Treasures of Turkey: A Luxury Small-Group Tour
Steeped in history and pulsating with a vibrant energy, Turkey beckons you with the promise of astonishing architecture, exotic culture and one of the world’s most fragrant cuisines. Experience the journey of a lifetime where the air is rich with local spices, the sites replete with ancient wonders of the bygone days of Empire, and colourful bazaars dazzle with a wonderful array of Ottoman jewellery, beautifully handcrafted ceramics and the heady aroma of Turkish coffee. Includes 11 nights of luxury accommodation, daily breakfasts and gourmet experiences, internal flights and private transportation, a cruise along the Bodrum Peninsula in a private traditional gulet, a sunrise hot air balloon flight over the spectacular Cappadocian landscape, insider experiences with private local guides, all entrance fees and more.
Happily poised between Asia and Europe, Turkey is an entrancing mix of cultures, historical and modern-day attractions, and culinary influences that range from regal to contemporary. Revel in a unique journey of surprise and discovery, as history unfolds through the **archaeological splendour **of Istanbul, Bodrum, Ephesus and Cappadocia; while **authentic local produce **is served up with a healthy dose of famous Turkish hospitality.
See the ‘Itinerary’ tab for more details.
What You’ll Love
Nothing says welcome like an immersive dining experience with deeply rooted ties to Turkey’s ancient history. On day one, enjoy an enchanting evening at Matbah, Istanbul’s most exquisite dining experience. The menu, based on the sumptuous dishes once served at the court of the Ottoman sultans, is literally fit for a king. Taste sensations include Artichokes in Olive Oil, Beef Kebab in Fragrant Herbs, and Stuffed Quince with Molasses.
Relive the heyday of the Byzantine Empire in Istanbul. In Sultanahmet, the stunning construction of Hagia Sophia is said to have changed the history of architecture. The Hippodrome, a rectangular arena alongside the park, bears remnants of obelisks and statues from the time of the chariot races. Roam through the bustling stalls at the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest markets in the world, for a great local find.
Once a fishing village, Bodrum features superb beaches and an innovative dining scene inspired by both Mediterranean and Asian flavours. Discover the secrets to Turkish meze in a sumptuous cooking class. This local farm-to-table cooking house will share some of the recipes for well-known Turkish bites. After the class, enjoy the dishes with the local drop, raki.
At sunrise, soar high above the stunning landscape of the Cappadocia region in a hot-air balloon. It’s the ultimate vantage point from which to drink in the views of the breathtaking panorama below: tall volcanic spires, high plateaus, deep valleys gloriously bathed in the morning light. Float between fairy chimneys and caves before landing to toast this unforgettable experience.
Luxury Stays – Your tour includes stays in two of the most unique hotels in the world
Once a monastery, the award-winning Argos in Cappadocia offers a luxury stay like no other. This world-class boutique hotel high above the village of Uchisar has been carefully built from its surrounding stunning terrain: ancient ruins, caves and underground tunnels. Sleep under beautifully arched stone ceilings, and relax in inviting nooks and crannies at seven different mansions. The hotel has a winery attached, providing an endless flow of top-shelf local and foreign beverages to the **superb menu **at the award-winning Seki restaurant.
The magical setting of the five-star Shangri-La Bosphorus in Istanbul yields deep blue waterfront views of the Bosphorus Strait. Admire the beautiful domes, Bohemian glass chandeliers and sweeping staircases, and be sure to book in for a relaxing massage at the hotel’s famed CHI Spa.
Tour Extension: Troy and Gallipoli
Continue your journey back in time to discover Greek mythology, ancient ruins and famous battlegrounds. Visit Gallipoli, the scene of one of the most epic battles in ANZAC history, and pay your respects to the fallen soldiers in this unsuccessful attempt by the Allied Powers to control the sea route from Europe to Russia in World War I.
Your Package Includes:
· 11 nights of luxury accommodation including four nights at Shangri-La Bosphorus, two nights at Swisshotel Bodrum, two nights at Nea Efessos and three nights at Argos
· Daily breakfasts and gourmet experiences as noted in the itinerary, including an exquisite dinner showcasing exclusive dishes once served to Ottoman sultans, a **tasting trail **through Istanbul’s vibrant streets, a farm-to-table traditional Turkish dining experience, dinner at the award-winning Seki restaurant in Cappadocia, dinner with a local Turkish family, and more
· Domestic flights from Istanbul to Bodrum, Izmir to Kayseri, and Cappadocia to Istanbul
· Private cruise along the beautiful Bodrum peninsula in a traditional gulet including a sumptuous lunch prepared on board
· Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the spectacular Cappadocian landscape
· All airport transfers and air-conditioned transport throughout
· The services of a local, English-speaking guide and entrance fees to all sightseeing listed
Extension Inclusions:
· Two nights of luxury accommodation at the Buyuk Tuva Hotel and Shangri-La Bosphorus
· Daily breakfasts and lunches
· A drive through the Dracian Peninsula, and a ferry crossing of the Dardanelles
· A tour of Troy and a visit to the Gallipoli battlefield
Flights to Istanbul depart daily from all major Australian cities with a minimum of one stop, usually in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Doha.
Book your flight through us. First, confirm your tour booking dates. Our Tours Concierge will then be in touch within 24 business hours to assist with additional arrangements, with no booking fee to you.
A visa may be required to the destination you are visiting. It is each travellers responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visa’s Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist.
DAY 1 – Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul where you’ll be met by a local representative and transferred for check-in to the magical Shangri-La Bosphorus, where you’ll stay for the next two nights. Glittering water views of the Bosphorus Strait from the hotel, set in the financial and entertainment district of Besiktas, is a prelude to the enchanting evening to come at Matbah, Istanbul’s most exquisite dining experience. The menu, based on the sumptuous dishes once served at the court of the Ottoman sultans, is literally fit for a king.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Bosphorus Meals: Dinner
DAY 2 – Istanbul
History is on the agenda today as you journey in the footsteps of the city’s great emperors with a local guide. Sultanahmet (the Old City, formerly Constantinople) has such a wealth of historic sights, shopping precincts and great eateries that you might never want to leave. Among its most magnificent is the Hagia Sophia (“holy wisdom”), whose jaw-dropping construction and structural splendour is said to have changed the history of architecture.
Enter the Hippodrome, a rectangular arena alongside the Sultanahmet Park and scene of many a chariot race enjoyed by the Byzantine Emperors. Inspect the decorative statues and obelisks that remain to this day in the now-treelined land.
After lunch, head for the Basilica Cistern, whose subterranean structure was designed to store up to 80,000 cubic metres of water delivered via aqueducts from a reservoir near the Black Sea to service the Great Palace.
Pick up a trinket or two at the colourful Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, boasting more than 3000 stalls of handcrafted jewellery, textiles and books.
Finish off the day with a delicious tasting trail through the city’s thriving streets.
Accommodation: : Shangri-La Bosphorus Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 – Istanbul
The day is yours to spend at leisure or pick your own attractions. A local guide is on hand with suggestions on what to see or do. Opt for more shopping, sample local delicacies, or continue to relive the heydays of the Ottoman Empire with a visit to the colourful Topkapi Palace, gleaming with opulent pavilions, sprawling harems and the jewels of an Imperial Treasury.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Bosphorus Meals: Breakfast
DAY 4 – Istanbul - Bodrum
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bodrum, where you’ll be transferred to the Swissotel Bodrum on arrival for two nights’ stay. Once a fishing village, Bodrum today is teeming with superb beaches and vibrant nightlife precincts of bars and eateries. Set off for Bodrum Castle for breathtaking views of the city from the battlements and visit its underwater archaeological museum. In the evening discover the secrets to Turkish meze in an sumptuous cooking class. This local farm-to-table cooking house will share some of the recipes to well-known Turkish bites. After the class, enjoy the dishes with drops of the local raki.
Accommodation: Swissotel Bodrum Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 5 – Bodrum
Bring out the seafarer in you as you prep for a day of sailing the beautiful peninsula in a traditional gulet. Marvel at the sun-soaked coastline, brushed in verdant hillsides and replete with outlying coves, resort towns and coastal villages, as you relax on deck. Snorkel and swim at pristine stops throughout, and hop off at Kara Ada for a quick drink or snack. The popular destination for yachts is also famous for its healing mineral springs.
Accommodation: Swissotel Bodrum Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 – Bodrum - Selcuk
After breakfast, drive to Selcuk three hours away and check into Nea Efessos for two nights’ accommodation. Visit the town centre, St John Basilica, Isa Bey Mosque and Ephesus Museum. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Sirince village before returning to the hotel.
Accommodation: Nea Efessos Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7 – Ephesus
History and film buffs will love this day among the ruins of Ephesus, arguably the greatest Greco-Roman site in the world. More than a century of excavation has unearthed the city’s rich classical history, including the imposing Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Tour around the amphitheatre, and marvel at the gymnasium, baths and beautifully restored Library of Celsius. One of the most famous couples of the historic world, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, once strolled the marble streets here. Then head to a local restaurant to enjoy the local specialty of gozleme before an afternoon at leisure.
Accommodation: Nea Efessos Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8 – Cappadocia
Drive to Izmir and fly to Kayseri, where you’ll be transferred to the magnificent Argos hotel for three nights’ stay. In the afternoon savour unique local drops, accompanied by cheeses, from the biggest underground wine cellar in Turkey in a wine-tasting session. Continue your gastronomic journey with dinner at the hotel’s award-winning Seki restaurant, offering authentic local flavours in dishes such as Kirci Pasta, Homemade Kayseri Manti and Celtik Kebab.
Accommodation: Argos Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 9 – Cappadocia
Rise and shine early for an unforgettable hot air balloon ride over the other-worldly Cappadocian landscape. Soar high over valleys, orchard and vineyards that act like virtual kaleidoscopes bathed in the changing glow of the sunrise. After breakfast at the hotel, head to Derinkuyu Underground City, which dips seven levels beneath the ground. Next stop is a UNESCO heritage site: the Goreme Open-Air Museum to view the incredible houses, churches and monasteries carved out of the soft cliff face. The Christian sanctuaries contain many examples of Byzantine art, cave chapels and colourful biblical frescoes from the 10th to 12th centuries. Then take a short walk through “Love Valley”, famous for its phallic rock formations. A special dinner treat awaits when your guide takes you in the evening to dine with a local family in their own home. It’s the ultimate blend of authentic flavours, homespun hospitality and spectacular landscape to bookend the day.
Accommodation: Argos Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 10 – Cappadocia
Another day at leisure lets you make your own discoveries. Check with the local guide for suggestions. Take a walk down a valley – there are plenty to whet the adventurous appetite – try a ceramic masterclass with local master Chez Galip, or join a carpet tutorial to see how those famed Turkish carpets are created.
Accommodation: Argos Meals: Breakfast
DAY 11 – Cappadocia - Istanbul
Fly back to Istanbul and be transferred to the Shangri-La Bosphorus for an overnight stay. The afternoon is yours to further explore some more of the hidden charms of the city. In the evening, your tour leader will take you to the best local tavern in town, set against the cool blue backdrop of the twinkling Bosphorus Strait, to enjoy your final dinner as a group.
Accommodation: Shangri-La Bosphorus Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 12 – Farewell
Your tour ends today, as you transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for your onward flight.
Meals: Breakfast
EXTENDED TOUR: Troy and Gallipolli
DAY 12 – Troy
Drive through the Dracian Peninsula, cross the Darnadelles by ferry and continue to Troy. This is the site that has inspired countless movies, poems and works of Greek literature [Homer’s Iliad] to tell the story of the famous Trojan War in Greek mythology, sparked off when the Achaeans waged a bitter war against Troy to reclaim the beautiful Helen taken by Paris of Troy from her husband Menelaus, king of Sparta.
Accommodation: Buyuk Tuva Hotel or similar Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 13 – Gallipoli
Travel to the Gallipoli Peninsula, scene of one of the most sombre battles in ANZAC history. Tour former sites of World War 1 battlefields, where Turkish folk hero and Ataturk and his troops defeated the western Allied army. Poignant memorials have been erected around the sites for visitors to reflect and pay respects to the fallen soldiers. In the evening travel back to Istanbul.
Accommodation: Shangri La Bosphorus Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 14 – Tour Ends
Your tour ends with a transfer to the Istanbul Ataturk Airport
Meals: Breakfast