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Where
Istanbul
Group Size
8-12 Travelers
Duration
8 Days, 7 Nights
Price
6,000 USD / person
Bridging Europe and Asia and connecting the Black Sea to the Mediterranean, the city of Istanbul has always been a place of intersecting cultures. Over 8 days and 7 nights, you’ll get a local’s access to the blend of history and modernity that defines this metropolis. Your guide is local expert Gonca Karakoç; no one knows Istanbul’s ustas (masters of traditional crafts) like her and you’ll be welcomed into places no other tourist can go. Your resident chef is author and teacher Özlem Warren, a regular guest at the Milk Street Cooking School and on Milk Street radio.
Over the course of this week, you’ll be exposed to many of the regional foods of Turkey, with a special focus on Özlem’s home region of Hatay in Southern Turkey. You’ll learn to navigate the bustling Grand Bazaar like a local, picking out everything from the best coffee pots to the freshest saffron. And as we walk through the city’s quieter neighborhoods, you’ll sample everything from tahini and pistachios to candied quince and Maraş chiles at exclusive tastings. You’ll see how farmers continue to thrive by farming in the city’s ancient moats and will meet members of Istanbul’s Sephardic Jewish community who are maintaining culinary traditions and roots that extend back to the time of the Spanish Inquisition. We conclude our week with a boat tour of the Bosporus, which divides Europe and Asia as well as Istanbul, and a dinner at Çiya, the headquarters of chef Musa Dağdeviren’s quest to preserve nearly lost regional and rural recipes.
COOK
SEE
TASTE
EAT
CRUISE
Your itinerary
Day 1
Arrival and welcome dinner
Day 2
Culinary walking tour of the Bazaar Quarter
Day 3
Shop, Cook, Feast with Özlem Warren
Day 4
Farms and Grills
Day 5
Shop, Cook, Feast (Again) with Özlem Warren
Day 6
A day in Kurtuluş, the other Istanbul
Day 7
Bosphorus cruise & farewell dinner
Day 8
Farewell
Meet the Crew
We are firm believers in the power of local knowledge. Our guides and the culinary masters and other artisans who are part of our trips all deeply reflect that. Meet some of our local heroes:
Özlem Warren
Gonca Karakoç
Uğur Yıldız
Ayşın Ekinci
Lian Penso
Mustafa Sabırtaşı
Where you'll stay
Bank Hotel
For all of our six nights in Istanbul, we’ll be staying on Bankalar Caddesi (formerly Voyvoda Street) in Karaköy. From as early as the 17th century, Bankalar Caddesi was a hub for financial activity, mercantile trade, and commerce within the Ottoman Empire. We will be staying at The Bank Hotel, designed by Antoine Tedeschi in the Neo-Renaissance style and constructed in 1867. The hotel is perfectly located to explore bohemian Beyoglu and historical Sultanahmet, and has a rooftop bar with stunning views of the peninsula. The hotel will be expecting you, so you can check in at your leisure.
Hear what travelers are saying
The best ever trip if you are a foodie who enjoys creating the dishes yourself while also getting exceptional tastes of so much great food.
Ruth B.
Better than my already high expectations!
Elizabeth O.
If I see Özlem is teaching a class, I just sign up. Her way of teaching is so easy to follow and the joy she gets from both cooking and teaching shines through every moment.
Pam A.
Know before you go
PRICING AND ACCOMMODATION
The total cost of this trip is $6,000. For travelers wishing to have single accommodations during the trip, an additional $1,250 supplement will be due at the time of the final payment. A $500 non-refundable deposit per traveler is required to secure space on the trip. The balance is due 90 days prior to the start of the trip.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Travelers should feel comfortable walking two to four miles each day and remaining on their feet for periods of time. There are a couple of hikes on uneven ground. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get hands-on during a couple cooking workshops.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
For flights in and out of Istanbul International Airport (IST or SAW), we suggest you arrive anytime arrive by 1 p.m. on Day 1 and depart anytime on Day 8. We’ll provide the option of booking additional nights at our Istanbul hotel before and/or after the tour, and are more than happy to provide suggestions for things to do and see in the city on your own.
INCLUSIONS
• All accommodation throughout the trip in stylish, boutique hotels • Professional guides throughout the entire experience • All meals and drinks included in the above activities • Admission to all proposed activities, locations, and events • Private coach for visits inside and outside the center city • A hungry group of Culinary Backstreets and Milk Street travelers, excited to explore all that Istanbul has to offer!
EXCLUSIONS
• Private individual arrival & departure airport transfers • Airfare and transportation to/from the start and end destination • Meals beyond those specified in the itinerary above • Alcoholic beverages other than those served at the table • Accommodations outside those noted, including pre- or post-trip hotel nights • Activities, tours & entry fees not included above • Personal purchases and incidentals at hotels
DIETARY RESTRICTIONS
We encourage an adventurous palate! We try our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, though ingredients cannot always be substituted or omitted from particular dishes. This trip can easily feature plentiful vegetarian options and can accommodate others. If you have other food allergies or intolerances, please contact us to find out if this is the right trip for you.
NOTES ON ITINERARY
Itineraries and daily schedules are subject to change. We expect to do everything listed in the itinerary, though the order may be rearranged based on weather or other local conditions.
SAFETY AND SUSTAINABILITY
We have reinforced our commitment to sustainability and safety with new guidelines to assure maximum safety of our guests on our trips while maintaining the quality of the experience. All of our experiences are designed to have minimal impact on the community and environment. For more details on our precautions, read here.
CANCELLATION POLICY
<p>You may cancel 90 days before the start of the trip and receive a full refund minus a $500 per-person service fee. If you cancel on or after 60 days before the start of the trip there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after 45 days there is a 75% cancellation and fee and on or after 30 days there is a 100% cancellation fee. We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance as we are not able to make exceptions to this policy in cases of family/medical emergency or cases of the trip being canceled (see our <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="text-[#781e2a] underline" href="https://foxlabs-development.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/foxlabs-development/images_imported/Traveler+T%26C.pdf">Terms and Conditions</a> for full details).</p>
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