Beat the crowds and visit Turkey in tranquility... No one likes to travel to amazing, awe-inspiring places and swim through seas of oblivious tourists taking a million selfies. Our trip has been carefully planned to beat the crowds so that you can actually see and enjoy the bucketlist sites in Turkey as well as some unique, off-the-beaten-path things.

Queen Cleopatra’s ancient pools: Swim under the famous Roman temple’s ruins in these warm pools steeped in history just a few hours before closing to avoid crowds and have the place to yourself!

Private Bosphorus River cruise: Sail on your own private yacht and explore lesser-known, intimate estates along the riverfront.

Pamukkale (Cotton Castle): Stay the night for a splendid sunset visit and avoid the hordes of day-trippers.

Welcome to Turkey! Upon arrival, settle into your hotel in Istanbul followed by some free time to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the former Ottoman Empire capital. The old city is full of churches and palaces that will transport you back in time. We suggest dropping by one of the bazaars and getting lost in the labyrinth of stalls selling spices, fresh produce, and homemade Turkish pastries. To fight off jet lag, go for a cup of Turkey’s famous coffee that’ll put an extra pep in your step!

Included:

• Activities: Arrival (at your own expense); Free time
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

Start the day with a walking tour to see some of Istanbul’s most iconic sites such as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as the Blue Mosque, which is still an active place of prayer for many Muslims in Istanbul. No visit to Istanbul would be complete without a stop at Hagia Sophia, a site with a tumultuous history that has been an Eastern Orthodox church, Roman Catholic cathedral, and Greek Orthodox Christian place of worship throughout its existence. Next, visit the Basilica Cistern and its hundreds of towering marble columns which used to provide water to the Palace of Constantinople.

After lunch together, peruse the Spice Bazaar which contains over 80 shops selling spices, sweets, Turkish delight, jewelry, souvenirs, and other goodies. Even if you’re not an avid shopper, just walking through the colorful stalls is sure to inundate all of your senses!

Included:

• Activities: Half-day Istanbul guided tour; Blue Mosque; Hagia Sophia; Basilica Cistern; Spice Bazaar; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

This morning, hit the city streets again to see more of Istanbul’s marvelous sights. Visit Topkapi Palace, the oldest and largest palace in the world that has survived modern times. You’ll check out the harem where the sultan kept hundreds of concubines. Topkapi Palace is also home to one of the largest diamonds in the world!

Have lunch as a group and the rest of the day is yours to do as you’d like. We suggest wandering around the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest covered markets in the world. It is stuffed to the brim with fine jewelry, rugs, and trinkets galore.

Included:

• Activities: Half-day Istanbul guided tour; Topkapi Palace; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

Later this morning, head to the Istanbul airport to catch a flight to Cappadocia. On arrival at the cave hotel, you’ll have some time to freshen up and stretch your legs after the flight. Later that evening, get ready for an ancient Whirling Dervishes performance. The whirling and twirling will mesmerize you as you witness this traditional meditation practice.

Included:

• Transfers: Istanbul to Cappadocia by plane (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Activities: Free time; Whirling Dervishes performance
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Cave hotel

Start your morning early with an enchanting hot air balloon flight at sunrise. As you ascend, you’ll get a bird’s eye view of Cappadocia’s surreal landscape while drifting above pigeon houses carved into unique rock formations. This experience is truly straight out of a fairytale!

Afterward, head to the underground city of Kaymakli which is made up of subterranean houses situated among nearly 100 tunnels. Built in the 8th – 7th centuries BC, Kaymakli was discovered by a villager while he was looking for the water that kept disappearing from the irrigation system in his field. The floors are believed to have sheltered 2,000 people from persecution and looting.

For lunch, you’re invited to a local family’s house for a homemade meal. The rest of the day is at your leisure to relax by the pool or enjoy the landscapes with a glass of wine on the hotel’s terrace.

Included:

• Activities: Hot air balloon ride; Kaymakli underground village; Lunch at local family’s house; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Cave hotel

This morning, escape the crowds and visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, less crowded than the more popular Goreme Open Air Museum but equally impressive! At this visually stunning site, you will homes carved into fairy chimney rock formations as well as some amazing cave churches.

Next, go for an easy hike through Love Valley, named for its rock structures that bear a striking resemblance to a certain part of the male anatomy. We’ll let you decide which part that is! Enjoy the panoramic view from the highest point in Cappadocia, the Uchisar Castle, before returning to the hotel for a bit of time for some R&R.

End the day with a picture-perfect view overlooking the Red Valley with a glass of wine as the sun sets.

Included:

• Activities: Zelve Open Air Museum; Love Valley;  Uchisar Castle; Sunset viewing & wine
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Cave hotel

Today you’ll fly to Izmir and proceed to your accommodation which is one of the loveliest little hotels you’ve ever seen. Its elevated terrace restaurant offers far-reaching views of the nearby village as well as a swimming pool with natural thermal waters pumped in from a nearby spring. The hotel’s enchanting cottages are right out of the pages of a Mother Goose book. You’ll have the rest of the day to explore the hotel premises and the village below. In the evening, reunite as a group for a delicious dinner prepared especially for you at the hotel.

Included:

• Transfers: Cappadocia to Sirince via Izmir by plane (approx. 1.5 hours)
• Activities: Free time
• Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

This morning you’ll be on your way to Ephesus, an ancient Greek city with a rich history that has been inhabited since 6000 BC. It served as an important center for Christianity and is said to be where the Virgin Mary spent the last days of her life. Ephesus is also home to the Celsus Library ruins, a Roman amphitheater, the famed House of the Virgin Mary, and much more.

This afternoon you will have some free time to explore the small streets of Sirince at your leisure. Shop at the village’s souvenir market, grab a cup of coffee at a historic coffee house, or get your fortune read. The choice is yours and your trip leader will be there to point you in the right direction!

Included:

• Activities: Ephesus & Virgin Mary House; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

After breakfast, hit the road to Pamukkale with a stop by The City of Love, Aphrodisias, on the way. Here lie the well-preserved ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Feel the love as you imagine what ancient life was like in this ancient site which locals say is the home of the largest ancient stadium in the world.

There’ll be a quick stop for lunch as a group and then, onward to Pamukkale where you’ll have some time to freshen up at the hotel. Pamukkale, also known as “The Cotton Castle”, is known for its picturesque terraced thermal pools contained in white travertine. Before visiting Pammukale, take a dip in Cleopatra’s antique thermal pool. In the 7th century, an earthquake toppled the surrounding building and the massive marble columns tumbled into the pool – where the ancient ruins still remain today. Afterward, head to the Cotton Castle in time for one of the best sunsets you’ve ever seen!

Included:

• Transfers: Sirince to Pamukkale by mini-bus with lunch stop and Aphrodisias (approx. 4 hours)
• Activities: Aphrodisias; Cleopatra's pools (optional & at your own expense); Pamukkale thermal pools
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation: Hotel

Catch an early flight back to Istanbul and upon arrival, hop on a private yacht to cruise along the Bosphorus River that separates Europe from Asia. Enjoy the stunning city views from the river and enjoy the breeze through your hair while you sip champagne.

The cruise will end in front of the Beylerbeyi Palace which was once the summer residence of the sultans. Visit this decadent palace with your trip leader before heading back to the hotel.

The rest of the day is yours to get in some final souvenir shopping, grab your last cup of Turkish coffee, or enjoy one more piece of baklava (or 2!).

Included:

• Transfers: Pammukale to Istanbul via Izmir by plane (approx. 1 hour)
• Activities: Bosphorus cruise by private yacht; Beylerbeyi Palace; Free time
• Meals: Breakfast
• Accommodation: Boutique hotel

Depending on your flight time, you will have free time on your own in Istanbul before catching your flight back home.

Included:

• Activities: Free time; Departure (at your own expense)
• Meals: Breakfast

*Itinerary is subject to change.