A Turkish Culinary Tale ( 7 nights / 8 days )

Day 1: Arrival in Istanbul
We meet at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul and transfer to our hotel located in the modern city center, just a few steps away from Taksim Square. After check-in we meet for a welcome briefing and orientation tour of the hotel area. We proceed to Taksim Square for a walking tour. Tonight we dine at a local restaurant, located on Istiklal Street.

Candy shop - Kadikoy - Istanbul

Selin Rozanes - at her kitchen - Istanbul

Erhan Seker - at his garden - Mt. Ida

Aslihan Mutlu - in her kitchen - Bodrum

Home Hosted Lunch - Sirince Old Greek Village - Selcuk

Sirince Old Greek Village

Gourmet details: The Beyoglu district is the center of the culinary capital of Turkey. Enjoying a cultural and architectural revival, this area boasts many chic cafés, bars, bistros, and restaurants. Istiklal Street is favored by both Istanbul’s residents and guests because of its unprecedented options for wining and dining. Here is where we dine at a restaurant specializing in Ottoman-style meals and kebabs. After dinner there is an informal lecture on Turkish cuisine.

Included meals: Dinner

Day 2: Istanbul
We meet this morning and transfer to Sultanahmet for a full-day tour. Our day begins with a visit to the ancient Hippodrome, an area that was once the center of Byzantine civic life. We continue to Sultan Ahmet Mosque, more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque because its interior gleams with a magnificent paneling of blue and white 17th century Iznik tiles. Next, we visit Hagia Sophia, often described as the greatest work of Byzantine architecture. Our next stop is Topkapi Palace where we first break for lunch before proceeding with our tour.

Today the palace is a spectacular museum with one of the largest collections of Chinese and Japanese porcelain and the very famous treasury of the Ottoman Sultans. We see the palace kitchens, and visit the dormitories of the many servants who looked after the palace's 5800 inhabitants. We finish the day at the Grand Bazaar. This bazaar will tempt even non-shoppers with nearly 4,000 shops exhibiting a rich collection of precious handmade carpets, jewelry, leather, antiques, and souvenirs.

For today’s lunch we dine at a restaurant specializing in Ottoman Imperial cuisine. Here we enjoy a cold appetizer specialty of the day (prepared in olive oil), traditional Turkish pastry with cheese, kebab with smoked eggplant puree, and an assortment of Turkish desserts.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 3: Istanbul
Our tour begins today with a visit to Spice Market which was built as part of the Yeni Cami complex and has since been an exciting covered market filled with the fragrant scent of spices from the Orient. After our visit we embark on a public boat and start our cruise of the Bosporus Strait. The Bosphorus is a narrow, navigable strait between Europe and Asia connecting the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. This boat ride takes us past the late Ottoman Palaces, Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi, as well as beautiful wooden mansions and modern villas of the 19th and 20th centuries which form this elegant section of the city. We disembark at the seafront quarter of Ortakoy where we end our morning tour and ride back to our hotel after exploring this lively area.

Ortakoy is a typical Bosphorus shore-side quarter. Like most traditional seafront areas, freshly caught fish and sea products are available throughout the year. Those who wish, may stay to dine on grilled seasonal fish and traditional side dishes.

Another choice is to sign-up for an optional program '' ''Private dining in a Turkish home''.

Included meals: Breakfast

Optional culinary program: Unforgetable Turkish culinary experience: ''Private dining in a Turkish home''
Including the opportunity to learn the preperation of some traditional dishes. We say "Make yourselves at home" in Turkey and we mean it! Join our host Selin Rozanes for a hands-on experience preparing a Turkish menu followed by a lunch or dinner. Learn seasonal recipes in an authentic Turkish home. Price: $150.00 (per person) / minimum one couple and maximum six participants at a time.

Day 4: Istanbul - Gallipoli - Canakkale
In the morning we depart from Istanbul and drive to Canakkale. After driving through ancient Thrace, but before crossing the Dardanelles Strait by ferry, we break for lunch at a local seafood restaurant by the harbour of the center of the town called Gallipoli. After lunch we cross the strait by ferry and continue our drive to ancient Troy. Discovered by Heinric Schliemann in the 1870s, the site has since been excavated and now reveals remnants of nine civilizations dating back 5,000 years. This evening we spend at our leisure.

With Turkey being the country of four seas, seafood naturally has an important place in Turkish cuisine. From a perfectly located restaurant that hosts a beautiful view over the Aegean, we enjoy seasonal grilled fish and sea-food and a fresh herb salad. A Turkish vegetable soup and dessert complete the meal.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: Canakkale - Mt. Ida - Pergamum - Kusadasi
This morning we leave Canakkale and drive to the village of Adatepe. Here we visit The Museum of Olive Oil—first of its kind in Turkey and olive processing factory to meet its owners who show us how olives are processed, and olive oil is produced. Then we will drive to a mountain village at the foot of the Ida Mountains where we break for lunch. After lunch we will continue driving to the ancient site of Pergamum. Much of Pergamum has been lovingly restored and is now considered one of the primary ancient sites in Turkey. Here we visit the magnificent Acropolis, which contains the ruins of Pergamum’s acclaimed library—so large it rivals the world’s greatest library in Alexandria. Our final destination is Kusadasi where we spend an evening at leisure

Gourmet details: Today's lunch is in a unique village at the edge of the Ida Mountains. Chef Erhan Seker runs a local restaurant where he offers unique dishes prepared with vegetables of the Aegean coast and wild herbs from the Ida Mountains.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 6: Kusadasi
This morning we depart for a full day of sightseeing. First we visit the Ephesus archaeological site which is perhaps the world’s best preserved ancient city and its ruins attract visitors from across the globe. The most significant relic of the site is the immense amphitheater. Next we visit the House of the Virgin Mary. The chapel is built on the foundation of the house where the Virgin Mary is believed to have lived. Next, we continue to the town of Selcuk and visit the Ephesus Archeology Museum. Almost all of the exhibits are findings from Ephesus, the most spectacular being two life-size statutes of Artemis Ephesia, both dating from the middle Roman imperial era. Our final stop is to the village of Sirince. This pretty, old Orthodox village of perfect Turk-Greek culture is located on the top of a mountain where we enjoy impressive views of the vineyards and peach trees. As we wonder the narrow streets of the village lined with typical Greek houses, we come across woman selling handcrafts of all kinds and other local village products. Here we have chance to socialize with locals and taste the simple but delicious meals of Aegean cuisine at a home-hosted lunch.

Gourmet details: In one of these typical Greek houses we will savor gözleme, a homemade stuffed pancake; güveç, a stew prepared in the oven; and freshly baked bread.

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7: Kusadasi - Bodrum
This morning we leave Kusadasi for Bodrum, driving via Milas. Bodrum is situated in the southwest corner of the Aegean region of Turkey; it has an excellent climate and a beautiful coastline. The city of Bodrum rests on the ancient city of Halicarnassus. Due to both its historical importance and natural beauty, Bodrum has become a popular tourist destination. After check-in at our hotel, we will have some free time to relax and have lunch on our own. We will then visit the harbor and St. Peter's Castle as well as the remains of the Mausoleum which was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Our farewell dinner will be served at a cozy restaurant in Ortakent, a town on the Bodrum peninsula.

Gourmet details: We will visit a small town called Ortakent to meet our host chef Asli Mutlu and taste her dishes prepared with local vegetables, herbs and flavors. The menu can be described as Mediterranean fusion. It is Asli's passion to cook the wonderful fresh and wild vegetables in different styles, one day pumpkins will be served with walnuts as cooked the Turkish way and another day it will be a raw salad mixed with green herbs. What is always in these dishes is the extra virgin olive oil of the region. She also cooks meat, fish and poultry with a never ending passion to research the old receipes as well as create new ones. The medieval atmosphere of the village also will make the whole experience unforgettable.

Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner (farewell)

Day 8: Return Home
After breakfast we transfer to Bodrum / Milas airport for homebound flight via Istanbul.

Included meals: Breakfast

Price of the package includes

1. Accommodation in hotels:
   3 nights Istanbul: Central Palace (modern district) or Ottoman Imperial (old town)
   1 nights Canakkale: Kolin or Nazlihan (Assos)
   2 nights Kusadasi: Kismet or Charisma
   1 nights Bodrum: Majestic Marina or similar

2. Domestic flights within our program itinerary (Bodrum - Istanbul)

3. 13 Meals: 7 Breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 2 dinner

4. Services of a professional tour guide

5. Modern, A/C, comfortable minibus for land transportation.

6. Admission fees to sights and museums

7. Parking, portage, ferry, toll road

8. Gratuity (except guide & driver)

Price of the package excludes :

1. Airfare of international flights and related taxes

2. Bottled beverages or alcohol

3. Optional gratuities to trip leaders, drivers.

4. Travel insurance

5. Visas, laundry, and personal items