South Caucasus & Turkey

Itinerary

• Days 1-4: Istanbul (Turkey), Edirne, Canakkale

  After arriving into Istanbul, spend the next few days of your private tour exploring the Sultanahmet area, Istanbul’s atmospheric Old Town where the city’s finest monuments are found; Kuzguncuk, a “hidden gem” of a neighborhood located on the Asian side of the city with many opportunities to sample Turkish cuisine and sweets; and the hip, historic harborside neighborhood of Karakoy. Then, depart Istanbul for Edirne, near the border with Greece and the location of the 16^th century UNESCO-listed Selimiye Mosque – masterpiece of chief Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan. Turn south and make your way towards Canakkale and the Aegean coast, passing Gallipoli on your way.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exploring the historic Sultanahmet district with visits to UNESCO-listed Topkapi Palce, the Great Palace of the Ottoman Sultans form the 15^th to 19^th centuries; UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia, originally built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian around 537; the UNESCO-listed Blue Mosque, with its towering minarets and layered domes; and the Basilica Cistern, an underground forest of columns under Istanbul.
  • Wandering through Istanbul’s 15^th century Grand Bazaar, one of the largest covered markets in the world, and the 17^th century Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar.
  • A visit to the mid-19^th century Dolmabahce Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856-1922 and the largest palace in Turkey.
  • Exploring the delightful Kuzguncuk neighborhood on the Asian side of the city and the hip, historic harbor side neighborhood of Karakoy on the European side.
  • Visit to the 16^th century Selimiye Mosque in Edirne, a UNESCO-listed site built by Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan.
• Days 5-6: Troy, Bergama (Pergamon), Izmir, Ephesus

  Stop by the historic ruins of Troy before heading south, tracing your way along the Aegean Coast to Izmir with a stop in Bergama along the way. The market town of Bergama is best known for its former name, Pergamon – the cultural center of a rich and powerful kingdom during the Greek and Roman period. From Izmir, enjoy a daytrip to Ephesus, a major Greek city and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Wander the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Troy, made famous by Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.
  • Stop in Bergama to see the ruins of the ancient town of Pergamon including the 10,000-seat natural theater, Temple of Dionysus, ruins of a fine acropolis, “Red Basilica” complex built by Emperor Hadrian, and the Asclepion – an ancient medical center.
  • Overnight in Izmir, known in ancient times as Smyrna and Turkey’s third largest city.
• Days 7-10: Aphrodisias, Pamukkale, Bodrum, Didyma, Miletus, Priene

  Head inland and make your way to Pamukkale, or “Cotton Castle,” with a stop at the remains of Aphrodisias en route. Built at the top of the cliffs of Pamukkale, the ancient spa city of Hierapolis is today a UNESCO-listed open-air museum. After overnighting in Pamukkale, head back west to the coast and spend the next few days in Bodrum, a port town with an ancient castle built by the Knights Hospitaller in 1402. Visit the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, sail around Turkey’s beautiful Turquoise Coast on a gulet, and enjoy a daytrip to Didyma, Miletus, and Priene.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Explore the ruins of Aphrodisias
  • Pay a visit to Heirapolis, an ancient Roman spa city and UNESCO-listed open-air museum ruins of a well-preserved theater and necropolis.
  • Overnight near Pamukkale, or “Cotton Castle” – site of natural, cascading travertine terraced pools created by thermal springs reacting with the air.
  • Visit the Bodrum Castle, built by the Knights Hospitaller in 1402, and its Museum of Underwater Archaeology.
  • Sail around Turkey’s beautiful Turquoise Coast on a privately chartered gulet – a small traditional wooden sailboat.
  • Wander the site of Didyma, home to fascinating ancient ruins dating back to 700 BCE; the ancient Greek city of Miletus; and the Greek ruins of Priene, considered to be one of the most complete examples of an intact Greek city.
• Days 11-15: Ankara, Hattusas, Cappadocia

  Fly to Ankara, Turkey’s capital, and tour some of the city’s highlights before setting off for Cappadocia the next day with a visit to the ruins of Hattusa, capital of the powerful Hittite Empire, on the way. In Cappadocia, spend several days exploring the UNESCO-listed Goreme National Park, with its frescoed rock churches, many cave towns, and other-worldly natural landscapes.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Tour of Ankara, Turkey’s capital and famous for its Angora wool and mohair, with a visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum.
  • Explore the UNESCO-listed ruins of Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire that ruled the region from 1750 to 120 BCE.
  • Visits to UNESCO-listed Goreme National Park including Pigeon Valley, Uchisar Fortress, the Goreme Open-Air Museum, Pidgeon Valley, and Devrent Valley.
  • Explore the ancient cave town of Kaymakli, first tunneled out of the soft rock sometime in the 8^th and 7^th centuries BCE.
  • Visit to the labyrinthine Keslik Monastery, one of the earliest monastic centers in Cappadocia.
  • Stop by some of the villages and small towns of Cappadocia including Cemil Village, Mustafapasa, and Avanos.
  • Attend a Whirling Dervish Ritual ceremony, included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.