Day 1

Wednesday, May 14

Check into the Bank Hotel, our Istanbul hotel, unpack, and relax before we meet in the early evening for a Welcome Session, Wine Tasting & Dinner.

Day 2

Thursday, May 15

In the morning, you have a choice of a cultural tour or a food tour.  Join our Turkish cultural guide, Oguz, for a tour of Topkapi, or take a morning food walking tour of the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar and the Eminönü neighborhood with our food expert Banu. We’ll leave for the Istanbul Airport and our 5:00 pm Turkish Air flight to Sinop, a city known as a hidden gem on the southern shore of the Black Sea. After arriving in Sinop, we’ll check in at our hotel into the Sinop Antik Hotel and meet for a group dinner.

Day 3

Friday, May 16

After breakfast, we will view Sinop from the sea via a short boat tour around Sinop Bay. This will give us a feel for the city, while Oğuz gives us the city’s history. After returning from the sea, we’ll visit Sinop Castle to dive into the city’s Roman and Seldjuk past. Lunch will be in a casual eatery, Mantıcı Melahat’in Mutfağı, for a local taste of mantı. After lunch, we will visit the Sinop Archeological Museum. Then, you will be on your own to explore the city and shop at your leisure.

Be sure to visit Gazi Street, a.k.a. Sinop Lover’s Street, in the city’s center. It is one of the most popular sightseeing areas of the city, offering a beautiful sunset view, a pleasant evening walk, flower gardens, palm trees, various cafes, and restaurants. You are free for dinner to enjoy one of Sinop’s local restaurants. We will include Banu’s restaurant suggestions in the program book.

Day 4

Saturday, May 17

After breakfast, we will spend the day exploring some of Sinop’s specialty food shops. We will meet an artisanal candy maker, witness the making of “mantı” and “erişte,” and learn about the “lakerda” (salt-cured bonito fish) culture that Sinop has become famous for over the last few years. You will be on your own to have lunch and explore the city until we meet again for dinner. We will meet at the hotel lobby, and together, we will head to Saray Restaurant by the sea for our dinner.

Day 5

Sunday, May 18

In the morning, we’ll check out of our hotel in Sinop and will drive inland about 2 ½ hours to Kastamonu, a city with rich culinary traditions.  We’ll go to the city center for lunch at the local eatery Münire Sultan Sofrası to taste Kastamonu’s local dishes. After lunch, we’ll explore the city’s cultural sights, such as the Kastamonu Clock Tower and Kastamonu City Museum, then head to İksir Resort Hotel, our hotel outside the city for Ana’s cooking demonstration, followed by a relaxing and traditional dinner.

Day 6

Monday, May 19

We’ll leave our hotel in the morning and spend the day in the city of Kastamonu, focusing on food demonstrations and visiting a wooden utensil shop that Kastamonu is well known for.  We’ll end  the day with an early dinner and an evening flight from Kastamonu to Istanbul.  We’ll check in at the Bank Hotel again in the late evening.

Day 7

Tuesday, May 20

Ana will start our morning with a spice presentation. Afterward, we’ll take the ferry to Kadikoy, on the Asian side of Istanbul. We’ll enjoy a spice and food tour with Ana and Banu in the Kadikoy Market area and then have lunch at CIYA, the famous Anatolian regional fare restaurant. After lunch, we’ll get on our private ferry and cruise along the Bosphorus before returning to our hotel. You will be free to experience the Istanbul restaurant scene in your evening.  Once again, you will have Banu’s restaurant suggestions in the program book.

Day 8

Wednesday, May 21

Departures or for those of you want to stay another day in Istanbul, you can take one of the tours you missed at the beginning of the trip.  Take a cultural tour with Turkish cultural guide Oguz to Topkapi or a food walking tour of the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar and the Eminönü neighborhood with our food expert Banu. For this bonus day, there is an additional charge (to extend your hotel reservation and for the tour).