September 18 – Arrive to Istanbul International Airport, meet your local representative, and transfer to hotel for overnight.

September 19 – Meet your guide in the morning and enjoy a walking tour of Istanbul including the famous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern, and the Hippodrome. Stop for lunch along the way. (B)

September 20 – Morning tour of the world famous Grande Turkish Bazaar. Tour the market, haggle for local handicrafts and souvenirs, enjoy a Turkish coffee, and people watch. After lunch, embark on a cruise of the Bosphorus Strait. Return to hotel in the evening. (B)

September 21 – Free day to continue exploring the neighborhoods around Istanbul. (B)

September 22 – Morning transfer to airport for flight to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, head to a traditional Turkish lunch prepared by the local women of Uchisar. Check into cave hotel and enjoy a free evening to explore and try the restaurants and cafes. (B,L)

September 23 – Optional hot air balloon ride in the morning. This is a must do in Cappadocia and one of the most famous places in the world to enjoy a hot air balloon ride. Spend today exploring the highlights of Cappadocia including the Goreme Open Air Museum and the underground city of Ozkonak. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B)

September 24 – Free day to relax at the hotel, explore and shop, or book an optional tour to see more of Cappadocia. (B)

September 25 – Morning drive to the SouthEast region of Turkey. The areas we will be visiting were greatly effected by the powerful earthquakes of February 2023. Our visit as responsible tourists will help to keep tourism alive and the economy going strong in the recovery process. Stop at the Seljuk Karatay Caravansaray- an ancient inn for travelers on the Silk Road. Proceed to Kahramanmaraş to sample the famous local ice cream. Upon arrival to Gaziantep, check into locally run guesthouse supporting the community. This guesthouse is housed in a 100 year old mansion run in collaboration with women’s cooperatives in the village. Head out for dinner in the evening. (B)

September 26 – Morning visit to the Mosaic Museum. This museum houses a large collection of mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma. Walk through the old town of Gaziantep before departing for the city of Sanliurfa – believed to be the birth place of the prophet Abraham. Check into locally run guesthouse supporting the community upon arrival. This guesthouse is located in the “House of Nuns” historical building and run by local women. (B)

September 27 – Morning visit to the archeological site of Gobekli Tepe – considered one of the oldest religious structures in the world dating back more than 11,000 years. This site has recently been challenging our view of human history and is super interesting! After lunch, visit the ancient city of Harran to see the remains of the university and the traditional beehive shaped adobe houses. Then visit the Halil-Ur Rahman Mosque situated near the cave where the prophet Abraham is said to have been born. Return to hotel in the evening. (B,L)

September 28 – Today, we begin at the ancient burial mound of Karakus Tumulus. We will then visit an ancient Roman Bridge known as the Cendere Bridge. After this, we head to Kahta Castle in the province of Adiyaman. This is a Roman Castle from the first century A.D.  We will then visit the ancient city of Arsemia dating back to the 3rd Century BC. Explore the remains of the palace, temple, and necropolis. Then, the real highlight of the trip!  Drive up 2100 meters above sea level to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Mount Nemrut for sunset. Explore the monumental tomb and statues built by King Antiochus I Theos in the first century BC. Check into hotel for the evening. (B)

September 29 – Optional visit to Mount Nemrut for sunrise. Transfer to airport today for flight back to Istanbul. Catch evening flight home. (Flights must be scheduled after 8pm). (B)

Flight Reservations