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The Hamilton Alumni Travel programs involve small groups and all contain a strong educational component. Trips are open to all members of the Hamilton family -- alumni, parents and friends. Trips are organized in concert with Bates, Colgate and Colby colleges creating a comfortable group with shared backgrounds.
Turkey's Cultural & Culinary TreasuresTour leader Professor Erol Balkan knows Turkey intimately. Both his passion for and his expertise in this irresistible country will lead you to artisans and to cultural, historical, and culinary treasures on and off the well-worn path. Enjoy insider access to the great city of Istanbul, relax on a Gulet cruise through stunning Mediterranean seascapes, savor world-class archaeological sites (including the ancient city of Ephesus), and explore the fairytale landscapes of Cappadocia. Experience notable museums, monuments and memorable meals of delectable Turkish cuisine. You don't want to miss this chance to enjoy Turkey far beyond the guidebooks.
Professor Erol Balkan will lead Turkey’s Cultural and Culinary Treasures. Sally Peabody of Your Great Days in Paris + Turkish Journeys will be your assistant leader. Turkish national guides will take us through all monuments, museums and on all local tours.
Hotel double occupancy in four star or boutique hotels, airport transfers, meals as noted in the daily plan, all guided tours and transport within Turkey, museum and monument admissions as noted in the tour plan, the four-night luxury gulet cruise, internal flights within Turkey and related transfers. All taxes and gratuities for local guides and meals are included in the tour.
Wine, beer, soda or any alcoholic beverages with meals. Personal expenses. Limited single supplement available.
Contact Sally Peabody of Your Great Days in Paris/Turkish Journeys at 781-391-6183 or s.peabody@yourgreatdaysinparis.com
Fly to Istanbul on international carrier of your choice.
Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to hotel. Meet Professor Erol Balkan and Sally Peabody in the late afternoon for a welcome and overview of our Turkish odyssey. We will take you on an introductory walk in the Old City prior to an early dinner in a gourmet Turkish bistro.
Today we will explore historic, multicultural quarters along the Golden Horn including Fener, Balat and Eyup. These still-authentic quarters have been home to a melange of Istanbul’s Jewish, Greek, Armenian and Turkish residents with numerous ancient churches, synagogues and mosques of interest. With minibus & guide. Lunch featuring traditional cuisine. Afternoon guided visit to the World Heritage Kariye Church with its exquisite Byzantine frescoes. Free evening facilitated by leaders.
Meet our driver after an early breakfast to transfer to Istanbul's airport for our flight to Cappadocia. Arrive in Cappadocia, then transfer to boutique 'cave hotel.' Enjoy a guided tour to vist Uchisar and its honeycombed cave fortress, a moderate hike in the fairytale landscapes of the Pigeon or Red valleys and visit the beautiful village of Mustafapasa. Late afternoon wine tasting. In the evening, attend a Whirling Dervis "Sema."
Take a guided tour in a minivan, then explore Goreme Open Air Museum via an easy to moderate walk in a scenic valley. Visit an organic farm to learn about the flourishing traditional agricultural scene in Cappadocia and enjoy a dinner of specially prepared local dishes.
After breakfast we meet our driver and guide for a drive to Ankara, arriving in Ankara late morning. Early lunch at Kale Fort and a bazaar visit. Tour the noted Museum of Anatolian Civilizations with guide. Late afternoon, fly from Ankara to Izmir. Transfer to boutique hotel Nilya in Selcuk. Evening free.
Today we will visit the evocative ruined port city of Ephesus, enjoying a comprehensive guided tour that discusses the layered history of this site with its famed Library of Celsus, Temple of Hadrian, Gate of Hercules, and includes the recently excavated ‘slope houses’ with their frescoes. Following our visit to Ephesus, we will have a light lunch and then drive to the lovely Mediterranean seaside town of Bodrum, built on the site of ancient Halicarnassus. Dinner at the bay-side Captain’s Place restaurant with a demonstration of local specialties. Stay at Yarbasan Holiday Homes, an accommodation that is based on design of a traditional stone ‘village’ and notable for having won the Aga Khan prize for historically sensitive design.
After a leisurely breakfast we will have an opportunity to learn about preservation of traditional Turkish stone houses. Light lunch at Erenler Sofrasi with a chat with the Chef about Turkish-Mediterranean cuisine. Tour Bodrum prior to meeting our gulet. Meet gulet in Bodrum harbor in late afternoon. Dinner on Gulet.
We will sail from Bodrum’s picturesque harbor towards Marmaris. This and each subsequent full day of cruising will include time to swim, to visit selected archaeological sites, explore hidden harbors, islands and beaches along historic Mediterranean coastline, a coast so beautiful that was once given to Cleopatra by Marc Antony.
End cruise in Gocek with our final night on the gulet.
Following breakfast, we meet our morning transfer from our gulet to nearby Dalaman airport to fly to Istanbul. Free afternoon and evening in Istanbul. For those who wish to have an insider’s look at the Grand Bazaar, Erol will take us to the Bazaar to his specially selected shops for top quality Kilims and other Turkish artisanal gems. (B,L) Evening free with dining or cultural suggestions by tour leaders.
We will meet our guide after breakfast to explore the incomparable 5th century Aya Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the intimate gem of master architect Sinan’s Rustem Pasa mosque, the sights, and savor the smells and tastes of the Spice market quarter. Guided tour, minivan. Lunch at renowned baklava-maker Gulluoglu with baklava making demonstration.
After lunch we will visit Caferaga Medresesi to learn about ancient crafts of marble painting and calligraphy. Later afternoon, an optional stroll through Arasta Bazaar to see the textiles, leathergoods and homewares for sale in this high-quality traditional bazaar near the Blue Mosque. In the evening we will visit Kantin in the Nisantasi neighborhood for a private dinner and a talk with the rising-star Chef Semsa Denizsel about her market-fresh take on modern Turkish cuisine.
We will take a cruise to the village of Arnautkavoy to enjoy a special lunch. In the afternoon we explore ‘European Istanbul’ including hip Beyoglu and Tunel, each part of the historic ‘Pera’ quarter. We will explore Istanbul’s animated major boulevard, Istiklal Caddesi in the heart of Beyoglu a shopping and entertainment area that is loaded with tempting shops, cafes, clubs and restaurants. Free evening.
Our final day in Istanbul will take us to the Asian side of Istanbul to Uskudar and to Kadikoy. We will visit one of the great mosques of Ottoman Master Architect Minar Sinan and enjoy a tour of this Bosphorus-side community, including the lovely Kiz Kulesi lighthouse (also called Leander’s Tower). We will travel along the Bosphorus to Kadikoy, with its splendid market area. Kadikoy is home to the renowned Ciya Sofrasi, one of Istanbul’s best restaurants.
We will enjoy a leisurely, late lunch at this restaurant that aptly describes itself as "a garden of lost cultures and forgotten tastes". And, we will have an opportunity to meet and talk with noted Chef Musa Dagdeviren who is the passionate chef-owner of Ciya. A fitting close to our experience of Turkey’s rich culinary, cultural and historic mosaic. Evening free for your final Istanbul explorations, ferry rides or photography walks.
Breakfast at hotel. Farewells. Transfer to Ataturk Airport (included in tour) for flights as needed.
