Inclusions

Arrive to Istanbul, Turkiye 

*We ask that you arrive a day early for this trip so you are ready to depart at 10am for your first city tour. You can arrange your own accommodation or we can arrange it for you. There is an extra charge for this nights accommodation. 

Transfer from Istanbul airport to your hotel is included. This day is for your arrival. Just settle in and familiarise yourself, recover from your flight, or have a glass of wine at the rooftop bar overlooking the city.

Overnight in Istanbul Levni Hotel and Spa or similar
Meals: N/A

Pick up from hotel you will have a full day guided tour of the Hagia Sophia Mosque (entrance fee is included), pride of the Byzantine architecture, Byzantine Hippodrome, where chariot races were held, Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles, Basilica Underground cistern. Visit Topkapi Palace, former residence of Ottoman Sultans and Grand Bazaar, Turkey’s largest covered market with 4000 shops.

This evening,  we will attend to a whirling dervishes ceremony at Hodjapasa Culture Center at 7 pm.   

Overnight in Levni Hotel and Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Istanbul Bosphorus , Spice Market & Fener Balat, Pierre Loti Hill Tour

After we pick up from the hotel, we will visit the Spice Market, where locals still shop for herbs and spices from all over the world. Then, embark on a cruise along the Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating two continents

After lunch, visit driving to Pierre Loti Hill where we are going to enjoy the enchanting view and have a coffee at the famous Pierre Loti Cafe. Then, visit Balat and Fener districts which are parts of the Greek Heritage of Istanbul. They have been very hipster-like areas for the last ten years with the investments of young, smart Turkish business people. You’re going to be fascinated with colorful cafes, boutique stores, and street art. We are finishing the tour here, and taking you back to your hotel.

Overnight in Istanbul Levni Hotel and Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Gallipoli Battlefields & Wine Tasting at Suvla Winery

Early in the morning, we leave for Gallipoli. We will have a short stop en route. The travel will continue to Eceabat. We visit will Brighton Beach, the intended landing place, Beach Cemetery on the southern tip, Anzac Cove, the landing place of the first wave of Australian and New Zealand troops and home to up to 30,000 troops during the campaign. Ariburnu Cemetery, Anzac Commemoration Site, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, site of the successful attack and capture of Turkish trenches by the Australians during the August offensive. End of our tour, we will visit, Suvla Wines winery.

Suvla Wines are welcome to take a winery tour which includes a visit to the olive oil processing area and a full wine tasting experience.. The duration of the tour and tasting is 1 hour during which guests can taste their own selection of between 6 and 10 red and white Suvla wines. The tour allows guests access to the winery, the cellar and the tasting room.

Overnight in Canakkale Truva Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Troy, Pergamum and Kusadasi

After breakfast, we will depart for Troy.

We will visit the model of the Trojan Horse, Sacrificial Altars, the 3700-year-old city walls, Houses of Troy I from 3000 – 2500 B.C., the Bouleuterion (Senate Building), the Odeon (Concert Hall), current excavations, remains of the various cities from Troy 1 through Troy IX. After Troy visit, we will depart for Bergama.

We will have lunch in Bergama and then depart for a fully guided Pergamon Acropolis tour.

At Pergamon, the ancient world’s major power, you will visit the Acropolis, the ruins of Zeus Altar “Throne of Satan”, the Hellenistic Theatre which had a seating capacity of 10,000 people, the Great Library which held 200,000 books and Trojan, the Gymnasium situated on terraces, the lower Agora, Temple of Dionysus, Temple of Athena and Temple of Trojan. At the end of the tour, transfer to Kusadasi.

Overnight in Kusadasi Efe Boutique Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Ephesus & Pamukkale Tour

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and see the Ancient Roman City of Ephesus, to explore the Arcadian Way, Roman Baths, Temple of Hadrian, the Celsius Library, and the Antique Theatre. In the afternoon, we will drive to Pamukkale. The first visit will be to Hierapolis, the ancient Greco-Roman city on top of hot springs. You will see the large necropolis, Great Baths, Frontinus Street, Theatre, Martyrion of St. Phillip, and the antique pool also known as Cleopatra’s pool. Finally be amazed by travertines, (the terraces of carbonate minerals left by the flowing water) on which you can enjoy a barefooted walk. End of the tour.

Overnight in Pamukkale Adem Pira Hotel
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Konya & Cappadocia

Departure from Pamukkale and drive to Cappadocia via visiting Konya city. On our route, we will visit the city of Konya, which is the home of the Whirling Dervishes, a religious order founded by the Sufi (Muslim sage), Mevlâna in the 13th century. We will visit Mevlana Museum and Sultanhani Caravenserai and finish the day at our cave hotel in Cappadocia.

Overnight in Cappadocia Acer Cave Hotel *NB rooms are not cut into the cave.
Meals: Breakfast

Cappadocia Tour & Cooking Class in Local House

You can book an early morning optional hot air balloon tour to enjoy the magnificent view of the valleys and the region. After breakfast at 9:30 – 10:00 a.m Pick up from your hotel & Tour Start from Devrent Valley ( Imagination Valley), spectacular fairy chimneys and beautiful scapes. After Devrentvalley, we will visit Pasabag( known as monkvalley) where double and triple headed rock formations.

Lunch at Avanos, famous for pottery and Redriver ( Kızılırmak). 

After lunch, you will visit an open air museum in the heart of Cappadocia. The open air museum, famous for wall painting,  dates back to the 10th century describing  the life of Jesus Christ and monks. We will visit Ozkonak underground city and we will have our cooking class in Local House. 

Firstly, you will be welcomed with Turkish tea. While having tea, you will be introduced to our cooking class area, organic garden, home and our village. This will take about 3 hours including soup, entrée, main meal and local dessert. Of course many other side dishes will serve as well as your meals. You will enjoy your own cooked delicious Turkish foods. 

Overnight in Cappadocia Acer Cave Hotel *NB rooms are not cut into the cave.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Cappadocia to Istanbul by Internal Flight & Turkish Coffee Workshop

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and fly to Istanbul. 

Upon arrival, be welcomed and transferred to your hotel in the old city.  Check into our hotel,  after refreshment, we will walk to Hafiz Mustafa and delve into Turkish coffee culture and learn about the role it plays in society with a coffee-making workshop in Istanbul. Grind your own beans and use a traditional cezve pot to brew authentic coffee by yourself. 

Learn about Turkish coffee fortune-telling and sip a fresh cup of coffee. Finally, conclude your experience as you are presented with your own Turkish coffee set, including a cezve, coffee, and traditional mug, so that you can brew at home or with family or friends. 

Overnight in Istanbul Levni Hotel and Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast

Istanbul Old City & Whirling Dervish Ceremony Departure

After breakfast, free time until taken to the airport for your departure flight.

Private transfer from your hotel to Istanbul airport.

Meals: Breakfast

“There is no time to be bored in a world as beautiful as this”