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14 Days Turkey: A Journey Through History Tour Packages
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Priced From: $10,995 pp dbl. occ.
Dates: Sep, Oct, Mar, May, Jun, Sep, Oct
In fascinating Istanbul, enjoy private visits of the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. Dine with a local family in Cappadocia. View authentic whirling dervishes in Konya, and in Ephesus, dine under the stars at the Library of Celsus while you are serenaded by a quintet from the Izmir Symphony Orchestra.
Tour Itinerary
Days 1-2: USA or Canada/Istanbul, Turkey
Depart on an overnight flight to Istanbul, where you are met and transferred to your waterside hotel. Istanbul's rich history and culture combine with modern-Day bustle to create a cosmopolitan metropolis that offers something for every interest. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers for welcome cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus
Day 3: Istanbul
Istanbul's unique geographic setting was the primary reason for founding Constantinople here. Explore the Hagia Sophia, one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture,  during a private opening. Emperor Justinian I built the sixth-century Basilica Cistern to expand one previously built by Constantine the Great. Continue to the Hippodrome, which during Roman times held horse races, gladiator contests, inaugurations and parades. Privately visit the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, set in the Ibrahim Pasa Palace, containing an extraordinary collection. Following a Turkish lunch, take a refreshing stroll in the Pera District, the present-Day heart of Istanbul. Later this afternoon, embark on a private cruise along the Bosphorus, a strategic waterway which links the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. Tonight's welcome dinner is at a local restaurant. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at the Bosphorus B L D
Day 4: Istanbul/Cappadocia
Centuries of volcanic activity and erosion have left Cappadocia with a unique landscape of soft, porous stone called tufa. Fly to Kayseri and transfer to Göreme to see the valleys of tufa filled with "fairy chimneys" that were transformed into cave dwellings, monasteries, chapels and underground villages by expert carvers. Explore the rock-cut churches with their dazzling medieval wall decorations at Göreme Open Air Museum, a large monastic complex of many refectory monasteries placed side by side, each with its own fantastic church. Then privately visit the Dark Church, with stunning frescoes that depict the life of Christ- the colors still retaining their original freshness. Dinner this evening is at your hotel. Anatolian Houses B L D
Day 5: Cappadocia
Take an optional hot-air balloon ride (at extra cost) over the unusual pocked landscape. The region is also known for the "underground" city of Kaymakli, one of the unique cellar villages. Several levels were built underground as stables, cellars, mills and galleries. Visit this mysterious place and then meet a local family, who invite you to dine with them in their home. The Turks of Cappadocia have always made the most of the natural elements of the region, including the clay from the beds of the Red River. Drive to Avanos and visit a potter's workshop, where you see some of these clay creations. Dinner this evening is at a local restaurant commanding spectacular views of the valleys. Anatolian Houses B L D
Day 6: Cappadocia/Konya
Follow the ancient Silk Road and cross the Central Anatolian Plateau to visit the 13th-century caravansaray (inn) at Agzikarahan. Continue to Konya, the ancient capital of the Secuk Kingdom, ancestors of a line of Turkish empires that included the Ottomans. After lunch visit the Mosque of Alaaddin Kaykoubat and the 13th-century Mevlana Memorial and Museum. Mevlana was a poet and founder of the Whirling Dervishes, a mystic order of Islam whose members whirl in an ecstatic dance. Witness a private performance of the Sema by the Whirling Dervishes at your hotel, an astounding display of choreography executed with split-second timing. Konya Rixos B L D
Day 7: Konya/Aspendos/Perge/Belek
 Travel across the Konya Plain through the pine-forested Taurus Mountains and along the coast to ancient Aspendos, home to a well-preserved antique theater. Continue to Perge, an ancient city founded by the Hittites. During the Hellenistic period it was home to many sculptors and artisans. Continue to Belek for dinner at your hotel. Kempinski Hotel The Dome B L D
Day 8: Belek/Antalya/Phaselis/Belek
This morning drive to Antalya to explore the Antalya Museum's archaeological and ethnographical exhibits, displayed in chronological order from the Stone Age. Continue to the ancient seaport of Phaselis. Founded by Greeks during the seventh century BC, its three harbors made it an important center for commerce between Greece, Asia, Egypt and Phoenicia. The city fell first to the Persians and then to Alexander the Great. Later, pirates used Phaselis as a base to roam the Mediterranean Sea. After lunch, you have the balance of the afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the amenities at your hotel. Kempinski Hotel The Dome B L
Day 9: Belek/Aphrodisias/Kusadasi
Cross the Taurus Mountains to Aphrodisias, one of the world's most complete and extraordinary excavations of a classical lost site. Dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, it flourished under Roman and Byzantine rule, but in the 13th century it was abandoned and buried by a series of earthquakes. What has been unearthed includes the stadium with more than 30,000 seats, the Temple of Aphrodite and Baths of Hadrian. After a country lunch, continue through the Meander Valley to the port city of Kusadasi, set on the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea.
KoruMar Hotel De Luxe B L
Day 10: Kusadasi/Ephesus/Kusadasi
Ionia, the region around Ephesus, was the powerhouse of ancient science and philosophy, and Ionian communities pioneered Western thought, favoring rational observation over myth and dogma. Explore ancient Ephesus that lies at the foot of Mount Pion. Unmatched as an archaeological site, the sheer size and grandeur of the ruins make this the best-preserved classical city in the eastern Mediterranean. Visit the site of the Temple of Diana, considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to the theater, Library of Celsus, the Public Baths, Arcadian Way and the Marble Street. You have the opportunity to privately visit the breathtaking Terrace Houses. After lunch, meet with the rug-weavers association at Camlik Village to learn about this fine Turkish tradition and art passed down for generations. Dine privately under the stars within the splendid ruins of Ephesus, accompanied by a quintet from the Izmir Symphony Orchestra. This unforgettable evening is arranged exclusively by . KoruMar Hotel De Luxe B L D
Day 11: Kusadasi/Izmir/Istanbul
Fly back to Istanbul. Because the city was so important, each ruling empire did its best to fortify it. Theodosius II was the first, and he constructed the impressive City Walls that went up  just in time to turn back Attila the Hun. Topkapi Palace, the center of Ottoman government and now a vast museum, opens its doors just for you to explore its great halls and breathtaking grounds. It was from here that the Turks ruled most of Europe and the Middle East. In 1468 Mehmet Fatih began building this summer palace where the Golden Horn meets the Bosphorus. Successive sultans created additions to Topkapi, with many of the existing buildings dating from the 18th century. Suleyman the Magnificent was the first sultan to move here permanently and later sultans simply were captives in residence, isolated from the world. Check in to your hotel located in the heart of the Old Town. Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet B L
Day 12: Istanbul
This morning, visit the 19th-century Dolmabahçe Palace, a fine example of Ottoman Baroque architecture that was built for and by the Sultan Abdul Mecit in the mid-19th century when European nationalism was growing and Muslim rulers adopted more European styles. As you explore the city, notice how the later palaces and art are more like that of the rest of Europe. The Ottoman Empire reached its zenith in the 16th century, their Golden Age. The greatest architect of the 16th century was Sinan, acclaimed by Frank Lloyd Wright as the "master builder of all time." Explore his dignified Suleymaniye Mosque, symbolizing the glory of the reign of Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent, who sought to create a rival to Justinian's famed Hagia Sophia. Its design also mirrors the Dome on the Rock, constructed on the former site of the Temple of Solomon. The massive complex dominates Istanbul's skyline, and its imposing dome is the center point. Continue to the Rustem Pasha Mosque, also the work of Sinan, known for its outstanding Iznik tiles. Wander among the stalls of the Spice Bazaar and the 3,500-stall Grand Covered Bazaar, where you have lunch in a shopkeeper's restaurant. Join fellow travellers for farewell cocktails at your hotel this evening.
Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul at Sultanahmet B L
Day 13: Istanbul/USA or Canada
This morning transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. B
Day 14: Istanbul/USA or Canada
Transfer to the airport. B
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
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