Classical Turkey

Your Turkish escapade begins at a boutique hotel on the Aegean coast. Here, you’ll enjoy a welcome drink with your Flash Pack group and guide before heading out into Izmir’s culinary backstreets to sample some stand-out Turkish specialties (think stuffed mussels, vine leaves and lokma honey balls). But don’t fill up! As night falls, you’ll weave your way to a local tavern for a traditional mezze dinner and raise a glass of raki to seven days of adventure to come. What better way to start your trip?

Fueled by a delicious Turkish breakfast, you’ll head off to the port for the ultimate Aegean experience. Today, you’ll spend an idyllic day soaking up the coastal scenery on your very own private boat. During your hours gently cruising across the glittering Mediterranean, you’ll drop anchor in sheltered bays to swim in the crystal blue water while your crew prepares a delicious lunch on board: think freshly cooked fish or chicken, small plates and salads to share. Back on dry land, you’re in for more foodie delights at an exclusive cookery class just for Flash Pack. Together, you’ll discover traditional Aegean recipes, learn the art of clay pot cooking and spend the evening devouring your creations with your group.

After breakfast, you’ll take a short drive to Ephesus – the best-preserved classical site in the eastern Mediterranean and one of the original Seven Wonders of the World. Take in the vast amphitheatre, stroll the marble streets once walked by Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and marvel at the baths and beautifully restored Library of Celsus. After exploring this ancient wonder, you’ll visit a women’s carpet-weaving cooperative in the sleepy village of Çamlik to learn how the threads are spun, carded and woven into intricate Anatolian patterns. Finish your excursion with a traditional Turkish feast in a local restaurant, seated on the floor, where you can watch local ladies baking gözleme – a Turkish version of pancakes.

You’ll be up early for a short flight to one of Turkey’s most fascinating regions: Cappadocia. Your first stop is a subterranean city hollowed out of the tufa rock. Here, you’ll discover a labyrinth of tunnels, schoolrooms, churches, water wells and even a winery – everything a community needs to thrive 40 meters below ground. Later, you’ll check in at your Cappadocia hotel before heading out to a nearby valley for wine tasting with a local sommelier. As the sun sets, bathing the landscape in that famous dusky pink glow, you’ll sip some of the best local wines of the region while savoring the incredible views over the fairy chimneys and honeycombed hills of this otherworldly landscape. 

Before sunrise, you’ll climb into your hot air balloon and float silently up into the sky. Sipping champagne as the sun slowly illuminates the unique geological landscape of Goreme National Park beneath you is an unforgettable experience. Back on the ground, you’ll get up close to the surreal towering boulders on a hike through the Cappadocia valleys. Then, you’ll have the rare opportunity to enjoy a pottery workshop with world-famous artist Galip Korukcu. New skill learned, you’ll head for lunch with a local family in their traditional Cappadocia cave house. Adrenaline junkies might choose to switch up the pace on an optional ATV tour, before heading to a local restaurant for a pottery kebab – an Anatolian specialty of meat and vegetables stewed for several hours in a clay pot.

Today you’ll fly to Istanbul and check into your final hotel. This ancient city, where East meets West, straddles both Europe and Asia. Although no longer the country’s capital, it remains the economic, cultural and intellectual heart of Turkey with a staggering wealth of attractions: from the huge Byzantine church of Aya Sofya and the imposing city walls to the striking domes and minarets of Ottoman mosques and palaces. This evening you’ll view these incredible sights on board a sunset cruise. Sailing out into the Bosphorus, as the sun sinks slowly below the horizon, you’ll witness the twinkling lights of the great suspension bridge reflected in the glistening strait that separates the two continents.  

For your last full day, it’s time to really get to know this vibrant city. Starting off in the Karaköy district, you’ll walk across Galata Bridge to watch the local fisherman hunting for the catch of the day before heading into the hustle and bustle of the famous Istanbul Spice Market. Here you’ll pass towering mounds of red pepper flakes and sacks of sumac in search of sugar-dusted Turkish delight and aged and tangy cheeses. Cravings satisfied, the peaceful Suleyman Mosque is the next, followed by the buzzing Grand Bazaar and the peaceful Basilica cistern – the perfect place for a moment of reflection. Back at the hotel, you’ll have time to indulge in an optional hammam before ending your final night with a grand farewell dinner.

It’s time for your last breakfast with your Flash Pack group but it doesn’t need to be your last day in Turkey. We recommend you spend at least a day – or more – exploring Istanbul. And then there’s the rest of this beautiful and welcoming country to see. Ask us for some tips, and we’ll happily point you in the right direction. Until next time, safe travels.