Wednesday 5 October - Saturday 15 October
On arrival in Istanbul, you will be whisked through all formalities and transfer to the Four Seasons Bosphorus, our home for the next three nights. The following two days will be full of bucket list activities including a private Bosphorus evening cruise, a visit to the Grand Bazaar, Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia. A unique private dinner to end our time in Istanbul.
The following day we will fly to Cappadocia for two nights at the Argos Cave Hotel to explore the incredible landscape, and see a mystical whirling dervish performance. We will take a dawn fairy-tale hot-air balloon ride over the lunar landscape and be entertained at a truly local dinner experience.
From Cappadocia we will continue to Izmir for two nights at the Swissotel, our base for exploring the ancient site of Ephesus. While here we will also have a farm-to-table dinner and carpet weaving class.
Our final destination is Bodrum. En route we will stop at a winery for a wine tasting and lunch before arriving at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Hotel where we will have the chance to relax and unwind for three nights. On our final day we will enjoy time on a privately chartered Gulet for a farewell lunch.
Full PDF here: Exeter Founders Turkey 2022
Optional Istanbul Pre-Tour: Please ask us for the details of this for dates and activities included.
Please note that this trip is more physically demanding than many tours. There is a considerable amount of walking and standing involved throughout the program. You must be able to climb and descend stairs easily without assistance and walk over uneven and cobble stoned areas. Often, we will visit multiple museums a day, with one to two hours or more in each museum where we will be standing and walking through the collections. Unfortunately, if you use a wheelchair, we will not be able to accommodate you on this tour due to the limited access of ramps and elevators in museums, hotels and other sights. If you use a cane or other assistance for walking or are not able to walk long distances, our Founder's Tours may not be the best fit for you. We kindly ask that you consider your physical abilities with regards to the itinerary for this program, as the itinerary cannot be amended to accommodate any physical limitations.