Treasures of Turkey

Cue the exotic music. It’s the perfect pairing to your first day in Istanbul, a sprawling metropolis which has connected Europe and Asia for centuries. The former center of the Old World appears cloaked in mystery, but you won’t need to dig deep to discover its dramatic history and vibrant melting pot of cultures, remnants of which can be seen throughout the city’s well-preserved façades. Arrive at your hotel and later meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a glimpse of what lies ahead. Tonight, seek out the best terrace in town for illuminated views of the city’s rooftops right down to the Bosphorus.

The 'Pearl of the Orient' reveals her hidden treasures this morning as you join your Travel Director for a visit to the Byzantine Hippodrome. Just as it was centuries ago, today the expansive promenade is a vibrant center of the city’s social life. Standing amidst its obelisks and statues, you can almost imagine the thundering roar of chariots cheered on by Emperor Constantine the Great, who is credited with making Istanbul a glorious replacement for Rome. See the 17th-century Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, once the leading church in Christendom. Your afternoon and evening are free to explore Istanbul your way, but you won't want to miss an Optional Experience visit to Topkapi Palace, the lavish former home of the Ottoman sultans, and the Grand Bazaar with its dazzling displays.

Follow in the footsteps of medieval traders, taking the same journey they once took on the east-west trade route between the Black Sea and Mediterranean. You’ll arrive in UNESCO-listed Safranbolu, an important caravan station whose Ottoman-style wooden houses and narrow streets once witnessed bustling trade. Join your Travel Director this afternoon for a sightseeing tour and insights into its history, starting on Hidirlik Hill for panoramic views. You’ll have time to get lost in its cobbled streets and soak up the colorful sights and sounds at the Eski Carsi and Arasta Bazaar. Try your hand at haggling as a tribute to the town’s trading past.

Travel south to the Turkish capital, Ankara and visit the Mausoleum of Atatürk, the founder and father of the Turkish Republic. Continue to the whimsical landscapes of Cappadocia, a region famed for its unique geological features and ‘troglodytes’ cave dwellings.

It’s impossible to take a bad picture in Cappadocia. Fairy-tale rock chimneys rise up from the ochre and rust-colored depths of Paşabağı and the Red Valley – a landscape forged by wind, rain and a volcanic touch. Visit a regional rug production center where you’ll learn how every shape and color embedded in an intricately woven Turkish carpet tells its own story. Then enjoy an afternoon on your own amidst the fantasy landscapes left by Mother Nature in the ochre rock. An Optional Experience in Göreme reveals how Christians once worshipped in the many rock churches that remain to this day. This evening you could choose to witness a real highlight by joining an Optional Experience with the Whirling Dervishes. Watch them whirl around and around in their trance-like remembrance of God – a dizzying religious custom that represents man’s spiritual journey. After this astounding performance dinner is served at a local restaurant.

See master craftsmen at work turning their pottery wheels to craft the beautiful terracotta pottery characteristic of this region this morning, before visiting Saratli Underground City. Later, on your journey to Konya, you’ll see a 13th-century caravanserai. You can almost imagine the jostling of camel trains as they stopped to rest and replenish their stocks before continuing east or west along the popular trade route that winds through Cappadocia. Arriving in Konya, learn how the village of Sille was inhabited by Greeks who lived peacefully alongside the nearby Turks of Konya for over eight centuries. You’ll see remnants of their heritage in the landmarks that remain.

The home of the mystic Whirling Dervishes, you’ll visit the final resting place of the Sufi philosopher Mevlana to gain insights into the traditions and rituals of the Sufi religion, before heading to Antalya on the Turquoise Coast. Retreat behind the ancient walls of the Old Town and stroll past the beautifully restored Ottoman-era houses in its historic center. Before reaching the hotel, an orientation tour will be given by coach. Consider joining an optional dinner at a favorite local restaurant renowned for its stunning dishes.

Ease into the laid-back seaside vibes of Antalya on this full free day dedicated to soaking up sun-kissed Mediterranean shores. If you can drag yourself away from your sun lounger, we recommend joining an Optional Experience cruise along the glittering coast. This afternoon, an optional journey into antiquity could see you visit the Aspendos Theater, built in the second century and dedicated to 'the gods of this country and to the Imperial house'. Also included on this optional afternoon excursion is a visit to the Roman Aqueduct, the Kursunlu Waterfall and the Aspendos Bridge, spanning the Eurymedon River.

The powdery white sands and crystal-clear water of Lake Salda provide a beautiful backdrop for a quick photo stop today. Besides being noteworthy as a popular tourist resort and archaeological site, the lake is one of only two places in the world said to have similar rock structures to the planet Mars. Contemplate life in outer space before continuing to Kaklik Cave with its sparkling white travertines, before heading for the cotton fortress of Pamukkale.

The ethereal white pools and terraces that cascade down surrounding cliffs are a sight to behold this morning as you see the ruins of the ancient Roman health spa of Hierapolis. Head west to the Aegean coastline, arriving in Izmir in time to spend some time exploring this pretty port town, with its lengthy promenade. Learn about its multicultural past, and its history as a Greek city. Consider joining an optional seafood dinner at a favorite local restaurant renowned for its stunning views.

Today is free for you to enjoy at leisure or our Optional Experience could see you visit Ephesus, a 2,000-year-old site and home to the iconic Library of Celsus and Hadrian’s Temple. Included in this experience is a visit to the stone cottage, where the Virgin Mary is said to have spent her final years before a lunch is a local restaurant. Afterwards visit the glass makers of Nazarkoy village discovering the regions connection with the Evil eye beads on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience.

Ancient legends and symbols take center stage today. Your first stop this morning is in Pergamon, famed for its Asclepion Medical center, which still bears the image of the snake-entwined staff that remains a symbol of medicine in modern times. Next on today’s agenda is a visit to Troy, the ancient city that inspired Homer’s tales about the wrath of Achilles and the famous siege, which was broken through the clever construction of a wooden Trojan horse. A replica of the horse can still be seen today. Continue to Çanakkale later.

Pay tribute to the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the World War I battles at Gallipoli. You’ll visit Anzac Cove, Lone Pine Cemetery and Chunuk Bair, before returning to Istanbul. As your journey through Turkey draws to a close, you’ll want to consider joining your new friends for an optional cruise along the Bosphorus, celebrating the mighty waterway which serves as the boundary between Europe and Asia. See grand fortresses, palaces and 19th-century mansions of the Ottoman elite that line this busy strait.

Your in-depth exploration of Turkey with its cultural and historic treasures has come to an end. You’ve stood amidst man-made wonders and ethereal landscapes, walked in the footsteps of traders and Whirling Dervishes and forged special memories with new friends. For now it’s time to end this chapter with a heartfelt farewell to your newfound friends.