History, beaches, diverse cultures, and incredible landscapes are all on tap as you make a complete circuit of the Black Sea, going ashore for an extra helping of Turkish treasure in Cappadocia and Istanbul. Take in broad beach boulevards, mountain-framed resort towns, princely palaces and turbulent histories. And experience cultures that don’t look, sound, taste, or act like anyplace else on earth. Georgia with its wine and walnuts, Turkey with its hamsi and hazelnuts, Bulgaria with its boza and banitsa – no two countries are alike. And within each country you’ll find a cornucopia of contradictions: Sochi’s Soviet sanitoriums and modern Fabergé-inspired Olympic stadium. Odessa’s Mediterranean-style architecture. Romania’s anachronistic language, as close as you can get to ancient Latin. And the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia, waiting to enchant you with rose petal sunrises and ultramarine frescoes.

What’s Included
• 3 hotel stays – 1-night accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room, 2-night accommodations at Argos in Cappadocia in a Stone Standard room
• Daily breakfast at hotels
• Lunch at Sira Restaurant in Cappadocia
• Domestic flights Istanbul to Kayseri and Kayseri to Istanbul (Turkish Airlines - Economy Class)
• All arrival and departure transfers
• 2 full days and 1/2 day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• Licensed professional English speaking tour guide
• Entrance fees to Ayasofya, Blue Mosque, Kaymakli Underground City, Grand Bazaar, Goreme Open-Air Museum, Spice Market
• 9-day cruise round trip from Istanbul
 
Please note:  Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.
 

Arrive in the city of many names – Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantium. Meet your guide at the airport and take in the sights on your way to the Pera Palace Hotel, a 5-star historic hotel originally built to host passengers on the Orient Express. (It’s said that Agatha Christie wrote Murder on the Orient Express in Room 411 during one of her visits.) Spend the rest of the day as you wish. Browse the shops and cafes on pedestrian-only Istiklal Street near your hotel or choose an optional tour before dinner on your own. We suggest the elegant Mikla Restaurant on the roof of the Marmara Pera hotel just across the street, which has been on The Worlds 50 Best Restaurant list since 2015.
Overnight at Pera Palace Hotel.
 

Istanbul’s historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman wonders keep your head on a swivel. Visit landmarks from chariot grounds to the Blue Mosque, Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia) Mosque and the Grand Bazaar before heading to the airport. A short flight finds you in Kayseri and soon you’re relaxing at the Argos in Cappadocia hotel, your home for the next two nights. Enjoy dinner on your own then rest up for a busy tomorrow.
Overnight at Argos in Cappadocia Hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel the meet your guide for a transfer to Kaymakli Underground City.  Early Christians carved some amazing living quarters out of this soft limestone as you’ll see at Kaymakli Underground City, a complex of living quarters and stables five levels below ground. The Goreme Valley is known as the valley of the churches, with some dating back to the 6^th century. And not just any churches – these are rock-cut churches complete with beautiful wall frescoes. You’ll see several at the Goreme Open-Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meet pottery artisans in the pretty town of Avanos on your way to the Devrent and Pasabag Valleys with their thrilling otherworldly landscapes, then return to the hotel for dinner on your own.

Overnight at Argos in Cappadocia Hotel.

After an early breakfast, fly back to Istanbul for a sense-swirling experience at the Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar. Built in 1663, it’s the second largest covered bazaar in Turkey and the best place to buy Turkish delight, dried fruit, exotic herbs, and all the spices of the East including cardamom, turmeric, saffron, rose water, and much more. The colors of the spices and sounds of the merchants are as intoxicating as the aromas. At the end of the visit, transfer to the port and embark on your waiting yacht.

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 

The terracotta rooftops come into sight as we approach Nessebar. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is easy to cover by foot, tidily contained on a 24-acre island connected by a narrow isthmus to the mainland. Take a walk and you’ll see medieval churches everywhere you look, along with19th century wooden houses with drying fish strung from their roofs. Further inland, glimpse the quickly vanishing lifestyle of Bulgaria’s rural villages, and sample warm Bulgarian hospitality.

You’ll have time to explore this fascinating country as we extend our stay into the evening hours. The resort town of Constanta offers beaches, history, and fine wine. Head inland to the beautiful city of Bucharest, once known as “Little Paris,” where you may visit the vast and famous home of both houses of the Romanian Parliament, widely known as the Palace of the People. Don’t miss the chance to watch the locals playing chess in beautiful Cismigiu Gardens.

You can credit Catherine the Great with this sparkling city, designed by the finest European architects in the late 18th century. With its eclectic architectural styles and immigrants from diverse cultures, Odessa has a unique vibe. Walk the Potemkin Steps, said to bring good luck to those who go up and down them in bare feet, and stroll the beautiful tree-lined paths in the heart of the city.

The port that was host of the 2014 Winter Olympics is also notable for its 20^th century neoclassical buildings including the Winter Theatre. Things to do in Sochi include the 19^th century Arboretum and Sochinskiy National Park for endangered species.

This popular port and resort town on the Black Sea is full of quirky architecture and sculptures. Walk along the beach promenade and the piazza for some entertaining street art and murals and find the freshest produce and home-made products at the local market. Go up to the top of the 427-foot (130 meter)-high Alphabetic Tower with a seaside observation deck.

One of the prettiest towns on the Black Sea coast, the walled city of Sinop perches on a promontory overlooking the harbor. It’s one of the oldest cities in the region, and thanks to its strategic location, it’s changed hands many times since the 7th century B.C. Sinop Castle, for instance, was built by the Greeks in the 7th century B.C. then later used by the Romans, Byzantines, and Seljukians. Catch up on local history at the Ethnography and Archaeological Museums. Or get a sense of daily life at the market and shop for a hand-carved meerschaum pipe, traditional nautical wood carvings, or a Turkish puzzle ring.

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight).