CLassical Turkey Tour
With a foray into Egypt

This 25 -day small-group tour begins in Istanbul and visits Ankara, Antalya, Kusadasi and Pamukkale, as well as biblical Cappadocia, Konya, and the ancient cities of Ephesus, Aphrodisias, Didyma, Hierapolis, Miletus, Priene, Perge, Aspendos, Side and Termessos.
Really, you see all the high points of Turkey in slightly more than two weeks

The boutique hotels you'll stay in are among my favorites: small, charming, historic, perfectly located. You benefit from our ability to reserve rooms in these choice places even at preferred travel times. The touring party is limited to 10 travelers—more like a group of friends than a "tour group:" enough fellow travel enthusiasts to promote camaraderie, not enough to bog you down.
The tour's two departure dates are May 10th, and September 6th : the two best times of the year to travel in Turkey. Combine with Egypt

Day 1: Arrive in Istanbul (D) - Sunday
Our local representative greets you at Istanbul's Atatürk Airport and escorts you to your hotel, the famous Blue House (Mavi Ev) in Sultanahmet. The major sights of Istanbul are literally right outside your door: the Blue Mosque, the Byzantine Hippodrome, the Sunken Palace Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and many more. Feel free to wander and browse until dinnertime.

Day 2: Istanbul (BLD)- Monday
After a buffet breakfast, we walk to Eminönü to visit the Rustem Pasha Mosque, an Ottoman gem famed for its beautiful faïence (colored tiles). We continue along the Street of the Mat-Makers (Hasircilar Caddesi), a market street lined with spice and snack shops, to the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar where Genoese and Venetian goods were sold at a time when there was no Suez Canal, and all the spices from the East were also brought here by way of Egypt.
We then board a ferryboat and take a leisurely Bosphorus Cruise from northward to the village of Sariyer.
After lunch at a local restaurant we return to the city and enter the splendid realm of Topkapi Palace, one of the world's premier historical treasures, with its sumptuous pleasure kiosks, verdant gardens, mysterious Harem, and a Treasury filled with the incredible wealth of the sultans. The walk back to the Blue House for dinner is short, but filled with history ....

Sample of the Ottoman Mansions style Boutique Hotels
This is the Arena Hotel in Istanbul

Day 3: Istanbul (BLD) Tuesday
We start our explorations with a tour of sumptuous Dolmabahçe Palace, home to the Ottoman sultan and imperial family for decades, and the place where President Kemal Atatürk died in 1938. We penetrate Istanbul's ancient city walls to visit the Kariye Museum, built as the Church of the Holy Savior in Chora and noted for its splendid 13th-century Byzantine mosaics. Then it's off to the huge Süleymaniye Mosque, Istanbul's largest, a work of Süleyman the Magnificent's genius architect, Mimar Sinan.
After lunch, we dive into Istanbul's world-famous Grand Bazaar: 4000 shops selling everything from priceless antiques to everyday necessities. Laden with purchases—or just dazed by the glitter of window-shopping (one bazaar street is lined with nothing but jewellers' shops) —we make our way back to the Blue House for a relaxing dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Istanbul & Kusadasi (BLD) Wednesday
We walk across the street from the Blue House to visit the Byzantine Hippodrome and its most famous architectural monument, the fabled Blue Mosque, built on the site of the Byzantine imperial palace. Then we walk next door to Hagia Sophia, the grandest church in Christendom for 1000 years. Finally, we descend into the dank, eerie depths of the Sunken Palace Cistern (Yerebatan Sarayi Sarniçi) for a look at this strategic Byzantine water-storage facility featured in the James Bond movie, From Russia With Love.
Continuing to the airport, we fly to Izmir, then drive for about an hour through the rich countryside famous for its figs to reach Kusadasi. Our hotel here is the famous Kismet, founded by a branch of the Ottoman imperial family in the town's most splendid setting. We watch the sunset over the Bay of Kusadasi and Bird Island at dinnertime.

Day 5: Ephesus (BLD) Thursday
We start today's explorations at the pine-shaded hilltop site proclaimed by the pope to be the House of the Virgin Mary. Then we descend to the marble streets of ancient Ephesus, the most impressive ancient city in the Mediterranean, with its marble temples, mosaic-rich houses, its noble library, 25,000-seat Great Theater, public baths and latrines, and even a brothel.
Later in the afternoon we visit St John's Basilica, believed to be built atop the tomb of the Apostle. From the basilica, we will be able to look down on the remains of the great Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. We end the day with a visit to the grand Isa Bey Mosque, just down the hill from the basilica. Then it's back to our hotel in Kusadasi for a relaxing dinner.

Day 6: Priene, Miletus & Didyma (BLD) Friday
We drive south to Priene, a leading member of the ancient Panionic League and the first city to plan its streets on a grid. The ancient city, backed by a dramatic mountain, overlooks the sweeping floodplain of the Meander River, on the far side of which is ancient Miletus, our next stop. We visit the gigantic theater of Miletus, then continue south to the stupendous oracular Temple of Apollo at Didyma. After lunch at a local restaurant we explore the huge marble temple, which was as important as the one at Delphi in ancient times. As the afternoon draws to a close we return to our hilltop hotel in Kusadasi for dinner and a restful evening.

Day 7: Aphrodisias & Pamukkale (BLD) Saturday
Driving east up the fertile Meander River valley, we pass fruit orchards and cotton fields on our way to ancient Aphrodisias, the City of the Goddess of Love. This is among Turkey's best-preserved and most magnificent cities, especially as it was the home of a renowned school for sculptors. Beautiful statues and carvings abound in both the ruins and the modern museum. The great marble theater, the smaller Bouleuterion, the vast Temple of Aphrodite, the perfectly-preserved stadium, and the stupendous Tetrapylon (triumphal gate) cannot be missed.
Continuing our drive up the river valley, we reach the ancient spa city of Hierapolis, now called Pamukkale. We have time to explore the ruins, including the triumphal way, the vast necropolis, the beautifully-restored theater, the museum, the sacred pool of warm mineral water, and the natural travertine terraces of gleaming white calcium. Then we settle in for a mineral-water swim and dinner at the Richmond Thermal Hotel Pamukkale.

Day 8: Termessos & Antalya (BLD) Sunday
We drive through gorgeous mountain scenery (yayla in Turkish), descending from the Anatolian plain toward Antalya. After a lunch stop, we take a detour to the mountain fastness of Termessos, an ancient city high at the top of a steep valley. It was so remote and well-defended that Alexander the Great passed it by. The mountain panoramas are simply spectacular!
Descending to Antalya, the "capital of the Turquoise Coast," we penetrate the Roman walls of Kaleiçi (Old Antalya) where we settle in at the charming Marina Residence boutique hotel within sight of the Roman harbor (now filled with yachts). Take a stroll before or after dinner—you're right at the center of everything there is to see!

Day 9: Perge & Aspendos (BLD) Monday
We drive to the eastern outskirts of Antalya to visit the impressive ruins of ancient Perge, then continue to Aspendos, with the best-preserved Hellenistic theater on the Mediterranean, still used for performances.
After lunch near the theatre, we return to Antalya for an afternoon at leisure. Relax by the pool, stroll through Kaleiçi or the nearby bazaar, take the tram to the excellent Antalya Museum and/or the beautiful long Konyaalti Beach. The Roman harbor is right in front of your hotel.

Day 10: Antalya & Konya (BLD) Tuesday
In the morning we visit the Antalya Archeological Museum before starting our drive north into the mountains. The scenery is spectacular as we ascend from sea level to the Anatolian Plateau (elevation 1016 meters/3333 feet) and Konya, the ancient city of the Whirling Dervishes.
Arriving in Konya, we check in at the Rumi Hotel, then stroll to a local restaurant. After lunch we visit the spellbinding Mevlana Museum and the tomb of Rumi (Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi), the 13th-century mystic poet and philosopher whose life and work inspired the founding of the Mevlevi (whirling) dervish order.
After our visit we walk across the street to our hotel for dinner and a good night's rest.

Day 11: Silk Road, Ihlara & Cappadocia (BLD) Wednesday
We drive east along the ancient Silk Road toward biblical Cappadocia, stopping enroute to visit the 13th-century Seljuk Turkish caravanserai called the Sultanhan.
Turning off the Silk Road, we drive along the rim of the dramatic Ihlara Valley to Belisirma (the ancient Peristrema) to a local restaurant overlooking the Melendiz Creek. After lunch, we walk along the creek into the rock-walledcanyon, visiting the many 11th- to 13th-century Byzantine rock-hewn cave churches decorated with medieval frescoes.
After our walk, we continue our drive into the moonscape of Cappadocia to Ürgüp and our comfortable cave rooms at the Yunak Evleri, where we enjoy a late supper.

Day 12: Cappadocia (BLD) Thursday
After breakfast, we plunge into the lunar landscape of Cappadocia at the Dervent Valley, then we head to Zelve Open Air Museum, which is one of the earliest inhabited and latest abandoned monastic settlements of Cappadocia. Seeing the best examples of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley, we drive to Avanos, famous for its pottery. After lunch at a local restaurant, we tour Göreme Open Air Museum, with its dozens of beautifully painted cave churches, monasteries, refectories and other troglodyte dwellings. We end the day with the climb to the top of Uçhisar, a natural rock fortress that is the highest point in the region, offering us a breathtaking panorama of the Cappadocian moonscape. Then it's off to dinner and our comfortable cave quarters at Yunak Evleri.

Day 13: Cappadocia (BLD) Friday
We start the day with explorations of the Soganli Valleys—very different from Ihlara—with their rock-hewn Byzantine churches and dovecotes above traditional Turkish villages.
We then explore the Cappadocian countryside, stopping at Taskinpasa to visit a Seljuk Turkish medrese (theological college) on our way to Mustafapasa (ancient Sinasos), the seat of a modern Turkish university. Lunch today in Mustafapasa is a real treat: a home-cooked meal in a traditional Anatolian Greek mansion.
Ready for the afternoon, we drive to the fabled Underground Cities, and enter the subterranean labyrinth of Kaymakli that protected local people from marauding armies over the centuries. Imagine being in a huge "Swiss cheese" made of volcanic stone! Wandering through the labyrinth is an unforgettable experience.

DAY 14 - CAPPADOCIA - Istanbul - Saturday
After breakfast , we check-out , off to the airport and fly back to Istanbul , airfare within Turkey is always included in our rate . In Istanbul , we are back at the Blue House Hotel ( or similar ) .

Day 15 - Cooking class then tour : "Imperial Constantinople in the Belle Epoque"
(late 19th century), the exotic romance of the "Paris of the East:" (BL) Sunday

This morning we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . .Cooking Alaturka: Half-day Turkish Cooking Classes and Restaurant Learn How to Cook Authentic Turkish Foods in Between Visiting Istanbul’s Many Sights . classes are generally held from 10:30 to 14:30 . We prepare 5 typical Turkish dishes in a group of 6-10 persons and then have them for lunch in our restaurant. We have aprons at your disposal and you will get the recipes to take with you. Private classes are held as well
. ( supplement applies ). For private groups, evening classes can be considered as well, starting at 16:30, with dinner served from 19:00 to 21:00: Cooking with Chef : Eveline Zoutendijk

Cooking Classes in Istanbul

Later in the day : walking tour : We start with our guide in Karaköy where the foreign bankers and shipping companies had their headquarters, then take the Tünel up to istiklal Caddesi; stop in the whirling dervish tekke, and walk past the various old embassy buildings (now consulates), and point out the architecture. Stop for tea (included) at the famous Pera Palace Hotel.
Walk at least as far as Galatasaray Square, and have lunch in the Çicek Pasaji (Flower Passage); then walk up to Taksim Square and be picked up for the afternoon tour. In the afternoon the tour visit Yildiz Palace Park and the Ihlamur Kasri, a mini-palace south of Yildiz, and finish up with a visit to the Military History Museum in Harbiye in time to hear the "Mehter," or Ottoman military band (mid-afternoon).

DAY 16 - ISTANBUL / Cairo - Sunday - Cairo

Breakfast is served at your hotel before we proceed to the airport and flying to Cairo , and our hotel . Air fare is included in economy class Istanbul Cairo with tax included (B)
Our representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Visa fee is included and will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : Australian, NZ, American, EU , Canadian, Singaporean & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.

The Egyptian visa will be issued upon arrival in Cairo .
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with your name .
Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private air conditioned vehicle) to the hotel : City Star Inter.Continental or Sonesta, or similar .

DAY 17 - LUXOR ! Board your Nile Cruise (BLD) -Monday
We fly to LUXOR , in Luxor we proceed to cross the Nile to the West Bank :
We tour today as the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise. and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin .The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon. We'll return in time for the afternoon tea served on deck. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner.

DAY 18 - LUXOR , EDFU (BLD) Tuesday
We sail to Esna to go through the locks , and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening , we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments)

DAY 19 - EDFU, KOM OMBO (BLD) Wednesday
We moor in Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved temple. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver .
We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music& dance.

DAY 20 - CAMEL CARAVAN, NUBIAN VILLAGE , ASWAN (BLD) Thursday
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the new Nubian Museum then the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis : Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth.

Isis was the powerful and quick-witted protector of her son Horus, the Sun God. Ancient peoples throughout the Mediterranean regarded Isis and Horus as the perfect Madonna and Child. Another legend says she was also the mother of the fertility god Min who, judging from the depiction of him on temple walls, needed no help from Viagra!

Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world.

Isis, the great Mother Goddess. Come explore her mystery in timeless Egypt when you Travel in Style!

In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile.
For those who are interested : a short camel caravan & ride is included to visit a local Nubian Village.

Our farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly dancer.

DAY 21 - ASWAN , CAIRO (B) Friday
Board our return flight to Cairo. Cairo Marriott . Ramses Hilton , Cairo Grand Hyatt or similar . Complimentary Dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town):
This evening we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo l! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively evening, and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences.

DAY 22 - CAIRO - Saturday (BL)
Morning walking tour of Khan El Khalili old Bazaar district. On to Saladin's Citadel, the Alabaster Mosque , then a brief stop at El Rifai Mosque where the late Shah of Iran is buried , as well as King Farouk Egypt's last king, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Then on to The secret Tomb of Khedive Tawfik

One of the gems of Cairo lay hidden for years behind locked gates in a nondescript neighborhood: the tomb and gardens of Khedive Tawfik.

The Khedive was the viceroy who administered Egypt for the Turkish sultan. It was Tawfik’s father, Khedive Ismail, who saw to the construction of the Suez Canal. In the process, he mortgaged the nation, and threw Egypt into turmoil. Tawfik was installed in his father’s place. But with foreign bankers pressing on one side, and resentful nationalist officers on the other, he was ineffectual. British troops moved into the Suez Canal area to protect their investment—and didn't leave until 1952, when the monarchy was given the boot.

Tawfik’s mausoleum far outshines his rule. The original family burial area was enlarged in 1881 and decorated with a splendor not seen since the times of the Pharaohs. Columns with intricate Islamic-Mameluke decoration adorn the entrance, while parts of the gold-threaded woven cover of the holy Kabah of Mecca adorn the walls inside the doorways.

The tomb of Bambah Qadin, in white marble, is impressive, but that of Tawfik himself is stunning: constructed of ebony, with inlays of ivory, mother-of-pearl, and precious woods. Elsewhere are the tombs of other family members, including that of Price Muhammad Ali, who married a French actress. Even the family library is here.

With treasures like these, it’s no wonder that the precincts were closed off from public view in uncertain times.

Even today, Tawfik’s Tomb and Gardens are off the beaten track for most visitors, but at Travel in Style, we’re proud to include this little-known treasure house of Egyptian history and art on our regular tours.

DAY 23 - CAIRO- Sunday (cBLD)
Today we see Cairo's major sights: the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummies Room. We'll continue to Royal Manial Palace of former Crown Prince Mohamed Ali , on to the Coptic Museum, and the Church of Abu Sergha, and the Beni Ezra Synagogue. We'll see where,according to the legend, Moses was found along the banks of the Nile. We'll take our lunch at a local restaurant.
The remainder of the day is at leisure.

DAY 24 - DAHSOUR - HOME HOSTED MEAL - Monday (cBLD)
After breakfast, we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to the mysterious Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza. The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

Those who are fit and adventurous enough may wish to penetrate into the heart of the Great Pyramid, to the King's Chamber your ticket is included with our compliments (or the interior of Kephren Pyramid). Taking a camel ride (Included) is entirely your own choice!

Continue to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.
Lunch is included at a local restaurant . Dinner is included at La Bodega restaurant.

DAY 25 - CAIRO- Departure - Tuesday (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight.

Tour Details:

Guaranteed departure dates : May 10 , September 6, and Oct 4

Private departures for couples/ families and private parties on other dates are possible; rates vary depending on the number of persons in the group)


— Minimum 6, maximum 10 persons on guaranteed departure dates

— Tour fee: US$ 7095 per person double occupancy

— (single supplement: US$ 2054)

— Infants 0-2 years free; children 2-12 years 50% discount

Your Tour Includes:


—Accommodation as described in the tour itinerary

—Most meals, as shown in the tour description (B= buffet breakfast; L = lunch; D = dinner)

—Transportation within Turkey and Egypt , including flights (but international transport to Turkey and back from Egypt is NOT included), and ground transport in a luxury air-conditioned minivan

—Licensed professional multilingual guide

—All admission fees to museums and sights

—All taxes

— Air fare Istanbul Cairo in economt class , tax included .

— Nile Cruise with all guided sightseeing and entrance fees as listed , sample cruises : MOvenpick Radamis I , Movenpick Radamis II, M/S Lady Diana , M/S Monaco , M/S Mojito o rsimilar , with Bottled water ( one per person) delivered to your cabin daily while you are on board the Nile cruise, as well as tea or coffee / and bottled water with each meal while on board the Nile cruise.

— Egypt : Visa fee , visa will be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for : American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.

— Domestic air fare within Egypt, in economy class , tax included .

Your Tour Does NOT Include:

—International airfares (from / to your home country )

—Visa fee on arrival in Turkey (details)

—Personal travel insurance

—Drinks
—Gratuities (tips), which are customary, but voluntary at your discretion

Extend your  stay in Turkey on board a comfortable Gulet

Amusing airplane/train/bus or end-of-the-day reading? Turkey: Bright
Sun, Strong Tea, my humorous travel memoir:
http://www.brightsunstrongtea.com/