Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul whenever your flight gets in and head to your hotel to settle in. Later this evening, there's a welcome meeting where you'll meet the other travelers and your CEO. After that, you'll take a short walk around the city to see Hagia Sofia and Blue Mosque all lit up at night. Dinner follows at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner of local specialties at a nearby restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Sirkeci Hotel Istanbul)
Included Activities
- Istanbul Evening Orientation Walk
- Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Landmarks Hagia Sofia Blue Mosque 
- Day 2
Istanbul
Today you'll walk through Istanbul on a guided tour hitting the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, and Basilica Cistern. Lunch is street food, so you'll try some döner sandwiches and wraps. Then you'll head to the Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar to browse and shop around. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free to do what you like.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Street food döner sandwiches and wraps)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Grand Sirkeci Hotel Istanbul)
Included Activities
- Istanbul Walking Tour
- Street Food Experience
- Grand Bazaar Visit
Landmarks Hippodrome Blue Mosque Basilica Cistern Grand Bazaar Spice Bazaar - Day 3
Istanbul to Cappadocia
You'll fly from Istanbul to Cappadocia and spend the drive seeing the unusual rock formations and weird landscape. There are viewpoints to stop at and you'll see the Three Beauties, those distinctive fairy chimneys everyone talks about. Next up is the Kaymakli underground city where you'll explore the carved-out complex. Later you'll check into your cave hotel, which is literally built into the rock.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional pide, a type of Turkish pizza)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Exedra Hotel Cappadocia)
Included Activities
- Kaymakli Underground City
Landmarks Three Beauties Kaymakli Underground City Dervent Valley 
- Day 4
Cappadocia
Start your day choosing between a hiking trail or e-bike route through Meskender Valley, where you'll get up close with the distinctive fairy chimneys that make this region so unusual. After that, head to Göreme Open Air Museum to walk through the rock-carved churches and see the Byzantine frescoes inside the stone structures. Later, climb up to Uchisar Castle, which sits on a high point overlooking the valley, and you'll have great views of the tufa landscape stretching out in all directions. In the evening, you're heading to a local family's home in a nearby village for dinner and tea, which gives you a real sense of how people live here. After that cultural experience, you'll head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner and tea in a local family home in Zelve Village)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Exedra Hotel Cappadocia)
Included Activities
- Meskender Valley Hike or E-Bike Tour
- Göreme Open Air Museum Visit
- Uchisar Castle
- Zelve Village Dinner
Landmarks Göreme Open Air Museum Uchisar Castle Meskender Valley - Day 5
Cappadocia to Şirince
This morning you'll head to a local food and vegetable market in Avanos to get a feel for Turkish culinary traditions. After wandering through the stalls and picking up some ingredients, you'll join a cooking class where you'll learn to make gözleme, a traditional savory stuffed turnover. Later, you'll have time to shop and explore around Uğrup. In the afternoon, you'll make your way to Kayseri to catch a flight west to Izmir. From there, a transfer takes you to the village of Şirince, where you'll do an orientation walk to get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nisanyan Hotel Sirince)
Included Activities
- Avanos Market Visit
- Gözleme Cooking Class
Landmarks Avanos Market Uğrup Şirince 
- Day 6
Şirince to Ephesus
You'll drive to Ephesus and tour the ancient city with stops at St. John's Basilica and other sites. Lunch is free in Selçuk so you can find whatever appeals to you. Then you'll see the House of the Virgin Mary and a Greek Orthodox church. By evening you're back in Şirince for a three-course farewell dinner at a local spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (3-course farewell dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nisanyan Hotel Sirince)
Included Activities
- Ephesus Visit
- St. John's Basilica & Ayasuluk Castle Visit
- House of the Virgin Mary
- Temple of Artemis Visit
- Free Time
Landmarks Ephesus St. John's Basilica Ayasuluk Castle House of the Virgin Mary Temple of Artemis Greek Orthodox Church - Day 7
Şirince to Selçuk
You'll put on hiking shoes and walk an old trail that goes from village to village through olive groves and past ancient ruins, with ocean views the whole way. The route passes through Notion, where the mathematician Pythagoras actually lived. Later you'll explore Selçuk and meet some new group members in the evening who are joining for the rest of the trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Nisanyan Hotel Sirince)
Included Activities
- Ahmetbeyli Village Walk
- Free Time
Landmarks Claros Notion Ahmetbeyli - Day 8
Selçuk to Bodrum
Today you'll drive south to see the ancient ruins at Priene and Miletus, checking out theaters and temples. You'll stop at a local tea house to rest and have something to drink. Then it's on to the temple complex at Didyma before heading to Bodrum. Your evening is free to pick a restaurant or tag along with your CEO to their favorite local spot.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light typical lunch of Turkish bagels)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Torbahan Hotel Torba)
Included Activities
- Priene Visit
- Miletus Visit
- Turkish Bagels Lunch
- Apollo Temple of Didyma Visit
Landmarks Priene Miletus Apollo Temple of Didyma 
- Day 9
Bodrum
You'll walk through Bodrum checking out the castle and historical sites around town. Then you'll head to the end of the peninsula for lunch with local specialties and sea views. You'll see the ancient city of Halikarnasos and the windmills on the hill. The rest of the day and evening are yours to do whatever you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local specialties at Gumusluk overlooking the bay)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Torbahan Hotel Torba)
Included Activities
- Bodrum Castle Visit
- Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Visit
- Free Time
Landmarks Bodrum Castle Mausoleum at Halicarnassus Gumusluk Bodrum Windmills - Day 10
Bodrum to Dalyan
You'll drive from Bodrum to Dalyan and get on a boat to float down the river. There are natural mud pools with warm, mineral-rich water where you can relax and let the minerals soak into your skin. You'll go upriver to see the Acropolis of Kaunos and the rock tombs nearby. Lunch happens by the river, then you'll swim and relax before heading to your hotel for a free evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at Dalyan Beach)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Arp Dalyan)
Included Activities
- Dalyan Boat Trip
- Mud Baths
- Acropolis of Kaunos
- Dalyan Beach
Landmarks Dalyan River Acropolis of Kaunos Dalyan Beach Dalyan Mud Baths 
- Day 11
Dalyan to Göcek
You'll travel from Dalyan to Minare and start a hike to the historical site at Pinara. There you'll see the remains of an old theater, basilica, and Lycian rock tombs carved right out of stone cliffs. You'll head back to Minare for lunch made by a local family, then continue on to Göcek to check in and relax for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local lunch prepared by a family in Minare)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Layla Gocek)
Included Activities
- Minare Village Day Tour
- Hike to the Lycian Era Ruins of Pinara
- Free Time
Landmarks Minare Village Pinara - Day 12
Göcek
You get to pick your activity today: either hike sections of the Lycian Way going village to village with the Mediterranean on one side and forest on the other, or sea kayak around rocky coves and the shoreline near Saint Nicholas Island. You'll meet back up in Ölüdeniz for lunch at a local restaurant and free time to explore. Then you'll head back to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at a local restaurant in Ölüdeniz)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Layla Gocek)
Included Activities
- Kayak or Hike Along the Lycian Way
- Oludeniz Lagoon Swim
- Free Time
Landmarks Lycian Way Saint Nicholas Island Ölüdeniz Ölüdeniz Lagoon - Day 13
Göcek
You'll spend the day on a boat going in and out of the bays around Göcek, swimming and snorkeling along the way. There's a short hike to Cleopatra's Baths where hot springs meet the sea. Lunch is a barbecue right on the boat before you head back to Göcek. Your final night ends with a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Barbecue lunch onboard), Dinner (Farewell dinner at a local restaurant)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Layla Gocek)
Included Activities
- Göcek Boat Trip
Landmarks Cleopatra's Baths - Day 14
Departure
Your trip ends today. Transfers to Dalaman airport are taken care of, and you can leave whenever your flight is scheduled.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Departure Day
