2025 Treasures of Turkey Exploration

Excavating History

Turkey is a vast country whose civilization is rich with thousands of stories shared over thousands of years of its history in the “Cradle of Civilization”.  Prepare to learn more and gain perspective about the impact of the significant dynasties, rulers, kingdoms, faiths and political leadership as we travel to three key areas of the country: the capital of Istanbul, the seaside of Izmir and the geologic “heart” of Turkey in Cappadocia.  Our Tour Guide will be happy to answer your questions and share significant insights each day.  We’ll also benefit from the selected exhibits and Unesco World Heritage sites we visit.  The diverse architecture, planning of cities and construction of mosques, temples and churches will be incredible to observe. While much about Turkey’s past is known and shared, this is also an exciting era of discovery for the country as new excavations and information of ancient civilizations emerge from beneath the surface.

Magical Hotels for Sweet Dreams

You’re going to love the restful comfort and unique appearance of each luxury, boutique hotel we’ve selected for the three locations of our Treasures of Turkey Exploration. In Istanbul we’ve chosen an elegant, historic hotel whose contemporary amenities make it a special place to begin our journey. In Kusadasi, enjoy the fresh sea air with vistas overlooking the Aegean right from your room. Then be prepared for the magic of Cappadocia right outside your private balcony on the hillside cave suite that is absolutely a remarkable place to stay! Fall season temperatures typically range from 65 – 85 degrees – perfect for travel and touring. Your comfort and safety is always our focus when selecting the perfect places to lay your head down at the end of a fascinating day of exploration.

Pleasing the Palate

Get ready to sample it all! We’ve curated a diverse and outstanding collection of restaurants for your gastronomic pleasure, so be prepared to sample the fresh foods and spices of Turkish cuisine.  From the simple to the most extravagant and everything in between, you’ll love the flavors of the region and want to take home some tips which you can pick up in our private cooking class!  Spices are a trademark of Turkish meals, and shopping for them is an experience in itself. Fresh spices make the perfect gift to tuck into your suitcase and share with your foodie friends back home!

A Heritage of Creativity & Crafts

Looking for just the right item to take home and commemorate your trip? Interested in carvings, pottery, carpets, jewelry or other unique Turkish crafts for gifting? Our Treasures of Turkey program offers fascinating shopping experiences from stores and boutiques to vendor stalls at the Grand Bazaar built in the 1400’s and the world’s largest and oldest covered market. While you can’t possibly visit all of the over 4,000 individual shops inside, you’ll certainly have time to journey through many of its winding corridors and find just the perfect treasure!  There’s more to explore when we reach the pottery studios of Avanos “The Pottery Village” outside Cappadocia. Here is where generations of artisans have hand-crafted all forms of colorful pieces of pottery, including unique designs and glazes.

Optional Adventures

Perhaps you’re ready for a true Turkish Bath experience? A hot air balloon ride at sunrise over Cappadocia? A chance to witness the Whirling Dervish approach to meditation and divine connection? Or maybe you’d rather have a few more hours to relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings? We’ve created some wonderful add-on program options for those with interest! Take a look at our Itinerary and the information on the next page for more detail.

My 2025 Treasures of Turkey Exploration is truly the adventure of a lifetime and I can’t wait to share this extraordinary experience with those lucky travelers who say “yes” and register right away!

Cheers! Serefe!

—Marty