Romantic & Adventurous Exploration of Turkey Tour

The luxuries of Istanbul date back to the Byzantine Empire and the Silk Road. You can imagine Venetian sailors roaming the streets. Minarets and domes of grand mosques create the unique and treasured skyline. The antique city rises over up and down seven hills and the Bosphorus connects the Black and Mediterranean seas.

Your Turkey vacation begins as you arrive at the airport and are met by your private transfer. You and your partner are escorted to a luxurious hotel in the heart of the old city. The marina bustles with fishing ships. Cafes line the cobblestone streets. Men sit at tables and sip rich, thick Turkish coffee and play backgammon to pass the day away. Galata Tower rises 200 feet above the city and offers you an encompassing panorama of the Old Horn to the Old City. The charm of the city embraces you. When the sun settles over the city, you can see the pink dome of the Hagia Sofia and the red-tiled rooftops of homes and restaurants shining.

The call to prayer whispers through the morning air. Fishing boats cast their nets around the horizon. The sun spreads soft light over the sapphire seas. Wake up to the luscious aroma of fresh brewed Turkish coffee. The flavor is intensely rich and satisfying, emblematic of Istanbul. After breakfast, your private guide meets you at the hotel. Every step you take and turn you make bursts with gorgeous history. Topkapi Palace is built as much on its colorful legend as it is on solid ground.

It acted as the primary residence of the sultanate for over 400 years and encompasses around 7,535,000 square feet of space. The palace is built on the banks of the Bosphorus and watches over the current. The wonders of the edifice sparkle in opulent pavilions and an envious jewel-filled treasury. The Imperial Gate is a pristine construction of that adorns the cobbled square. A rococo fountain in the shape of a tulip has decorated the square since the 18th century. The romance of regal history sweeps through the palace like a breeze.

Wander around the Second Court and feel what the sultans must have felt in their own private park. The interior palace grounds are designed in the Moorish style, with pavilions, gardens, and sleeping quarters encompassing a central enclosure. Flowers blossom and perfume the garden air. Trees offer shade from the sun’s height. The precious metals and stones of the Treasury beckon you closer. You find a room featuring gold and emeralds, jade and diamonds, enhancing the palace like an elaborate crown.

The city rises in the morning light, and the alleyways of the Galata district begin to take shape. Boutique shops fill the buildings that edge the rare booksellers and music shops. The pedestrian walkways of Istiklal Caddesi bustle with unique stores and tempting restaurants. After breakfast, you make your way the harbor and climb aboard a boat that sets sail on a fabulous Bosphorus tour. The waterway travels a total of 17 miles and fills with fishing boats and ships making their way between the waters.

It also helps mark the border between Europe and Asia. The banks are lined with antique palaces and a distinct view of Istanbul’s well of history. Settle into a comfortable seat or on the deck where you can hold your partner, feel the breeze, and watch the city pass. Dolmabahce Palace was erected in the 19th century and is a collection of a broad range of European styles combined with an Ottoman perspective. The neoclassical façade embellishes the ornate and exuberant interior.

The palace grounds sit level with the Bosphorus over 11.2 acres of land. The lavish décor is apparent immediately. The staircase wraps around a hovering crystal chandelier. Columns support the gilded metopes, and red crystal candelabras grace the hall. It feels like you have stepped into the home of a historic king. In a way, you have. Be embraced by the exuberance and grace that fills every inch of the palace. It feels more like a fantasy than a tour.

The allure of the sultanate’s splendor plays in your mind on repeat. The gilded halls and opulent galleries provided insight into the lives of the historically lavish. Today you will have a private transfer to the airport for a quick flight to the remarkable region of Cappadocia. Enter the real-life fantasy of unparalleled landscape. Your personal guide meets you at the airport and takes you to a land of fairy chimneys and underground cities. The soft rock has been shaped and molded by the elements forming a valley of Hoodoo, thin spires of rock topped with hard stones, which in the case of Cappadocia, resemble chimneys on the house of fairies.

Curvaceous cliff faces border the valley. The locals have utilized the soft stone and twisting pillars by carving residences into the regional minerals. Kaymakli is an underground city that consists of eight separate floors and around 100 tunnels. The air and the walls are cooler than above ground. The passageways are narrow and sloping. The third floor consists of storage places and wineries. The floor contains a relief-texture once used as a melting pot. Grab your partner’s hand and explore the city together. The unique experience you share brings you closer, and the wonder of the landscape can be treasured together.

The temptation of the sky draws you close in the early hours of the morning. A private transfer takes you to a field decorated with resting hot air balloons. Step inside the basket and the balloon comes to life. Rise to 1,640 feet in the air for an unobstructed view of the region. Balloons hang like clouds above the landscape. The sunrise lingers over the mountains and layers the sky with orange, rose, and blue. The light spreads over the mountainside and valley, casting a golden glow over the unique limestone walls and fairy chimneys below. Orchards and vineyards spread to the horizon and between large rock walls you can see a ripple of water winding and shaping the landscape. Hold your partner close. Watch over the marvelous vista and know that this one moment can provide a lifetime of memories.

When morning washes over Cappadocia, you see the hot air balloons soaring over the hillsides and smile. You can still feel the comfortable breeze on your cheeks and the scent of the crisp air. Your private transfer escorts you to the airport, and soon you find yourself in the beachside city of Bodrum. The city maintains an indelible elegance that emanates from cafes filled with flowers, white-plastered alleyways, and a marvelous castle that crowns the shimmering marina. Fall in love with the Aegean character filled with whitewashed houses embellished with bright blue trim.

The Knights Hospitaller constructed the Castle of St Peter in the 15th century. The strong stone exterior rises over the calm sapphire water. The ramparts and two towers provide a tremendous view of the city to one side and the Mediterranean on the other. Stained-glass windows with the coat of arms of the Knights Hospitaller decorate the English Tower. The Museum of Underwater Archeology houses a collection of items that date back to the 12th century BC. The Uluburun shipwreck exhibit shows a reconstruction of a Bronze Age wreck that happened just down the coast, filled with a collection of exotic goods and gold jewelry.

Boats in the marina sway in the easy current of the Aegean Sea. The city presses against the hillside and the water reflects the morning sunlight. After breakfast, journey to the marina and step aboard one of the many gulets, traditional Turkish ships, that decorate the waterway. The sails are cast, and the ship catches the breeze. The water mists into the air and the sweet aroma of the Aegean surrounds you. Your captain takes you to around the edges of the landscape to see the small villages that dot the hillsides outside of Bodrum.

The water is refreshing and warm. The ship lays anchor near a cove. The water is translucent and bright blue. The alcove is rocky and covered with trees. Jump into the water and indulge in the pristine temperature and opulent look of the sea. The ship fills with the luxuriant aroma of the fresh grilled calamari. Butter and lemon zest enhance the scent and the flavor of lunch. The secluded coastline gives you a private view of the landscape, culture, and secret beauties of Turkey.

Milas is a charming town with an array of historical relics and hand-woven carpets. The Roman gate, known as Gate with an Axe, sits inside the city walls. The large arched frames and a residential street. Outside the northern edges of the city, the aroma of earth and olives roam the air. Olive orchards line the countryside and give the unofficial name of Olive Tree Country to the region. An old monastery sits on a small island, and the Latmos Mountains make a rolling skyline.

Arrive in Secuk and see the incredible Ayasuluk Fortress crowning the hillside near Basilica of St. John. The fortress, built during the Byzantine Empire, contains a hama, similar to a Turkish bath, and a small mosque. Basilica of St. John was constructed on the instruction of Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century BC. The atmosphere is emblematic of its history. The hilltop view provides a quiet and stunning panorama of the countryside at sunset. The marble steps and magnificent gate offer insight into the edifice’s original splendor, however, the majesty remains.

The morning in Selcuk begins at a relaxed pace. The hills glow green with verdant trees and farms provide a beautiful rustic aroma. Roman and Byzantine aqueduct arches can be seen in the distance. After breakfast, you come to a road bordered by peach and lemon trees. The sweet and citrusy aroma is uplifting. The countryside’s character had enchanted you and your partner, now the history of Ephesus will fascinate you. The ancient city was founded in the 10th century BC and has been a cradle of Greek and Roman metropolis.

The remnants of the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, can be found on a small citadel, where a large column stands in commemoration. The Library of Celsus was originally constructed in the 2nd century AD and casts a spirit of marvel over the entire city. The library stands atop a small platform. The second story columns frame open windows, and the lower columns frame four niches that house statues of the virtues. It had the capacity to hold up to 12,000 scrolls at once. The romance of history is palpable in the distinctive architecture and delicate artistry.

The call to prayer graces the morning sky and with amiable poetic rhythm. The aromas of creamy olive oil and sweet date jam swirl through the streets. The start of the day makes you feel like you are witnessing a private performance of Istanbul’s culture. The Spice Bazaar fills with locals wandering through the historic backstreets that links two bazaars in a glimpse of Ottoman urban life. The shopkeepers continue to retail copper pots, and vendors balance large stacks of simit, round bread encrusted with sesame seeds, balanced on their heads.

Your private transfer meets you at the hotel and escorts you to the airport. The majesty of Turkey has captivated you, filled with tales of love and legends of valor, unique culture and distinctive landscapes. Your flight soars through the air and reminds you of your hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia.