Treasures of Turkey 9 Days/7 Nights

Depart from US on your overnight flight to Istanbul, Turkey. Meals and refreshments served on board.

Welcome to Turkey! Upon your arrival in Istanbul, clear customs and immigration. Proceed into the arrival area and meet your Tour Director. Along the way to your hotel, enjoy an orientation to the city. See the remnants of empires that rose and fell, from the Greeks and Romans to the Venetians before the Ottomans that still remain. The city was the end of the legendary Silk Road linking Asia with Europe, and many merchants who came here liked it so much that they, too, decided to stay. We know you will love this destination as much as they did. There is a welcome dinner at the hotel tonight. (D)

Following breakfast, head out for a full day exploration of Istanbul's Old City. Begin at the Roman Hippodrome that served as the center of Byzantine life for a thousand years. Next, visit the Blue Mosque, the single most recognizable monument along the Istanbul skyline. The immense interior is basked in sunlight that streams through 260 windows and is decorated with more than 20,000 precious Iznik tiles detailing traditional flowers of Ottoman design. Afterwards, visit the Church of Divine Wisdom – Hagia Sophia – one of the best examples of Byzantine Architecture in the world. Enjoy free time for lunch before heading to Topkapi Palace, the center of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In the Treasury section, see breathtaking displays, including the seventh-largest diamond in the world. The day’s tour concludes with a visit to the Basilica Cistern that brought water into the city via numerous aqueducts. (B)

Rise and shine with breakfast at your hotel and get ready to embark on a tour to explore unforgettable Istanbul. First is a stroll on the Galata Bridge with its restaurants and coffee houses where local people enjoy their meal while watching the rush of the ferry boats and fishermen. Time for a selfie stop to view the Galeta Tower or Topkapi Palace in the distance. Then onwards, make your way across the Golden Horn by coach to reach the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world. The Grand Bazaar dates from the 15 th century and is visited by locals and visitors alike. This shoppers delight contains 4,400 authentic shops, 25,000 full time staff, 61 covered streets, 18 entrances, and looks as much to the present as it does to the past. Shop for handmade carpets and kilims, Turkish silver art, souvenirs and decorations made of copper and bronze and high-quality ceramics, onyx, and leather goods. Finally, as part of our Cultural Discovery Series, head over to Caferaga Medresesi, a lovely little building and charming tea garden. Built in 1560, it now houses a cultural organization that teaches and promotes traditional Turkish handicrafts. Spend some time participating in your choice of a variety of workshops: ceramic tile art, calligraphy, water marbling (ebru), jewelry, felt, carpet weaving, and more. The rest of the day is free to explore. (B)

Today you can enjoy a day at leisure to explore independently or take an optional tour to the Spice Bazaar, Ortaköy fishing village and a cruise on the Bosphorus. Start the day in the Spice Bazaar, brimming with stalls full of Turkish delight, teas and spices. Then onwards to the Golden Horn to cruise along the Bosporus Strait. The Bosporus is a narrow, navigable strait that divides the continents of Europe and Asia. Your cruise will take you past late Ottoman Palaces, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden mansions and modern villas of the 19th and 20th centuries. Your last stop will be the Ortaköy fishing village on the Bosphorus strait where Turks, Armenians, Greeks, and Jews historically lived peacefully side by side for centuries. (B)

Have breakfast at your hotel and then head to Istanbul Airport for a short flight to Izmir, the country’s 3rd largest city. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a scenic ride to the seaside town of Kusadasi. This resort town, located on the Aegean coast, boasts restaurants, bars and is an ideal location to explore the coast and the world-famous Ephesus archaeological site. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and enjoy at your own pace! Dinner tonight will be served at your hotel (B,D)

After breakfast at your hotel, drive to nearby Ephesus, perhaps the world’s best- preserved ancient city. In Roman times, Ephesus was the provincial capital of Asia, with a population of some 250,000 at the height of its glory. The most significant relic of the site is the immense amphitheater that holds 24,000 people and is still used today. You will walk along the Sacred Way and see the ingenious water and sewer system that was constructed beneath paving stones of marble. You will also see the Temple of Hadrian, a Corinthian-style building with the head of Medusa to keep away evil spirits, and the Library of Celsius. Next, continue to Sultanköy, where you will participate in one of our Cultural Discovery Series and learn about the entire rug-making process. After this cultural experience, you will break for a fresh and organic al fresco lunch showcasing ingredients from Sultanköy’s own farm and orchards. Continue on to the town of Selçuk where you will see the artifacts in the Museum of Archaeology. Return to the hotel, relax, and enjoy dinner. (B,L,D)

Enjoy a full breakfast at your hotel, then enjoy the day at leisure or take an optional tour to the Basilica of St John, Isa Bey Mosque, Sirince village and the House of Virgin Mary. Our first stop will be the town of Selçuk to visit the Basilica of Saint John, said to be built over the Apostle John’s burial site. Situated just down the hill from the basilica is Isa Bey Mosque, one of the most delicate examples of Seljukian architecture. Then head to the town of Sirince, an old Greek Orthodox village that will give an authentic taste of Turkish/Greek culture and rural village life. After lunch in a family-run Turkish restaurant, you visit an elementary school located in Sirince (Cultural Discovery Series). This give you a great opportunity to learn about the Turkish educational system, meet teaches and their students. To end this exciting day, visit the House of Virgin Mary, who is believed to have come to Ephesus near the end of her life in 37 AD. This place was officially declared a shrine of the Roman Catholic Church in 1896. Dinner is served at your hotel tonight. (B,D)

This morning you will say goodbye to Kusadasi and the Aegean and drive to the airport for your flight back to the U.S. (B)