste what you have cooked. A truly unique opportunity to experience Turkish hospitality and Istanbul home life.Overnight in Istanbul or similar. (B, L,D)

Day 4 Tuesday   ISTANBUL 

After a leisurly morning you will explore the famous Grand Bazaar.

Lunch will be served at Pandeli Restaurant. After lunch you will walk through the Spice Bazaar, an extensive market which was built in the 17th century to finance the upkeep of the nearby mosque – Yeni Cami. You will stop for a spice tasting session in a Spice shop that has been there since 5 generations.A baklava shop stop will be your last stop for the day.

Dinner will be served at one of Istanbul’s popular restaurants.Overnight in Istanbul. (B, L, D)

Day 5   Wednesday     ISTANBUL – CAPPADOCIA

Morning at leisure. Take a ferry ride to the other side of the river that separates the European and Asian parts of Istanbul to explore the famous open-air street market of Kadıkoy Lunch will be at reknown Ciya Restaurant where you will taste best samples of Anatolian Cuisine. After lunch we will head  to the airport for our flight to Cappadocia.

You will be transferred to your cave hotel upon arrival. A light dinner will be served at the hotel.  Overnight Cappadocia (B, L,D)

Day 6  Thursday          CAPPADOCIA

In Cappadocia we will focus on the very particular culture and foods of Anatolia. After walking through a local farmers market you will proceed to a village where you will be cooking lunch in a village home with a local family.After lunch we will introduce you to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia at Dervent Valley, and then head to the Zelve Open Air Museum, which is one of the earliest inhabited and latest abandoned monastic settlements of Cappadocia. Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley, we drive further to Kaymaklı. You will explore the underground city of Kaymakli, one of the largest and deepest of Cappadocia’s many such settlements. Before dinner we will stop at a winery. Dinner will be at a popular Cappadocia restaurant. Overnight Cappadocia (B,L,D)

Day 7 Friday CAPPADOCIA – IZMIR- SELÇUK

Early morning optional balloon ride

Proceed to Avanos, a center of terracotta art since 2,000 BC.

You will watch how to make Baklava before lunch. After lunch you will continue your day with a hike in the picturesque Red Valley. Then make your way back to the famous Goreme Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia. Then while sipping your wine you will enjoy a demonstration and explanation of Turkish carpet making techniques, symbols and different types of carpets, and get the chance to buy some of these works of art. We will take an evening flight to Izmir and drive to Selçuk. Overnight in Selçuk. (B,L,D)

Day 8 Saturday  SELÇUK – EPHESUS

After breakfast we will proceed to visit the ancient archaeological ruins of Ephesus, featuring the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of ancient world. We will then proceed for lunch at an ecological farm that houses the best restaurant in the area and visit the Oleatrium, an Olive and Olive Oil Museum where we will be travelling 2500 years in time. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Overnight in Selçuk (B, L, D)

Day 9   Sunday   SELÇUK – PERGAMUM – MOUNT IDA

After breakfast we will depart to the ancient site of Bergama -Pergamum. Arrival to Bergama, we drive to Acropolis. The Temple of Dionysus and The Altar of Zeus covered with magnificent friezes depicting the battle between the Olympian gods and their subterranean foes but most of these famous buildings removed to Berlin by the 19th century German excavators. Then we head on to Asclepion where was neither the first nor the only medical & psychological treatment centre.

Lunch at local restaurant. Then drive to our hotel in Yeşilyurt Village, Mount Ida.

Overnight in Mount Ida. (B, L)

Day 10 Monday- MOUNT IDA

Today we will join a cheese and Aegean delicacies workshop and olive oil tasting followed by lunch at Manici Farm.

After lunch drive to Assos which is a tranquil Aegean-coast seaside resort situated among ancient ruins with a legacy dating back to the time of Aristotle.

Once home to Aristotle, where he set up a philosophy academy thousands of years ago. Assos, now officially named Behramkale, comprises three distinct settlements offering visitors the diverse experience of wandering through a cliff-top village, frolicking through ruins crowned by the Temple of the goddess Athena, enjoying a picturesque afternoon at the old harbor.

Return to hotel where you can try the SPA facility.

Dinner at a seafood restaurant.

Overnight in Mount Ida.

Day 11 Tuesday TROY

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for the short drive to the ancient site of Troy, immortalized by Homer in his stories of the Trojan War. Heinrich Schleiman claimed to have found Priam’s treasure during his excavations there in the 19th-century. The remains that you will see cover a period of 4000 years and include palace walls from Priam’s reign up to a Roman temple and council house.

Lunch at a reknown restaurant in Çanakkale.

After lunch take ferry to Eceabat.

Dinner and overnight in Eceabat. (B, L, D)

Day 12 Wednesday

After breakfast you will enjoy a drive to Tekirdag where the best wines of Turkey are produced. We will stop at a vineyard  for lunch and wine tasting. They produce 10 different wines in their winery and have received many awards.

Then proceed to Istanbul Airport.

Overnight Yotel. (B, L)

Day 13 Departure