Day 1: Welcome to Turkey

Afternoon / Evening:

• Meet at Istanbul airport (IST) at 3:00 pm and take included transportation to your hotel in Istanbul.
• After a welcome meeting and brief orientation with your Trip Leader, you’ll head out for an exclusive Over30Experiences dinner overlooking the Bosphorus Strait.
• Settle into your new surroundings, get to know your new friends, and get ready for your adventure.

Day 2: Istanbul City Tour

Morning:

• After breakfast at your hotel, hop on the local tramway and get ready for your visit to Istanbul’s historic peninsula.
• Meet up with your local guide for a walking tour of the must-see sights of Istanbul.
• Visit Topkapi Palace, the ancient residence of mighty Ottoman Sultans. Walk through this museum that houses exhibits of imperial collections of the Ottoman Empire and an extensive collection of books and manuscripts.
• Admire the great architectural beauty of Hagia Sophia, an important monument, both for the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires. 
• Experience Istanbul's most prominent symbol of Islam, the Blue Mosque, or its official name, Sultanahmet Mosque. This iconic landmark owes its nickname to the wealth of blue ceramic tiles that adorn the majestic interior.

Afternoon:

• After lunch, continue your walking tour of Istanbul with your local guide, who will give you an insider’s perspective of the city.
• You will have a bit of free time before dinner to relax at the hotel. Perhaps choose to have your included Turkish Hamman experience today. Relax in a steam room, receive a body scrub, then relax with a hot bath. This inclusion is exclusive to this Over30Experiences itinerary.

Evening:

• Tonight's dinner is not included, but your Trip Leader will recommend some local favorites and neighborhoods you should check out.
• This evening will be your last chance to experience Istanbul's popular nightlife venues.

Day 3: Goreme Open Air Museum

Morning:

• Rise early and grab a packed breakfast and take it to-go before catching an early morning domestic flight (~Flight time approximately 1 hour 15 minutes).
• Arrive in Cappadocia and take private transportation to Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Walk through mazes of well-preserved, rock-cut churches with frescoes and paintings dating back as early as the 10th century!

Afternoon:

• After touring Goreme Open Air Museum, you will be welcomed into the house of a local family to enjoy a home-cooked meal.
• After gaining an understanding of the local people, we’ll head to our accommodations to check in.
• The rest of the day is free for you to choose your own adventure. Some of our favorite optional activities are joining a Sunset Quad Bike Safari, hiking up to Uchisar Castle, or shopping for carpets.

Evening:

• Tonight's dinner is not included, but your Trip Leader will recommend some local favorites and neighborhoods you should check out.

Day 4: Cappadocia

Morning:

• Opt to rise early and go for a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. If heights are not your thing, head out for a walk and view the balloons ascending into the air from most areas in Cappadocia.
• Be sure to eat a hearty breakfast to fuel up for a hike through the valley to experience more of Cappadocia’s unique geology. 
• After your hike, visit a pottery workshop to learn about this traditional handicraft of the region that dates back to the Hittite time of 1800 BC.

Afternoon:

• Explore some of the 36 underground cities on a guided tour with your Trip Leader as you will walk inside the stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, churches, and wineries of an underground city.
• After a full day of adventure, unwind at a local winery to taste some of Cappadocia’s award-winning wines – an exclusive activity on our Over30Experiences itinerary. 

Evening:

• For tonight’s included dinner, you will have the opportunity to try one of Cappadocia’s most well-known dishes, the local pottery kebab.

Day 5: Selcuk

Morning:

• Have one more chance to rise early and go for a hot air balloon ride over Cappadocia. If you prefer your feet on the ground, find a vantage point to see your friends ascend above Cappadocia.
• Enjoy breakfast in Cappadocia, then head to the airport for your included flight to Izmir. (~1-hour 30-minute flight)
• Arrive at Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport, then take private transportation to the town of Selcuk. (~1-hour drive)

Afternoon:

• Take a guided walk with your Trip Leader as you orient yourself to this little town. 
• After settling in, you will have some free time for optional activities like visiting the Ephesus Museum, Isa Bey Mosque, or the Basilica of Saint Jean. 
• Want to take a swim? Grab a taxi or local shuttle and make your way to Pamucak Beach.

Evening:

• Gather back at your accommodations to freshen up before enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 6: Ephesus Ancient City

Morning:

• Today’s journey starts with a trip to Ephesus, one of Europe’s most complete ancient cities. 
• Learn about Ephesus’s biblical significance and many other interesting facts about its history that dates back to the 11th century BC on a guided tour with your Trip Leader.
• Take a short drive to Sultankoy Carpet Village and learn about this traditional art of carpet weaving, from dying the wool to traditional weaving on wooden looms.

Afternoon:

• After enjoying lunch in town, you will have the option to visit the House of Mother Mary, where it is believed she lived her last days on earth.

Evening:

• Tonight's dinner is not included, but your Trip Leader will recommend some local favorites and must-try dishes of the region.

Day 7: Bodrum

Morning:

• Breakfast will be served at your accommodations, and then it’s time to head to the beach town of Bodrum, located on the southern Aegean coast. (~3-hour drive)
• Arrive in Bodrum, where your Trip Leader will give you a brief orientation to the area.

Afternoon:

• Before checking into your hotel, grab lunch at one of the many restaurants and cafes in town and take in the views of the coast.
• Today is a free day to relax on the beach, go for a swim, or head over to Bodrum Castle. Bodrum has plenty to offer whether you’re looking to relax, visit more historical sites, or experience the art scene at local galleries.
• Want a bit more relaxation? Pamper yourself with a spa package right at the hotel.

Evening:

• Dinner tonight is not included, but as always, your Trip Leader will be there to point you to some of the best restaurants in the area.
• Sleep in your upgraded Bodrum accommodation, specifically picked for our Over30Experiences Community.

Day 8: Sailing the Aegean Sea

Morning:

• Breakfast will be served at your accommodations, and then it’s time to get ready for a day out on the waters of the Aegean Sea!
• Spend your morning on a private sailboat navigating tiny islands. You’ll have several opportunities to swim, snorkel, or simply relax.

Afternoon:

• Enjoy lunch on the boat as you take in your beautiful surroundings. 
• Continue exploring the coastline and spending your final full day with your new friends.
• Return to your accommodations and have some time to unwind and freshen up.

Evening:

• Join the group for one final dinner together and reflect on your experience.
• After dinner, be sure to check out Bodrum’s nightlife scene.

Day 9: Relaxation & Departure

Morning:

• Say goodbye to your new friends and depart at any time of the day with instructions from your Trip Leader on how to take a taxi or a shuttle to Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV).
• Ask your Trip Leader for suggestions if you plan to spend more time in Turkey.
• Welcome to the Over30Experiences Community!