Signature: Turkey's Istanbul, Ephesus & Cappadocia

You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.

Your opportunity to meet your Expedition Leader and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group. There will be an included group welcome dinner after the meeting.

Descend into a 4th-century underground reservoir for a welcome feast among marble columns

A visit to Hagia Sophia is a journey through a dual-world experience. Following major policy shifts, the site now functions with a strict separation between tourism and worship, but this has actually unlocked new ways to visit "unseen" parts of the structure that were previously ignored.

This evening, board a private luxury boat for passage across the Bosphorus where dinner is served beside the water where history, design, and gastronomy meet in quiet sophistication. Afterwards return to your hotel.

Visit the hippodrome, including the underground cistern. See the Blue Mosque and other iconic buildings of Istanbul. After.wards, you may join your expedition leader for a walk to the The Grand Bazaar or return to your hotel for free time

Take a step back in time with a visit to the Topkapi Palace. Once home to the Ottoman sultans and their harems, it's now a museum hosting a number of collections, ranging from porcelains found in Europe, Asia and China to Ottoman-era weaponry.

Leave Istanbul behind and fly south toward the Aegean Sea, where the sun-drenched coast of Bodrum awaits.

A visit to Ancient Halicarnassus in modern-day Bodrum is a journey into the heart of the Carian Empire and a masterclass in how ancient ruins can be woven into a vibrant, modern Mediterranean city.

Join a Senior Archaeologist or a specialist from the Institute of Nautical Archaeology (INA) for an exclusive visit to the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. The "behind-the-scenes" experience focuses on the world-class conservation labs that make this museum the global gold standard for maritime heritage.

A visit to a local jam and olive oil farm is a complete sensory shift from the turquoise coast to the silver-green heart of the Aegean. Here, you meet the family at their stone farmhouse surrounded by ancient, gnarled olive trees for a short tour led not by a guide, but by the owners themselves, followed by a tasting of these regional produce.

A visit to the Weaving Cooperative starts in the cool shade of stone walls, you sit beside master weavers whose fingers fly across vertical looms, turning wool and root-dyes into a coded language of Anatolian symbols. You leave not just with a sense of history, but with the taste of Aegean hospitality and the quiet satisfaction of having touched the "living" culture of Turkey.

Experience the pinnacle of Turkish viticulture with an immersive "earth-to-glass" journey at a renowned local vineyard. This curated escape begins with a peaceful stroll through rolling, ancestral vines, followed by an educational tasting and presentation that unveils the estate's rich heritage. The afternoon culminates on the terrace, where guests savour world-class wines against the backdrop of a cinematic Aegean sunset

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Visit the Apollo temple at the ancient Greek sanctuary of Didyma. Said to have been destroyed by Persians in 494 BC, it was later restored by Alexander the Great during the 3rd century BC where it flourished for centuries thereafter.

Visit Miletus, located near the mouth of the Maeander River. The history of Miletus goes back to 3500 BC when the ancient city was an important trading outpost for goods coming out of the interior of the country. The site and the impressive theater we will see are from the Roman period.

Set out on foot with your Expedition Leader on an orientation walk of the Kemeralti Old Bazaar, in Izmir. Wander amongst the traditional food stores before taking some free time in Izmir to explore.

Visit Efesium Handicrafts, a community-focused initiative that highlights local culture, history, and, in particular, handicrafts produced by local women. This is a project supported by the Selcuk Municipality where local women create and sell handmade, specially designed, and authentic souvenirs. The products reflect the 8,600-year history of the region

Experience the "City of the Romans" in virtual exclusivity as the crowds depart and your tour begins. Set off to explore the site with a specialist that weaves stories and breathes life into these ruins, followed by a walk through the marble-paved streets of Ephesus. The evening reaches its zenith with an extraordinary private dinner set directly in front of the moonlit Library of Celsus.

Leave the shores of Izmir behind and fly toward the rugged heart of Anatolia, where the sweeping landscapes of Ankara await.

Visit the Roman and Ottoman quarters of town and Ataturk's mausoleum to learn more about the fascinating history of this comparatively contemporary capital and its relationship to modern Turkey. Finish at the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which contains an outstanding collection of artifacts documenting this region.

Visit a mausoleum commemorating the founder of the Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. The Mausoleum of Ataturk is located in Turkey's capital of Ankara and has become one of the sprawling city's must-see locations.

Step back into the "Zero Point of History" with an elite academic visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Led by an esteemed historian, enjoy a high-level private lecture with an exclusive guided exploration of Turkey's most significant archaeological finds. From the 8,000-year-old murals of Catalhoyuk to the golden treasures of the Phrygian kings, this is a sophisticated narrative journey through the dawn of human society, housed within a magnificent 15th-century Ottoman landmark.

Experience the storied past of Turkey's capital with an exclusive hosted dinner at a beautifully restored historic mansion within the Ankara Citadel. Surrounded by centuries-old timber architecture and panoramic city views, guests enjoy a sophisticated evening of Anatolian haute cuisine and fine local wines. This intimate gathering combines the privacy of a noble estate with the rich cultural narrative of a city that has served as a crossroads for empires, making it the ultimate venue for high-level hosting.

Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.

Hattusa is not merely an archaeological site; it is a sprawling, wind-swept testament to one of the "Great Powers" of the ancient world. The city is famous for its massive, cyclopean stone walls that stretch for miles across a rugged plateau.

Be inspired by the natural beauty of the historic Goreme Open Air Museum, a complex of medieval painted cave churches carved out by Orthodox monks. Tour the more than 10 caves on site, and enjoy the color and vibrancy of many of the churches that are up to 1,000 years old.

To enter Derinkuyu is to leave the world of light behind and descend into one of the most sophisticated engineering marvels of the ancient world. Located in the heart of Cappadocia, this subterranean metropolis reaches a depth of approximately 85 meters (280 feet) and was capable of sheltering up to 20,000 people along with their livestock and food supplies.

Experience the true spirit of Turkish hospitality with a private cooking class and lunch. This intimate cultural exchange offers a hands-on journey into the secrets of Anatolian village cuisine, from the delicate folding of Manti to the firing of traditional clay-pot dishes.

Trade the rugged for the refined with a gentle Cappadocia jeep tour. This curated sunset expedition takes you off the beaten path in a private 4x4 to discover the region's most iconic hidden valleys at a serene, panoramic pace.

Conclude your Anatolian journey with a masterpiece event at the Guray Museum. This exclusive farewell dinner takes place within a magnificent underground rock-cut complex, surrounded by thousands of years of ceramic history. Combining a private museum tour with a high-concept dinner in the historic surroundings.

Leave the wind-sculpted landscapes of Cappadocia behind and fly back to Istanbul.