Turkey: Cappadoccia and the Coast

Explore Istanbul, Cappadoccia, Lycia &
EphesusWe begin by exploring legendary Constantinople, masterpiece of the last two millenniums, where we'll have dinner at a 500-year-old Ottoman soup kitchen. We walk to the splendid relics of Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, such as the 1,500-year-old Hagia Sophia Church, 400-year-old Sultanahmet Mosque (Blue Mosque), Topkapi Palace and 2,000-year-old Roman Hippodrome. We take a boat trip along the shores of the Bosphorous, switching back and forth between the continents of Europe and Asia. In Cappadocia we walk among geological formations, where we pass more than 1,000 early Christian rock-carved churches with ancient eye-pleasing frescoes. In an impressive underground city, Derinkuyu, we walk through unusual rock formations, rock-cut dwellings, hidden vineyards, orchards and tiny farmlands, which are embroidered into volcanic tuff rocks, characteristic to the region.
We travel through the countryside, en route to the coast, with families hosting us in their homes—the highlight of the tour for many. We then use our beautiful gullet (wooden yacht) as our floating hotel as we slowly cruise west along the idyllic shores of ancient Lycia. We land to walk through scented hills and visit classical coastal sites, explore islands, and search for the Chimaera of Mt. Olympus. We see the very impressive rock-cut tomb necropolis and the 2nd-century theater of Myra and then the Church of St. Nicholas (Santa Claus). Beautiful coves surround us, where we'll snorkel over the sunken ruins of Aperlai before heading through to the deserted Greek town of Kaya. Much more awaits us on this journey, including a visit to Batik Hamam (Sunken Bath) cove which has a Roman bath—where Mark Antony is said to have wooed Cleopatra—shopping in local villages, and enjoying more pristine views of this coastal paradise. We then arrive at the magnificent site of Ephesus, once the commercial center of the ancient world.
16 days/15 nights • Walks: Easy-Moderate • Comfort Notes: Classic Small Hotels, 1 night local stay, 1 week deluxe Traditional Turkish Gullet (wooden yacht)