Day 1: 03/11/25

You will be met by a representative on arrival in Istanbul and taken to your hotel to freshen up before your welcome dinner when you will meet your guide for the duration of the journey.
Overnight Istanbul

Day 2: 04/11/25

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before starting your exciting day of exploration. First on the agenda is Hagia Sophia followed by the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern. 
*You will receive a detailed history of each of these places to remind you of how ancient and incredibly important they are to Turkish culture.
Next we will embark on a half day street food tour. Visiting Spice Bazaar is an incredible dive into the reason why Turkish food is considered to be sumptuous and memorable. A walk through the Galata Bridge will reveal restaurants beneath and the fishermen above before taking a ferry from Karakoy to Kadikoy which will immerse you into the daily life of the local people and the joy that food brings. Why not feed the seagulls with aTurkish bagel.
We will visit a small bazaar in Kadikoy to sample amazing street foods like kokorec, mussels and lahmacun…  You can stay longer in Kadikoy if you wish and enjoy the pub scene or you can head back to your hotel with your guide.
Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: 05/11/25  

Today your breakfast will be at a local shop so be prepared to enjoy the feast. Turkish breakfasts are traditionally long and immersive. Now we can walk it off as we head to the old city around midday.

Topkapi Palace is one of the most visited in Turkey and we will spend a good deal of time wandering from room to room to learn more about the Ottoman Royalty.
Time for a little rest at your hotel is you wish.
Late in the afternoon, you will begin the first of your cooking classes. Here you will dine on what you prepare, perhaps comparing notes with the colleagues on tour with you.  The cooking class may be our Ottoman Palaca cuisine. This is because a palace kitchen is completely different to our home kitchen.
Overnight:  Istanbul 

Day 4: 06/11/25

Our drive to Gallipoli is a very sobering one. We will visit the Battlefields where you will gain a sense of how the troops engaged under very difficult circumstances. From here we will take a ferry to Canakkale. 

Here, we visit a local Meyhane and experience the Meyhane culture with Raki. A Meyhane, or pothouse, is a traditional restaurant or bar serving alcoholic beverages like wine, raki, vodka, or beer. Public houses originated from the Roman Empire, but the traditional Meyhane has its roots in the Ottoman era.
Overnight in Canakkale 

Day 5: 07/11/25  

You have a more time to enjoy breakfast this morning with a later departure. Today the ancient city of TROY and the Troya Museum are highlights before driving south to Kusadasi.
Overnight in Selcuk

Day 6: 08/11/25  

Another exciting day lies ahead as you meet with your ‘Chef’ to visit a local bazaar. The weekly bazaar is where local people do their shopping.
Excitement builds as we visit the ancient city of Ephesus, including terrace houses.
Many of you may already know the beginnings of this magical city which was one of the largest and most important cities in the Mediterranean. From a biblical perspective, Ephesus was said to play a role in the book of Revelations. The Gospel of St John may have been written here. It was also the site of several Christian Councils. The Goths destroyed the city in 263. The image of the fascade of the library is famous around the world.

We will return to your hotel for a refresh before our next adventure – a cooking class at the Nisanyan Hotel. This time you will cook more Aegean cuisine in a former Greek house. Once again you will enjoy the tastes of your lesson along with some beautiful local wines.
Overnight Selcuk 

Day 7: 09/11/25  

Today, we will drive to Urla, a charming Aegean coast-town. We will visit the Kostem Olive Oil Museum before stopping in Seferihisar. Seferihisar another former Greek town is a good example of local life. Many of the local people display their own small bazaar in front of their houses to sell what they cook. You may like to purchase some pastries before stopping at a teashop at the gate of the town. A nice picnic style lunch awaits. Tonight we will drive to Kusadasi to indulge in a sea-food dinner at one of the sea-front restaurants. Overnight Selcuk

Day 8: 10/11/25 

Pamukkale, Hierapolis. Unfortunately, there is not much we can do that is food related  in Pamukkale but what you will see will hold you spellbound. The calcium terraces are quite incredible and need to be seen to be believed.
Overnight Pamukkale 

Day 9: 11/11/25 

If you have read about the whirling DERVISH DANCERS of Turkiye’, then you may be thrilled to know that the home of the original dancers is Konya. Konya also has very traditional cuisine with okra soup, pide and Tirit. We will visit Mevlana Museum and Sille Village. Today we will dine in a very traditional local restaurant and you never know, we might just see the dervish along the way.
Overnight in Konya

Day 10: 12/11/25 

Our visit to Catalhoyuk is part of the drive to Cappadocia and the Fairy Chimneys. Tonight we will dine in our hotel. Our pace to Cappadocia will be slow and deliberate to allow you to absorb the beauty of the countryside before you see the Fairy Chimneys approach. 
Overnight Cappadocia 

Day 11: 12/11/25  

Today we will explore Goreme. East of the town, we will visit the Open Air Museum featuring Cave churches and frescoes from the 10th the 12th centuries.The Uchisar Castle is spectacular and the fortification is carved into a large rock with panoramic views. We now visit the Fairy Chimneys in the Pasabag Valley.   The cone shaped rock formations combined with the hot air balloons are known worldwide. We will visit a local vinery and sample some of their wine with a light lunch.
Tonight we will have our cooking class in Cappadocia. We will drive to a traditional former house, and our chef will teach us how local fare is designed to bring out the ultimate taste sensation. No night would be complete without our dining on what we have just prepared with our own hands.
Overnight Cappadocia 

Day 12: 13/11/25 
Today, if you wish, you can rise early for a hot air balloon flight. (Optional)
There is much to explore on foot, but you may just like to spend your day enjoying your accommodation and doing a little shopping and grabbing some masterful photos. Your guide will be on hand to point out the best shots in the best places.
In the evening, we will dine in a local restaurant known for the best ambience and hospitality. If you wish, you may decide to dress for the occasion. The restaurant matches the local food with local wines, a perfect combination.
Overnight Cappadocia 

Day 13: 14/11/25 

Following breakfast we will drive to the UNESCO heritage site of Safranbolu. The town is located in the Black Sea region of northern Turkiye and was once a stop on the trade route between the Orient and Europe. The architecture is from the days of the Ottoman Empire and you will see many of the preserved red roofed houses with the cobblestone streets as they were in the 17th century.

Tonight, we will check-in to our hotel where you will have a free night.
Overnight Safranbolu

Day 14: 15/11/25 

We will explore more of Safranbolu today. The town is famous for saffron which is used in many of the dishes, not only in the city but all around the world. 

In the evening we will enjoy a special dinner cooked by the owner of our hotel (Gulevi).
Overnight Safranbolu 

Day 15: 16/11/25  

Today we will drive back to Istanbul and check into our hotel. Tonight will be a farewell dinner on the rooftop of one of the beautiful restaurants in Istanbul. 

Day 16: 17/11/25

Today we say farewell and a safe onward journey.

We hope that your memories of Turkiye’ will be fond ones that stay with you as you journey forward to your next adventure.