TURKEY ~ A VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY

DAILY ITINERARY

Day 1 - Istanbul / Arrival Day

Upon arrival you will be met at the airport by a private driver and taken to our hotel in the center of the city. For those who arrive early, or who are interested in some activities on this day, our team will be on hand to assist. We’ll then have a tour orientation in the evening, followed by our first group dinner, consisting of traditional Turkish cuisine.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Istanbul

Today Tribe members will head off to the historical and colorful Sultanahmet neighborhood. Prepare to be mesmerized by the Hagia Sophia (considered by some to be the most beautiful building in the world), the wondrous Blue Mosque and the fascinating underground Basilica Cistern.  These three wondrous structures are bound to leave you awestruck. Unhindered by time constraints and guided by our amazing local tour leaders, we’ll have ample opportunity both to learn about the history of these cultural treasures and to explore them in depth.

In the evening, we will gather at a popular local restaurant for food, tea and traditional Turkish music.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 - Istanbul

In the morning we’ll walk to the Grand Bazaar, a massive indoor market dating back to the 15th century. With dozens of lanes and over 4000 shops, as well as a deep history oozing from its walls, this market will bring you up close and personal with a variety of vendors, shoppers, tea sellers, market stalls and more. With endless nooks and crannies to explore, we’ll meet landmark shop owners who continue the old carpet and kilim collecting, a traditional Syrian silversmith and a coppersmith family business. From here, we’ll visit the hilltop Sulaymaniyah Mosque with its colorful interior and sweeping views out over the city. In the evening, we’ll take a ferry ride across the Bosphorus Strait to visit the Asian side of Istanbul for dinner at a famous restaurant that serves forgotten Turkish dishes.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 - Istanbul

After breakfast, we’ll take a short drive to the Balat neighborhood. This area has been home to Jewish, Roma and Armenian populations over the years. It has recently become re-invigorated, with the restoration of its traditional and colorful wooden homes and buildings. Mix in some excellent local eateries, creative cafes and a welcoming feel and it makes for a unique excursion. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Galata neighborhood, full of charming shops and cafes and fascinating historical sights. We’ll also visit the most famous baklava shop in the city for a late afternoon treat! You’ll then have free time before dinner.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 - Istanbul / Cappadocia

We will depart Istanbul for the beautiful region of Cappadocia. Our morning flight will take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Upon arrival in the region, we will begin with a panoramic orientation tour of South Cappadocia before heading to our hotel to check-in. Once settled, we’ll head out for a walk in town before catching the sunset over this spectacular region.

Hotel: 4* cave hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6 - Cappadocia

After breakfast, we’ll visit the incredible Goreme open air museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Here you will be left in awe as we explore an entire community carved into the rock - a rock carved monastery, cave churches with colorful original frescoes, living quarters of monks and more. We’ll also visit the Ortahisar Castle and soak up the Fairy Chimney Valley with its mushroom-like rocks and out-of-this-world formations. Our last stop will be at a red clay pottery workshop located along the river where we’ll learn about this craft that has become well-known in Cappadocia.

Hotel: 4* cave hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7 - Cappadocia

Early in the morning, there will be an optional excursion - a hot air balloon ride at sunrise! We’ll rise up between two volcanic mountains for unforgettable views out over this otherworldly landscape. After our ride, we’ll return to the hotel for breakfast and a rest before heading out again. Our day will take us to Uchisar Castle (the largest fairy chimney that was used as a fortress), the Kaymakli Underground City (where thousands of people lived underground for centuries) and the Pigeon Valley (some of the best views in the area). In the evening, we’ll settle in for a Whirling Dervish performance and a traditional Turkish dinner.

Hotel: 4* cave hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8 - Cappadocia / Konya / Pamukkale

Today we’ll embark on a 9-hour drive to the natural marvel of Pamukkale. Of course, the day won’t be all road-time, as we’ll have multiple stops along the way. We will stop in Konya, a city that boasts a rich history as one of Turkey’s oldest inhabited locations. We’ll also take a break for lunch and at various scenic viewpoints to admire the natural beauty of the region and stretch our legs. Once we reach Pamukkale, we’ll check in to our hotel and enjoy a well-deserved rest.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 - Pamukkale / Izmir

Our morning begins with a tour of Pamukkale, a place famous for its unique thermal springs and remnants of ancient Roman architecture. We’ll spend the morning discovering this gorgeous and mystical destination and even have a chance to soak in the therapeutic waters that have been a source of health and wellness for centuries. Following lunch, we’ll embark on a 3-hour afternoon drive to our next destination - the laid-back coastal city of Izmir.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 10 - Izmir

Today you will have a full day to make your own adventure in Izmir. You may wish to take advantage of the city’s pristine beaches, indulge in a time-honored hammam spa experience or explore Izmir’s vibrant neighborhoods at your leisure. As the day draws to a close, we’ll all gather together for our farewell dinner.

Hotel: 4* hotel
Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 11 - Izmir / Istanbul / Departure Day

Our journey slowly comes to an end as we catch a morning flight back to Istanbul. Upon arrival, you can transfer to your departing flight home (departing flights should be at 2:00pm or later). For those with a bit more time, we’re offering an optional 3 hour excursion to a town along the Black Sea coast, about 30 minutes from the airport. Here you’ll be able to roam around town, enjoy views of the Black Sea and have lunch before we return to the airport for your departing flight.

Included meals: Breakfast

Tour Cost & Payment Terms

$4,625 - Private room

Traveling with a friend? Drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do.

Terms

• Deposit: $500 USD deposit is required upon booking to secure your spot. This deposit is refundable for 10 days, or until 90 days before the tour starts, whichever comes first (minus a 3% transaction fee.) After that, the deposit becomes non-refundable.

• Balance: The payment balance will be due 90 days before the start of the tour.

• Cancellations: Cancel between 60-89 days before the tour start date and you will receive a 50% refund of the balance amount, minus a 3% transaction fee. For cancellations made 59 days or less before the tour start date, the balance is non-refundable.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

1)  Do not book your flights until we’ve met the minimum number of participants required for this trip (8). We will notify you once we can confirm this departure.

2) Details in the day-to-day itinerary may be changed and tweaked as our arrival date draws near or during the trip itself. Rest assured, that any changes will serve only to enhance further and enrich the quality of the experience.

What’s Included

• Professional group leader  for the entire trip

• Accommodation (10 nights – 4* hotels) 

• Breakfast every day, 6 lunches, and 7 dinners 

• Transportation within Turkey (private vans and internal flights) 

• Local English-speaking guides throughout the trip 

• All activities, entrance fees, and experiences mentioned in the itinerary

• Gratuities at hotels/included meals 

• Water throughout the trip 

• All airport transfers

What’s Not Included

• Flights to/from Istanbul

• Passport/visa fees

• Meals and activities not mentioned

• Travel insurance (mandatory)

• Sunset Balloon Ride in Cappadocia

• Gratuities

Participant Minimum & Maximum

This tour requires a minimum of 8 participants and a maximum of 12 participants to ensure the best small-group tour experience.

Accommodation Style

On this trip, we’ll stay in a variety of 4* hotels, including a cave hotel in Cappadocia. All rooms offer a comfortable stay with a private bathroom. Please keep in mind that the cave hotel, while a 4* property, has rooms located inside of caves. Some rooms might not have a lot of natural light and rooms may be slightly damp, however, the experience is spectacular!

For this particular trip, there are a maximum of 8 single rooms available. These rooms will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis. The remainder of the rooms will be shared. Solo travelers will be paired together, two travelers per room in two single beds.

Is this trip the right for you?

The physical demands are moderate. While the activities on our tour itinerary are not very strenuous, please note that this trip can involve the following:

• Somewhat long days, walking tours among crowds, hills and uneven terrain while walking around, potentially warm, sticky weather and early morning wake-ups.

• It’s important to note that due to Istanbul’s layout, many parts of the city are pedestrian-only and can therefore only be reached by foot. Participants should be able to walk a minimum of three hours per day and to be comfortable walking up and down hilly streets. The tour will also include trips in a private van, tram rides and ferries but each day will always involve a good amount of walking as the main method of moving around.

• If your mobility or overall health is compromised in any way, we kindly request that you discuss the suitability of this trip for you with us before booking so we can make appropriate recommendations based on your individual needs. Our goal is to have all travelers participate as much as possible in order to help you get as much out of your experience as you can!

• Still not sure if this is the right trip for you? Let’s talk about. Contact The Women’s Travel Tribe by clicking here.

• OF SPECIAL NOTE: It’s extremely important that you consider any pre-existing health conditions you may have to determine if this trip is appropriate for you personally. In addition to our concern for each woman’s well-being, it’s very important to remember that in small group travel, one woman’s health and well-being while on the road has the power to impact us all. Not sure? Let’s talk about it.

Dietary Considerations

**If you have restrictive dietary requirements, we encourage you to reach out to us ahead of booking to ascertain our capacity to accommodate you in a way that suits your needs. While we can guarantee an awesome experience, we cannot necessarily guarantee a destination’s ability to provide nourishment to satisfy every diet.

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance for this trip is required. Let’s face it, things happen. Why risk losing money if you’re forced to cancel for any reason? Better safe than sorry.

LIMITATION OF RESPONSIBILITY

The organizer shall not be liable for any damage/injury (physical or otherwise) to participants as a result of the physical activity performed during the trip, the consumption of alcohol, breakage of equipment and materials or for any other reason which, within the limits of professional diligence, could not have been foreseen or resolved. The organizer is not responsible for expenses (transportation, meals, hotels) not included in the program but necessary to reach the meeting point or to leave the finishing point on the conclusion of the trip.

PHOTO / VIDEO RELEASE

Our tour operator for this trip is Wandering Earl Tours. They occasionally videotape and photograph guests and activities for promotional use and makes them available to The Women’s Travel Tribe for the same purpose(s). Please notify us if we are not free to use images of you or your group. If produced, Wandering Earl Tours would be happy to provide you with photos or video clips where you are present.