Treasures of Turkiye

You’re on your way to Turkiye, a country straddling two continents (Europe and Asia) and brimming with rich culture, diverse people, and sublime landscapes. From the vast Greek and Roman archeological sites dotting the countryside to the modern day cultural and historic hub of Istanbul, Turkiye is a confluence of past, present, and future: customs, traditions, and values. Born out of the Silk Road trade and its nomadic path, Turkiye’s heritage is layered like an intricately woven carpet.
Hotel Name: Galata's Hotel

Welcome to Istanbul, the bridge between East and West, and a hub of intermingling cultures, complex history, and legendary architecture. Settle in to your hotel for the next three nights, and then meet your fellow travelers at a welcome briefing before taking the rest of the evening to relax as you please.

Visit Area: Istanbul
The largest city in Turkiye, Istanbul constitutes the country’s economic, cultural, and historical heart. With a population of 14.4 million, the city forms the largest urban agglomeration in Europe as well as the largest in the Middle East. Founded on the Sarayburnu promontory around 660 BC as Byzantium, the city now known as Istanbul developed to become one of the most significant cities in history. Istanbul once served as an imperial capital for the Roman and Byzantine, the Latin and the Ottoman empires. The city’s strategic position along the historic Silk road, rail networks to Europe and the Middle East, and the only sea route between the Black Sean and Mediterranean. Today, Istanbul attracts millions of visitors each year due to its historic center, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its cultural and entertainment hub, which can be found across the city’s natural harbor.

Today, sample some of Istanbul’s most iconic sites, which connect Greek-Roman heritage with Ottoman-Islamic Art. First, the 17th-century Blue Mosque with its impressive domes and minarets, followed by Hippodrome, the former sporting and social center of the Roman Empire. Then on to Basilica Cistern, the largest underground cistern in the city, followed by Topkapi Palace and Harem, former home to the Ottoman Sultans. While we explore the city’s legendary history and architecture, please know that Istanbul is also known for its legendary traffic, which is also an iconic experience — one that requires great patience! This evening, gather at a local restaurant where the chef will delight you with their Ottoman-inspired cuisine.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Admittance: Basilica Cistern

Explore Turkey’s culinary heritage as you taste your way around Istanbul’s Golden Horn district during a walking to that includes a visit to the city’s famous Spice Market and multiple tastings of Turkish specialties sampled from local street vendors. This afternoon, take in the high-rises and minarets of Istanbul’s majestic skyline as you sail between two continents during a cruise of the Bosphorus Strait, which divides Europe from Asia. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore. Perhaps you’ll visit the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Art, home to rare artifacts, sculptures, and one of the most important collections of woven carpets in the world, some dating back to the Ottoman Empire. Or, choose to go on an optional excursion to an historic Hammam, where you’ll enjoy an authentic Turkish scrub and foam bath.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Hotel Cura

Visit Area: Topkapi Palace
Once the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans for approximately 400 years, Tokpai is a palace located in the historic part of Istanbul. The palace was once a setting for state occasions and royal entertainments as well as the royal residence. Today, it museum and a major tourist attraction. It contains important holy relics of the Muslim world, including Muhammed’s cloak and sword. In 1985, the museum became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the end of the Ottoman Empire in 1923, the palace was transformed by a government decree that is dated April 3, 1924, to a museum that includes many examples of fine Ottoman architecture. It also houses large collections of porcelains, robes, weapons, shields, armor, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and manuals, as well as a large display of Ottoman treasures and jewelry.

Early this morning, leave the bustle of Istanbul behind and enjoy a scenic ride along the sparkling Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles Strait as you make your full-day transfer to Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Learn about the many conflicts these waters witnessed over the centuries, including the devastating Battle of Gallipoli during WWI. Stop at Anzac Cove to pay your respects and learn about the site’s significance for Turks as well as Australians and New Zealanders before heading to a local organic winery for a tasting from the vineyards located between the Sea of Marmara and the Aegean. Finally, cross the Dardanelles Strait to Çanakkale, a small coastal city and your home for the night. The evening is yours to unwind from your day of traveling.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Park Inn by Radisson

Visit Area: Spice Market

Another long but rewarding day of travel begins with a transfer to the countryside of Pergamon, where you’ll learn about the traditional Turkish craft of carpet weaving, from silkworm cultivation to spinning, dyeing, and patterning techniques. This afternoon, visit the Ancient City of Pergamon (UNESCO), where you’ll take a short cable car ride up to the acropolis to enjoy commanding views of the valley below and a tour of the Greek ruins. End the day in Izmir (known as Smyrna in antiquity), Turkey’s 3rd most populous city and your home for the next two nights. Enjoy free time this evening to explore the seafront promenade with its shops and restaurants, just a short walk from our centrally located hotel.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Visit Area: Food Tour

This morning, your in-depth tour of Ancient Ephesus (UNESCO) takes you to the Terrace Houses for a walking tour of these impressive residential villas. See the imposing Library of Celsus, the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, and walk the paths that Paul the Apostle once walked. Conclude the morning with a visit to the Archeological Museum where most of the artifacts from the excavations are exhibited. This afternoon, travel to charming Sirince, a hilltop village once inhabited by the Greek community and abandoned during the population exchange between Turkey and Greece in 1923. The village today is a rare and protected example of Ottoman Christian architecture, known for its locally produced olive oil, wine, and peaches. Here, relax at a local café, taste a traditional Turkish coffee, and meet with locals who offer Turkish coffee ground readings for those who want to get their fortunes told! Afterwards, back to Izmir for an evening at leisure and dinner on your own.

Breakfast Included
Hotel Name: Doga Thermal Hotel

Admittance: Bosphorus Cruise

Start the day by learning about the folklore of the nazar boncuk (evil eye) at a workshop where these traditional talismans are crafted using a process passed down through generations. Next, continue your journey inland to Pamukkale (UNESCO) to visit the famous Cotton Castle* — named for its natural cascading thermal pools and white limestone — as well as the ruins of the Greco-Roman period. While here, it’s your choice! Visit the Cleopatra Antique Pools** and bathe in thermal spring water surrounded by columns and paving stones from the ancient city -OR- take a guided tour of the archeological site via golf cart and visit the local museum. Whichever you choose, all will have free time to visit the site’s “Cotton Candy” pools as well. This evening, check into the hotel and enjoy a relaxed buffet dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Arp Hotel

Visit Area: Gallipoli
The Gallipoli peninsula lies in the European area of Turkey, between the Aegean Sea and the Dardanelles strait. Gallipoli derives its name from the Greek, meaning “Beautiful City.” In ancient times, it was the location of several prominent towns. The peninsula was renowned for its wheat and benefited from its strategic importance on the main route between Europe and Asia. Greek colonization began on the peninsula in the 7th century BC. One of the greatest historic events to happen in Gallipoli was the Gallipoli Campaign. In early 1915, attempting to seize a strategic advantage in World War I by capturing Constantinople, the British authorized an attack on the peninsula in April and after eight months withdrew from the area. The campaign was one of the greatest Ottoman victories during the war. In Turkey, it is regarded as a defining moment in the nation’s history.

Today, return to the coast after a full-morning transfer to the quaint riverbank town of Dalyan. In the early afternoon, tour the ruins of Ancient Kaunos before checking in to your hotel for the next two nights — a small, family run bed & breakfast with simple accommodations and a scenic deck overlooking the river. The evening is yours. Perhaps you’ll stroll the streets of Dalyan browsing the local shops, or find your favorite café and soak in the local life.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Pergamon
Pergamon was once an ancient Greek city in Aeolis. Today, the main sites of ancient Pergamon are to the north and west of the modern city of Bergama in Turkey. Greek historian, Xenophon provides the earliest surviving documentary mention of Pergamon in 399 BC. Some of Pergamon’s history can be seen in the Acropolis including the Great Altar of Pergamon, which is believed to be dedicated to Zeus. On the wall inside the altar, is a depiction of the life of Telephus, son of Heracles and legendary founder of Pergamon. Other structures that are visible in the Acropolis are The Library of Pergamum, The Sanctuary of Athena, The Royal palaces, the Temple of Dionysus, and the gymnasium.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast this morning before setting off for a relaxing boat trip along the river that connects Dalyan to the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy the unique environment as you pass through the marshland that is home to birds, fish, and turtles. Take in views of the Aegean coastline and make some stops (weather permitting) along the way for swimming.*** After lunch in a local restaurant, get ready for your Impact Moment at a loggerhead turtle rescue and conservation center. Return to Dalyan for an evening at leisure.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Hotel Name: Bayir Diamond Hotel

Visit Area: Ephesus
Ephesus is the best preserved classical city of the Eastern Mediterranean and among the best places in the world enabling one to genuinely soak in the atmosphere of Roman times. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ephesus was once historically known for being the most important commercial center of the ancient world and a religious center of early Christianity.

Prepare for a full day of travel, beginning early and following the path of the ancient Silk Road trading route that once led from China all the way to Istanbul. The first leg of the journey takes you to the region of Isparta where the landscape and climate have proven ideal for the cultivation of aromatic plants. We’ll stop to visit an eco-center that uses sustainable practices to cultivate their organic crops. After a light lunch of Turkish pancakes, continue on to Konya, arriving in the early evening. Pause for dinner at a local restaurant before checking in to your hotel for the night.

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Exedra Hotel

Admittance: Choice on Tour: Cleopatra Pools or Pamukkale Archeological Site
In Pamukkale, it’s your choice. Spend the afternoon soaking in the Cleopatra Antique Pools, fed by thermal spring waters that fill a section of the ancient city. Bathe amongst old columns and ancient paving stones from the Roman times, a truly unique experience. If you’d prefer to stay dry, take a tour of ancient Pamukkale and explore the vast archeological site with your Tour Manager via golf cart. The tour includes the ancient Roman Theatre as well as an opportunity to visit the site’s Museum. Whichever you choose, all will have free time to visit the site’s natural “Cotton Candy” pools as well. Cleopatra Pools - NEO Day 7 Activity Level: 4 Travelers must be able to climb in/out of a pool using a pool ladder. Lockers and changing room are included with this activity, however travelers must bring their own towel and bathing suit. Pamukkale Archeological Site Golf Cart Tour - NEO Day 7 Activity Level: 2 Travelers will tour the archeological site via golf carts driven by local escorts. The golf carts will make several stops during the tour for photos and visits to the key attractions.

Begin the morning in Konya with a visit to the Mevlâna Museum, the world center of the Whirling Dervishes. Next, visit Sultanhani Caravanserai, one of the largest surviving caravanserai along the Silk Road. After viewing the soaring vaults of this fortified road stop, travel on, arriving in Cappadocia in the early afternoon for a tour of one of the region’s famous underground cities. These subterranean towns, some built almost 3000 years ago, provided refuge for their inhabitants during times of war and invasions. As you head towards your hotel, take in the ethereal scenery and mesmerizing rock formations created by thousands of years of volcanic activity and erosion. This evening, check in to your home for the next three nights — a cave hotel with rooms carved out of the soft stone of the natural landscape.

Breakfast Included

Admittance: Aegean Coast Boat Ride

Get an early start with an optional balloon ride**** that takes you soaring above the “fairy chimneys” and rock dwellings dotting the hills and valleys below you. After reconvening with your fellow travelers, immerse yourself in Cappadocia’s lunar landscape. Visit Göreme’s Open-Air Museum (UNESCO), a vast site comprising of 11 early Christian rock-cut churches and monasteries often adorned with colorful frescoes. For lunch, join a local family at their home for a taste of home-cooked burek (a savory pastry filled with cheese or potatoes), accompanied by tea. This evening, come together for a Whirling Dervishes ceremony.*****

Breakfast Included
Lunch Included

Admittance: Impact Moment

Start the day with a countryside walk in Love Valley, famous for its conspicuous rock formations. Follow the winding path among the fairy chimneys and contemplate the otherworldly view. Then, visit a pottery workshop and learn how locals make use of the area’s natural resources by extracting clay from the surrounding soil and developing pottery into an art form. This afternoon, participate in a hands-on cooking class learning how to make traditional Cappadocia dishes, like slow-roasted testi kebab, before enjoying the results for dinner.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included
Hotel Name: Galata's Hotel

Visit Area: Konya

Head to the airport in Kayseri this morning for a short flight back to Istanbul. After a drive back to the city, stop at the colorful Grand Bazaar. This intricate complex of covered streets and shops has been in operation for over 600 years and is one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world. Later this afternoon, check in to the hotel before regrouping for a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast Included
Dinner Included

Visit Area: Cappadocia
The earliest record of the name of Cappadocia dates from the late 6th century BC, when it appears in the trilingual inscriptions of two early Achaemenid kings, as one of the countries of the Persian Empire. Following the Battle of Manzikert, a battle between the Byzantine Empire and the Seljuq Turks, in 1071, various Turkish clans under the rule of the Seljuks began setting in Anatolia. Today, the area is a popular tourist destination, which has several unique geological, historic, and cultural features. Touristic Cappadocia includes four cities: Nevehir, Kayseri, Aksaray and Nigde.

Your exploration of Turkey comes to a close today. Reflect on an unforgettable trip as you make your way to the airport for your flight home.

Breakfast Included

Visit Area: Grand Bazaar