Gastronomy Tour of Turkiye — 12 Days
Istanbul, Cappadocia, Gaziantep, Hatay
Turquaz Signature Private Travel
100% Private. Tailor-Made. Your vehicle, your guide, your schedule — arranged only for you.
Overview
Gastronomy Tour of Turkiye — 12 Days / 11 Nights
A carefully crafted culinary journey through Turkiye's most iconic food destinations. From the bustling street food scene of Istanbul to the UNESCO-recognized gastronomy capital Gaziantep, from the wine caves of Cappadocia to the multicultural flavors of Hatay — this 12-day tour is a feast for all senses.
Route
Istanbul → Cappadocia → Gaziantep → Hatay → Istanbul
Culinary Highlights
- 4 Hands-on Cooking Classes — Learn manti, gozleme, tandir kebab, icli kofte, kunefe and more from local chefs
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise — Ottoman cuisine on the water with skyline views
- Baklava Workshop — Roll and layer at a historic Gaziantep baklavaci
- Wine Tasting — Cappadocia's cave wineries, local Emir and Kalecik Karasi grapes
- Grand Hatay Breakfast — Legendary 40+ item spread
- Street Food Tours — Eminonu, Kadikoy, Egyptian Spice Bazaar
- Market Visits — Source ingredients with local guides in every city
Transfer Summary
| Day 4 | Istanbul → Cappadocia | Coach ~11 hours |
| Day 7 | Cappadocia → Gaziantep | Coach ~7 hours |
| Day 9 | Gaziantep → Hatay | Coach ~4 hours |
| Day 11 | Hatay → Istanbul | Domestic Flight ~1.5 hours |
Pricing Tiers
| Package | Details | Per Person |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | 3-star hotels, 2 cooking classes, coach Hatay–Istanbul | $1,875 |
| Standard | 3-4 star hotels, all 4 classes, domestic flight included | $2,625 |
| Comfort | 4-star boutique, balloon ride, flight, premium upgrades | $3,625 |
Best Season: April – June or September – November (pleasant weather, local produce at peak).
Minimum group size: 4 persons. Private tours available at supplementary cost. Custom itineraries and dietary adjustments available upon request.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Arrival in Istanbul
Airport pickup, hotel check-in in Sultanahmet/Beyoglu area. Evening welcome dinner at a meyhane with meze spread and raki.
Istanbul Street Food & Spice Bazaar
Morning guided street food tour — simit, balik ekmek at Eminonu, kokorec, midye dolma. Midday at the Egyptian Spice Bazaar for ingredient sourcing, Turkish delight and spice shopping. Afternoon cooking class — manti (Turkish dumplings) and zeytinyagli dishes. Evening Bosphorus dinner cruise with Ottoman cuisine.
Istanbul Asian Side
Morning serpme kahvalti breakfast at a Beyoglu favorite. Afternoon at Kadikoy food market — cheese, olives, pickles, pastirma tasting. Evening free time with rooftop dinner and city views.
Istanbul → Cappadocia [Coach ~11 hrs]
Early morning departure by coach (~07:00). Scenic drive through central Anatolia. Arrive Goreme/Nevsehir (~18:00), hotel check-in. Light dinner at a cave restaurant.
Cappadocia Culinary Day
Optional hot air balloon ride at sunrise (extra cost). Morning valley walk through fairy chimneys and pottery workshop visit. Afternoon cooking class — tandir kebab, gozleme with village women. Evening pottery kebab (testi kebab) dinner in a cave restaurant.
Cappadocia Wine & Heritage
Morning at Urgup wineries — wine tasting of local Emir and Kalecik Karasi grapes. Afternoon underground city visit (Derinkuyu or Kaymakli). Farewell Cappadocia dinner with local specialties.
Cappadocia → Gaziantep [Coach ~7 hrs]
Morning departure by coach (~08:00). Arrive Gaziantep (~15:00), hotel check-in. Late afternoon first taste — katmer with kaymak and pistachios. Evening kebab dinner — lahmacun, Ali Nazik, beyti sarma.
Gaziantep — UNESCO City of Gastronomy
Traditional Antep breakfast — beyran corbasi, katmer. Midday baklava workshop at a historic baklavaci — hands-on rolling and layering. Afternoon at Gaziantep Cuisine Museum and coppersmith bazaar. Evening cooking class — yuvarlama, icli kofte, anali kizli.
Gaziantep → Hatay [Coach ~4 hrs]
Morning visit to pepper flake (pul biber) producer and pistachio orchards. Final Gaziantep lunch. Afternoon coach to Hatay/Antakya (depart ~14:00, arrive ~18:00). Evening Hatay mezes — humus, muhammara, zahter salad.
Hatay Culinary Exploration
Morning grand Hatay breakfast — 40+ item spread (suzme yogurt, oruk, tepsi boregi). Midday St. Pierre Church and Archaeology Museum (world's largest mosaic collection). Afternoon cooking class — kunefe, kagit kebabi, Hatay-style stuffed vegetables. Farewell dinner with kunefe at a famous shop.
Hatay → Istanbul [Flight ~1.5 hrs]
Morning transfer to Hatay Airport. Domestic flight to Istanbul (~1.5 hours). Afternoon arrive Istanbul, hotel check-in, free time. Evening farewell dinner at a rooftop restaurant. Note: This leg can alternatively be done by coach (~16 hrs) for budget groups.
Istanbul Departure
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for departure.
What's Included
- 11 nights accommodation (3-4 star hotels, double occupancy)
- Daily breakfast, selected lunches and dinners as per itinerary
- 4 cooking classes with local chefs
- All food tastings and market tours
- Bosphorus dinner cruise
- Baklava workshop in Gaziantep
- Wine tasting session in Cappadocia
- Professional English-speaking culinary guide
- All intercity coach transfers
- Domestic flight Hatay to Istanbul (Standard & Comfort packages)
- Airport pickup and drop-off in Istanbul
- Museum and site entrance fees
Not Included
- International flights
- Domestic flight Hatay–Istanbul (Budget package only)
- Hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia (~€180)
- Personal expenses and shopping
- Alcoholic beverages (outside included tastings)
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
Available Add-ons
Sunrise balloon flight over fairy chimneys — unforgettable experience
Upgrade from Standard to Comfort — 4-star boutique hotels, balloon ride included, premium dining
Private room instead of shared double occupancy for the full 11 nights
Replace Hatay–Istanbul domestic flight with overnight coach — save on the base price
Book This Tour
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