Classic Turkey

Your grand adventure begins with your arrival in Istanbul. You’ll be met by your private driver for transfer to your accommodation in the capital city, where you can settle in and relax, resting up for the excitement that awaits, or perhaps do a little exploring. Karaköy is a fun neighborhood to explore and it’s also one of the most historic in the city as a port since the Byzantine era. Today it’s home to many great restaurants, bars, shops, and art galleries, including Istanbul Modern, a contemporary art hub. For a culinary treat, wander through the Karaköy market.

You’ll get a more in-depth look at the Turkish capital on a full-day private guided tour of the historic landmarks. Your driver will meet you at your hotel with your first stop Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman sultans in the 15th and 16th centuries, now serving as a museum. You’ll visit Hagia Sophia, the religious, political, and artistic center during the Byzantine period, continuing to the underground Basilica Cistern which supplied drinking water to the Great Palace of Constantinople and other buildings. Marvel at the Blue Mosque, inside and out, concluding with visits to the Hippodrome and Chora Church.

Another full day lies ahead with your private guide bringing you on a cultural tour that starts at the Grand Bazaar. Simply taking in the sights, sounds, and aromas is a thrill, but you’ll be able to try your hand at bargaining and watch the talented local artisans at work. Afterwards, enjoy a guided tour of Süleymaniye Mosque and its gardens that offer a magnificent view of the Golden Horn and Bosporus Strait. Finally, you’ll head to the Spice Bazaar, one of the city’s largest bazaars, with some 85 shops that sell Turkish sweets, dried fruits and nuts, souvenirs, jewellery, and plenty of spices.

Continuing your Turkish travels, take a private transfer to the airport to catch a flight to Cappadocia followed by a private transfer to your hotel. Take time to refresh and then enjoy a private guided tour of the region that includes several of its most famous valleys: Devrent, Pasabag and Pidgeon valleys. A complimentary lunch in Avanos is included, as is a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Goreme Open-Air Museum, an impressive cluster of monastic Byzantine artistry with churches and monasteries carved out of the rock. You’ll visit the centuries-old castle/mountain, Uchisar Castle which sits at Cappadocia’s highest point, bringing incredible views of the region.

One of the highlights of your trip is on the agenda today. You’ll need to rise early as your private driver will pick you up for the ride to the hot-air balloon launch site. Enjoy a light breakfast as your balloon is readied for takeoff. Once everyone is on board, you’ll soar up into the sky under the early morning light, with the sun slowly making its way above the horizon, splashing across the landscape and its otherworldly feature. This afternoon, a guided tour will bring you to multiple sites like a citadel carved into the rock, Ortahisar, and an underground city.

It’s time to head to the Aegean coast, taking a private transfer to the airport for a flight to Izmir, once the ancient city of Smyrna. You’ll have the rest of the day to enjoy at your leisure. After checking into your hotel, you might enjoy a walk along the Kordon, a seaside promenade where you’ll find a number of charming cafes. Or visit Kermalti, the historical market district with its maze of narrow streets, synagogues, bathhouses, and shops selling a wide range of products to browse or buy. There are also notable buildings here like the 16th-century Hisar Mosque.

A private full-day tour brings you to explore the ancient city of Ephesus. Your driver/guide will pick you up at your hotel to discover one of the Roman Empire’s most important cities, founded in the 10th-century BC as an Attic-Ionian colony. Excavations have revealed remarkable monuments from the Roman Imperial period like the Library of the Celsus, a theater, Roman baths, and the remains of one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Temple of Artemis that once drew pilgrims from across the Mediterranean. Terrace House 2 features mosaics and wall paintings revealing the high style of living the wealthy here once enjoyed.

It’s time to make your return to Istanbul, taking a private transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to the capital city. But it’s not over yet, you have one more highlight to experience: a private cruise on the Bosporus accompanied by an expert guide. You’ll be able to marvel at the iconic landmarks from the water, traveling between the two continents, passing historic mansions and opulent palaces along the shoreline. Enjoy the view of the Golden Horn’s spectacular mosque and their minarets, the Ottoman fortresses, and more, taking the opportunity to capture some postcard-perfect photos along the way.

The most difficult day of your magical trip to Turkey has arrived, it’s time to depart. Enjoy one last breakfast, perhaps fueling up with some of that strong Turkish coffee, before meeting your private driver for transfer back to Istanbul’s airport. If you have the time and inclination to do some more exploring, contact our travel experts who will be happy to help. Otherwise, you’ll catch your flight back home, taking some amazing memories (and probably many photos) with you.