Turkey “Women Arts” Tour

Breakfast is included at the hotel. After a morning orientation, sightseeing tour of Istanbul, you will participate in your first Turkish cooking lesson: preparing lunch which you will enjoy!

After lunch, visit TOPKAPI PALACE. The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, & Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans & their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

Visit 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. Thereafter tour 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: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

Pick up at 08:30am from your hotel after breakfast for a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit ST. SOPHIA; This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time.

Tour the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar); the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme & every other conceivable herb & spice. After the Tour return to hotel for a rest.

In the evening depart for your Belly dancing & folklore class. This will be a very memorable class learning belly dancing techniques & folklore dance. You will learn the special moves & how to get the attention of the audience.

OVERNIGHT: Grand Hyatt Istanbul

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast depart for Bosphorus Cruise tour. Enjoy a magical Istanbul Bosphorus Boat Cruise and Spice Market Tour starting at 08.30. Enjoy an array of sites you can see from the boat including: SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar).

Tour BOSPHORUS BY BOAT; a traditional excursion along the waterway separating Europe & Asia with a lunch break at a Turkish restaurant. After lunch, depart for Istanbul airport to catch a domestic flight to Izmir. Arrive & transfer from airport and check in to your hotel in Kusadasi with dinner therein.

OVERNIGHT: LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast at 08.30, depart to one of the best preserved ancient ruins in the world. A visit to Ephesus; once the commercial center of the ancient world which is a highlight of any visit to Turkey. After Ephesus tour depart to visit the beautiful village of Sirince & the ruins of 42 churches, a suggested birth place of the Virgin Mary. Reach Sirince Village and see locals making handmade textiles. Which include carpets, kilims, clothing & homeware such as pillow covers.

You will see firsthand; the ancient techniques used by the Turkish women to make these intricate styles & patterns that are famous to Turkey & the local region. Sirince is also very famous for its many different varieties of fruit wine. You will have a chance to enjoy some of the wine varieties at local wineries. Breakfast & Dinner is arranged at the hotel Kusadasi.

OVERNIGHT: LaVista Boutique Hotel & Spa

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, you will depart for Izmir airport to catch your domestic flight to Cappadocia. Transfer from Kayseri airport to your Cave hotel. The rest of the day is yours to explore Cappadocia with dinner at the hotel in Cappadocia.

OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia Caves Hotel

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for your ceramics class. With assistance by professional ceramics artists, you will make your own ceramic piece that you will take home as a memory & souvenir of your trip to Turkey. Ceramic art is the most famous artwork coming from the Cappadocia region.

After lunch, visit Goreme Open Air Museum where rock churches carved by the first Christians after the 4th.Century & decorated by frescoes that explain the life of JESUS, is the place where the first religious education was started Climb up Uchisar Castle used as a watch tower.

Enjoy your dinner at the hotel in Cappadocia.

OVERNIGHT: Cappadocia Caves Hotel

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

After breakfast with lunch in between, you will depart Cappadocia to Kayseri airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul, from where you will make your way home. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again.

Basis: Bed & Breakfast

END OF TOUR