Essential Turkey

The adventure begins: we take off from Miami bound for breathtaking Istanbul. Prefer to leave from another city? Ask us for the fare. We recommend getting to the airport at least 4 hours before your flight so the trip starts stress-free.

The adventure begins as you head for breathtaking Istanbul. This departure is land-only: if you'd like us to handle your airfare too, ask us for the price with flights included. We recommend getting to the airport at least 4 hours before your flight so the trip starts stress-free.

Welcome to Istanbul! When you arrive in this city on two continents, a representative meets you and takes you to your hotel. The evening is perfect for soaking up its spirit: golden light on the mosques, the shimmer of the Bosphorus and the promise of a trip full of history.

We visit the Süleymaniye Mosque, built on Istanbul's third hill by Sinan, the great imperial architect, with one of the most famous views in the city. Afterwards you can join the optional old-city tour: Hagia Sophia from the outside, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, a traditional lunch in Sultanahmet and free time in the Grand Bazaar and its 4,000 shops. In the evening, another option: a Bosphorus dinner cruise with a show and music.

We sail the Bosphorus, the strait that divides Europe and Asia, past sultans' palaces and old wooden houses. Then we head to the Spice Bazaar, opened by the Ottomans five centuries ago and still buzzing today. In the afternoon you can take the optional Asian-side tour with lunch: Beylerbeyi Palace, the Bosphorus suspension bridge, the Üsküdar district and Camlica Hill, the highest point in the city.

It's a road day, so wear something comfortable. We cross the Bolu mountains to Ankara, Turkey's capital, to visit Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of the Republic's founder. On the way to Cappadocia we see Lake Tuz, the country's second-largest lake, and a 13th-century caravanserai; dinner included at the hotel.

We explore a one-of-a-kind landscape shaped by lava from the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes three million years ago. We visit the Göreme Valley, with its Byzantine churches carved into the rock and their frescoes, and the Avcılar and Güvercinlik valleys, the best viewpoint over the "fairy chimneys". We also stop at carpet and onyx-and-turquoise workshops; dinner included at the hotel.

We leave early for Pamukkale; it's a long drive, perfect for resting and watching the scenery go by. We visit Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city now in ruins, and the famous Cotton Castle: white cascades, stalactites and natural pools formed over centuries by mineral-rich hot springs. Dinner included at the hotel.

We reach Ephesus, the ancient capital of Asia Minor and one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities, with the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Trajan, the theater and the Library of Celsus. We visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent her last years, and a gallery of the lambskin leather this region is known for. Late in the afternoon we continue to Kusadasi; dinner included at the hotel.

We travel to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, to visit the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), the Koza Han Silk Bazaar and the Green Mausoleum. Then we drive on to Istanbul for the last night of the trip.

At the scheduled time, transfer to the airport for your flight home. We return with suitcases full of memories from two continents.