Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and explore the city on your own.

Hotel: 5* The Marmara Istanbul Hotel
Meals Included: None

Start your day with breakfast at the hotel, then embark on a tour of the historic Sultanahmet area, the heart of Istanbul’s Old City. Visit the breathtaking Hagia Sophia, once a basilica built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. Marvel at the stunning Blue Mosque, famous for its Iznik tiles and six minarets. Explore the ancient Hippodrome, where sporting and political events took place, and admire the Serpentine Column, Obelisk of Theodosius, and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Discover the Underground (Basilica) Cistern, the largest of Istanbul’s ancient cisterns, built in the 6th century. Visit Topkapi Palace, the primary residence of the Ottoman Sultans for over 400 years, and explore the Sultan’s Tombs within the Hagia Sophia graveyard. Return to your hotel for the night.

Hotel: 5* The Marmara Istanbul Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast (meals during site inspections)

Begin the day with breakfast, then head to a local cooking school for a culinary experience. Learn about the rich history of Turkish cuisine and prepare a five-course menu featuring Ottoman and traditional Turkish dishes. Enjoy your freshly prepared lunch along with refreshing drinks and Turkish coffee. In the afternoon, visit the Grand Covered Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, with nearly 4,000 shops selling everything from antiques to souvenirs. Return to your hotel in the evening.

Hotel: 5* The Marmara Istanbul Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch (possibly a site visit & dinner)

After breakfast, start your full-day tour of Istanbul. Drive along the Golden Horn, a natural harbor separating the old and new parts of the city. Visit the Spice Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in Istanbul, and take a Bosphorus Cruise, offering stunning views of marble palaces, ancient wooden villas, and modern residences. See Rumeli Fortress from the boat, a historic armament built by Mehmed II in the 15th century. Visit Dolmabahce Palace, the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cross the Bosphorus Bridge, connecting Europe and Asia, and enjoy panoramic views of the city from Camlica Hill. In the evening, fly to Kayseri and transfer to your hotel for the night.

Hotel: 5* Perissia Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Begin the day with breakfast, then visit Devrent Valley, known for its unique fairy chimneys. Explore Pasabagi, also known as Monk’s Valley, with its multiple stems and caps. Drive to Avanos, famous for its pottery, and have time for lunch. Visit the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring churches, chapels, and monasteries carved into fairy chimneys, with frescoes painted on the walls. Take photos in the neighboring valleys before heading to your hotel for the night.

Hotel: 5* Perissia Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (possibly lunch during site visit)

Start the day with an optional hot air balloon tour (upon availability). Visit Rose Valley, one of the most beautiful trekking valleys in Cappadocia, and explore the famous rock-cut churches. Rest in Cavusin, an old Greek village known for its Christian houses and churches. Visit Ortahisar Castle, similar to Uchisar Castle in style, with its storage caves. Explore Kaymakli Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back, visit panoramic Pigeon Valley, where pigeons contributed to the lives of locals with their manure to fertilize the vineyards. You may also like to taste Cappadocia wine in a local winery. In the evening, fly to Izmir and transfer to your hotel.

Hotel: 4* Karaca Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (possibly lunch during site visit)

Drive to Selcuk and visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she supposedly spent her last days. Continue to Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, and see the Odeon, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsus Library, the Marble Street, the Great Theater, and the Harbour Road. After lunch, visit the Archaeological Museum of Ephesus and the Basilica of St. John. Return to Izmir for the night.

Hotel: 4* Karaca Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner (possibly lunch during site visit)

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight, marking the end of your FAM trip.