Türkiye: An Insider’s Journey

Your journey begins in Istanbul’s historic heart. Settle into Hagia Sofia Mansions, discover the Old City at your own pace, then meet your guide and fellow travellers over welcome drinks before an Ottoman-inspired dinner.

Welcome to Türkiye. On arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), your private transfer takes you to Hagia Sofia Mansions Istanbul, Curio Collection by Hilton. Set among the historic streets of Sultanahmet, the hotel places you in the heart of the Old City—a memorable setting for your first impressions of Istanbul.

The remainder of the day is yours to settle in. Enjoy a gentle stroll through Sultanahmet, pause for your first Turkish coffee or simply rest after your flight. For a traditional introduction to Turkish bathing culture, an optional treatment at the nearby Hürrem Sultan Hamamı can be arranged at additional cost.

At 5:30 pm, join your guide at the hotel for a one-hour hoş geldiniz welcome cocktail. Meet your fellow travellers as your guide introduces the next fourteen days, explains the practical details and answers your questions. It is a relaxed opportunity to get acquainted and begin looking forward to the journey together.

At 6:30 pm, we leave the hotel as a group for our welcome dinner at Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine. Drawing on the culinary traditions of the Ottoman court, our first shared meal introduces another side of Istanbul’s heritage, with time for conversation around the table.

Inclusions

• Private arrival transfer from IST or SAW, regardless of your arrival time on Day 1.
• Guide-hosted welcome cocktail and tour briefing.
• Welcome dinner at Deraliye Ottoman Cuisine.

Practical Info

• Hotel check-in follows the confirmed hotel’s standard check-in time; early room access is not guaranteed.
• Welcome drinks and the tour briefing begin at 5:30 pm at the hotel, followed by departure for dinner at 6:30 pm.
• From Hagia Sofia Mansions, the walk to dinner is approximately 650 metres, around 10 minutes. Arrangements will be confirmed if an alternative hotel is used.
• To attend the welcome gathering and dinner, allow sufficient time between your flight arrival and 5:30 pm for airport formalities and your transfer.
• The optional hammam experience is at additional cost and subject to availability. It should be scheduled around your arrival and the evening program.
• Hagia Sofia Mansions is our preferred hotel, subject to availability. If unavailable, a hotel of a similar or higher standard will be provided; location, facilities and walking distances may differ.

Discover Istanbul through its waterways, markets and neighbourhood flavours. Descend into the atmospheric Basilica Cistern, explore the Spice Bazaar and cruise the Bosphorus before crossing to the Asian shore for a guided food walk through Kadıköy.

After breakfast, join your guide for a day exploring the many layers of Istanbul, from the city beneath its streets to the everyday life of its Asian neighbourhoods.

We begin at the Basilica Cistern, where rows of ancient columns rise from the water beneath vaulted ceilings. Your guide introduces the story of this remarkable underground reservoir, revealing another dimension of the city beyond its familiar skyline.

Next, we visit the Spice Bazaar. Among stalls of fragrant spices, teas, dried fruit and Turkish sweets, your guide helps make sense of the ingredients and traditions that shape the country’s kitchens.

A cruise along the Bosphorus offers a change of perspective. From the water, Istanbul unfolds in waterfront mansions, palaces and neighbourhoods stretching along the European and Asian shores. It is an opportunity to sit back and appreciate the scale of a city shaped by its position between two continents.

We then travel by ferry to Kadıköy on the Asian side, where food shops, market stalls and neighbourhood eateries provide the setting for our guided food walk. Lunch takes the form of tastings along the way, introducing Turkish flavours through the places where locals shop and eat. With your guide leading the discoveries, there is time to ask questions and enjoy the daily rhythm of this lively district.

Following our return to the Old City, the evening is yours. Relax at Hagia Sofia Mansions or head out for dinner independently, with suggestions from your guide to suit your appetite.

Inclusions

• Breakfast at the hotel.
• Guided sightseeing with your English-speaking tour guide.
• Basilica Cistern admission.
• Visit to the Spice Bazaar.
• Bosphorus cruise.
• Ferry travel to the Asian shore and return travel to the Old City.
• Guided Kadıköy food walk, with tastings forming lunch.

Practical Info

• Today includes substantial walking, steps and some uneven or slippery surfaces; comfortable shoes with good grip are recommended.
• Boarding boats requires navigating gangways and steps. A light layer is useful on the water.
• Please advise dietary requirements before travel so suitable arrangements can be assessed for the food walk.
• The order of visits may change to suit local conditions and boat schedules.
• Dinner is at your own expense this evening.