Turkey Family Holiday

Welcome to Turkey! This family adventure kicks off in Istanbul, the continent-straddling metropolis that the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans have all called home. Your trip officially kicks off with a welcome meeting at 1 pm. Please make sure you have your next of kin and insurance information to hand over to your leader at the meeting. Following the formalities and introductions, get acquainted with the streets of Istanbul on an orientation tour of the city before joining your fellow travellers for an optional group dinner to toast to new adventures.

Rise and shine for an early, one-hour flight to Goreme, the heart of Cappadocia. Located among the rock-formed cones, needles and columns that define the landscape, Goreme itself is a city built into the soft volcanic rock. Hillside has been carved and hollowed to make dwellings and churches, resulting in a city that can truly be called magical. You'll have time to settle into your hotel before meeting a local pottery master who will demonstrate how the local Turkish ceramics are made, you'll even have the opportunity to give it a go yourself. After getting your hands dirty, you'll have free time to enjoy and explore Goreme. When night falls, head to a cooking class in one of the city's distinctive homes with a local family. You'll have the opportunity to explore the house and garden while learning how to make local dishes with organic, local produce in a hands-on guided class. Then the best part, enjoying the delicious dishes for dinner! 

Photographs of hot air balloons soaring over strange rock formations in golden light are what most people associate with the Cappadocia region. While this activity is not included in the trip price, it is highly recommended. Those who choose to fly this morning will have the unique experience of seeing Cappadocia from above and below, as an underground city tour is planned for later this morning. Explore the caverns and tunnels of Kaymakli Underground City, located about 20 minutes away. It was built during between the 9th and 10th centuries as a defensive mechanism. Spend a few hours wandering this eight-storey marvel. Later, head to the surface and explore the region's valleys with pedal power on an optional bike ride through pink-tinged Rose Valley and the mushroom shaped rocks of Love Valley. Check out the small village of Cavusin, where dwellings are built into the rock face, admire the views at the top where you'll find 5th-century Church of St John the Baptist, before returning to Goreme. Those who do not wish to ride can opt for a free afternoon to explore Goreme further on foot or spend the afternoon by the pool.