13 DAY TURKISH COOKING TOUR ITINERARY:

Ask citizens of Turkey what makes their country special and the answer usually comes straight from their stomachs. The local cuisine has a fan club as numerous as it is vociferous, and its members enjoy introducing visitors to the succulent kebaps, hummus, flavorsome mezes and exotically spiced Ottoman dishes that form its signature dishes. This is a dream destination for everyone who loves to eat, cook and shop for food.

If you would like to see something different in your life and if you like cooking or want to learn how to cook, we offer you very special itinerary to learn very good Turkish cuisines with the smiling and friendly Turkish people. You can cook, taste and eat great Turkish food. First class service and guided transportation through the historical and picturesque sites of Istanbul, Safranbolu which is one of the oldest cities, underground cities of Cappadocia, beautiful lake in Egirdir the hot springs of Pamukkale, the ancient ruins of Ephesus and the beautifull village of Sirince in Turkey, At the same time, you will be travelling traditional Turkish villages, the historical sides of Turkey and you will also make a lot of friends.

Here is our 13 day Turkish cooking tour to Istanbul and around Turkey. This is perfect as a pre or post tour for cruises beginning or ending in Istanbul or can even be a stand alone tour if you have other travel plans. This tour can depart on any day where we have at least 2 people going on it. To book, just call our office and we can take care of the rest!

Also check out our 4 Day, 7 Day and 8 Day Turkish Cooking Tours!

Day 1 - Istanbul - Arrival Day
(Welcome dinner included)
Welcome to Turkey, arrival into Istanbul. Transfer from airport or cruise ship and check in to your hotel, offers a welcome drink and a chat with gourmet experts in Turkish cuisine. Tonight you will have a welcome dinner, be introduced to our friendly crew and other travelers while enjoying traditional Turkish food and enjoy the mystical atmosphere of Istanbul at night.

Day 2 - Turkish Cooking Lesson Istanbul
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After a morning orientation sightseeing tour of Istanbul, you participate in your first Turkish cooking lesson: preparing lunch which you will enjoy! After lunch visit to TOPKAPI PALACE. The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE: Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME: Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 - Safranbolu
(Breakfast and dinner included)
08:30am we depart for Safranbolu (From the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was an important caravan station on the main East-West trade route. The Old Mosque, the Old Bath House and Suleyman Pasha Medrese were built in 1322. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu's architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire.) On arrival we will walk through the historical Safranbolu Bazaar, continuing on to Cinci Hodja Caravanserai, Cici Hodja Bath House, Kaymakamlar House (Museum). We will cook some traditional foods for our dinner with traditional Turkish women. Overnight in Safranbolu.

Day 4 - Safranbolu - Cappadocia
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast drive to Cappadocia (4 hour drive). Check in to your hotel. Tonight we have an optional Activity - The famous traditional Turkish Night, here you will enjoy Whirling Dervishes, Belly Dancing & Traditional Turkish Folklore accompanied by traditional Turkish food and drink. This evening comes highly recommended as it is one of the only places in turkey to glimpse the Whirling Dervishers. Overnight Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 5 - Cooking Lesson and Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast depart for local markets with stops for tastings of artisanal food and wine for our lunch. Cooking classes with village women using traditional recipes. After Lunch visit to Visit of Goreme Open Air Museum where rock churches carved by the first christians after the 4th.Century and decorated by frescoes that explain the life of JESUS, is the place where the first religious education was started Climb up Uchisar Castle used as a watch tower and also populated by head of the village. Overnight in Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

Day 6 - Cooking Lesson and Cappadocia Tour
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After having had breakfast, participants will take part in the another cooking lesson in Cappadocia. In the afternoon Participants will enjoy a guided tour through the spectacular places of Cappadocia; Derinkuyu Underground City where dwelling was started during the Hittites (2000 BC) and became a big shelter for 12 different nations. Overnight in Cave Hotel in Cappadoci.

Day 7 - Cappadocia To Egirdir
(Breakfast and dinner included)
This morning we drive to Konya and see the imposing green-tiled Mausoleum of Mevlana & museum, the mystic founder of the Sufi sect (Whirling Dervishes). Stop in Egirdir on the southern tip of the most beautiful of the Pisidian lakes. Egirdir is a fine place to stop in the midst of your journey for two days of quiet rest and contemplation. Overnight in Egirdir.

Day 8 - Egirdir Cooking Fish Lessons
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Egirdir is beautiful and shows another side of Turkey all together. Swimming, boating and hiking can fill a few days if you want to be active. You can also swim in the beautifull natural lake that lies at Ergidir. There are famous fish to be caught here that seem to have no bones The fish is extremly delicious in Ergidir so we will cook fish for ourselves and you can have the famous Turkish drink Raki. There are a number of small farms located in this area where you can see the workers using traditional methods of farming. You will be welcomed by all people in this region. Overnight in Egirdir.

Day 9 - Egirdir to Pamukkale
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast at 08:30 we depart for Pamukkale. We shall visit the calcium terraces of Pamukkale (cotton castle) and the ruins of Hierapolis, walking around this natural phenomenon gives you the option of lying in the waters of the natural springs that flow down the calcium terraces. Overnight in Pamukkale.

Day 10 - Tour of Village Sirince
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast at 08:30 we will depart for Sirince Village. Visit the beautifull village of Sirince and the ruins of 42 churches, the suggested birth place of the Virgin Mary. Sirince Village also has a fantastic reputation for making some of the best wines in Turkey - especially fruit wines. We will visit the vineyards. (Optional: If you would like to visit the Ephesus which is one of the seven wonders of the world, please inform us.) Overnight in Sirince.

Day 11 - Tour of Village Sirince
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Today it is time to learn how to make fruit wine with Turkish wine makers. In the evening you will be tested about your knowledge of making fruit wine. Sirince's construction style today belongs to Anatolian Greeks. The houses on the slope are all original with their white paint. There is a good view at the slope all buildings are still original with their white paint. There is a good view at the entrance of the village and its streets are also wonderful. Sirince is very popular for its building style, house, streets and apple wine made by the villagers. In 1922 the Anatolian Greeks immigrated back to Greece and Turks coming from Greece settled there. Overnight in Selcuk.

Day 12 - Selcuk to Istanbul
(Breakfast and dinner included)
After breakfast at 09:00 am we will depart for Istanbul. On the way we will pass many traditional villages and we will see the farmers. We will have a break at the one of these farms. We will have a lunch break and continue our way to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 13 - Istanbul - End of Tour
(Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel hotel and transfer to the airport or cruise ship pier.


13 DAY TURKISH COOKING TOUR INCLUDES:

• Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport/Cruise Ship Pier
• 6 different cooking classes
• 3 nights at 4 star hotel in Istanbul
• 1 night at authentic wooden houses in Safranbolu
• 3 nights at boutique cave hotel in Cappadocia
• 2 nights at 3 star hotel in Egirdir
• 1 night at 4 star hotel in Pamukkale
• 2 nights at 3 star hotel in Selcuk
• 12 breakfasts and 12 dinners
• Private guided Istanbul tour
• Private guided Safranbolu tour
• Private guided Cappadocia tour
• Private guided Egirdir tour
• Private guided Pamukkale tour
• Private guided Sirince village tour
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English-speaking tour guides
• Return airport transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport/Cruise Ship Pier

13 DAYS TURKISH COOKING TOUR PRICES IN US $:

 

Per Person	Shared Double	Single
2 - 3 people	$2,499.00	$3,199.00
4 - 6 people	$2,099.00	$2,799.00
7 - 10 people	$1,799.00	$2,349.00

The above tour is based on a private tour. If you would like to visit any other places not mentioned on this itinerary we are happy to make a tailored made to suit what ever you wish to do. Just let us know how long you would like to stay, how many times you would like to take cooking lessons, what kind of food cooking you want to learn and which places you are interested in visiting.

Prices are subject to change based on the Euro/Dollar exchange rate. Prices current as of Jun. 1, 2011