Turkey Itinerary: August 8-21, 2014

If you’ve ever wanted to try authentic Turkish cuisine, we are now accepting applications and reservations for a very special 14-day trip, Aug. 8-21, 201. Our Turkey itinerary will take you to various destinations that you will be sure to love.

The Turkey itinerary is as follows:

Day 1: Aug. 8 – Arrive in Istanbul

We will meet you outside of Customs at Istanbul Airport upon your arrival. Our driver will transport you to your hotel in the Old City, where you can rest up and do a bit of exploring on your own. In the late afternoon our guide will meet you (and other travelers if applicable) in the hotel lobby for a drink and an overview of the tour. We will treat you to a welcome dinner at a fine seafood restaurant in walking distance from your hotel, where you will be introduced to wonderful mez (appetizers) for which Turkish cuisine is famous. On the way to dinner our guide will take you through the Hippodrome and past the Obelisks to give you a quick taste of the Roman influence on Istanbul.

Day 2: Aug. 9 – Full Day Byzantine & Ottoman Relics

After breakfast at the hotel we’ll depart for a full day tour of Istanbul, visiting the majestic Blue Mosque and the magnificence of the Hagia Sophia. Also on tap is a visit to the maze that is the Grand Bazaar, before a break for lunch. After lunch we’ll continue on our journey to the Topkapi Palace. Dinner in the evening will be on your own, perhaps at one of the splendid restaurants that we recommend.

Day  3: Aug. 10 – Full Day Bosphorus Cruise

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit  the 17th century Spice Bazaar, the second largest covered bazaar in Istanbul.  Next, we embark on a cruise up the Bosphorus, the legendary strait separating Europe and Asia. We cruise past the Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, wooden 19th century seafront mansions, picturesque villages and modern pleasure palaces, to Çamlica Hill, the highest point in Istanbul, commanding a panoramic view of the city.Then we take a short drive to the 19th century summer palace of the Sultans in the Bosphorus village of Beylerbeyi. Completed in 1865, the palace has 24 rooms and six large halls. After heading back to our hotel, dinner will be on your own.

Day 4:  Aug. 11 ?stanbul – The New City
(Pera, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Istiklal Street & the Zulfaris Jewish Museum)

After breakfast at the hotel we spend the day in the New City, visiting its many sites and strolling down Istiklal Street…the Fifth Avenue of Istanbul. We’ll enjoy lunch at the culinary institute restaurant to savor some modern fusion Turkish cuisine and speak to some of the Institute students about their cooking philosophies.  Later we’ll visit the Pera Museum and the Pera Palace, where luminaries such as Agatha Christie and Ernest Hemingway stayed; and the hero of the Independence movement and first president of the Turkish Republic, Ataturk, resided.  Dinner is on your own in the New City (or you can return to your hotel and dine in the Old City).

Day 5: Aug. 12 – Fly to Izmir and on to Ephesus

After breakfast we will head for Istanbul Airport for the flight to ?zmir. Upon arrival enjoy a light lunch of Gözleme, fresh fruit juices and rich Turkish coffee.  Then it is off for a full tour of Ephesus.  On the way we’ll visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. At the Ancient City of Ephesus we explore some of the best preserved theatres, fountains and buildings in the world and will tour one of the world’s first forays into condominium living (called the Terrace Homes) right on the main street of Ephesus — a definite must while in Turkey! At the end of this wonderful day, we drive to our hotel at Kusadasi. The Ephesus Boutique Hotel is our home for the next 4 days of our trip.

Day 6:  Aug. 13 – Priene, Miletos & Didyma

Breakfast is served at the hotel. After breakfast, we depart for the first ancient city, Priene. In its time Priene was one of the most spectacular of all the ancient Ionian cities. Our next stop is Miletus, with its magnificent theatre and the Byzantine fortress on the acropolis above. Last, but not least, we visit Didyma. home of the largest Ionic Temple in the world, that of Apollo. Also in Didyma lies the huge, cracked head of Medusa.  Then it is back to the Ephesus Boutique Hotel where our host and chef, Mustafa, will treat you to a delicious home made dinner.

Day 7: Aug. 14 – Put on your apron and let the cooking begin

After breakfast at the hotel we will have a short meeting to prepare you for shopping for dinner.  We’ll visit a local fish market and fruit/vegetable market where we will buy some of what we will prepare in our cooking class that afternoon.  After a light lunch (Gözleme, omelet, local salad) we will visit the vegetable garden to pick fresh vegetables for cooking class. What we prepare during class will serve as our dinner that evening.

Day 8: Aug. 15 – Cooking and local culinary delights

?n the morning we’ll have a small cooking class about  Turkish breakfast and then we will visit a local winery and olive oil producer.  Lunch will be in Sirince village and then we’ll visit the national park for free time for swimming or walking through the lovely surroundings.  In the evening, we’ll gather back at the hotel for dinner.

Day 9:  Aug. 16 – Free day

After all the running around, enjoy a leisurely day at the Ephesus Boutique Hotel where you can sit by the pool, sun on the deck, help prepare the meals, stroll through the garden, meet the chickens and walk to the nearby village.  All meals are at the hotel.

Day 10: Aug. 17 – Off to see more of Turkish history

After breakfast we drive to Pergamum to visit the windswept ruins that surround the town of Bergamon.  Pergamum was the capital of the Roman province of Asia.  We will visit the Acropolis, Altar of Zeus, Temple of Athena and the great theatre, as well as the ruins of the Pergamum library (the Arheneum), which rivaled the great library in Alexandria, Egypt.  We will also see the Asklepion, one of the world’s first full-service health clinics, named after the god of medicine and recovery, whose snake and staff are now the symbol of modern medicine. We spend the night in a small hotel in Beramon.  Dinner is on your own.

Day 11: Aug. 18 – Off to see sites of ancient and modern wars

After breakfast we’ll drive to Troy, where we visit the site of one of the most famous battles of all time.  You’ll enjoy the sites and sights along the Dardanelles and theAegean.  We’ll spend the night in the town of Canakkale, with dinner is on your own.

Day  12: Aug. 19 – The Battle that cost Churchill his job

After breakfast we’ll take the car ferry and visit Gelibolu (Gallipoli), the site of one of the most devastating sieges of World War I.  The beauty of the landscape belies the death and destruction that occurred there.  Then we drive to ?stanbul, returning to the Old City.  Dinner is on your own.

Day 13:  Aug. 20 – A bit more of Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll enjoy a final day of sightseeing in Istanbul.  We will visit the Underground Cistern, the Archeological Museum and the Rustem Pasa. There is time to again see the Spice Bazaar, enjoy a Turkish bath or simply walk along the Bosphorus. Our final dinner is at a traditional Turkish restaurant known only to locals.

Day 14:  Aug. 21 – Transfer to airport, fly home

After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul Airport for your flight home.

The price of the trip includes:

  • All airport transfers
  • Four full day private tours of Istanbul
  • Seven nights in a hotel in the Old City, Istanbul
  • Five nights Ephesus Boutique Hotel
  • Flight tickets; Istanbul- Izmir
  • Two full day private tours of Ephesus, Priene,  Militos & Didyma
  • Cooking classes & food shopping expeditions
  • Private car/van to Pergamum, Troy & Gallipoli
  • One night hotel in Bergamon and 1 night hotel in çanakkale
  • 13 breakfasts
  • Nine lunches (drinks extra)
  • Seven dinners including wine and/or soft drinks
  • All local taxes
  • All transfers and transportation in Turkey by private deluxe air- conditioned non-smoking tour car
  • All entrance fees to the sites and to the museums mentioned in the above program
  • Fluent English speaking guides

The price of the trip excludes:

  • International travel
  • Three lunches
  • Six dinners
  • Tips & gratuities

Trip cost per person:

  • Two travelers – $7500 single occupancy/7100 double occupancy
  • Three to four travelers – $7100 single occupancy/6500 double occupancy
  • Five or more travelers – $6500 single occupancy/6200 double occupancy