Photography :: SRM Travel

Locals in their daily routine; street markets, farmers working in the fields, elders playing backgammon, and children running around to draw your attention.

Tour Highlights

In the Taurus mountain villages, you will visit nomad families, spend time with them and have a chance to photograph their colorful life.
We will take time to see behind the scene workshops in the colorful markets of Istanbul.
In Cappadocia, best described as unusual landscape and amazing rock formations, we will visit off the beaten track villages, and be there in the Red Valley for the sunset.
The village of Sirince, and excursion to Tire will give you valuable experience.
In Antalya, Aphrodisias, Bodrum and Didyma, you will observe some of the finest examples of Greco-Roman architecture and style.

Itinerary Details

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrival in Istanbul; brief introduction on the tour, orientation and free time.

Day 2: Istanbul

Introduction to Ottoman lifestyle, today we will visit Topkapi, the administrative palace for the Ottoman dynasty for over 400 years. The tour will include the Harem, private apartments of the royal family. We will then visit the Blue Mosque known for its outstanding 17. century tiles. Next stop will be the Hippodrome, the center of political and sportive activities in the capital city of the Byzantine Empire. We will continue to the Museum of Turkish Islamic arts, and the mysterious underground water reservoir built in the Byzantine times.

Day 3: Istanbul

In the morning, we will visit the church of St. Sophia, the masterpiece of Byzantine art and architecture. Then we will drive to the church of St. Savior in Chora that has some of the finest mosaics of the post-iconoclast era. In the afternoon we will cruise the Bosphorus, the strait that separates the two continents. We will then take a stroll to see the Grand Bazaar, Spice Market and the narrow streets around it to observe the locals in their daily routine.

Day 4: Ankara & Cappadocia

Early morning we fly to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Upon arrival we will visit the unique Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Then we will drive to Cappadocia, known for its unusual landscape and amazing rock formations. On the orientation tour we will take a walk along the fairy chimneys in the Red Valley to see the sunset.

Day 5: Cappadocia

In the morning, we will visit Goreme Open Air Museum with striking Byzantine rock cut churches. En route, we will see the Valley of Pigeons and Avcilar, a perfect location to get a general view of central Cappadocia. We will also stop by the Byzantine military fortification known as Uchisar, built on a massive tufa rock, and this is where we visit a local home to get to know the family.

Day 6: Cappadocia

The town of Avanos on the Red River is known for its red clay pottery since the Hittites. On our way to Avanos, we will stop by the once prosperous town of Çavusin. We will take our time to observe the life in the countryside; farmers in the fields, women baking bread, elders playing backgammon, and children running around to draw your attention.

Day 7: Guzelyurt

As we say goodbye to our friends in Mustafa Pasa, we will head towards the village of Guzelyurt. En route we will visit the underground city of Kaymakli, carved in the tufa rock, to see how the people of Cappadocia found shelter during the never-ending wars in the past. Upon arrival in Guzelyurt, we will settle in our hotel that was built as a monastery in 19th century. Then, we will take a walk in the village, meet the locals, and enjoy a talk with the elders of the community.

Day 8: Antalya

On this day we will drive to Antalya, a very attractive town on the Mediterranean, over the picturesque Taurus mountains. En route, we will visit a 13th century Caravanserai and the Museum of the Whirling Dervishes in Konya. We will stay in the old town.

Day 9: Antalya

Today we will visit ancient Perge, a well-known archeological site from the Roman times, and continue to Aspendos to see one of the best-preserved theater buildings of the ancient world. In the afternoon you'll visit the remarkable Museum of Archeology in Antalya to see the extremely well-preserved artifacts and statues found during excavations at the local sites. Later in the day we will take a walk around the fishermen's quarter and the old town.

Day 10: Bodrum

Drive to Bodrum. On the Taurus mountains, we will visit nomad families and spend time with them. We will have a chance to photograph their colorful life. We will then visit ancient Aphrodisias, dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty. It was the city of fine arts and philosophy.

Day 11: Sirince

This morning, we will visit the Knights' castle which houses an outstanding museum of underwater archaeology. In the afternoon we drive to Sirince. En route we will visit the ancient city of Miletus, one of the major cities of the Ionian League. Further along the road in Didyma we will see the impressive temple of Apollo which was one of the major oracle centers of the ancient world. The temple is in a perfect state of preservation.

Day 12: Sirince

An extended tour of Ephesus (the contemporary town of Selcuk) including the site, and the local museum of archaeology. Later in the day we will have time in Sirince to get to know the town, the people and the handicrafts.

Day 13: Istanbul

Today we drive to Izmir, the financial capital of Aegean Turkey, for our flight to Istanbul. En route we will drive to Tire (or Odemis) for the local handicrafts market. Late afternoon in Istanbul is free of group activities. Farewell dinner and overnight in Istanbul.