TURKEY TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
- Six days sailing aboard a traditional yacht with active land itinerary
- Hike in Cappadocia, with its magical landscape, frescoed Byzantine cave churches, and welcoming villages
- Greek, Lycian, Roman and Byzantine ruins
- Swimming and snorkeling along the Turquoise Coast
TURKEY TOUR DETAILS
- 13-day trip begins and ends in Istanbul, Turkey
- 6 nights aboard yacht, 6 nights in first-class hotels
- All meals except for one lunch and one dinner included
TOUR RATING
Easy to moderate optional day hikes, 2-4 hours per day.
Set astride the boundary of Europe and Asia, Turkey boasts the rich and varied history to be expected of a country at such an important cultural crossroads. Over the course of its long history, the capital city of Istanbul, set gloriously on the Bosphorus Strait, has served as the center of numerous empires, including Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman. The historic areas of Istanbul have enjoyed UNESCO World Heritage List status for more than 20 years, testament to their historic significance and impressive beauty.
From Istanbul, we venture into Cappadocia, a region of exceptional natural wonders characterized by fairy chimneys and a unique historical and cultural heritage. Here, we hike amid bizarre rock formations and discover local artisan’s shops. Our stay in a wonderfully unique cave hotel completes the experience.
We then arrive on the Turquoise Coast, at the meeting of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. Dotted with islands and rife with mythological history, the azure waters here invite us to explore in our traditional tirhandil-styled boat, with days spent snorkeling, swimming, or exploring the dazzlingly beautiful coves and hidden villages along the coastline on foot.
Turkey Trip Overview
Days 1-2: We explore on foot and enjoy a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus in fascinating Istanbul, capital of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Istanbul is home to the thousand-year-old Hagia Sophia, once the greatest church in Christendom, and the Blue Mosque, with its blue-themed interior, replete with panels of floral-motif tiles (20,000 of them) and graceful arabesque stenciling. Visit Topkapi Palace, where the sultans’ wives, concubines, and eunuchs lived inside the “forbidden” harem quarters. Enjoy a guided walk through the Covered Bazaar to the Spice Market.
Days 3-4: Hike in Cappadocia, with its magical landscape, frescoed Byzantine cave churches, and welcoming villages. Spread across the heart of Turkey is the volcanic moonscape of Cappadocia, with its mushroom-shaped rock formations into which the local people have carved homes.
Enjoy a hike through the lunar-like landscape of Red Valley, from Ortahisar to Cavusin. Along the way, we
explore hidden churches and discover more amazing frescoes that depict the early days of Christianity. Our guides describe the unique geological features of tuff cones, pillars, and the crumbling pyramid rock formations that dot the valley.
We visit with Turkish craftsmen ― exploring a potter’s workshop carved in a cave or a local weaving cooperative.
Day 5:
One of the most important outposts of the ancient world, Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Alexandria. In this beautifully restored metropolis where St. Paul lived and preached, stroll from the theater to the harbor on the mile-long marble-paved Arcadian way, with its well-preserved mosaics, and feel transported back to the glory days of Rome.
Days 6-11: The calm waters of the Turquoise Coast glisten in every shade of blue in idyllic, deeply indented coves fragrant with pine forests and wild thyme. Aboard your own luxurious gulet—a wooden sailing yacht designed for cruising these waters—set out on a fantastic six-day cruise to experience the joys of this celebrated coast. Your guide will share the best hiking trails and villages, and life on board is sheer delight: swimming, snorkeling in clear waters, and feasting on delicious cuisine served al fresco on the deck. Fresh-caught seafood is a highlight of many meals.
Days 12-13: Return to Istanbul for departure on day 13.
Step Away from the Ordinary ~ Turkey
A highlight of our adventure will be the chance to spend six nights aboard a private yacht as we sail along the Lycean coastline, calling in at numerous islands, ancient ruins, and hidden lagoons.
More Information
2008 Dates
- August 31-September 12
Land Cost
- $5295 per person
- Single Supplement $395
- Internal Airfare: $450