Rejuvenation Villas is pleased to share with you its latest adventure for discerning travelers, to select from a collection of enchanting journeys exploring the regions and sites of Turkey.

The sample itineraries are for a one week adventure. Custom travel weeks can be tailored to your individual time frame and interests. Private guides, transportation both air, ground, and sea along with select accommodations are included in this itinerary for groups of 4-12 people.

Join us on a private yacht to explore the Turkish coastline or sail to the Greek Islands. It's a great way to relax after a comprehensive land tour. Please view our sample yacht and land itineraries.

Click here to send this page to a friend

Day 1 - Arrival in Istanbul and check into the 5-Star Ereson Hotel. Originally an Ottoman Mansion, it recently underwent a facelift and has been creatively restored to a stylish 58 room hotel. Found in the heart of the Sultanahmet with an excellent rooftop restaurant, it possesses one of Istanbul 's most spectacular panoramas.

Depending on how you feel, after checking into the hotel, we would suggest that you relax and then set off to the Bosphorus area. Stroll through the boardwalk of Ortaköy and in the early evening take a boat across the Bosphorus to the Asian side and eat at the renowned Körfez Restaurant, famous for its delicately prepared seafood.

Day 2 - Start the day of touring with the Hall of Tombs in the extensive Archaeological Museum. Continue to the Byzantine Underground Cisterns, a masterpiece of Byzantine engineering. Afterwards visit the world's oldest basilica, the Hagia Sofia of Constantinople , built by the Emperor Justinian in the glory days of Byzantium, as one of a string of attempts to revitalize the dwindling Roman Empire. The Hagia Sophia remained the greatest Church in Christendom for seven centuries. The subsequent fourteen centuries have produced many additions and a cluster of subsidiary buildings that have altered the exterior of church almost beyond recognition, but it is still possible to detect the fine original lines and wonderful aesthetics of the interior. The mosaics are of particular note. Enjoy lunch in the private gardens of the Yesil Ev Restaurant. Close by you will find the famous Blue Mosque, with its unique six minarets and fabulous turquoise ceramic tiles. Continue to the Hippodrome, the center of Byzantium's life for over 1000 years, and the center of Ottoman life for over 400 years. Throughout Turkey's complex history the Hippodrome was the location of the unfolding dramas of the Emperors court, the Sultan's Sublime Portal, the throws of revolution, executions and assassinations, and even horse racing. End the afternoon visiting the Turkish Islamic Arts and Crafts Museum demonstrating the intricate art of Ottoman miniatures, calligraphy, the world famous Iznik tiles and ceramics and Turkish tapestries from the Sultan's court. This evening we can suggest eating at the excellent Tugra Restaurant in the Ciragan Palace, specializing in Ottoman cuisine.

Day 3 - Start the morning with the Topkapi Palace. This former residence of the Ottoman Sultans houses some of the world's finest exhibitions of porcelain, jewellery, silverware glassware, clocks and Ottoman weaponry, royal treasures and the world's largest harem. The palace is spread extensively and requires about 2.5 hours to visit. Continue to the intact Byzantine city walls of Constantinople and St. Saviour in Chora, with its flawless frescos and priceless mosaic works from the Byzantine period. Enjoy lunch in the private atmosphere of the Asitane Restaurant, well known for its excellent food. Visit the world's largest covered bazaar. This is where the artisans display their hand woven kilims and carpets, specially designed jewellery and rolls of exquisite fabrics - a maze of 400 streets and over 4,000 shops. Getting there earlier in the afternoon, means missing the evening crowds. Continue to the winding passages of the pungent Egyptian Spice Bazaar.

End your day of touring with a private showing of the Sadberk Hanim Museum , housed in an Ottoman Mansion belonging to the Koc family. This museum has both a wonderful archaeological exhibit and also an ethnological exhibit. Returning to your hotel, visit Istanbul 's most exclusive shop of Iznik tile and ceramics. Copies of the famed ceramic displays from the Turkish Islamic Arts and Crafts Museum and the Topkapi can be found here. Enjoy dinner at Balakci Sabahattin Restaurant, within walking distance from your hotel. (You would have an early departure the next morning - breakfast included).

Day 4 - After an early breakfast drive to the Istanbul airport for the morning flight at 7.30 a.m. to Kayseri or otherwise known as Caesarea , an hour outside of Cappadocia . This was the residence of the 4 th century church leaders, Basil the Great, who established the monastic Rules of Basil, mainly used in Cappadocia and monasteries outside of Constantinople and
Gregory the Illuminator, the founder of the Armenian Orthodox Church.

Continue to Cappadocia , the center of monastic cave churches. Cappadocia is in the volcanic region of Mt. Erciyes and possesses a relatively soft stone called tufa, which through years of erosion has formed a strange lunar landscape of odd conic forms, often over 45 ft high. This stone is easy to carve into but hardens when exposed to air, thus entire monastic communities were carved into this region, mainly starting in the 3 rd century under the inspiration of Basil the Great.

Visit the fantastic Zelve Valley. Stop for a view of the curious three-headed fairy chimneys. Hike through the valley and visit the open-air museum of Göreme. Important are the Karanlik and Tokali rock-cut churches, housing intact frescos from the early Christian era. Explore Uçhisar, hiking up the interior of the cave fortification, a spectacular climb for a sunset panorama of the Cappadocian and Pigeon Valleys.

Check into the 4-Star Esbelli Ev in Ürgüp. This unique hotel exterior conjures images of ancient monastic dwellings. Private terraces of the 10 room boutique hotel have been cleverly hollowed out of the Cappadocian Tufa cliff sides. The interior is a stark contrast of simple elegance carved in stone. Dinner suggestion at the Prokopi Restaurant in Ürgüp - it has great Armenian specialties. (breakfast incl.)

Day 5 - Start with an optional hot air balloon trip, over Pigeon valley at sunrise, complete with a champagne toast afterward. It is truly a lovely experience.

After breakfast, explore the underground city of Derenkuyu, with its numerous floors of cave dwellings. Depart for the breathtaking Ihlara Valley with scenery easily as wonderful as the early Chris tian rock-cut churches decorating this gorge. Especially impressive are the Direkli and Bahattin churches, found downstream near the village of Belisirma . There are several good local restaurants to choose from here for lunch.

Continue to the untouched site of Selimiye with the Castle Monastery and Guzelyurt, to visit the valley of the Monastery's. Return to the hotel to get ready for an evening in Avanos. Suggested dinner at the Bizem Ev Restaurant. Late evening, enjoy a Mevlana show at the Sarihan outside of Avanos. (breakfast incl.)

Day 6 - Flight at 9.20 a.m. from Kasseri to Istanbul , continuing to Izmir . Land at 1.30 p.m. in Izmir . Continue to the closeby site of Sardis . Visit the spectacular temple of Artemis , later churches, the gold refinery and the large gymnasium complex where the synagogue is located. Sardis was well known for having a large Jewish community as early as the 2 nd century AD. The huge synagogue, the largest in the ancient world outside Jerusalem , is still extant and shows some of the original splendor. The reconstructed gymnasium complex, was turned into a Jewish religious center in the 3 rd century. John wrote a critical letter to Sardis (Rev 3:1-6), but the church there seems to have prospered, because Bishop Mileto wrote a prominent work there in the second century attacking the Jews. Large Byzantine churches indicate the strength of Christianity in Sardis, with a list of bishops that continues to the fourteenth century.

Drive another 1.15 hr to one of Turkey 's first resort hotels. The Kismet is situated high on a lush peninsula surrounded by turquoise waters of the Aegean and sculpted gardens, with a spectacular view of Kusadasi and a magnificent swimming pool. Check into the deluxe rooms and enjoy dinner in the fine a la carte restaurant of the hotel.

Drive to the nearby village of Sirince for lunch. Sirince is a former Greek village from the 17th century, and is now under historical protection, with beautifully restored Greek Orthodox homes and chapels. After lunch visit the Basilica of St. John ranked as one of the largest Byzantine churches. According to tradition, the grave of St. John the Divine is under the church. This site affords a fine view of Ephesus and its surroundings. The Ephesus Archeological Museum is one of the most extensive and important in Turkey , with many famous artifacts from the site of ancient Ephesus , including several statues of Artemis. Return to your hotel for a relaxing swim. This evening dinner will be served in the Tarih Cinar Restaurant, overlooking the Kismet bay. (breakfast incl.)

Day 8 - After breakfast served in the gardens of the Kismet, drive through the Menderes plains to the ancient Roman site of Aphrodisias. The peaceful setting of Aphrodisias is famous for its cult to Aphrodite, museum of Greco-Roman sculpture, and the only intact Roman stadium in Anatolia .

Eat lunch in Aphrodisias and continue to Hierapolis located on top of the Cotton Castle travertine. Explore Hierapolis 's extensive necropolis and the nearly intact Roman theater. Hierapolis is the traditional site of the martyrdom of the Apostle Phillip, who settled there with his daughter after escaping Palestine during the Jewish-Roman War. The bishops of Hierapolis attended the Councils of Nicaea, Ephesus and Chaldeon.

This sample itinerary can be modified to meet your specific interests. Please give us a call so that we can discuss the wonders of Turkey.

• Please complete the custom booking request for custom quotes.
• Once sent, rejuvenationvillas.com staff will contact you by e-mail, fax or telephone to fine-tune your reservation and additional requests.
• Rates subject to change without notice. Please reconfirm when making your reservation.
  

• 50% deposit at time of reservation. Balance due sixty (60) days before arrival. Christmas / New Year’s due ninety (90) days prior to arrival due to airline bookings.
  
  

• Christmas bookings – no refund if cancelled within 60 days of arrival.
• Other dates: 50% refund if cancelled within 60 days of arrival.
• Full refund less 15% administration fee if cancelled prior to 60 days.