Day 1: Istanbul

Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be met and driven to your hotel in your private transport.

The remainder of your day is yours to enjoy at your own pace, giving you time to unwind and acclimatize to this enchanting city.

Day 2: Istanbul – Sultanahmet

Today, you will enjoy the highlights of the most fascinating corner of historic Istanbul: Sultanahmet. We visit Topkapi Palace, the former grand residence of the Ottoman sultans, with it’s royal jewelry and gem collection and imperial living quarters surrounded by serene gardens and fountains. Close by is Sultan Ahmet Mosque. Or the “Blue Mosque” built by Mehmet Aga, and very controversial due to its six minarets, which rivaled the architecture of Mecca itself! Lunch gives the chance to experience some of the best examples of the Turkish cuisine.

In the afternoon we descend into the underground Basilica Cistern, an ancient 6th Century reservoir followed by the famous Covered Grand Bazaar of Istanbul a labyrinth of covered streets and thousands of shops that has been in continuous operation since 1461.

Evening Activity
To round off your day in Istanbul, we offer an optional two-hour Sunset Private Bosphorus Cruise aboard a luxurious motor yacht. As the sun sets over the historic skyline, you’ll cruise the waters between Europe and Asia experiencing a different view of the city’s architectural gems

Day 3: Fly to Cappadocia

This morning, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia. On arrival, your private guide will greet you at the airport to begin your exploration the surreal landscapes and UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Cappadocia, a region of central Turkey. Famous porous volcanic rock has eroded into fairy chimneys’ and towers or been hewn to create early Christian churches, underground cities and dwellings. Indeed, for the next two nights you’re offered a taste of (comfortable) cave living in your unique cave hotel is built into a rock face.  

Before reaching the hotel we visit an underground city (at Kaymakli or Ozkonak) where one can go as deep as seven floor levels into an intricate labyrinth of tunnels to see how tens of thousands of people existed deep within the earth. Just before reaching our cave hotel, we will visit Pigeon Valley and the castle of Uchisar, a rock, riddled with windows and tunnels, once used as a fortification which offers a magnificent panoramic view of Cappadocia and distant Mt. Erciyes.

Optional – Evening Activity
You will get a chance to see performance of the Whirling Dervishes.

Day 4: Cappadocia

Optional – Early Morning Hot Air Balloon Ride Experience
If you do not mind getting up before sunrise, you will be able to take a hot air balloon ride – one of the most popular activities in the Goreme valley offering countless photographic opportunities and unforgettable memories.

Today we visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its rock-hewn churches adorned with stunning frescoes masterfully carved into the soft rock walls of Goreme Valley’s “fairy chimneys” and cave homes.

Afterwards, we venture into Devrent Valley, where nature has created its own peculiar rock formations and small fairy chimneys, crafting a lunar landscape that resembles a sculpture zoo of animal-like rock shapes. At the Zelve Open Air Museum, where three canyons converge in the Valley of Monks, you’ll discover intricate shelters carved into the rock by the earliest monastic settlers. Nearby, in Pasabagi (Monk’s Valley), you’ll encounter some of Cappadocia’s most striking fairy chimneys, boasting twin and triple rock caps and often referred to as ‘mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys’.

After lunch the charming village of Avanos is a hidden gem celebrated for its picturesque old houses, intricate pottery, and exquisite onyx creations (whose history dates back to the Hittite civilization). There will be a demonstration of carpet weaving and pottery making.

Meals: Breakfast 

Day 5: Fly to Izmir

Early morning private transfer to Kayseri Airport for your flight to Izmir. On arrival, your guide will meet you and take you on an orientation tour of Izmir. Built in the 3rd century B.C., it shared with Troy the most advanced culture in Western Anatolia. You’ll visit Konak Mosque, Ataturk Monument, Passport Pier and end at the Kemeralti shopping area.

Seaside Izmir is Turkiye’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. Settle into your hotel and take an evening stroll along the kordon (waterside promenade), wandering elbow to elbow with locals as the sun sets over the Aegean.

Day 6: Ephesus

After a one hour drive through lovely countryside, you arrive at Ephesus – UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best- preserved classical city in the Eastern Mediterranean, Ephesus is unmatched in size and grandeur. Founded by Ionian Greeks in the 11th century BCE and brought to full flower under Roman rule. Take in the vast amphitheater where St. Paul preached, walk marble streets once trod by Antony and Cleopatra and marvel at the gymnasium, baths, and wonderfully restored Library of Celsus.

Optional
Visit spectacular Terrace Houses (Villas) situated on the slopes of Mt. Coressus within the City of Ephesus. The houses, occupied from the 1st to 7th centuries AD, offer a fascinating look at family life during the Roman period.

After lunch we drive up to the house where the Virgin Mary spent the last years of her life. It is the official site recognized by the Vatican as the residence where the Virgin Mary spent her final days. Time permitting, we continue on to the village of Sirince with its beautiful, serene landscapes, vineyards and olive groves.

Day 7: Journey home

After breakfast, you transfer to Izmir International Airport and fly to Istanbul for your return flight home.

It is also possible to extend your trip with an additional night(s) in Istanbul.