TURKISH COOKING TOURS
2008 JUNE TURKEY CULTURE AND CUISINE TOUR (9 to 21 June - 13 Days)
Monday, June 9
Guests arrive to a special class (traditional Ottoman) hotel in Sultanhamet area of Istanbul. Sultanhamet is the home to major historical sights in Istanbul.
Meet at hotel at 1 pm. Visiting Hippodrome, the ancient plaza for horse races dating to 203 AD and listening the history of Constantinopole (Istanbul) and Byzantine Empire. We will also visit the Blue Mosque, one of the largest and most famous mosques in the world. We will discuss and learn about Islamic religious traditions.
Our last visit will be to Basilica Cistern.
After the cistern we will drive to Suleymaniye Mosque to have our welcome dinner at a traditional Ottoman cuisine restaurant located in the courtyard of the Mosque. We will discuss traditional Ottoman food with the chef here. Than we will drive back to our hotel in the center of historical peninsula of Istanbul.
Tuesday, June 10
We will start our day by visiting the Hagia Sophia Museum, built in 537 by Emperor Constantine and the greatest Church in Christendom until 1453 when it was turned into a Mosque as part of the Ottoman Empire. We will also drive to Chora Church which has the best mosaic scenes of Byzantine Empire. Then we will come to Grand Bazaar with over 4000 stalls and shops. The architecture, goods and handsome merchants will provide the ultimate shopping experience as it has for centuries. Free time will be provided for lunch and shop on own.
Late afternoon: Transfer to airport for evening flight to Cappodocia
Arrival: Guests check into the lovely Kelebek Hotels (highly praised by many international guidebooks - www.kelebekhotel.com) Welcome dinner and orientation to Cappodocia by our host Mr. Ali Yavuz. Kelebek was Ali’s family cave home before he turned it into one of the most architecturally unique hotels in all of Turkey. Now hotels in the area try to copy the style and service of Kelebek. With no formal architectural training, Ali is now sought after to design homes, restaurants and hotels throughout Turkey.
Guests will receive an orientation to Cappodocia’s unique geography, lunar-like landscapes, ancient churches and dwellings carved into caves throughout the region, and picture postcard villages steeped in tradition. Once the home of the Hittite Empire (2000BC), this “other worldly” area of Cappodocia will provide the backdrop to explore traditional village life, Turkish cuisine, and famous Turkish hospitality.
In addition to the tour itinerary, optional experiences such as horseback riding (Cappodocia means “the land of beautiful horses”), hot air ballooning, and visit to a traditional hammam (Turkish bath) are available to guests at an additional fee. Also available are visits to a local jewelry making workshop, hiking in the Rose or Ihlara Valley.
Wednesday, June 11
Morning: Tour Goreme Open Air Museum a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We will explore a cluster of rock-cut Byzantine churches chapels and monasteries.
We will then go to Ortahisar to tour the Museum of Cultural Life. Through discussion and dioramas, we will explore aspects of village life that have been in existence for centuries such as how cave homes were made, how to make pekmez, a grape syrup made every Fall, that cures everything from a stomach ache to respiratory infections and even raki hang-overs.
Lunch and wine tasting of local wines.
Afternoon free time and dinner on own.
Thursday, June 12
Morning: Cooking with village women in a traditional kitchen to experience making traditional cuisine (bread, soup, dolmas, manti) with our own hands under expert training and supervision. After lunch, see how cheese, Turkish coffee and tea are made and visit local homes.
Afternoon and evening free. Dinner on own
Evening: Attend Whirling Dervish Performance at a 13th Century Caravanserai.
Friday, June 13
Morning : Tour the Underground Cities of Kaymakli. We will explore a maze of tunnels and rooms carved eight levels deep into the earth and see the secret life of Christians and how they lived for centuries. We will also see Pigeon Houses across the area, which are the basis of organic farming to this day.
Visit to kilim workshop and have a demonstration and explanation of Turkish carpet making techniques, symbols and different types of carpets.
Afternoon: Free time and lunch on own.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant and visit with chef
Saturday, June 14
Morning shopping at Urgup local farmers market. Visit Avanos which is the ceramic center of Cappodocia where we will learn about the local ceramics and try our hands at it, under the supervision of a master potter. Potters have handed down the craft and used the red clay of the region to produce famous artisan earthenware for centuries.
For lunch, we will have pottery kebab in a cave restaurant in Avanos and learn how it is made.
Afternoon Free time on own
Evening: Banquet at Kelebek hotel, music by local muscians.
Sunday, June 15
Early departure to Pamukkale by coach.
Stop in Konya for lunch with a famous local “Rumi” chef and PhD nutritionist recently written about in Saveur Magazine (depending on her availability). Brief tour of Mevlana Museum, the former lodge of Rumi, one of the great mystic philosophers and poets, and founder of Sufism and Whirling Dervishes.
Depart from Konya about 3:00 pm
Arrive in Pamukkale in the evening. Dinner on own.
Monday, June 16
We will visit travertines of Pamukkale and Hierapolis city in the morning and than drive to Sirince village. Sirince is a former Greek town famous with organic wine and olive oil. After having our traditional welcome syrups at our hotel, we will visit a local winery and olive oil shop.
Free time for late lunch and dinner.
Tuesday, June 17
We will visit Ephesus ruins and Virgin Mary's house in the morning. After the tour, free time in Selcuk for lunch and museum visit.
Drive to airport and late afternoon flight to Istanbul and check-in to hotel. Dinner on own
Wednesday, June 18
Morning tour of the Topkapi Museum, one of the most famous museums in the world. The subject of many colorful stories, Topkapi offers a glimpse of over 500 years of Ottoman history. The intrigue of the harem and the gifts from governments around the world to the Ottoman empire are some of its treasures. We will then visit the Egyptian Spice Market, constructed in the 1600’s and famous for centuries for its spices, perfumes, baklava, fruits and nuts and of course, Turkish delight.
Free time in Eminonu area for lunch and afternoon Bosphorus Boat Tour.
Dinner on own.
Thursday, June 19
Full day free for optional visits.
Friday, June 20
Morning free
Late Afternoon Tour Galata Tower, Beyoglu and Taksim
Evening: Dinner in Beyoglu with mezza and raki. Beyoglu is where all of Europe would arrive in the 19th Century on the Orient Express. It is the home of the Pera Palace hotel where Agatha Christie wrote her famous mysteries. Wandering the Cicek or Balik Passages, lined with permanent stalls selling fish, fruit, vegetables, olives we also will see modern Istanbul full of designer boutiques, coffee houses and hip clubs. Most of the area is closed to traffic and you can see a microcosm of modern Istanbul strolling the streets.
We will have dinner at a traditional Meyhane, an outdoor (and indoor) Turkish Tavern, where traditional mezza (starter plates of vegetables dishes, melons, cheeses, fish, seafood and meat) will be accompanied by Raki, the anise flavored national alcoholic drink.
Saturday, June 21
Depart for USA or other parts of Turkey or Europe. Airport transfer can be arranged. Other tours such as a gullet trip along the Turkish Mediterranean coast can also be arranged.
RATES:
2.800,00 USD per person for 7 to 12 Guests
Letter of Recommendation
I cannot recommend Mustafa and Turkish Heritage Travel enough. Mustafa answered all our questions and literally made our trip to Turkey one of the most memorable times of our lives. He is a treasure. We feel we have made a friend for life and have already welcomed him into our home here in California.
Please click here to read the entire letter of Nan Haynes
Please don't hesitate to contact our group leader Rosie Cohan who lives in Berkeley / California. You can send her an email (rosiecohan "at" hotmail "dot" com) with your questions and phone number, and she will call you back within 24 hours.
Pease click here to send us an email (info@goreme.com) for further information and booking
