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Map of Turkey Real Food Adventure including Turkey

Go behind the scenes of the local cuisine on an adventure that’s full of Turkish delights

Get up close and personal with Turkey's age-old culinary traditions on this authentic food adventure. From ancient recipes with modern twists to Asian-inspired feasts with European influences, take a tongue-tingling journey beyond the cookbook and discover the secrets behind delicious Turkish dishes. Enjoy a cooking class in the caves of Cappadocia, learn from a celebrated local chef in Selcuk, and explore the impressive ruins of Ephesus. Whether you’re wandering through the passageways of Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar or flying high in a balloon above the fairy chimneys of Goreme, embark on an experience that goes above and beyond what you think you know about Turkish cuisine.

Start
Istanbul, Turkey
Finish
Istanbul, Turkey
Destination
Turkey
Style
Original
Theme
Food
Code
ERZZ
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • Discover the secrets behind Turkish dishes during a cooking class with a celebrated local chef in Selcuk, and learn how to make central Anatolian dishes with a local chef in her cave home.

  • Meet the people behind the dishes, from the market vendors serving up sizzling street food in Izmir and Istanbul, to the owners of a local olive farm in a rural village.

  • Explore bustling Istanbul, walk among the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia, hear the wartime stories of Gallipoli and wander through the ancient ruins of Ephesus.

  • Taste the country’s most cherished dishes, from iconic kebabs and world-famous Turkish delight to local favourites like baklava, pide, gozleme and fish sandwiches.

  • Get to know the artisans behind local crafts when you visit a social enterprise that trains local women in carpet weaving, and visit a family-run pottery studio that’s been in business for six generations.

Is this trip right for you?

  • The cuisine of Turkey includes a lot of meat and seafood. For vegetarians and vegans we recommend reviewing the itinerary and inclusions to ensure that you will be able to fully participate and enjoy this trip. We also have many other trips to Turkey which can accommodate a range of dietary requirements.

  • This trip includes a 12 hour overnight train trip from Izmir to Konya. Please see Day 6 of the itinerary for details.

  • This trip involves a lot of walking, sometimes on rocky or slippery terrain such as the sites in Goreme. Please bring sturdy walking shoes, but also note that you can sit out the walks if you do not feel up to them.

  • Don’t underestimate the weather at any time of year in Turkey. In the summer months, heat can be extreme. In winter months, some travellers have been surprised at how low the temperatures go. A hat, sunscreen, and clothing that can be layered will serve you well year-round.

Turkey_Goreme_Cappadocia_Cooking-class
Baklava will be in plentiful supply on a Turkey Real Food Adventure
Explore Turkey on a Real Food Adventure with Intrepid Travel
Eat like a local in Turkey on a Real Food Adventure with Intrepid Travel
Dinner at Dibek restaurant in Cappadocia.
Group at Dibek restaurant, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Itinerary
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Hosgeldiniz! Welcome to Turkey. Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents, so when you explore the streets, you'll see a great clash of east and west that’s represented not only in its architecture, but in its delicious cuisine. Your adventure kicks off at 6pm today with an important welcome meeting, however if you arrive early, feel free to go out and explore what this captivating city has to offer. Following the meeting, head out for your first taste of Turkey with a classic – a kebab. While you might be familiar with the shaved meats and pita bread sensation, nothing beats the kind they wrap up in Istanbul. The eggplant kebab is also a winner if you fancy something vegetarian tonight.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.

Start the day by heading to the celebrated Egyptian Spice Bazaar on a guided walking tour. Meet a spice merchant, sit down for a Turkish coffee and savour a typical Turkish sweet. Continue your tour around Sultanahmet and Eminonu, taking in some of the most celebrated sites of the city, such as Hagia Sophia Mosque and the Hippodrome. The area around Eminonu boasts some delicious street food, and local favourites include barbecued corn, roasted kestane (chestnuts), and of course lokum, which you may know better as Turkish Delight. In the afternoon, jump on a ferry and in just 20 minutes you’ll arrive on the Asian side of the city in the vibrant neighbourhood of Kadikoy. Hit the sarkuteri (delicatessen) to sample some olives, pastirma (seasoned cured beef) and a variety of delicious pickles. Your evening is free to spend as you wish.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Istanbul - Spice Market tour
  • Istanbul - Kadikoy visit and street food tour
  • Istanbul - City Tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

This morning, travel to the waterside town of Canakkale, visiting the Gallipoli battlefields en route, a place of enormous significance to Australians and New Zealanders. Turkey's most westerly point may feel serene, but this coastal point was once a major backdrop of World War I. After touring the former battlefields, continue to Canakkale and join your leader for an orientation walk of this exciting university city perched on the Dardanelles. During the walk you'll stop to sample locally made cheeses and jams. Canakkale has a great range of dining options – ask your leader for some recommendations. You may like to round out your day with a stroll along the waterfront with a dondurma, a type of Turkish ice-cream.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Gallipoli - Battlefields visit
  • Canakkale - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Canakkale - Cheese and jam tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 4 hours.

This morning, we’ll begin our journey to Selcuk. Our first stop is Adatepe Village to see the Altar of Zeus. The altar was dedicated by King Eumenes II to Zeus and Athena Nikephoros, and its construction probably took place between 181 and 159 B.C. Travel onwards to an authentic Turkish village famed for its olive oil products. Hear the story of the regional olives, sample some of the products and wander this beautiful town. For lunch we visit a restaurant that is owned by a local woman who left the corporate world behind to become an award-winning olive & olive oil producer and restaurant owner. After lunch, we’ll drive approx. 3 hrs to Selcuk where the evening is free to spend as you wish.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Havran - Olive Oil Farm
  • Adatepe - Altar of Zeus
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 5.5 hours.

Today is a full day. This morning you will visit Ephesus, one of Turkey's most important ancient sites. Explore this beautifully preserved classical city with your leader who will bring its colourful 1500-year history to life. Watch in awe as the sophistication of this former metropolis reveals itself. It had running water, public toilets, a renowned medical institute, and Roman baths. The theatre is well-preserved and regularly hosts concerts, but the marvellous library might just be the highlight. From ancient ruins to ancient traditions, next up you’ll be treated to a carpet weaving demonstration and learn about the art of traditional carpet weaving from local social enterprise; Sultanköy. Turkish carpet weaving dates back to the early Neolithic age. Sultanköy provides local women with employment while protecting and developing the ancient tradition. Later, drive past apple and peach orchards to the quaint village of Sirince, where charming, red-roofed houses clamber up the hillside. Drop by a local wine house where you’ll enjoy a tasting of the locally produced fruit wines. Try a sip of kiwi, pear, peach, quince, or all the above! Next, you’re in for an extraordinary treat - meet a local chef (who has appeared on the BBC!) for a Turkish cooking class, using olive oil produced on site as well as herbs and vegetables picked fresh from the garden. If you’re just eating Turkish food in restaurants, you’re only getting half the story. Learn how to make a range of small mezze dishes using seasonal ingredients. Enjoy the fruits of your labour as this evening’s dinner will be the mouth-watering mezze plates you’ve made together.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Sultankoy Village Carpet Weaving
  • Selcuk - Cooking class
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

After breakfast, join your leader for an orientation walk around Selcuk. You’ll see the Isa Bey Mosque, a beautiful example of 14th-century Seljuk Turkish architecture, and the imposing Byzantine citadel of the Grand Fortress. Just below the fortress are the ruins of the Basilica of St John, built by Justinian I in the sixth century. Late morning, drive to Izmir (1hr) where your leader will show you around the city, visiting the clock tower, Hisar Mosque and Kemeraltı Bazaar. While in the bazaar you will have the opportunity to try some local treats such as kumru (a favourite local sandwich), boyoz (an Izmir tahini pastry specialty) and gevrek (a chewy bread dipped in honey, water, and sesame seeds). You'll have free time to explore and eat your way around Izmir, before meeting the group and heading to the train station. Your train will depart Izmir in the evening, transporting you through the night to the central Anatolian city of Konya.
Accommodation
  • Overnight train (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Izmir - Street eats and city tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s driving time is approximately 1 hour and the overnight train journey is approximately 12 hours.

Each cabin on the overnight train sleeps two people in single bunk beds. Pillows, sheets and blankets are provided, and there is also a small sink. Toilets are located at the end of the carriage. Each cabin is lockable from the inside and your luggage will be stored with you.

Arrive in Konya by early morning, then take a private transfer to Goreme. This is your gateway to the fabled fairy-chimneys of Capadoccia. Perhaps stop for a mid-morning snack of etli ekmek, a larger local variation of the traditional Turkish lahmacun: flat bread baked with ground meat, tomato, peppers and onion. Stop in at Derinkuyu, the astounding old subterranean city that goes as deep as 60 metres underground. It used to have wine and oil presses, cellars, refectories, stables and chapels, not to mention some 20,000 residents. For lunch perhaps hit a local pide restaurant for Turkey's answer to the Italian pizza, enjoy toppings like grilled lamb, black pepper, tender spinach, fresh egg and Turkey’s famed peynir cheese made from sheep’s milk. 
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cappadocia - Derinkuyu Underground City
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s travel time is approximately 3 hours.

This morning you have the option to take a hot air balloon flight, a once-in-a-lifetime experience during which the sun illuminates a skyline dotted with balloons. Even if you'd prefer not to take a flight, it's still worth waking up for this truly incredible sight. Later this morning, wander through the Soganli Valley on a morning walk (approximately 1 hour), taking in the arid surrounds and towering vistas. Next up is a stop in Mustafapasa, a village with strong Greek Orthodox roots. Take a break at a coffeehouse to see the beans being roasted and sample the fresh results. Onwards to lunch to try a local specialty - testi kebab. Also known as pottery kebab, meat and vegetables are cooked in a clay pot for several hours, before being cracked open in front of you. This afternoon, visit one of Cappadoccia’s most famous wineries to learn about the region's 4000-year-old wine industry. Afterwards, walk through the stunning Red Valley (approximately 1.5 hours) as the sun sets, enjoying a glass of the local wine.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Goreme - Sunset wine tasting
  • Goreme - Red Valley walk
  • Goreme - Soganli Valley walk
  • Mustafapasa - Coffeehouse visit and tasting
Optional Activities
  • Goreme - Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Regular Flight - EUR240
  • Goreme - Hot Air Balloon, Cappadocia Deluxe Flight - EUR300
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
The hot air balloon activity can only be booked locally and the cost will vary based on which flight package you choose. Please speak to your leader on Day 1 if you're interested.

Due to local regulations, sunrise hot air balloon excursion times do vary which may result in your excursion beginning just after sunrise. This is subject to the tour provider’s discretion and is not within our control.

Today’s walks are not particularly challenging, but a basic level of fitness will help you to enjoy them to the fullest. The routes include gradual hill ascents and descents, and the exercise will mean you can enjoy more of the delicious Turkish food!

This morning you will visit a family-run pottery studio that has been in the business for six generations. Speak with a local artist who will explain the history and techniques of traditional Turkish ceramics. Discover the rich local clay and watch how it is molded into exquisite pieces. Enjoy free time before an evening cooking class. You'll be warmly welcomed into the cave home of Nuray, a brilliant home cook. Under her tutelage, learn to prepare classic central Anatolian dishes. The exact menu will vary to showcase the best of local seasonal produce. Enjoy your flavoursome creations over dinner.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Goreme - Cooking Class
  • Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning, wave the fairy chimneys a fond goodbye and transfer to one of the region's airports for a flight back to Istanbul. After checking into your hotel, enjoy free time before joining your group for a classic Istanbul meal - balik ekmek, the casual but delicious fish sandwich, bought and eaten alongside the Bosphorus.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Istanbul - Balik ekmek (fish sandwich)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s flight time is approximately 2.5 hours.

Your Intrepid trip comes to an end this morning. If you wish to spend some more time in Istanbul, we would be happy to organise additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners

Transport

Plane, Private vehicle, Overnight Train

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights), Overnight Sleeper Train (1 night)

Included activities

  • Istanbul - Welcome Dinner
  • Istanbul - Spice Market tour
  • Istanbul - Kadikoy visit and street food tour
  • Istanbul - City Tour
  • Gallipoli - Battlefields visit
  • Canakkale - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Canakkale - Cheese and jam tasting
  • Havran - Olive Oil Farm
  • Adatepe - Altar of Zeus
  • Ephesus - Archaeological site visit
  • Selcuk - Sultankoy Village Carpet Weaving
  • Selcuk - Cooking class
  • Selcuk - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Izmir - Street eats and city tour
  • Cappadocia - Derinkuyu Underground City
  • Goreme - Sunset wine tasting
  • Goreme - Red Valley walk
  • Goreme - Soganli Valley walk
  • Mustafapasa - Coffeehouse visit and tasting
  • Goreme - Cooking Class
  • Cappadocia - Pottery demonstration
  • Istanbul - Balik ekmek (fish sandwich)

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Turkey Real Food Adventure trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 6 (Overnight Train) where you will be in shared accommodation, and is subject to
availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. While we endeavour to cater for specific dietary requirements, some meals and food activities are set in advance and may be difficult to adjust. Please advise us of any dietary requirements at the time of booking so that we can ensure you’ll enjoy this trip.
3. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is 15kg for check in luggage and 8kg for carry on. You can store excess luggage at the start point hotel.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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