Essence of Turkey

Follow your nose on a walking tour of the Sultanhamnet area, which also boasts some incredible feats of architecture including Topkapi Palace, Aya Sofia, Basilica Cistern and the six-minaret Blue Mosque.

The best way to explore Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Spice Bazaar is to simply immerse yourself in them.

Enter the surreal and magical world of Cappadocia, including a cave restaurant, before heading underground to the ancient city of Derinkuyu. Tonight’s accommodation is a complex of ancient stone houses, caves and underground tunnels transformed into a boutique hotel.

Take a hot air balloon flight over the colourful valleys, ridges and rock formations of Cappadocia. Explore the Goreme Open Air Museum, home to ancient cave houses; Byzantine cave chapels and monasteries adorned with frescoes from the 10-12th centuries.  

After a morning drive to the capital, Ankara, relive the annals of Turkey’s rich history on a visit to the Anatolian Civilisation Museum. Fly to Antalya. Lose yourself in the narrow winding streets and old wooden houses of the picturesque old quarter of Kaleiçi.

Sit back and relax as you cruise the Mediterranean in a traditional wooden gulet. Spend lunch on board coming up with new words to describe the ever-changing colours of the Mediterranean Sea and swim in a secluded bay.

Discover the most impressive sites of antiquity surrounding Antalya including Termessos, an ancient Pisidian city on the side of Mount Solymos. The remainder of the day is at your leisure before dinner at the old harbour.

Don’t leave Antalya without exploring Konyaalti beach and the marina at Kaleiçi (the centre of old town). A flight this evening takes you to the modern city of Izmir, where you’ll stay in a charming villa in the tranquil hillside village of Sirince.

Explore the famous site of Ephesus ~ one of the best preserved Greco-Roman sites in the world, including a visit to the Terrace House where excavations continue. It is also famous for its Temple of Artemis, one of the original Seven Wonders of the World.

Spend the afternoon sampling the wines and olive oils of the region.

Fly to Istanbul, where you are free to make your own discoveries. Why not revitalise yourself by making an optional visit to a hamam (Turkish bath) in one of Istanbul’s historic bathhouses. An evening boat cruise on the mighty Bosphorus is followed by dinner.