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Voyage D’Exception & Solo in Style

Present

TOUR OF TURKEY

Turkey Experience: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Izmar, Istanbul

6 june 2024 to 15 june 2024

This incredible tour of Turkey is a specially curated exploration through art, history, archaeology, architecture, culture and cuisine. We start (and end) in Istanbul, a city that straddles two continents and is a gateway to both Europe and Asia. Here we’ll visit the most iconic sights as well as some of the more overlooked attractions. We’ll search out unique areas of the city known for fresh flowers, spices, and more as well as visit the famous Grand Bazaar. We’ll enjoy a private Bosphorus cruise, crossing back and forth between Europe and Asia, passing opulent palaces, fine mosques, imposing fortresses and traditional wooden Ottoman mansions. 

From here we move on to the land of wonders that is Cappadocia. Famous for its unique rock formations and amazing hot air ballooning opportunities, the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia are one of Turkey's most popular natural wonders. Here we’ll see the famous fairy chimneys, underground cities, and Whirling Dervishes as well as enjoy a Turkish cooking course.

Finally, we head for Ephesus - famous for its well-preserved ruins, as a Christian pilgrimage site, and as the former site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. From here it’s back to Istanbul, and no visit to Turkey is complete without a visit to a Turkish bath and we have included that too, along with a coffee reading by one of Istanbul's leading practitioners! 

This is a trip of a lifetime and really does pack in a lot. There is still some downtime to explore on your own and with a private host for the entire time, solo occupancy in superior hotels and every last bit of organisation taken care of, this tour is not to be missed! 

DAY 1 - ISTANBUL

Meet and greet at Istanbul Airport and individual transfers to the modern part of Istanbul. 

Check in to THE BANK HOTEL  (Deluxe king single, Bed & Breakfast)

Meet your host and the rest of the group at a welcome dinner at Tershane  - located on the top floor of the Momento Hotel and with stunning views of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, the restaurant is famous for its fine quality mezzes and kebab grills. This will be on an a la carte basis.

DAY 2 - ISTANBUL

Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll drive to the old city, Sultanahmet, site of old Byzantium. Your first stop of the day will be the Topkapi Palace Museum, the lavish home to the Ottoman sultans. For centuries, this was the place from which the sultans ruled over an empire that stretched from Western Iran to the Atlantic Ocean. Arranged around a series of spacious courtyards, it contains a priceless collection of jewelry, porcelain and costumes. Legend claims that the ancient rod on display in the Pavilion of Holy Relics is the one used by Moses to part the Red Sea. 

In the afternoon we’ll visit Beyoglu, Istanbul’s old European quarter, once known as Pera and now a vibrantly renewed cultural district and the heart of Istanbul’s food scene. You’ll tour Beyoglu’s Flower Arcade and the Fish Market where you’ll be met by an overwhelming display of fresh fish, fruit and vegetables, stores stocked with spices, pickles, honey, succulent cheeses, and more.

The evening is free to explore yourself or relax at the hotel.

DAY 3 - ISTANBUL

The morning starts at the Rustem Pasha Mosque. It is not the largest or the best-known mosque in Istanbul, but this often-overlooked treasure is certainly the most exquisitely decorated. Every inch of the interior is covered with brilliantly coloured Iznik tiles. 

We move on to the 17th-century Spice Bazaar, where you will find a vast diversity of spices, sacks of henna, many varieties of oils and herbs, and of course the world’s very best Turkish delight. 

In the afternoon it’s time to explore Istanbul’s world-renowned Grand Bazaar. Masters of their occupation, the salespeople of the market, will make new products, and alterations within minutes. You’ll see not only tiles and carpets but other forms of textiles such as pashminas, Turkish towels, and all kinds of household textiles as well as antique jewellery, leather goods, and much, much more. 

At the end of the afternoon, we’ll board a privately chartered boat for a Bosphorus Cruise. Crossing back and forth between Europe and Asia, you will cruise past opulent palaces, fine mosques, imposing fortresses and traditional wooden Ottoman mansions. What a great way to end the day!

DAY 4 - ISTANBUL

Today our first stop will be Hagia Sophia, which was built by Emperor Justinian and inaugurated in 537 A.D. For over nine centuries, it was the centre of the Eastern Orthodox Church, and it remains the world’s 4th largest church. It contains some of the finest mosaics to have survived from the Byzantine period, including a truly remarkable mosaic of the Virgin and Child.

A short walk away is the Blue Mosque, so called because of its exquisite tile decoration. Its courtyard is exceptionally beautiful, and it is the only mosque in Istanbul to have six minarets.

In the afternoon, we’ll head to the Istanbul Modern. Founded in 2004 as Turkey's first museum of modern and contemporary art, Istanbul Modern is committed to sharing Turkey’s artistic creativity and cultural identity with art enthusiasts everywhere. Istanbul Modern's new building, situated at the museum's original location in Karaköy, is designed by the world-renowned, Pritzker prize-winning Italian architect Renzo Piano, the mastermind of buildings for numerous international museums and art institutions, among them Centre Pompidou, Whitney Museum, Centro Botín, and Beyeler Foundation Museum.

The evening is free to explore yourself or relax at the hotel.

DAY 5 - ISTANBUL – NEVSEHIR – CAPPADOCIA

Following an early breakfast, we’ll transfer to Istanbul Airport for our flight departing Istanbul at 8:40 a.m. arriving in Nevsehir at 9:55 a.m.

Transfer to the land of wonders that is Cappadocia. In the Neolithic period Cappadocia was caught between two active volcanoes, Mounts Hasan and Erciyes, which buried it under a thick layer of ash. This formed the soft malleable stone known as tufa, and over the centuries erosion and human effort combined to create the fantastic landscape we see today, with its many thousands of varicoloured pinnacles and surreal rock formations. 

For lunch, we’ll experience something special as we’ll be treated to a cooking course.  You will learn simple yet fulfilling traditional Turkish dishes, after which you can enjoy the wonderful meal you’ve cooked accompanied by local Turkish wines.

In the afternoon we’ll attend a Whirling Dervish Ceremony at the Saruhan Caravanserai.

“Dervish sects began appearing in Islamic countries around the 9th century. The Mevlevi order of the dervishes arose in Turkey with the spreading of Islam, and is based on the philosophies of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi. The Mevlevi ritual takes the form of the sema, a ritual “whirling” dance whose purpose is to create a sphere of divine reality. The positioning of the body during the ritual has great symbolic significance: Outstretched arms with one hand facing the heavens and the other facing the earth symbolise man as a bridge between the two spheres. The white robes worn during the sema are symbolic of shrouds”. 

The ceremony takes an hour after which you’ll check-in at YUNAK HOUSES (Classic queen single room, Bed & Breakfast) - and spend a relaxing evening at your new hotel.

DAY 6 - CAPPADOCIA

Optional Deluxe Balloon ride: Your highly experienced pilot will personally guide you through the valleys of Cappadocia in the balloon. The flight takes place at dawn and the usual flight time is approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The transfers to and from the flight will be arranged and a flight certificate presented to each passenger at the landing. 

Following breakfast at the hotel, we’ll continue through the magical valley of Goreme, now an open-air museum, where you will see fairy chimneys and early Byzantine Churches such as the Karanlik Kilise (the Dark Church). Goreme Valley is where thousands of people once lived in homes cut into the soft rock walls of caves and “fairy chimneys. 

Our next stop will be the Underground City of Kaymakli. Signs of an early troglodytic lifestyle are evident in communal kitchens blackened by smoke, stables, churches, wine presses, and storage spaces carved into the rock as the need arose.

We finish the day with a walk in the Red Valley, one of the region's most breathtaking and mysteriously beautiful valleys. With its fabulous volcanic rock formations, the valley is in the heart of Cappadocia but well away from the mainstream tourist haunts. The little chapels of the hermits carved out of the valley walls, lend a spiritual dimension to the beauty.

DAY 7 - CAPPADOCIA – KAYSERI – IZMIR

Transfer to Kayseri Airport for our flight departing Kayseri at 8:25 a.m. arriving Izmir at 10:00 a.m. 

Here we head for Ephesus (UNESCO World Heritage Site), one of the greatest cities of antiquity. Try to see it through the eyes of a Roman, who would probably be regarded as a barbarian in sophisticated and cultured Ephesus. Walk along its collonaded streets. It contained everything that was necessary for education, politics, religion, entertainment and sport, including the Library of Celsus, bathhouses, a gymnasium and luxurious mansions. Ephesus is among the best-preserved classical cities of the Mediterranean world, and perhaps the best place in the world to get a feeling of what life was like in Roman times. Its Temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Check in to SWISSOTEL BUYUK EFES IZMIR  (Executive sea view single  - Bed & Breakfast) 

The evening is free to explore yourself or relax at the hotel.

DAY 8 IZMIR – ISTANBUL

Following a leisurely morning, we’ll transfer to Izmir Airport for our flight departing Izmir at 3:55 p.m. arriving in Istanbul at 5:15 p.m. 

Transfer to THE BANK HOTEL.

The evening is free to explore yourself or relax at the hotel.

DAY 9 - ISTANBUL

Back in Istanbul, it’s time to learn the secrets of Turkish coffee reading followed by a Turkish bath experience in the footsteps of the Imperial Harem. Originating in Roman times, the Turkish bath, which arose from the Islamic requirement of cleanliness, is like a mini vacation!

Our 45-minute hamman includes hot rooms, a body scrub, traditional bubble wash and a full body massage and ends with a cold glass of homemade Ottoman Sherbet served in the relaxing quarter of the hammam. 

The rest of the day will be at leisure for last-minute shopping or relaxing. 

As it’s the last night, we’ll enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Throughout the evening we’ll enjoy Turkish music and traditional Turkish belly dancers.

DAY 10 - DEPARTURE

Following breakfast at the hotel we’ll Individually transfer to Istanbul Airport for your homebound flights.

Dates: 6 June 2024 for 9 nights

Price : Euros 5825 excluding international flights; including internal flights.

PLEASE NOTE INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE PRICE. YOU WILL NEED TO FLY INTO ISTANBUL. WE CAN HELP YOU TO BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS.

Tour Includes:

  • Bed & Breakfast as stated in the itinerary. 

  • English-speaking host throughout the tour 

  • Airfare for Istanbul – Nevsehir, Kayseri – Izmir and Izmir – Istanbul flights in economy class. 

  • Private boat cruise, including tea and coffee, excluding soft and alcoholic drinks, on the Bosphorus in Istanbul on Day 3. 

  • Cooking class including soft drinks and local wine in Cappadocia on Day 5. 

  • Whirling Dervish ceremony in Cappadocia on Day 5. 

  • Farewell dinner including soft and local alcoholic drinks at Nomad in Istanbul on Day 9. 

  • Turkish coffee reading in Istanbul on Day 9. 

  • Turkish bath package. 

  • All private sight-seeing, and admission fees to sites/museums. 

  • Land transportation in air-conditioned midi vans. 

  • Individual airport transfers on arrival and departure. 

  • Gratuities to guide, driver and greeters at the airport on Day 1. 

  • Tip to hotels. 

  • Service charges and taxes.

Not included:

  • International airfare to and from Turkey 

  • Lunches other than on Day 5 and dinners other than on Day 9. 

  • Optional balloon ride in Cappadocia on Day 6. EUR 325, per person 

  • Passport or Turkish visa fees. (Current visa cost -  US$50 per person for citizens of US, US$ 60 for citizens of Canada & Australia). British Citizens travelling to Turkey as a tourist are able to travel without a visa for visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. For other countries, please check requirements.

FAQs

  • Personal, comprehensive travel insurance is mandatory for each individual joining the tour and should be purchased by the individual prior to booking. Your travel insurance MUST include airline cancellation cover.

  • No, all rooms are single occupancy only.

  • Expect temperatures of around 75°F (24°C) in Istanbul and Cappadocia, and higher along the coast, at around 86°F (30°C).

  • We need a minimum of 12 people to run the trip; 12 is also the maximum we will take on this tour.

  • This itinerary is quite strenuous. You should be in good physical condition to participate. The tour involves some long days and on some days one to three miles of walking, sometimes on fairly rugged terrain. Exploring ruins can involve some scrambling over fallen masonry, and sensible shoes are essential. You must be able to make long walks unassisted. You should also expect to experience cultural differences.

  • When visiting mosques, you should wear long pants or a below-the-knee skirt, a long-sleeved shirt, and a head scarf.

  • A 30% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place: Euros 1750

    Balance of Euros 4075 is due on 10 April 2024

  • Cancellation prior to balance payment = 100% loss of deposit.

    Cancellation after balance payment = 100% cancellation charges.

  • If the Turkish Government bans travel due to COVID then we will issue a full refund. If travel is prohibited by other respective Governments, then we will issue a credit note or full refund depending on the circumstances.

Terms & Conditions:

  • A 30% non-refundable deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place: Euros 1750

  • The balance of Euros 4075  is to be paid by 10 April 2024.

  • Cancellation prior to balance payment = 100% loss of deposit.  Cancellation after balance payment = 100% cancellation charges. 

  • If the Turkish Government bans travel due to COVID then we will issue a full refund.  If travel is prohibited by other respective Governments then we will issue a credit note or full refund depending on the circumstances. 

  • Personal, comprehensive travel insurance is required for each individual joining the tour and should be purchased by the individual prior to booking.

  • Please note that all holidays are curated and organised specifically for Solo in Style by Voyages d’Exception (sister company of Inspire Me Travel Ltd) and accordingly in purchasing such holiday you are contracting directly with Voyages d’Exception. Deborah Ives will receive a referral fee should you book via Solo in Style, or indicate her name.