Highlights
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Itinerary - click for more
Day 1 – Istanbul – Thursday, May 8, 2025 (D)
Upon your arrival, our representative will meet you at the airport and we will transfer you to your hotel in Istanbul. Evening meet rest of group and introduction to your program followed by welcome dinner.Day 2 – Istanbul – Friday, May 9, 2025 (BL)
Start your day with a walking tour. Your guide through the colorful and fragrant Spice Market, Find fruit teas, Turkish delicacies herbal remedies, dried fruits such as apricots. On to the Grand Bazaar, where you can lose yourself in within 500 years of history. We will also visit the Hippodrome of Constantinople; a public arena mainly used for chariot races. Last stop today is the Blue Mosque. The Sultan Ahmet Mosque, popularly known as the Blue Mosque, was completed in 1617.Day 3 – Istanbul – Saturday, May 10, 2025 (BL)
Today is a mixture of city tour and historical gardens.
Topkapi Palace: The Topkapi Palace served as the main residence of the Ottoman sultans for centuries.
Hagia Sophia: Built between 532 and 537, Hagia Sophia represents a great moment in Byzantine architecture and art. It was the main church of the Byzantine Empire in its capital Constantinople.
Yerebatan Underground Cistern: The Basilica Cistern was the largest underground cistern in Byzantine Constantinople. It was built under the basilica to the west of Hagia Sophia.Day 4 -Istanbul – Sunday, May 11, 2025 (BL)
Start today with a private cruise on the Bosphorus. During the two-hour cruise, you’ll experience a breathtaking panorama of Istanbul’s skyline, including landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Blue Mosque, all from the unique perspective of the water. In addition, you’ll sail past picturesque waterside villages, historic fortresses and two continents – Europe and Asia – separated by the majestic Bosphorus Strait, offering a fascinating blend of natural beauty and rich history. After disembarking with our Turkish Landscape curator will guide the group to various Istanbul gardens along the Bosphorus.
Private Garden in Bebek: Bebek, a chic village on the European side of the Bosphorus, where our historical garden is located. This private garden has the largest and most protected green space in the neighborhood
Emirgan Grove: Emirgan Grove is a tranquil oasis known for its lush greenery and magnificent tulips, especially during the annual Tulip Festival. Emirgan Grove covers 47 hectares of land and is known for its beautiful gardens, manicured lawns and towering trees. The park is divided into three main areas: The Lower Grove, the Upper Grove and the Rose Garden,
Sakip Sabanci Museum and Gardens: The Sabancı Museum in Istanbul is a cultural gem that houses an impressive collection of Turkish and international art. In addition to its art treasures, the museum also has a delightful garden. In collaboration with Istanbul University’s Faculty of Forestry, the garden records all the tree and plant species in its 18-hectare garden and presents them to garden lovers.Day 5 – Istanbul – Monday, May 12, 2025 (BL)
Today we travel by ferry to the Princes’ Islands. The nine islands are only about an hour’s ferry ride from mainland Istanbul. We visit Buyukada, translated as “big island”, the largest of the islands and the most popular. This car-free island is known for its lush landscape, historic mansions and gardens.Summer Palace of the Vatican Consulate Gardens: The Italian-style garden consists of four terraces-. We reach the palace by walking through carefully laid out flower beds. The lower terrace, where the orchard, fountain and outbuildings are located, ends with old cypress trees.
The gardens of the Mizzi house: The garden was designed in 1894 by Italian architect Raimondo D’Aranco for the Mizzi family. The outstanding feature of the three-storey masonry is the high tower. It is still said on the islands that this tower served as an observatory and that Mizzi observed the sky with a telescope. A few steps lead from the entrance area to the intermediate terrace where the grotto is located. The grotto, in which bubbling water once flowed.
The gardens of the Con Paşa Mansion. The mansion was designed in 1880 by architect Achileas Politis for Con Pasha. The two-hectare garden is laid out on five terraces, has five gates. The main path running through the center of the formal garden leads to the heated greenhouse, semi-open recreation area and water lily pond. Most of the old cedars, palms and pines live together in a natural style.
Day 6 – Iznik, Bursa – Tuesday, May 13, 2025 (BL)
Depart to Iznik & Bursa, private transportation. Iznik is in a fertile valley near the lake and surrounded by a beautiful landscape. The historical layout of the town is still visible. Iznik is an exceptional testimony to the introduction and early spread of Christianity.Mehmet Aksoy workshop and sculpture garden: Mehmet Aksoy is a Turkish sculptor. strongly rooted in modernism and has strong conceptual and abstract elements in his work. After a traditional lunch included, we arrive in Iznik, where we visit the gardens of the Iznik Foundation and learn about the production of tiles.
Iznik Foundation Workshops and Gardens: Founded in 1993, preserves world history in its memory. Iznik tiles, which are made entirely by hand in the authenticity of the 16th century. The foundation gardens are also a little piece of paradise that must be seen. We will then do a short tour of historical monuments in Iznik before our 2-hour drive to reach Bursa. On the way we will see Lake Iznik, fruit plantations, walnut and olive trees. Overnight Bursa.
Day 7 – Bursa – Wednesday, May 14, 202. (BL)
Morning at leisure to enjoy the thermal facilities at your hotel. Bursa, often called “Green Bursa”,” is an enchanting city and the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, known for its lush landscapes and rich Ottoman heritage.Grand Mosque: – The Grand Mosque was built by Sultan Yıldırım Bayezid between 1396 and 1399. Grand Mosque, covered with 20 domes.
Green Mosque & Tomb: One of the most beautiful, tiled buildings in Turkey, the name Green Mosque comes from its green and blue interior tile GTomb – Opposite the Mosque is the Royal Tomb of Sultan Mehmed 1. The Green Tomb is covered with blue, green and turquoise glazed Iznik tiles.
Koza Han: Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, was also the center of silk production and trade. The Koza Han, literally: ‘Inn of the Silk Cocoon, in the heart of the city’s historic market district. Today still serves as a modern bazaar selling a variety of silk and other products.
Covered Bazaar: The Covered Bazaar is famous for towels, loofahs, kese (massage gloves), clogs, bowls and soaps made in Bursa.
Bursa Botanical Park: This has been a first-class nature reserve since 1998 and is a park open to plant research and scientific studies. Various garden themes have been created in the Botanical Park, such as the Japanese Garden, the French Garden, the English Garden, the Rose Garden, the Rock Garden, the Scented Herb Garden, and the Topiary Garden.
Day 8 – Odemis, Birgi – Thursday, May 15, 2025 (BL)
Depart early and drive about 4 hours to Odemis, a charming town in Turkey known for its thriving nurseries and horticultural heritage and have the opportunity to visit the nurseries where a variety of plants and flowers are grown. Other important product in Odemiş is Bryndza with Tulum cheese. There is no one in the entire Aegean region who has not tried it. Arriving in Odemis around lunchtime enjpy included box lunch while visiting a nursery. Nearby visits explore cultural heritage Çakırağa Konağı (old Ottoman mansion), admiring a monumental cypress tree, strolling through enchanting private gardens and talking to a local silk producer who will give us an insight into the fascinating process of silk production from cocoon to weaver. Continue to Izmir and overnight.Day 9 – Ephesus, Sirince – Friday, May 16, 2025 (BL)
We start the morning with the village of Sirince, located on a hill about 12 km from the ancient city of Ephesus and 85 km from Izmir itself. We walk through the peach and cherry fields, see historic houses and the bazaar of Sirince, a visit Can Carpet: At this atelier in the village of Camlik, we will explore the fascinating world of natural dyes and their use in carpet making, focusing on Turkish oriental carpets. Lunch at Can CarpetAfternoon visit the stunningly beautiful and very well-preserved ancient city of Ephesus. We will spend an unforgettable time in this ancient city visiting the Trojan Fountain, the Polio, the Temple of Hadrian and the Temple of Domiton, the Private House, the Library of Celsius, the various baths, the Bouloterion and the Great Theater with a capacity of 24,000 spectators. Ephesus appears several times in the New Testament. The first church dedicated to the Virgin Mary is also located in the ancient city. Mary, the mother of Jesus, spent her last years in Ephesus with John. You can visit her house and the tomb of John.
On our way back to Izmir, we visit the Lucien Arkas Vineyards for wine tasting. Turkey’s largest organic vineyard.
Day 10 – Izmir, Urla – Saturday, May 17, 2025 (BLD)
Today we visit to the Mattheys House and gardens in Izmir. We stop at the Yelki organic market and have lunch before driving to Urla to visit Kostem Olive Oil Museum. Urla is a picturesque coastal town in Turkey. We will have our farewell dinner at the famous Michelin-starred restaurant OdUrla.Mattheys Mansion: Nestled in the enchanting Mattheys Gardens in the Bornova district of Izmir, the entrance path to the manor house has a double row of cypress trees, symbolic of the cypress trees in the manor house garden, along with a symbolic plane tree and many other trees in the garden.
Yelki Organic Market: The village of Yelki is in the district of Guezelbahçe, İzmir. Yelki’s street market sells organic fruit, herbs, vegetables, dairy products and some of the best gözleme and freshly squeezed juices from the district.
Kostem Olive Oil Museum: It is a museum complex includes the Museum of Technology, the Soap, Hygiene and Cleaning Museum, a modern olive oil factory and warehouse,
Farewell Dinner, Odurla: A winding road leads to the top of the hill, see your first impression of Osman Sezener’s world. Once you arrive at his family estate, you swap the view of olive trees and vines for his impressive vegetable garden. A visit to the garden is an absolute must. The commitment to sustainability and local sourcing is just part of the restaurant’s identity as the focus on cooking over an open fire to highlight the natural flavors and textures of his ingredients. Return to Izmir 1 hour drive back.
Day 11 – Izmir – Sunday, May 18, 2025, Sunday (B)
Today, after breakfast, transferred to Izmir airport for your Departure.