Itinerary of the month
Inspiration for your next adventure
Arrive in the bustling city of Istanbul and go by private transfer to your hotel, an Ottoman palace on the Bosphorus, to relax after your journey on your first day.
Have tea time on the patio with your expert guide who will give you an introduction to the vibrant stages of Turkey's history and culture, which will give more life to your experiences over the following days.
In the evening, dine at one of the finest restaurants in the city.
Tour the iconic Hagia Sophia in private, prior to official opening hours. Later, visit the other main sites from the Byzantine period, including the Basilica Cistern, the Great Palace Mosaic Museum, as well as the city walls.
Later, drive up the Golden Horn to the quiet Fatih neighborhood and visit the Chora Church, among the most famous of Turkey’s Byzantine churches, due to its immaculate interior frescoes and mosaics.
Visit the Topkapı Palace, Blue Mosque and Süleymaniye Mosque.
Have lunch in the city center, followed by a visit to the Rüstem Pasha Mosque, followed by the Spice Bazaar.
Later, take one of Istanbul’s famed public ferries up the Bosphorus to Beşiktaş where you will return to your hotel.
Visit Dolmabahçe Palace with your personal guide, followed by an exploration of the city’s lively Taksim district and its prominent pedestrian İstiklal Avenue.
After lunch enjoy a traditional Turkish bath. First inspired by the Ottomans, Turkish baths later became popular throughout the empire, and today are found as far as Syria and Hungary. First into a steam room where you will adjust to the environment, followed by a hotter room where you will have a bath and a massage. Later, you move into a cooling room to relax
Spend the rest of the day at your luxury, boutique hotel that blends into the natural landscape with its black timber cladding and living roof. With suites decked out in sheepskin, Moroccan wools, and textured walls, it's bedrooms are a cozy contrast to the raw landscape outside.
Fly to Kayseri and be taken by private transfer to the White Valley for a hike through this stunning region, made famous by its spectacular rock formations
After lunch, continue your hike with an exploration of the Red Valley, before departing for your hotel by private transfer.
Take a private hot air balloon ride to admire the landscape from above, as you have a bird’s-eye introduction to the area. This is one of the best places in the world to experience a hot air balloon due to the composition of the terrain and the dramatic rock formations in the many valleys.
Later, visit the Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its “fairy-chimney” rock formations, in which many Christian churches were carved directly out of the rock.
Spend the night in Cappadocia.
Fly to Izmir and visit the the ancient Greek site of Ephesus which at once time was one of the largest cities in the Mediterranean. Ephesus is home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World
Have dinner on the terrace of your lodge as you prepare to depart for the Turkish Riviera the following day.
Continue your journey to the coast, along the way visiting the ancient Greek sites of Priene & Didyma, seen by few foreign travelers. Priene is known not only for its architecture but also for the beautiful natural scenery which surrounds it. Didyma is a smaller site and offering a special experience due to the fact that it is less frequented by visitors.
Later continue to your luxury hotel on the Aegean Coast.
Take time to relax today. Enjoy the Beach Club Terrace which is made up of several layered terraces surrounded by old trees that overlook the turquoise sea. There you can relax on the luxurious lounge chairs and go out to the pebble beach to swim
In the early evening you will be taken to the coastal jet-set destination of Göltürkbükü, featuring exclusive restaurants, and nightlife.
Go out for the day on your private gület, a traditional Turkish sailboat. You will explore the varied beaches, inlets, and their caves throughout the multi-faceted Aegean coast. Enjoy swimming in the turquoise waters and snorkeling. You will visit the noted islands of Karaada and Orakada. At mid-day lunch will be served aboard your gület.
Enjoy dinner at your resort.
Enjoy breakfast by the pool before taking a private transfer to Bodrum Airport, for a short flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival in Istanbul you will be assisted with checking-in for your international flight home.
Travel Theory's take on Turkey
Watch the sun rise from high above Cappadocia’s valleys and volcanic spires during a bucket list-worthy hot air balloon ride. Afterwards, don't miss the Göreme Open-Air Museum, home to a complex of rock-hewn cave churches dating from ad 900 to 1200. - Casey
Luxury tours of the scenic Aegean coastline can be arranged in either a helicopter or a traditional Turkish gullet. History buffs will enjoy visiting nearby Bodrum Castle and the Bodrum Amphitheater, built in the fourth century BC. - Kitte
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