Day 1. ISTANBUL.-
Arrivals and transfer to the hotel in Istanbul's old city center.Evening briefing with your tour leader and later at dinner.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 2. ISTANBUL.-
An inspiring day where we will visit many of the “must-see” of the city but/and with a different point of view. Galata Bridge early in the morning, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque. After a stop for lunch, The Grand Bazar and Egyptian Market. A vibrant, lively place where the fragrance is permeated by the air of hundreds of well-arranged spices.
We will later embark on a cruise and have dinner on our boat. Along the way, we’ll view the impressive Dolmabahce Palace, as well as the Beylerbeyi Palace, a nineteenth-century edifice on the Asian side of Istanbul.
Photography: Galata Bridge, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque. Grand Bazar and Egyptian Market. People praying at the mosque. People on the streets.
(Please note that tripods are not allowed in most of the mosques and monuments we visit including the Basilica Cistern. You can bring a monopod but most times, even a monopod will not be allowed.)
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 3. ISTANBUL.-
As we are in the old area of the town, depending on the pace and fulfillment of yesterday’s program, we will eventually cover what could have been missed the day before, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi museum perhaps.
We are later progress to the picturesque Balat district. Once the center of Greek, Jewish and Armenian minority social and cultural life which has become an influential neighborhood
An old quarter, a non-touristy area with very old buildings and coffee houses. We will remain in this area for the rest of the day, entering into captivating old places and working on street photography with the help of our local Turkish photographer assistant as well as our local guide.
Photography: Basilica Cistern, Balat Area, Street photography, Old Cofee houses
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 4. ISTANBUL. FREE DAY.
Today after breakfast we will have free day to take photo or have shopping. We will meet at the hotel for dinner.
Overnight in Istanbul
Day 5. CAPPADOCCIA.-
Morning flight to Cappadocia. Pick-up on arrival and hotel.
During these three days we will be visiting Göreme, Avanos, Zelve, Uçhisar, Ortahisar, Ürgüp and Mustafapaşa. The pace and agenda will be determined daily depending on the rhythm of our party. Today will be around the area of Göreme and enjoy a photo session of locals in traditional dresses. In the evening, dinner with a belly dancer performance followed with a private photo session with the dancer.
Photography: Photo session with locals in traditional dresses, belly dancer, Göreme
Overnight in Göreme
Day 6. CAPPADOCCIA.-
Early this morning, before breakfast, we'll be going to take pictures of the impressive hot air balloons, as they dip in and out of the Love Valley . Then we should explore Avanos and Göreme amazing valley. It's a lunar landscape, strange and spectacular, where the forces of nature have eroded the landscape for thousands of years to produce odd rock formations called 'fairy chimneys". Many of those natural structures have houses and churches sculpted and some of the grottoes have vivid frescoes that display biblical scenes.
In the afternoon we will attend a private whirling dervishes performance as well as a private photo session with them. Our exploration of Cappadoccia will go on throughout the day.
Photography: Landscape flying balloons, Photo session with dervishes, Local life and street photography Avanos, Zelve, Uchisar, Ortahisar.
Overnight in Göreme
Day 7. CAPPADOCCIA – IZMIR.- SIRINCE
After breakfast photo session of camel herders with their camels. Coming next there will be a visit to the local Kirghiz tent owners and share with them a traditional lunch under the tent. In the afternoon we will be enjoying a photo session with the horses and later direct drive to the airport to catch our flight to Izmir to finalize our journey in Sirince.
Photography: Ürgüp and Mustafapaşa. Photo session with camel herders, documentary photography with Kirshigs in their tents, a photo session with wild horses in the landscape.
Overnight in Sirince
Day 8.- IZMIR AREA.- SIRINCE
We will head out to Ephesus after an early breakfast. Hopefully being one of the first visitors to get into the ruins of Ephesus, the oldest town ever discovered. Ephesus features an amphitheater that still holds 24,000 visitors. In addition to the impressive Celsus Library and the Temple of Artemis, there are marble-paved streets, gymnasiums, bathhouses and public latrines. Later on, Mother Mary visit (There is no photo allowed at this place).
We will come back to our village to have dinner and fish for interesting people and places. Evening dinner and wine tasting. Sirince is a charming genuine Turkish village and famous for the wines.
Photography: Street photography, Portraits, Documentary photography, Travel photography.
Overnight in Sirince
Day 9.- BIRGI.-
After breakfast, we move forward to the lovely and authentic Ottoman village named Birgi. It will be about the personal contact with the villagers and we will most probably be visiting one or two village houses with the photographic opportunity of the image of the residents. We will divide into small groups and explore the local kahves and coffee shops, including the barber, baker, candy maker, etc..
Photography: Street photography, Portraits, Documentary photography, Travel photography.
Overnight in Birgi.
Day 10.- ISTANBUL.-
After breakfast, we will go to İzmir airport to fly back Istanbul. We will visit some special places for photography. Afternoon we will go to Maiden Tower to take photo of the tower and people around with Sunset. Photo session in a traditional Turkish Bath (Hammam).
Photography: Private photo session in a Hammam, Street photography, Portraits, Documentary photography, Travel photography.
We will have dinner at the Maiden Tower with beautiful 360 Istanbul View.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 11.- ISTANBUL -FLIGHTS HOME OR OPTIONAL EXTENSION.
Transfers to the airport.
