April 18 - 30, 2026: Treasures of Turkey

Day 1: Arrival Cappadocia, Welcome to Turkey

After arriving in Istanbul continue to domestic gates and take the flight from Istanbul to Cappadocia. Arrival at the airport and meeting just outside the arrival’s gate with a sign bearing your name with your driver. Transfer to the hotel in Cappadocia.  Dinner at Hotel Included

Day 2: Hot Air Ballon Followed by a Full Day of Touring  

After an early morning how air ballon ride, we’ll be back at the hotel before lunch, and we’ll have our first encounter with the lunar landscape of Cappadocia: rock formations beyond belief in Devrent Valley, walking in Pasabag near Zelve, and “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind mixes with the “song of faires”. Lunch (not included) in Avanos, the center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 B.C. with a demonstration of traditional pottery workshop. After lunch, visit the famous Goreme Open Air Musuem with 10th-13th century Byzantine art. Continue to Uchisar and enjoy panoramic views of the valleys of Cappadocia. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 3: Pigeon Valley, Undergound City, Sinasos, and a traditional lunch with a Turkish Family

Start the day with Pigeon Valley. Then tour to Özkonak or Kaymaklı Underground City, one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. Visit to Mustafapaşa (Sinasos), an old Greek town with its spectacular old houses; very fine examples of late Greek settlements and architecture.

For lunch, we are invited to a real village house to join a Turkish family. We’ll collect the ingredients from their garden and we will participate in cooking of the delicious Turkish meals. We are going to have lunch by sitting together with the family in a traditional Turkish fashion.

After lunch, a walk thru a beautiful hidden valley near the village. There may be an optional stop to see an art and handicraft center of Cappadocia. 

In the evening go to a Turkish Night entertainment place to watch belly dance dinner show.

Overnight Cappadocia. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Day 4: Cappadocia to Gaziantep

Drive to Gaziantep. After arriving in Gaziantep, check in to the hotel, followed by a day at leisure with free time at the city center.

Breakfast and a Dinner food walking tour included.

Day 5: Gaziantep Mosaic Museum and afternoon Baklava making class

First visit the world famous Gaziantep Mosaic Museum. This museum exhibit superb mosaic discovered at the Roman site of Belkıs-Zeugma before the Birecik Dam flooded most of the site. Afternoon go to a local baklava producer to have baklava making class.

Plenty of free time to shop and enjoy the city on your own. 

Breakfast and Snack (Baklava) Included.

Day 6: Gobekli Tepe and other sights on the way to Sanliurfa

We will drive to visit Gobeklitepe, a hilltop sanctuary erected on the highest point of an elongated mountain ridge some 15 km northeast of the town of Urfa. What makes Gobeklitepe unique in its class is the date it was built, which is roughly twelve thousand years ago, circa 10,500 BC. Afternoon will also visit the holy sites at Balıklıgöl, a lake with millions of domesticated fish. While in Urfa we will visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born.

Breakfast Included.

Day 7: Haran, Walking Tour of the Bazaar, and Dinner with a Local Family

We will visit nearby Harran and see the incredible beehive houses. Harran- according to the Bible-was the site where prophet Abraham spent a few years with his family before moving on to Israel, the Promised Land. There are exceptional photo opportunities in this area.

 Afternoon city walking through the local covered bazaar of Sanliurfa, followed by dinner with local family.

 Overnight Sanliurfa. Breakfast and Dinner Included.

Day 8: Mount Nemrut

We hike to the summit of the mount Nemrut (one of the most popular UNESCO world cultural heritage sites), watching the sunset, be amazed by the colossal heads and statues of ancient deities, as you step into mythology. This extraordinary landmark rests at an elevation of 7000 ft. The mountain top complex is composed of two flattened areas strewn with statues and separated by a false peak of crushed rock. Antiochus built the entire complex approximately 2000 years ago as a monument to his divine ancestry.

Overnight hotel near the mountain. Breakfast and Dinner Included.

Day 8: Flight to Istanbul and Private Boat Charter of the Bosphorus

Transfer to Adiyaman airport to take the flight to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul and meeting at the airport, transfer to the hotel, check- in.

Board your private cruise of the Bosphorus, the waterway, which separates the continents of Europe and Asia. Pass Rumeli fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul.

Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast and Internal flight back to Istanbul included.

Day 10: Old Istanbul Tour

Start the day with the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the Yerebatan underground Cistern.

If time allows, we will see the Grand Covered Bazaar (except Sundays) or visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome.

Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast Included.

Day 11: Panoramic Istanbul Tour

Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn. Cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence of the Ottoman Sultans, then on to Camlica Hill (Radio Tower) for a magnificent view of Istanbul.

Overnight Istanbul. Breakfast Included.

Day 12: Transfer to the Airport for Departure

 We hope you have enjoyed your time in Turkey! Sadly, today you will depart for home. The driver will transfer us to the airport for departure.