Itinerary
- Intro
Introduction
- Day 1
Istanbul
Istanbul- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at a stylish restaurant)
Included Activities
- City tour of Old Istanbul
- Blue Mosque visit
- Hippodrome exploration
- Million marker visit
- Welcome dinner at stylish restaurant
Optional Activities
- Lunch at local eateries (if arriving early)
Landmarks Blue Mosque Hippodrome Million - Day 2
Istanbul to Canakkale
Istanbul to Canakkale- Meals
- Breakfast (Early breakfast)
Included Activities
- Early breakfast
- Drive to Canakkale
- Gallipoli Peninsula tour
- Former battlefields exploration
- Trench sites visit
- Lone Pine memorial visit
- Chunuk Bair memorial visit
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Canakkale
Landmarks Gallipoli Peninsula Lone Pine Memorial Chunuk Bair - Day 3
Canakkale to Selcuk
Canakkale to SelcukIncluded Activities
- Troy archaeological site visit
- Ancient city walls exploration
- Trojan horse photo opportunity
- Selcuk orientation walk
- Temple of Artemis column visit
- Ancient aqueducts visit
Landmarks Troy Temple of Artemis - Day 4
Selcuk
Selcuk- Meals
- Dinner (Evening dinner of meze plates prepared during cooking class)
Included Activities
- Ephesus archaeological site visit
- Ancient theatre tour
- Gymnasium visit
- Baths visit
- Library of Celsus tour
- Marble streets exploration
- Sirince village visit
- Local fruit wine tasting
- Turkish cooking class
- Meze dinner (prepared by group)
Landmarks Ephesus Library of Celsus Sirince - Day 5
Selcuk to Pamukkale
Selcuk to Pamukkale- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Pamukkale travertine terraces exploration
- Thermal pools visit
- Hierapolis ruins tour
- Ancient temple visit
- Holy area exploration
- Monumental fountain visit
- Roman bath visit
- Basilica exploration
- Necropolis visit
- Ancient theatre tour
Landmarks Pamukkale Hierapolis - Day 6
Pamukkale to Kas
Pamukkale to KasIncluded Activities
- Kas orientation walk
- Lycian tombs exploration
- Ancient theatre visit
- Gozleme recommendation from leader
Optional Activities
- Pomegranate cocktail
- Local market browsing
Landmarks Kas - Day 7
Kas
Kas- Meals
- Lunch (Seafood lunch aboard boat with fresh local greens and zucchini fritters)
Included Activities
- Island boat cruise with local family
- Fresh local greens and zucchini fritters
- Swimming in protected inlets
- Backgammon lessons
- Ancient submerged city viewing
Optional Activities
- Turkish raki tasting
- Cold beer
Landmarks Kas Islands - Day 8
Kas to Antalya
Kas to Antalya- Meals
- Dinner (Turkish family-style dining at a traditional meyhane (tavern) with plenty of share plates, local drinks and live music)
Included Activities
- Phaselis ancient city visit
- Roman ruins exploration
- Kaleici Old City orientation walk
- Hadrian's Gate visit
- Old Roman Harbour visit
- Traditional meyhane dinner with live music
Optional Activities
- Swimming at Phaselis
Landmarks Phaselis Hadrian's Gate Old Roman Harbour - Day 9
Antalya
AntalyaIncluded Activities
- Necropolis Museum visit
Optional Activities
- Ancient city of Perge visit (leader can arrange)
- Kaleici exploration
- Sea swimming
- Poolside relaxation
Landmarks Necropolis Museum Perge - Day 10
Antalya to Konya
Antalya to Konya- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Traditional Konyan meal of hearty okra soup and etliekmek (crispy flatbread filled with meat, peppers and spices))
Included Activities
- Mevlana Museum visit
- Traditional Konyan dinner
Optional Activities
- Museum visits
- Mosque exploration
- Monument visits
- Alaeddin Hill stroll
Landmarks Mevlana Museum Alaeddin Hill - Day 11
Konya to Cappadocia
Konya to CappadociaIncluded Activities
- Cappadocia orientation walk
- Sunset drinks viewing
Optional Activities
- Whirling Dervish performance at han (caravansary)
- Hot air balloon spotting
Landmarks Cappadocia - Day 12
Cappadocia
Cappadocia- Meals
- Breakfast (Relaxing breakfast overlooking the valley)
Included Activities
- Goreme Open Air Museum visit
- Carpet weaving cooperative visit
- Love Valley walk
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon ride at sunrise
- Turkish bath
Landmarks Goreme Open Air Museum Love Valley - Day 13
Cappadocia
Cappadocia- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Special home-cooked dinner prepared by local family with Turkish delight)
Included Activities
- Kizilcukur Valley morning walk
- Ozkonak underground city exploration
- Local ceramic master studio visit
- Home-cooked dinner at local family home
Landmarks Kizilcukur Valley Ozkonak Underground City - Day 14
Cappadocia to Istanbul
Cappadocia to Istanbul- Meals
- Dinner (Farewell dinner at one of Istanbul's excellent restaurants)
Included Activities
- Farewell dinner at Istanbul restaurant
Optional Activities
- European Istanbul exploration
- Bosphorus crossing to Asian side
- Cafes, markets and shops browsing
Landmarks Bosphorus - Day 15
Istanbul to Baku
Istanbul to Baku- Meals
- Dinner (Local dinner)
Included Activities
- Airport transfer
- Welcome meeting at 6 pm
- Local dinner
Optional Activities
- Nizami Street walking tour (if arriving early)
Landmarks Nizami Street - Day 16
Baku
BakuIncluded Activities
- Old City walking tour with local guide
- Shemakha Gate visit
- Old Market Square visit
- Palace of the Shirvanshahs guided tour
Optional Activities
- Maiden Tower visit
Landmarks Old City of Baku Maiden Tower Palace of the Shirvanshahs - Day 17
Baku
BakuIncluded Activities
- Qobustan half-day trip
- Oil rig viewing
- Qobustan National Park visit
- Open-air archaeological museum visit
- Ancient rock art (petroglyphs) viewing
- Mud volcanoes visit
Optional Activities
- Heydar Aliyev Center visit
- Waterfront walk and dinner
Landmarks Qobustan National Park Mud Volcanoes of Qobustan Heydar Aliyev Center Baku Eye Flame Towers - Day 18
Baku to Sheki
Baku to Sheki- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner at local restaurant featuring Azerbaijani cuisine)
Included Activities
- Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum visit
- Juma Mosque in Shamakhi visit
- Shebeke stained-glass craft workshop visit
- Palace of Sheki Khans tour
- Dinner at local restaurant
Landmarks Yeddi Gumbaz Mausoleum Juma Mosque Palace of Sheki Khans - Day 19
Sheki to Telavi
Sheki to Telavi- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Dinner with local wine-making family including homemade cuisine, wine and chacha (local brandy))
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Stop at Lagodekhi border
- Sighnaghi town visit
- Dinner with local wine-making family
- Georgian polyphonic singing performance
Landmarks Sighnaghi Alazani Valley - Day 20
Telavi
Telavi- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional lunch in Pankisi Valley)
Included Activities
- Telavi Food Market tour
- Batonistsikhe Castle visit
- Pankisi Valley cultural walking tour
- Traditional lunch in Pankisi Valley
Landmarks Telavi Food Market Batonistsikhe Castle Pankisi Valley - Day 21
Telavi to Tbilisi
Telavi to Tbilisi- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Old districts exploration
- Colorful houses viewing
- Patterned balconies viewing
- Modern architecture viewing
Landmarks Georgian Presidential Palace area - Day 22
Tbilisi
TbilisiIncluded Activities
- Old Town walking tour with local guide
- Anchiskhati Basilica visit
- Cable car ride to Narikala Fortress
- Narikala Fortress tour
Optional Activities
- Traditional bathhouse visit
Landmarks Anchiskhati Basilica Narikala Fortress - Day 23
Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe
Tbilisi to Akhaltsikhe- Meals
- Lunch (Light lunch at Tserovani Refugee Settlement)
Included Activities
- Mtskheta ancient capital visit
- World Heritage sites tour
- Tserovani Refugee Settlement visit
- Ikorta enamel jewelry workshop visit
- Light lunch at settlement
- Settlement cultural tour
Optional Activities
- Design custom enamel jewelry piece
Landmarks Mtskheta Tserovani Refugee Settlement - Day 24
Akhaltsikhe
AkhaltsikheIncluded Activities
- Khertvisi Fortress visit
- Vardzia cave city tour
- Rock-hewn church visit
Optional Activities
- Rabati Fortress visit with local guide
Landmarks Khertvisi Fortress Vardzia Rabati Fortress - Day 25
Akhaltsikhe to Gudauri
Akhaltsikhe to Gudauri- Meals
- Dinner (Group dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Gori city tour
- Stalin Museum visit
- Memorial of Georgian War Heroes visit
- Gori Fortress visit
- Ananuri architectural complex visit
- Group dinner at hotel
Landmarks Stalin Museum Gori Fortress Ananuri Fortress Zhinvali Water Reservoir - Day 26
Gudauri
GudauriIncluded Activities
- Scenic drive from Gudauri
- Gergeti Trinity Church visit
- Stone heads park at Sno village visit
Optional Activities
- Mt. Kazbegi viewing
- Wellness center use
Landmarks Gergeti Trinity Church Mt. Kazbegi Sno Stone Heads Park - Day 27
Gudauri to Dzoraget
Gudauri to Dzoraget- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Breakfast at hotel
- Haghpat Monastery visit
Optional Activities
- Lunch in Tbilisi
Landmarks Haghpat Monastery Debed River - Day 28
Dzoraget to Yerevan
Dzoraget to Yerevan- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Lake Sevan visit
- Sevanavank Monastery visit
- Garni Temple visit
- Duduk performance
- Geghard Monastery visit
Landmarks Lake Sevan Sevanavank Monastery Garni Temple Geghard Monastery - Day 29
Yerevan
Yerevan- Meals
- Dinner (Final dinner at local restaurant featuring Armenian cuisine with fresh local produce and meat, including khorovats (barbecued kebab) and spas (yoghurt soup))
Included Activities
- Yerevan city tour with local guide
- Armenian Genocide Museum visit
- Final group dinner at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Afternoon reflection or exploration
Landmarks Armenian Genocide Memorial Complex - Day 30
Yerevan
Yerevan- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extended stay accommodation (contact booking agent in advance)
