Turkish Delights: Istanbul & Cappadocia

Turkey is a country that gets under your skin. The call to prayer drifting over rooftops at dawn, the heady perfume of saffron and rose water drifting through the Spice Bazaar, the warm hands of a local woman guiding yours through the clay of a spinning wheel — these are the moments that stay with you long after you return home. On this eight-day journey, you and your fellow travelers will move from the glittering crossroads of Istanbul, where Europe and Asia face each other across the glittering Bosphorus, to the dreamlike volcanic landscapes of Cappadocia, where ancient peoples carved entire cities out of stone.

This is not a trip of passive sightseeing. You will step into a centuries-old hammam and emerge feeling utterly renewed. You will sit beside women artisans, learning the craft traditions they have inherited for generations. You will walk through rock-cut churches painted with Byzantine frescoes, and descend into an underground city that sheltered thousands of souls from persecution. Each experience reveals a different layer of this extraordinary country, and the women you travel beside will make every discovery richer.

Whether you are gazing out across the rooftops of Istanbul from a rooftop terrace at sunset or savoring a home-cooked Turkish feast with your group on the final evening in Cappadocia, Turkey rewards those who show up curious and open-hearted. Come ready to be moved, delighted, and utterly enchanted.

DAY 1 - WELCOME TO ISTANBUL

Your Turkish adventure begins the moment you land at Istanbul Airport (IST). After settling into your boutique hotel in the heart of this magnificent city, you will meet your female guide and your fellow travelers for the first time over a festive welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Over shared plates of mezze and warm conversation, you will feel the excitement building for the days ahead. Istanbul is a city unlike any other in the world, and tonight is just your first taste of its magic.

Meals: Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel, Istanbul

DAY 2 - HISTORICAL WONDERS AND WOMEN'S CRAFTS

Istanbul's greatest treasures await you on a full-day private guided walking tour through the heart of the old city. Stand in awe beneath the soaring dome of Hagia Sophia, a building that has served as a cathedral, a mosque, and a museum over fifteen centuries of history. Marvel at the Blue Mosque with its six graceful minarets rising against the skyline. Explore the opulent Topkapi Palace, including the intimate and fascinating Harem Section where the Sultan's household once lived. Walk the ancient Hippodrome, where chariot races once thrilled Roman crowds. In the afternoon, you will join a women's cooperative for a hands-on ceramics making class, working alongside local artisans to shape your own piece of Turkish craft tradition. You will leave with both a beautiful keepsake and a deeper appreciation for the women who keep these skills alive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel, Istanbul

DAY 3 - BAZAARS, BOSPHORUS AND A PRIVATE SUNSET CRUISE

This morning, your senses come alive at the vibrant Spice Bazaar, where mountains of saffron, sumac, and Turkish delight glow in every color of the rainbow and the air is thick with fragrance. From there, you will wander into the legendary Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, with more than 4,000 shops selling everything from hand-woven carpets and intricate jewelry to hand-painted ceramics and soft leather goods. Your guide will orient you, and then you will have free time to explore, bargain, and discover treasures at your own pace. In the late afternoon, you will board a private yacht for a sunset cruise along the Bosphorus Strait, gliding between two continents as the golden light plays across the water and the minarets of the city glow behind you. It is the kind of moment that makes you catch your breath.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel, Istanbul

DAY 4 - THE HAMMAM AND FREE TIME IN THE CITY

Today begins with one of the most beloved traditions in Turkish culture. You and your travel companions will visit a historic hammam that was once dedicated to the queen of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent, a sanctuary of steam, marble, and ritual cleansing that has been welcoming guests for centuries. Let the warm marble slabs, the rhythmic scrubbing, and the rising clouds of steam wash away every travel tension. You will emerge glowing and refreshed, ready for whatever the afternoon holds. The rest of the day is entirely your own: perhaps you will wander into a quiet neighborhood the tour hasn't visited yet, linger over a glass of apple tea at a cafe overlooking the water, or slip back into the bazaar for that one last treasure. Istanbul is endlessly rewarding when explored at your own pace.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Boutique Hotel, Istanbul

DAY 5 - FLYING TO CAPPADOCIA: POTTERY, CAVES AND ANCIENT CHURCHES

This morning you say a fond farewell to Istanbul and board your included flight to Cappadocia, one of the most surreal and stunning landscapes on earth. On the way to your unique cave hotel, you will stop in the charming riverside town of Avanos, where the Red River's distinctive clay has fueled a pottery tradition stretching back thousands of years. Here you will meet a family that has passed their craft down through seven generations, a living link to ancient Anatolian artistry. In the afternoon, your guide will lead you through the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Byzantine monks carved their churches directly into the volcanic rock and decorated the interiors with vivid frescoes that have survived for more than a thousand years. As the sun sets over the valley, your extraordinary cave hotel awaits.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Cave Hotel, Cappadocia

DAY 6 - INTO THE UNDERGROUND: KAYMAKLI ANCIENT CITY

Wake early this morning if you have signed up for the optional hot air balloon ride, one of the world's most spectacular sunrise experiences as dozens of colorful balloons drift silently over Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and golden valleys (weather dependent, additional cost). Whether you float above the landscape or watch from below with a warm cup of Turkish tea in hand, the beauty of this place is impossible to overstate. Later, the group descends into the remarkable Kaymakli Underground City, a vast warren of tunnels and chambers carved by early Christian communities seeking shelter from persecution. Descending 85 meters below the surface, you will move through stables, storage rooms, ventilation shafts, and living quarters built to shelter up to 3,000 people. It is an engineering achievement that will leave you marveling at human ingenuity and resilience.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Cave Hotel, Cappadocia

DAY 7 - LOVE VALLEY, FAIRY CHIMNEYS AND A FAREWELL FEAST

One final optional hot air balloon ride is available this morning for those who want to catch the dawn light over the valley from above (weather dependent, additional cost). Then the group gathers for a gentle walk through Love Valley, a landscape so fantastical it feels like something from a storybook. Your guide will share the fascinating geology behind the towering volcanic formations and the romantic legend that gave this valley its name. In the afternoon, you will gather in a local woman's home kitchen for a traditional Turkish cooking class, learning to prepare a full four-course menu of regional dishes passed down through generations. The flavors, the laughter, and the warmth of sharing a meal you made together make this one of the trip's most treasured experiences. This evening, savor every bite of your farewell dinner as you raise a glass to Turkey, to new friendships, and to the adventures that changed you.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodations: Cave Hotel, Cappadocia

DAY 8 - FAREWELL AND DEPARTURE

After a final breakfast together, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back to Istanbul. Please schedule your international departure flight from Istanbul Airport (IST) no earlier than 3:00 PM local time to allow for a smooth connection. As you board your flight home, you will carry with you the golden light of a Cappadocian sunrise, the scent of the spice bazaar, the warmth of a hammam, and the memory of the remarkable women who shared every moment of this journey with you. Turkey will stay in your heart long after you land.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodations: None (departure day)

OPTIONAL POST-TRIP EXTENSION: Aegean Coast, Ephesus & Pamukkale (Days 8-11)

Extend your Turkish adventure with an optional 4-day journey to Turkey's stunning Aegean Coast. Based in the seaside resort town of Kusadasi, you will enjoy guided day trips to the magnificent Roman ruins of Ephesus, one of the largest and best-preserved ancient cities in the world, and to the otherworldly white terraces of Pamukkale, where mineral-rich thermal waters cascade down brilliant white travertine pools. A full free day at the beach rounds out this beautiful extension. Please note that a WTA host does not accompany the post-trip extension; guests are accompanied by local guides and transportation only. Extension pricing is $2,595 single occupancy and includes 3 nights accommodation, daily breakfast, roundtrip internal airfare to Izmir, and local transportation. Lunches and dinners are not included during the extension.