Turkey: Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus

Upon arrival in Istanbul, make your way to the Grand Sirkeci Hotel Istanbul, located in the historic Sirkeci quarter. After settling in, an evening walk through the Sultanahmet district offers a first look at the city's imperial core. The walk takes in the illuminated forms of the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. To end the evening, head to a nearby restaurant to dine on regional Turkish specialties.

A full day on foot begins at the Hippodrome, the Roman-era chariot circuit, before a visit to the Blue Mosque to see its six minarets and interior of Iznik tiles. The route continues underground into the Basilica Cistern, a vast, column-filled reservoir from the 6th century. Lunch is street food from the stalls around the Old Town—döner wraps or cheese-stuffed börek are the standard.

The afternoon is spent navigating the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar and the aromatic Spice Bazaar. A stop at the Buyuk Valide Han, a 17th-century caravanserai, provides a rooftop perspective over the Golden Horn. The evening is unscheduled, open for independent exploration.

A morning flight from Istanbul lands in central Anatolia, where the landscape shifts to the surreal topography of Cappadocia. After a lunch of traditional pide, the Turkish flatbread, the afternoon is spent driving through the region's valleys. Stops include the Dervent Valley and the viewpoint for the 'Three Beauties'—classic examples of the wind-sculpted rock spires known as fairy chimneys.

The day's main exploration is at Kaymakli, a multi-level underground city carved from soft volcanic tuff. Its narrow tunnels connect nearly a hundred spaces, including storerooms, stables, and a church, engineered for defense centuries ago. The hotel for the night is the Exedra, a property built into the area's distinctive cave dwellings.

Today offers a choice for exploring the Cappadocian landscape up close: a hike down through the Meskender Valley or a ride on an e-bike, both routes winding past fairy chimneys and into quiet, rock-cut houses. Afterwards, the itinerary moves to the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site of monastic cave churches filled with surviving medieval frescoes.

A climb to the top of Uchisar Castle, a massive rock citadel honeycombed with rooms, delivers the region's most commanding panorama. The day concludes in the small village of Zelve, with dinner hosted by a local family—a chance for direct conversation over a traditional meal cooked in clay pottery.

The morning is a focused look at Turkish food culture. After time to explore the town of Ürgüp, the route leads to the local fruit and vegetable market in Avanos to gather ingredients. This prepares for a hands-on cooking class to learn the art of gözleme, a savory turnover stuffed with cheese, spinach, or potato, cooked over a fire on a traditional iron griddle.

In the afternoon, a flight from Kayseri crosses the country west to Izmir, on the Aegean coast. From there, an overland transfer brings you to the hilltop village of Şirince, a former Greek settlement known for its preserved stone houses and local fruit wines. Settle into the Nisanyan Hotel before a brief walk to get your bearings.

Today is dedicated to Ephesus, one of the ancient world's most complete classical cities. A walk through the site reveals the massive Great Theatre, the intricately restored facade of the Library of Celsus, and the marble-paved streets of a major Roman port. The exploration also includes the ruins of the Basilica of St. John and the lone, reconstructed column marking the site of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

A short drive up a nearby mountain leads to the House of the Virgin Mary, a quiet, contemplative pilgrimage site set in a small garden. The evening concludes with a three-course farewell dinner at a local restaurant in the area before returning to the hotel in Şirince.

This morning in the quiet hilltop village of Şirince begins with breakfast at the hotel. With no activities planned, the morning is entirely open, leaving plenty of time for a final Turkish coffee or a quiet walk through the lanes. This relaxed pace allows for a slow departure from the village before heading to Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) for your flight.