TURKISH HANDICRAFT & CULINARY TOUR
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul Ataturk Airport and after visa and luggage claim, meet your driver and private car, for your transfer to your hotel. A welcome package with tour vouchers, map, and other information will be waiting for you upon arrival. In the evening, attend a delicious welcome dinner in a popular restaurant of the city.Meals: Dinner
Day 2: Istanbul
Enjoy a visit to the Spice Market, where locals still shop for herbs and spices from all over the world. Then, it is the time to roll up your sleeves and put on a cooking apron. No food lover’s visit to Istanbul is complete without the enriching culinary adventure of a hands-on Turkish cooking class. Learn about presentation, take notes on recipes, and prepare your lunch menu. After class, take a half-day tour to St Sophia Museum, the pride of the Byzantine architecture, the Hippodrome, where chariot races were held; the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles and return to your hotel. If you wish, enjoy dinner with at one of our recommended restaurants.Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3: Istanbul
Have fun in a private belly dance class with expert tutoring and a snazzy collection of Turkish music. A cosy restaurant in the Tunel district is where you will have lunch and then the reminder of the day is yours to explore Istanbul on your own.Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4: Izmir - Sirince
Transfer to the airport with a private car and driver for a direct flight from Istanbul to Izmir, which is about 1 hour. Check into your authentic hotel, which is a combination of old Greek mansions and in the afternoon, meet with your local guide for a tour of the wine making village of Sirince. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.Meals: Breakfast & Dinner
Day 5: Ephesus
After breakfast, stroll in the world-famous Ancient City of Ephesus, including the Arcadian Way, the Roman Baths, Temple of Hadrian, the Celsius Library and the Antique Theatre. Then visit a traditional pottery & ceramic workshop, where you can see how the expert hands of workers produce elegant pieces from a piece of rough mud. Afterwards, enter the world of Turkish rugs to learn how locals make these textiles. End the day with a wonderful sunset in the village.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6: Denizli
Drive through the Meander Valley, to Denizli, the capital of weaving and world famous home-textile brands. Firstly, visit Buldan that is the number one destination for textiles and hand-made products. Afterwards, drive to Pamukkale, and the ancient city of Hierapolis. Check into a thermal hotel where you can enjoy SPA treatment and thermal pool.Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7: Istanbul
You will take a direct flight from Denizli to Istanbul, which is about 1 hour. Upon arrival, be transferred to your hotel and enjoy free leisure time. In the afternoon, go shopping in the Turkey’s largest covered bazaar with 4000 shops, known as the Grand Bazaar. Afterwards, be a spectator at a whirling dervish’s ceremony.Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 8: Istanbul
This is the end of itinerary. We can transfer you to the airport or alternatively, extend your stay in Istanbul to see other delights and attractions.Meals: Breakfast
We do not have an online booking system because most of our services are personalized and different conditions may apply for specific requests. You can call us, send an email, or complete a tour request form so that our Turkey travel specialists can help you to select the best tour for your travel needs. When you submit our tour contact form, one of our specialists will contact you within 24 hours to confirm availability.
What do you need from me to begin a proposal for a customized Turkey tour?
Fill out a customized tour request form that provides us with useful insight on how to design a trip that will suit your travel needs. If you are interested in customizing one of our tour packages, you can email us the name of the tour package and estimated date you have chosen to start the tour.
Can TSC design a customized trip for our group’s interests?
We will gladly work with you to offer a Turkey tour package tailored to your group’s interests. For this, you need to provide us your group details, interests, and travel needs.
Is airfare included in programs? Can I book my international flight through you?
Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point. You can purchase your airfare tickets through the internet or a wholesaler. By booking your own flight, you have more flexibility and control of your choices - in real time.
What type of accommodation do we use?
TSC Travel use hotels situated at excellent locations and close to all amenities. Room types range from double rooms to junior suites, depending on the package of choice. Amenities and facilities may differ from those in South America, North America, Australia or Malaysia.
What type of transportation is used on tours?
TSC Travel utilize a variety of transportation methods including public and private minivans, cars, coaches, trains, flights, ferries, boats, etc. We use whichever method provides travellers with the safest and most efficient transportation option.
Do you cooperate with travel agents?
If you are a registered travel agency with a wish to co-operate in business, please fill out our contact form.
Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We require a deposit payment at time of booking to secure your reservation. The deposit payment is payable by credit card or bank transfer.
Credit Card: For your protection, we need you to sign the credit card payment form upon receipt and return it with verification of legal identification (e.g. copy of your passport or driver’s license) after your credit card has been charged. We will inform you in advance of purchase of any credit card fees that may apply.
Bank transfer: Payment can be sent to our company bank accounts. Our representative will send you detailed information for the booking process including bank transfer details. Please note our rates do not include the transfer costs of your bank or their agents. Please be sure that all costs paid additionally!
What is your cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be made in writing directly to TSC Travel. No responsibility is taken for cancellations of airfare, hotel bookings, or any other extra services which have been made directly by the client.The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for all land packages, tours and programs;
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: non-refundable deposit 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-0 days: 100% of selling price
* Special conditions apply for canceling of tailor-made tour programs.
The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for tours that include a Cruise program:
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-8 days: 75% of selling price.
7-0 days: 100% of selling price.
* Special conditions apply for cancellation.
If you have to withdraw from a tour after it has begun for reasons such as illness, be sure to obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We are unable to make refunds for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or entrance tickets.
Flight/ferry/train/bus tickets are not included in the above cancellation policy. Once your program is confirmed and the tickets are purchased, any changes to the dates of the program will incur a change fee or in case of cancellation, (this is additional to the service fee), 100% cancellation fee for the tickets will be incurred regardless of the above cancellation policy. For further information, please read our Terms and Conditions page.
When and How I will receive my tour documents?
Travel documents and electronic flight tickets are usually sent 21 days prior to departure. However, you will receive tour vouchers, maps, ferry, bus or train tickets and other required information upon arrival in Turkey. This will be included in a welcome package waiting for you upon arrival at your hotel.