Turkey: Culture, History, and Art in the Ancient World

Arrive in Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul where you’ll be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel.

Check in and relax before dinner tonight.

Enjoy a lively welcome dinner at a local restaurant as you get to know your fellow travelers this evening. Share stories and learn about why everyone is excited to explore the Turkish sites (and sights!).
Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Arcadia Blue

Istanbul
Today, you’ll walk throughout the city of Istanbul, stopping for lunch along the way as you take in some of the ancient sites:

Topkapı Palace, the home and administrative headquarter of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years, where you’ll see the Harem, the Treasure and the other sections of the Palace.

The Hippodrome, where you can still see the arched curving brick wall and the standing monuments along the central axis of the ancient hippodrome today.

The Blue Mosque which was built in 1616 and has an elegant architectural design and an interior decorated with famous blue Iznik tiles and blue floral frescoes.

Basilica Cistern which was the largest underground cistern of Byzantine Istanbul erected in the 530’s.

Spice Bazaar that dates back to the 1600’s when it was the last stop for the camel caravans that travelled the Silk Road from China, India and Persia. Spices were also brought by ships set off from Alexandria in Egypt and docked just in front of the Bazaar.

In early evening, you’ll take a private boat trip along the Bosphorus, the natural strait that forms part of the boundary between Asian and European continents. Along the shores of the Bosphorus are old Ottoman villas, old palaces, fortresses and parks that contribute the beauty of the strait. You’ll be joined by Pelin Unker, an award-winning investigative journalist for a discussion about her life and career. You’ll enjoy dinner at a sea-front restaurant by Bosphorus before returning to the hotel for the night.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Arcadia Blue

Istanbul to Isparta
After breakfast at the hotel this morning, you’ll visit Haghia Sophia, one of the most extraordinary buildings in the history of architecture and a monument to the golden age of the Byzantine Empire, dating from 537 CE.

After your visit to the Haghia Sophia, you’ll return to the hotel to check out before leaving for the airport for your flight to the Isparta region.

Arrive at the airport where you’ll board your early afternoon flight to Isparta, which is the center of rose production.

Leave the airport and start your 50-minute drive to Egirdir, a town that is home to a beautiful fresh water lake. You’ll explore the old monuments of the town by the lake and walk around the Yesilada (Green Island) which once had a monastery of women. After your walking tour, you’ll drive just over 20 miles to Isparta.

Arrive at your Isparta hotel and check in before heading out to enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Breakfast, Dinner

Overnight: Barida Hotels

Rose Harvest
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel this morning before starting your 25-mile drive to Güneykent Village in the mountains, one of the many rose growing places in Isparta province. Try your hand at harvesting roses in the field accompanied by a village woman who shows you the proper method to pick the flowers. Afterwards visit a traditional distiller where you’ll see the distillation process first-hand and have the chance to buy rose products like rose oil, rose water, and a variety of cosmetics that contain roses.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in the village after your morning with the roses.

Following lunch, you’ll pass through Isparta on your way to Golcuk, a volcanic lake in the middle of the caldera. Set out on a 3-mile hike around the lake and take in the scenic views.

Join your fellow travelers for dinner at the hotel tonight.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Barida Hotels

Isparta to Fethiye
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll drive just over an hour to Lisinia, which is a small school for social and sustainable development with a focus on wildlife rehabilitation and eco-friendly agriculture.

This afternoon you will explore the ancient city of Cibyra along with Associate Professor Sukru Ozudogru who will give an informative talk about the many excavations that are underway in the area. Then get your legs moving with a power-walking competition with your fellow travelers in the well- preserved ancient stadium of Cibyra.

Continue your drive for another hour and forty-five minutes until you arrive in Fethiye where you’ll check into the hotel which will be your home for tonight. Then enjoy the rest of the evening on your own.
Breakfast, Lunch

Overnight: Ece Saray Marina Resort

Fethiye to Selcuk
After breakfast this morning at the hotel, you’ll drive for an hour and a half to a woman-owned, woman- run asparagus farm where you’ll join in the fields with the women workers and take part in the annual harvest.

Continue on to Doganyurt village where you’ll enjoy lunch and then visit the nearby ancient city of Alabanda where all girls learned to play the harp in ancient times.

Drive for another one and a half hours to the village of Sirince where you’ll visit a felt atelier and meet the owner and have a chance to do some shopping.

Late in the afternoon, you’ll arrive at your hotel and check in before dinner.

Tonight you’ll enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Kalehan Hotel

Selcuk
Enjoy a 2.5 hour walk to see some of the magnificent sites of Ephesus. First, visit the Basilica of St. John which dates back to the 6th century before stopping at the Seljuk Castle, a fortress that was built by the Byzantines. Afterwards, continue walking to Artemision, the Temple of Artemis, which dates back to the 4th century BC. While only two columns remain of the original structure, you can get a good sense of the magnitude of the original temple.

After your hike, you’ll visit a Turkish rug cooperative where you’ll first eat lunch with the weaver women. After lunch you’ll learn the methods of wool spinning, weaving, and dyeing before having the opportunity to purchase rugs.

Later in the afternoon you’ll tour glorious Ephesus, one of the best preserved ancient cities in the world. Marble paved avenues, wonderfully preserved homes, temples, theaters, baths, markets, brothels, libraries and gymnasiums bring us back to the splendor of the ancient world.

Return to the hotel after your day of exploration, and enjoy dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Kalehan Hotel

Ephesus to Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll head to the airport for your morning flight back to Istanbul for a final day of exploration in this majestic city.

Leave the airport an drive to Ebristan, where you’ll learn how to make marble art from the husband and wife who own and operate the atelier that sits below their home. After your marble workshop, you’ll enjoy lunch at Ebristan.

Following lunch, drive on to Istanbul where you’ll check into the hotel and have time to relax a little before dinner.

Share stories about your week of exploration in Turkey with your traveling companions during a celebratory farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: Hotel Arcadia Blue

Depart Istanbul
All great adventures must one day come to an end. This morning, enjoy your last breakfast in Turkey and say “hoşça kalin” to your new friends before departing for the airport for your flight home.
Breakfast

Please note: AdventureWomen will attempt to adhere to the itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, and cultural) may necessitate changes in the itinerary. AdventureWomen reserves the right to alter any itinerary at any time, if necessary. We will attempt to notify participants of changes as far in advance as possible. Costs incurred by such changes will be the responsibility of the participants.