Indulge your senses with the sight of turquoise coastline, the sound of traditional music, the smell of burning incense, the taste of Mediterranean cuisine, and the touch of hand-woven carpets. This trip takes you to the best corners of Turkey, combining cosmopolitan cities and their historic foundations, charming rural villages, and stunning landscapes and seascapes on an unhurried two-week exploration of the country. Begin in historic Istanbul, on either side of the Bosphorus waterway, the crossroads where Europe and Asia meet. Lose yourself in the otherworldly terrain of Cappadocia. Explore the Sunken City near Kas, on the Mediterranean, then wonder at the travertine rock formations as you soak in the hot springs at Pamukkale. Weave your way through the hillside village of Sirince on your way to the massive, well-preserved ancient city at Ephesus. At the journey's end, back in Istanbul, make time to wander the great bazaars one last time and sample the many interesting spices and sweets on offer. Try a nargileh (water pipe), sip some cay (tea) or Turkish coffee, and nibble on baklava or kanafeh while unwinding and taking in the sights at a sidewalk cafe. Perhaps you will even choose to venture to a classic hamam (Turkish bath)! Listen for the imams' last calls to prayer as your exotic adventure winds down. If your schedule permits, ask us about adding an extension to the nearby Greek islands.
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