In August 2022, I was invited by G Adventures to experience their "Best of Turkey" small group tour as a Travel Advisor on a FAM trip (familiarization). This was an 8 day, 7 night tour. We were a small group of 7 advisors along with Michael Pihach with PAX News and David Green from G Adventures. We were expertly led by our CEO (Chief Experience Officer) Gonca Oztan, also with G Adventures and a native to Turkey. I tacked on some pre- and post- independent tours as I wanted to make sure that my trip was extensive and immersive. (G Adventures has a more extensive "Absolute Turkey" tour is a 15 day, 14 night tour).
Here is the group with one person missing - she was kind enough to take the picture.
Here is what I did over the two weeks that I was there!
August 12 - Left Toronto around noon
August 13 - Arrived in Cairo around 5 a.m. Picked up by tour guide and driver and driven to Giza to see the pyramids, ride a camel, take a short relaxing sail on the Nile, see fabulous city views from the Cairo Tower, and eat a local specialty for lunch, and head back to the airport for my 2 p.m. departure to Istanbul
Cairo from the Cairo Tower
And lunch at Koshary Abu Tarek - this is all they make!
August 13 - 5 p.m. arrival in Istanbul; Uber/Taxi to hotel; Met guide at Tophane Square for a night tour of that local area (this is when I realized I loved Istanbul)
Walking across the Galetta Bridge to meet our tour guide at Tophane Square
August 14 - a.m. Joined Gonca, Michael, David and fellow agent Beverley, on a Bosphorus Cruise and walk around the old city of Istanbul
August 14 - 7 p.m. Official start to our G Adventures Tour and out for dinner with the team
August 15: Early visit to Gallipoli with a Guided Tour of the Battlefields and ANZAC cove with an over night in Canakkale
August 16: A visit to the city of Troy, a visit to cop(m)adam, a G Adventures supported project that supports women and produces handicraft goods for sale from recyled materials (chip bags, flour sacks, olive tree wood remnants, etc.), and then a fabulous boat trip into the Aegean Sea where we swam and relaxed. Overnight in Ayvalik.
Yesilyurt Village - Kaz Mountains
City of Troy
Enjoyiing a swim in the Aegean Sea off of Ayvalik. It was such a refreshing and perfect afternoon!
August 17: A visit to the ancient ruins of Ephesus, which are quite well preserved. We visited a carpet weaving cooperative and learned about Turkey's double-knot technique.
Library at Ephesus
We also visited Sirince to sample local wine and meander down the intimate and inviting streets. This is where I had my first, but not last, Turkish Ice Cream! Overnight in Selcuk.
Sirince - lots of local handicrafts to bring home and brighten your space
August 18: We partook in a cooking class in Selcuk - I think we all agreed that it was our best meal in Turkey. Fried egg plant with tomato, onion, green pepper sauce and rice. We also made delicous rice pudding! Overnight in Selcuk.
Our cooking class in Selcuk - fried eggplant with an onion, tomato, green pepper and garlic saute. We topped it with a tomato and spicy green pepper and baked it to perfection! One of my favourite meals in Turkey for sure!
August 19: We made our way to Pamukkale - home to both the calcium pools and more importantly, the ancient city of Hierapolis, a healing, spa-focused city. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Pamukkale Calcium pools
And within walking distance from the calcium pools, the Hieropolis theatre!
August 20: Early morning flight to Istanbul. Some partook in an orientation walk of Istanbul. I ventured out on my own and visited the Basilica Cistern and the Rushem Pasha Mosque, small but a favourite of many.
The Basilica Cistern, now a museum
August 21: Private guided tour of Istanbul that included a visit to the Blue Mosque (under construction), Topkapi Palace, and Hagia Sophia. We also saw the remains of the Hippodrome where many a charriot race was run. Flight to Cappadocia. Overnight in a cave hotel in Cappadocia
Hagia Sophia
August 22: 4:50 a.m. pick up to hot air balloon adventure (highly recommended); return to hotel before 7:30 a.m. 9:45 a.m. full day tour of Cappadocia - Devrent Valley, Pasabag (Monks Valley), Uchisar Castle, Goreme Open Air Museum. Overnight in Cappadocia.
August 23: 9:45 a.m. full day tour of Cappadocia - Red Valley, Cavusin, Pigeon Valley, Kaymakli Underground City; Ortahisar Belediyesi stone houses. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Fairy Chimneys - or Hoodoos
August 24: 7:00 a.m. flight to Istanbul followed by a 12:30 walking tour of "10 Tastings of Istanbul", primarily in the Pera district. We finished the evening at a local home for a "Private Modern Turkish Cuisine Prepared with Love". Hosts for both tours were exceptional. Overnight in Istanbul.
This is one of the venues that Anthony Bourdain visited and this is the durum he raved about!
August 25: A surprisingly rainly day, I started off visiting the Suleymaniye Mosque, an Ottoman imperial mosque inaugurated in 1557. It was the largest mosque in Istanbul until 2019. I finished the day visiting the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market (Egyptian Bazaar) and a visit to my favourite ceramic/quartz shop. We had a nice introduction to many of the Turkish carpets for sale in the same building.
View from the Suleymaniye Mosque
August 26: 2 p.m. flight to Cairo. I was picked up at the airport by my tour guide and had a final sail on the Nile, visited the night street markets (not for the faint of heart), and finished the evening off eating at a local establishment before being dropped off at the airport for my 2 a.m. flight home to Toronto.
Night market in Cairo - we walked miles - and this was the calm part!
I took so many more pictures and could speak to so many more experiences. But I want to leave something to your imagination! I'm planning on putting together an upgraded G Adventures 2 week "Absolutely Turkey" Tour in late September 2023 (when it isn't so hot). If you're interested in joining our small group of 16, email me at susan.tuckey@penguins2polarbears.com. You can find more of my contact information at card.penguins2polarbears.com