12 DAYS TURKISH CULINARY

2999EURO

12 DAYS TURKISH CULINARY

First class service and guided transportation through the historical and picturesque sites of Istanbul, Safranbolu which is one of the oldest cities, underground cities of Cappadocia, beautiful lake in Egirdir, the hot springs of Pamukkale, the ancie..

First class service and guided transportation through the historical and picturesque sites of Istanbul, Safranbolu which is one of the oldest cities, underground cities of Cappadocia, beautiful lake in Egirdir, the hot springs of Pamukkale, the ancient ruins of Ephesus, and the beautiful village of Sirince in Turkey, At the same time, you will be traveling traditional Turkish villages, the historical sides of Turkey and you will also make a lot of friends.

Day 1: Istanbul - Arrival Day - Welcome Dinner
Welcome Drink, Dinner Included
Welcome to Turkey, arrival in Istanbul. Transfer from the airport and check in to your hotel, which offers a welcome drink and a chat with gourmet experts in Turkish cuisine. Tonight, you will have a welcome dinner, be introduced to our friendly crew and other travelers while enjoying traditional Turkish food, and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night.

Day 2: Turkish Cooking Lesson Istanbul
Breakfast Included
After a morning orientation, sightseeing tour of Istanbul, you participate in your first Turkish cooking lesson, preparing lunch which you will enjoy! After lunch, we visit the TOPKAPI PALACE. The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE: Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME: Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3: Istanbul - Safranbolu Tour - Cooking Lesson
Breakfast and Dinner Included
08.30 am, we depart for Safranbolu that was an important caravan station on the main East-West trade route from the 13th century to the early 20th century. The Old Mosque, the Old Bath House, and Suleyman Pasha Medrese were built in 1322. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu's architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire.) On arrival we will walk through the historical Safranbolu Bazaar, continuing to Cinci Hodja Caravanserai, Cici Hodja Bath House, Kaymakamlar House (Museum). We will cook some traditional foods for our dinner with traditional Turkish women. Dinner and overnight in Safranbolu.

Day 4: Safranbolu - Cappadocia
Breakfast and Dinner Included
After breakfast, we drive to Cappadocia (a 4-hour drive). Check in to your hotel. Tonight, we have an optional Activity - The famous traditional Turkish Night, here you will enjoy Whirling Dervishes, Belly Dancing & Traditional Turkish Folklore accompanied by traditional Turkish food and drink. This evening comes highly recommended as it is one of the only places in Turkey to glimpse the Whirling Dervishes. Dinner and overnight Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 5: Cooking Lesson and Cappadocia Tour
Breakfast and Dinner Included
After having had breakfast, participants will take part in another cooking lesson in Cappadocia. You will have the opportunity to taste great food in Central Turkey, including traditional pancakes and tasting kebab. In the afternoon, we visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, the Heart of Cappadocia. Goreme Open Air Museum is famous for frescoes dating to the 10th century describing the life of Jesus Christ and monks. The next stop is Cavusin, which is an abandoned village with old cave Greek houses, visit a pottery workshop, to see how to make potteries. Then you go to Pasabagi where you can see three-headed fairy chimneys. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 6: Ceramics Lesson and Cappadocia Tour
Breakfast and Dinner Included
After breakfast, we will depart for our ceramics class. You will be assisted by professional ceramic artists to make your own ceramic piece that you will take home as a memory and souvenir of your trip to Turkey. Ceramic art is the most famous artwork coming from the Cappadocia region. In the afternoon participants will enjoy a guided tour through the spectacular sight of Cappadocia; Derinkuyu Underground City where the dwelling was started during the Hittites (2000 BC) and became a big shelter for 12 different nations. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.

Day 7: Cappadocia to Egirdir
Breakfast and Dinner Included
This morning, we drive to Konya and see the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana & museum, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). Stop in Egirdir on the southern tip of the most beautiful of the Pisidian lakes. Egirdir is a fine place to stop in the midst of your journey for two days of quiet rest and contemplation. Dinner and overnight in Egirdir.

Day 8: Egirdir Cooking Fish Lessons
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Egirdir is beautiful and shows another side of Turkey all together. Swimming, boating, and hiking can fill a few days if you want to be active. You can also swim in the beautiful natural lake that lies at Egirdir. There are famous fish to be caught here that seem to have no bones The fish is extremely delicious in Egirdir so we will cook fish for ourselves and you can have the famous Turkish drink “Raki”. There are several small farms located in this area where you can see the workers using traditional methods of farming. You will be welcomed by all the people in this region. Dinner and overnight in Egirdir.

Day 9: Egirdir to Pamukkale
Breakfast and Dinner Included
After breakfast at 08.30, we depart for Pamukkale. We shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, walking around this natural phenomenon gives you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs that flow down the calcium terraces. Dinner and overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 10: Pamukkale to Kusadasi - Ephesus Tour
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included
08:30, Departure from hotel fully guided tour of Ephesus, one of the best-preserved ancient sites in the world en-route, visiting the Temple of Artemis, Curetes street, famous Roman baths, Celsus Library, Grand theatre and House of the Virgin Mary. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 11: Tour of Village Sirince Tour - Wine Tasting
Breakfast and Dinner Included
Today, it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish winemakers. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paint. There is a good view on the slope all buildings are still original with their white paint. There is a good view of the entrance of the village and its streets are also wonderful. Sirince is very popular for its building style, house, streets, and apple wine made by the villagers. In 1922 the Anatolian Greeks immigrated back to Greece and Turks coming from Greece settled there. We will visit the vineyards and it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish winemakers. In the evening, you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. On the way, we will visit one of the famous leather production centers in the region, where you will have the opportunity to get a good factory rate. On this guided tour, you will avoid the nagging and sometimes bullying that is well known in the markets of Turkey. Enabling you to enjoy the shopping experience whilst gaining knowledge of the ancient craftsmen. Dinner and overnight in Kusadasi.

Day 12: Kusadasi - Izmir to Istanbul - End of Tour
Breakfast Included
Today, we depart for Izmir airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back home.

Included services:
- Guided Istanbul city tour
- Professional English - speaking tour guides
- All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
- Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non - smoking coach
- 2 nights hotel in Istanbul
- Guided Ephesus tour
- Guided Sirince village tour and wine tasting
- Guided Pamukkale tour
- 2 nights hotel in Kusadasi
- 1 nights hotel in Pamukkale
- Return airport transfer
- Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul airport
- Domestic flight ticket from Izmir to Istanbul
- 9 dinners
- 1 Cooking Lesson in Cappadocia
- 1 Ceramics Lesson
- 11 open buffet breakfasts
- Guided tour in Cappadocia
- 1 cooking class in Istanbul
- 1 cooking class in Safranbolu
- 1 cooking class in Egridir
- 1 Wine Tasting
- 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Egirdir
- Guided Safranbolu tour
- Guided Egirdir tour

Excluded services:
- International flights
- Insurance: All types
- Turkey entry visa
- Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry
- Any other expenses which are not mentioned in the included section