Turkey Cultural Discovery Private Adventure Tour
Ancient Marvels from Istanbul to Cappadocia
- Available: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
- Activity: Level 1
- Accommodations: Comfortable Hotels, Luxury Hotels
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Group Size:
2-10 Guests
Highlights
- Marvel at Hagia Sofia, a 4th-century church turned mosque, and the gorgeously tiled Blue Mosque
- Witness the lunar-like Cappadocia region, one of the world's most surreal and striking landscapes
- Attend a private ceremonial dance of whirling dervishes in the holy city of Konya
Itinerary
Arrive in Istanbul
Day 1
Arrive any time today and meet an MT Sobek representative at Istanbul airport for a transfer to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring the city on your own or simply relaxing before the welcome dinner this evening.
Accommodation: Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Visit the Old Town & Cruise the Bosphorus
Day 2
Start the day by discovering the highlights of the ancient Hippodrome, including the Egyptian Obelisk and the Serpentine Column. Visit the spectacular Hagia Sophia, a mosque (if permitted this day). After lunch at a local restaurant, walk through the vibrant streets of the old town to catch a private boat along the Bosphorus for a 1.5-hour scenic cruise. Back on land, wander through the 17th-century Spice Bazaar and its colorful stalls filled with spices, herbal teas, and saffron. Return to the hotel on foot or by public tram.
Accommodation: Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
Activity: 1.5 hour Bosphorus cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the Blue Mosque, the Topkapi Palace & Grand Bazaar
Day 3
Today visit the 17th-century Blue Mosque, famed for the beautiful blue tiles decorating its interior walls and for its six minarets. Continue with the Topkapi Palace, former residence of the Ottoman sultans for about 400 years. See the Harem section, a palace inside the Topkapi, to hear about the history of eunuchs and concubines. After lunch at a nearby restaurant, explore the buzzy streets of the Grand Bazaar, a 15th-century covered market with 90 alleyways. Roam around for unique souvenirs and walk back to the hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own.
Accommodation: Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Discover the Landscapes of Cappadocia
Day 4
Take a morning flight to Kayseri in Cappadocia and take the 1-hour transfer to one of the world's most spectacular and surreal areas. Explore this moon-like landscape with bizarre natural formations, such as pyramid-shaped rocks. Check into the hotel, have a traditional lunch, and then head out to visit one of the underground cities carved from volcanic tufa to a depth of eight to ten stories. Drive to a clutch of valleys for panoramic views, have a brief walk in the Love Valley and - at an additional cost - a hot air balloon ride.
Accommodation: Gul Konaklari Sinasos Hotel
Transportation: 1.5-hour flight transfer & 1-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
See the Highlights of Cappadocia
Day 5
Start the day by visiting the majestic Goreme Valley and its open-air museum that features rock-hewn sanctuaries with well-preserved frescoes. Stop by one of the clay workshops to see how pottery is produced using ancient methods. After lunch at a local restaurant, walk up to Uchisar Castle with its dazzling panoramic view of the Cappadocia region, and walk around the incredible pointed rock formations known as the Fairy Chimneys.
Accommodation: Gul Konaklari Sinasos Hotel
Activity: 1.5 hours walking
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Explore the Arts in Cappadocia
Day 6
Today we visit a private home for a cooking workshop, followed by lunch. This is a unique and delicious experience! After lunch, take an introductory class in carpet weaving. Learn how the Turks have made carpets for centuries. Each of these experiences are wonderful introductions to these two arts. This evening watch a fascinating whirling dervish performance at a 13th century caravanserai.
Accommodation: Gul Konaklari Sinasos Hotel
Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore Konya, Land of the Whirling Dervishes
Day 7
Take a morning drive to Konya, with a stop on the way at the 13thcentury Seljuk Caravanserai - once the largest rest stop in Anatolia for the Silk Road caravans. In the holy city of Konya, have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the Shrine of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, famous poet, and the Karatay Madrasa Museum with its magnificent collection of brilliantly colored glazed tiles.
Accommodation: Hich Hotel
Transportation: 2.5-hour private van transfer
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly Back to Istanbul & Depart
Day 8
After breakfast, catch your flight from Konya back to Istanbul and connect with your international flight. Or, continue your journey through the Middle East with MT Sobek adventures in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. Call us for ideas!
Transportation: 1.5-hour flight transfer
Meals: Breakfast
Dates & Prices
- Go Private
- Go Custom
- Inclusions
Go Private
Go Private
Gather your favorite travel companions to share an MT Sobek adventure on an easy-to-book Private departure.
Call or email us to get the ball rolling.
*Private trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit.
Looking for a private family adventure?
This trip can accommodate guests with a minimum age of 14.
Private Trip Pricing:
2023 Pricing
2 to 3 guests from $3,895 per person double occupancy
4 to 5 guests from $3,295 per person double occupancy
6 to 7 guests from $2,995 per person double occupancy
8 to 10 guests from $2,895 per person double occupancy
*Seasonal rates may apply.
Additional Costs:
Internal Airfare: $140
Private pricing excludes potential additional costs such as internal airfare, single supplement, or any park fees that may be required for the trip.
*Private trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit.
Make Your Own Dates in These Months
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March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November
Go Custom
Create Your Very Own Adventure
Dreaming of an adventure designed exclusively for you? With insider access and decades of experience, our travel experts create custom tailored adventures that are perfect for families, couples, and large groups. MT Sobek's custom adventures are designed to our exacting standards and led by our award-winning adventure guides.
When to start planning? Earlier is always better when designing a custom trip. More time allows for better availability of preferred accommodations, guides and your desired activities. Ideally, start the conversation with us at least 6 months before you want to travel. If you are looking for a custom trip that departs within three months, chances are greatly diminished in securing requested accommodations and the best guides.
*Custom trips require a 25% non-refundable deposit once an itinerary is agreed upon.
Start PlanningInclusions
Price Includes
- Expertise and services of our experienced adventure guides
- All accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All breakfasts, almost all lunches and dinners as noted in the itinerary
- Snacks and water between meals
- Additional regional guides and experts on many trips
- Comprehensive Trip Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at historic sites, museums, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the itinerary
- Special events and other select attractions as mentioned in the itinerary
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Equipment and experienced guides for activities as described in the itinerary
- Park and other entry fees (unless otherwise noted)
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the itinerary
- Select transfers as mentioned in the itinerary
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare, airport taxes, and excess baggage fees
- Alcoholic beverages (MT Sobek provides wine at select events)
- Gratuities for MT Sobek guides and guide-drivers
- Travel Protection Program
- Personal expenses
Need help picking your next adventure? Call us to answer your questions.
Your Guides
The best people to immerse you in a destination are the ones who live there, which is why we feature local Adventure Guides on our trips. Here are a few that you might meet on this adventure.
Ridvan U.
Ridvan was born in Manisa, which is located in western Turkey. He has been guiding for more than 22 years. Ridvan enjoys playing "saz", a stringed Turkish folk music instrument, reading about archeology and fine arts, and doing pilates.
Activity Level
This trip is rated activity level 1. Six days of touring mostly on foot. While the activities themselves are not strenuous, participants must be comfortable standing and walking 2-3 hours per day, on terrain that can be uneven with some hills.
Learn more about activity levels here.
Activity Snapshot
Day 2
1.5 hour Bosphorus cruise
Day 5
1.5 hours walking
Accommodations
A comfortable city retreat in Istanbul as the bookend, a stylish hideaway housed in restored ancient dwellings in Cappadocia, and a well-appointed hotel in Konya.
Sirkeci Mansion Hotel
The Sirkeci Manison Hotel is decorated in Ottoman-styled architecture with ornate wood carved furniture, stained glass ceilings and richly colored Turkish rugs. The property offers an indoor pool, spa, Turkish cuisine restaurant and rooftop terrace bar overlooking the park. Each room is comfortable outfitted with modern amenities, including Wi-Fi.
Gul Konaklari Sinasos Hotel
Gul Konaklari Sinasos is comprised of two beautifully restored, late-19th-century Greek mansions and is the perfect place to rest after visiting Cappadocia. Set in the historically rich village of Sinasos (today Mustafapasa), the stone mansions offer guestrooms that beautifully blend traditional decorative elements with modern amenities. Amenities include a winery, a tandoori kitchen, a rose garden, a fireplace lounge, and a terrace and courtyard area.
Hich Hotel
The boutique Hich Hotel is located is the heart of Konya and has been restored to maintain the building's 19th century Turkish styled architecture. Enjoy breakfast at the Turkish café overlooking a beautiful rose garden. Each room is uniquely and tastefully decorated with hand-made Turkish rugs, coffee makers and offers Wi-Fi.
Weather
Summers are hot and dry, with temperatures generally around or above 86°F in the day.
FAQs
Who will meet me on arrival?
Arrive any time on Day 1 and meet an MT Sobek representative at Istanbul airport for a transfer to the hotel.
Is Turkey safe?
As of December 2017, the U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory Level 3 for Turkey, advising that travelers avoid certain areas. This trip does not travel through or near any of those areas.
Is Turkey an Islamic country?
Islam is the largest religion in Turkey. Turkey is also a secular country, and there is freedom of religion. The Turkish Government recognizes three minority religious communities: Greek Orthodox Christians, Armenian Apostolic Christians and Jews.
What can I expect to eat in Turkey?
Turkey's cuisine is vibrant, colorful and flavorful! There is an abundance of healthy and delicious options in Turkey, including soups, stews, assorted kebabs, mountains of bread, kofte (meatballs), pide (Turkish pizza), olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, salads, lentils, rice, yogurt soups, and more.
Is the water safe to drink in Turkey?
Although the water is considered safe, most people don't drink tap water in Turkey. We will provide clean, safe-to-drink water to our guests each day.
Will I need hiking boots for this trip?
No. However, due to many hours of walking on cobblestone and uneven, natural paths, it is highly recommended that you wear comfortable walking shoes - not sandals.
What is the minimum age for this trip?
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Guest Reviews
"Great experience every time with some of the most knowledgeable guides in their fields. We always come home with wonderful memories of the people we meet and things we see."
Bob J.
MT Sobek Guest
"I've taken six MT Sobek trips and they have all exceeded my expectations. The staff, the food, the logistics and the communications have always been exceptional. Thank you for being my "go to" adventure travel company!"
Margaret I.
MT Sobek Guest