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Spice market, Istanbul
Interior of Hagia Sophia, Istanbul
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items and artifacts. Its hilltop setting provides sweeping city views, and the architecture reflects Ankara’ s diverse heritage. Meals: B | Ankara Hilton SA Hotel or similar
DAY 6 • Ankara • Home-Hosted Dinner Today, we’ ll visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. This museum displays artifacts from the Hittites and other ancient peoples, offering more context to this part of the world’ s long and complicated history. After exploring the museum, we’ ll look for opportunities to interact with locals in Ankara’ s hilltop Castle District. Tonight, enjoy a Home-Hosted Dinner with a local family, sharing home-cooked Turkish cuisine, and engaging in personal conversations about everyday life in Ankara for an authentic cultural experience. Meals: B, D | Ankara Hilton SA Hotel or similar
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sharing lunch with a local family. Continue with a trip to the underground city of Özkonak, exploring its ancient underground chambers built during the Hittite era. End the day at a horse ranch, enjoying one last ride across Cappadocia’ s singular landscape. Toast the adventure’ s end during an included Farewell Dinner tonight. Meals: B, L, D | Barceló Cappadocia or similar
DAY 10 • Return to U. S. Transfer to the airport this morning for your flight home.
Meals: B
Want to know more? Find the full itinerary and dates & pricing at www. oattravel. com / tyl
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IMMERSIONS |
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centuries of warring empires. Spend the morning on foot discovering the Hippodrome of Constantinople, once the Byzantine social hub, and admire its iconic obelisks. Continue to the Grand Bazaar, a sprawling labyrinth with over 4,000 shops and 550 years of history. After a brief rest, tour Topkapi Palace— a sprawling city-palace that served as the opulanet residence of Ottoman sultans. Tonight, enjoy an included Welcome Dinner.
Meals: B, D | The Artisan Hotel Istanbul MGallery or similar
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DAY 7 • Transfer to Cappadocia • Hattusas Today, we’ ll set out for Cappadocia, pausing along the way to discover Hattusas, the ancient capital of the Hittite Kingdom. Our two-hour exploration includes a visit to Yazilikaya, a sacred sanctuary adorned with rock-hewn deities, and a twelve-foot stone relief of King Tudhaliya IV. Afterward, we’ ll continue to Cappadocia, arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. Meals: B, L, D | Barceló Cappadocia or similar |
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DAY 4 • Hagia Sophia & Spice Bazaar • Bosporus cruise Spend a second day exploring Istanbul, including the magnificent Hagia Sophia, an architectural marvel completed in AD 537 that has served as a church, mosque, and museum, and is now an active mosque again. We’ ll also explore the vibrant Spice Bazaar, the fragrant market that rivals the Grand Bazaar in its grandeur. Later, enjoy a private boat cruise along the Bosporus Strait, the waterway dividing Europe and Asia.
Meals: B | The Artisan Hotel Istanbul MGallery or similar
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DAY 5 • Fly to Ankara • Atatürk’ s Mausoleum Fly to Ankara, Turkey’ s modern capital, which dates back to 2000 BC and boasts a rich history shaped by the Hittites, Persians, Greeks, Romans, and other ancient peoples. Upon arrival in the afternoon, we’ ll visit Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder and first president of modern Turkey. This site features museum exhibits dedicated to Atatürk’ s life, including personal |
DAY 8 • Sunrise hot-air balloon ride • Hike in Cappadocia • Göreme open-air museum • Weaving cooperative Rise early for an included hot-air balloon ride over Cappadocia, witnessing its unique landscape bathed in dawn’ s light. Back on solid ground, set off on a hike with your Trip Experience Leader through a valley to explore the area’ s volcanic tufa geology and striking rock pillars. Continue your journey by visiting the open-air museum of Göreme, featuring ancient rock-cut churches decorated with Byzantine frescoes. Then experience contemporary Turkish culture at a rugweaving cooperative, learning about the craft from local artisans. Meals: B, L | Barceló Cappadocia or similar
DAY 9 • A Day in the Life of a Cappadocia village • Özkonak underground city • Horseback ride Spend A Day in the Life of a local village for a glimpse of local life in rural Cappadocia. We’ ll tour the town, popping into visit stores and workshops, and help out at a farm before
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Customize your experience
ARRIVE EARLY & STAY LATER
We recommend that you relax after a long flight or explore more in depth independently before or after your trip. Prices shown include accommodations and private airport transfer.
• Arrive early in Istanbul before your main adventure from $ 250 per room, per night
• Stay later in Cappadocia after your main adventure from $ 210 per room, per night
The Blue Mosque, Istanbul
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