Turkish Food & Culture Tour: Istanbul, Cappadocia, Alacati, Sirince & Bodrum - 13 Days

Day 1: Arrive in İstanbul, Dinner at Tuğra Restaurant

Welcome to Turkey and the sprawling city of İstanbul! Meet your driver at the airport and head to your centrally-located hotel. Steeped in history and culture, İstanbul is known as "the bridge between Europe and Asia" and is the only city in the world that straddles two continents. Once you settle in and relax a little, get ready for dinner at Çırağan Palace Kempinski. This historic Ottoman palace houses one of İstanbul's most famous restaurants, Tuğra Restaurant and Lounge (Tuğra meaning "Signature of the Sultan").

Enjoy incredible views over the Bosphorus Strait from the opulent dining room adorned with intricate Ottoman-era decor. Choose from an array of dishes crafted from centuries-old recipes with a modern twist, from delectable appetizers or mezes to succulent kebabs. No meal is complete without dessert; try a homemade baklava or a warm halva paired with Turkish coffee. Continue the night with drinks along the glittering strait, or head back to the hotel to rest for tomorrow's tour of the city. 

Day 2: Cruise along the Bosphorus, Enjoy a Folk Performance & Belly Dance

Return to the strait this morning and board a luxury yacht to see the city from the water. Sit back, relax, and admire popular landmarks on both the European and Asian sides of the city, like the Golden Horn and Ortaköy Mosque. Don't miss the Galata Tower, built by the Genovese as an observation tower; it's now a museum that makes up the iconic silhouette of the city. Enjoy afternoon drinks and nibbles as you cruise down the waterway. 

Sit down for a quick lunch at an esnaf lokantası, a type of local restaurant with a variety of premade meals to choose from, such as hünkarbeğendi (roasted meat served on mashed eggplant). Save your appetite because, in the evening, you get to enjoy more authentic Turkish cuisine, including an array of mezes, at an exclusive nightclub. Following your meal, immerse yourself in Turkish culture by listening to a folk performance and watching belly dancers perform. 

Day 3: Guided Tour of Sultanahmet & Grand Bazaar, Try Fasulye & Kebabs

Today, you'll explore the city on foot during a guided tour of the city's historic district, Sultanahmet, home to many important buildings and sites from the Byzantine era. Follow your guide to one of the city's most famous sites, the Blue Mosque. Enter this historic 17th-century landmark to see the intricate blue tiles lining the interior that lent the mosque its name. Head outside to the Hippodrome of Constantinople, now known as Sultanahmet Square. Admire the square's fountain with the mosque as a backdrop and check out the towering Obelisk of Theodosius, imported from Egypt in 390 CE.

Take a break for lunch at Suleymaniye Kurufasulyecisi to try fasulye, a classic Turkish dish of white beans cooked in tomato sauce with rice. Explore other UNESCO World Heritage sites in the area, such as the Hagia Sophia Mosque or Topkapı Palace, before heading to the Grand Bazaar in the afternoon. Stay close to your guide as you walk down 61 winding streets and alleys covered by over 4,000 stalls. End the day with a Turkish staple, kebabs, at Samatya Develi, a local restaurant that's been serving this beloved local dish since 1966.

Day 4: Street Food Tour of Eminönü & Kadıköy

Make sure you're hungry this morning because you're going on a street food tour across the city. Start with the European side at the commercial waterfront area of Eminönü. As you weave through the colorful backstreets, learn about and try different traditional dishes and ingredients, like local cheeses, pickles, puddings, and Turkish delight. Surround yourself with mouthwatering aromas at the Spice Bazaar, with over 85 shops selling local snacks, spices, and sweets for you to sample. Grab a dürüm, a delectable wrap filled with tender meat, to keep you going.

In the afternoon, take a short ferry ride across the strait to the Asian side of the city, Kadıköy. Walk along the narrow, pedestrian-only streets, entering local shops and restaurants. Explore one of the many markets in the area; from fresh fruit to seafood to spices, they sell it all. This is the best area to try the favorite local dishes of midye dolma (stuffed mussels with rice) and kokoreç (lamb intestines seasoned with traditional spices wrapped in bread). End the street food tour with a restorative glass of Turkish tea called çay in one of the traditional tea gardens overlooking the Sea of Marmara.

Day 5: Fly to Cappadocia, Lunch & Cooking Class, Whirling Dervish Show

This morning, you leave the bustling city behind for the lunar-like landscapes of Cappadocia in central Turkey. Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel. After you've settled in, head to a village house to learn about the secrets of baking bread and cooking local dishes in a stone oven from a local. You can then enjoy the food you made in the garden. In the evening, continue to the nearby town of Avanos to watch a whirling dervish ritual dance, called a sema, in the historic Saruhan Caravanserai, which used to shelter merchants traversing the Silk Road in the 13th century. 

Day 6: Hot-Air Balloon Ride, Regional Tour, Dinner at Seki Restaurant

Set your alarm and wake up before dawn for a hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia at sunrise. Watch as the crew inflates the massive balloons, then hop into the basket. Hold on tight as you ascend into the air. Look out over the valleys as the sun paints the sky with hues of pink and orange. When you land, continue to explore the area by visiting the Göreme Open-Air Museum, with its dozens of painted cave churches. After admiring these rock-cut structures, head to the Devrent and Paşabağı valleys to see the famous "fairy chimneys," towering erosion-shaped structures only found in this region.

The adventure continues after an authentic Cappadocian lunch as you visit Uçhisar Castle, built in the fourth century. Climb to the top for a panoramic view of the entire valley. Head back to Avanos to watch a pottery demonstration, as the nearby Kızılırmak River gives residents plenty of red clay to work with. End this action-packed day with dinner at Seki, a restaurant that uses fresh, local ingredients paired with contemporary cooking techniques to produce unique flavors. Try dishes like firik, a rich pilaf dish with fresh garden herbs, and a traditional candied quince for dessert, all paired with delicious Turkish wines.

Day 7: Visit Kaymaklı Underground City & Ihlara Valley, Dinner at Lil'a Restaurant

This morning, you'll descend to the underground world of Cappadocia on your visit to the Kaymaklı Underground City, one of 36 in the region. This one, in particular, used to house over 3,500 people fleeing religious persecution in the seventh and eighth centuries. Although the ancient city descends eight floors, you can only visit the first four, stopping at old living quarters along the way so you can imagine how residents used to live. Once you're back above ground, visit the Ihlara Valley, one of the largest valleys in the world, for a picnic lunch with regional delicacies and local wine.

After refueling, trek through the valley, surrounded by sheer canyon walls that create a shaded oasis. Admire the rock-cut churches and dwellings from the Byzantine era dotting the landscape. End the day in the Museum Hotel at Lil'a Restaurant, which pairs traditional recipes with the almost-forgotten tastes of Anatolia and Cappadocia. Chef Saygın Sesli's philosophy is "from farm to table," so you can enjoy the freshest ingredients in dishes like tandoor ribs or partridge manti, large ravioli-like dumplings filled with slow-cooked partridge meat.

Day 9: Explore the Ephesus Region, Transfer to Şirince

Day 10: Transfer to Bodrum via Lake Bafa, Dinner at Orfoz Restaurant

After a delicious breakfast at the hotel, head three hours south to Bodrum, a city on the Turquoise Coast. Along the way, stop at Lake Bafa Nature Park, one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the country. Keep an eye on the trees to see birds like herons, pelicans, and fish eagles. Continue to the village of Kapıkırı to discover the ruins of Herakleia. Walk through the village to see the remnants of theaters, temples, and ancient streets. End your quick tour of the ruins at the Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, another of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Head to Agora Pension for a homemade lunch, then settle in at your hotel in Bodrum. Stay in to relax or walk to Yahşi Beach to sunbathe and swim in the Aegean Sea. In the evening, return to your hotel to get ready for dinner at the taverna-style Orfoz Restaurant. This gastronomic haven offers a delightful blend of fresh seafood, locally sourced ingredients, and innovative dishes. Enjoy views of the sea and Bodrum Castle while you work your way through delectable mezes, seafood specialties with an Aegean twist, and a special dessert.

Day 11: Bodrum City Tour, Visit Selia Artisanal Farm or Boat to Black Island

Choose between two action-packed activities today: a city tour of Bodrum and a visit to an artisanal farm or a boat tour to Black Island. If you choose the city tour, you'll get to explore Bodrum Castle, a medieval fortress that has been overlooking the Aegean coastline since 1402. Admire the stone walls, ancient watchtowers, and picturesque courtyards before heading inside the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, the largest of its kind in the world. Learn about the region's maritime history and browse the impressive collection of ancient shipwrecks, artifacts, and treasures.

Continue to Selia Artisinal Farm in the afternoon to learn about its production of wine, olives, goat cheese, jams, and bread using traditional methods. Take a trip around the farm, visit the cellars, and enjoy an afternoon cocktail before a leisurely supper with the farm's owners to end the day. If a boat tour is more your speed, start your morning with a short 10-minute cruise to Black Island. Dip in a hot spring on the island, then cruise to Meteor Hole, the site of a meteor crash, now the perfect swimming spot.

Head to another idyllic bay next, Aquarius Bay. Enjoy a delicious lunch onboard, then jump in the crystal-clear waters for another swim. Get back on board and cruise to the beautiful Red Bay, known for its richly colored sand. Enjoy a refreshing swim before indulging in complimentary fresh fruit served on the boat. The taste of the sun-ripened fruit paired with the stunning views of the bay will surely be a memorable experience. End your island tour at Rabbit Bay, where you can relax on the boat and enjoy some tea and biscuits while soaking up the breathtaking scenery.

Day 13: Depart İstanbul