Balancing between East and West and filled of the treasures of the Greek and Roman worlds, Turkey is miraculous. You may start at incredible Istanbul, set on the Bosphorus, explore the mythical scenery of Cappadocia in the Anatolian heartland, and try a Mediterranean odyssey by private yacht on a turquoise sea.

Capital of Byzantium
Istanbul’s legacy as the only city in the world to have been capital of successive Christian and Islamic empires is very much evident in the cultural center of the city, with its magnificent constructions and remnants of Justinian walls. In this rich capital, travel around the Topkapi Palace, a spectacular regal maze of mysterious harem quarters and exhibitions of the treasures of the sultans. Visit the Haghia Sophia, once the greatest church in Christendom, and the celestial Blue Mosque, with its slight minarets visible for miles around. Or head for a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus and dine at a waterfront café.

Turquoise Coast Odyssey
The calm waters of the Turquoise Coast glitter in every shade of blue in peaceful, deeply serrated bays and coves fragrant with pine forests and wild thyme. Get aboard a luxurious traditional wooden sailing vessel, set out on a six-day cruise to enjoy the delights of the renowned Turquoise Coast. Your guide will take you through the best hiking trails, and life on board is pure joy: swimming, snorkeling in clear waters, and reveling on prepared delicious meals served on the deck. Fresh-caught seafood, the crew’s catch-of-the-day, is often on the menu.

Ancient Ephesus
One of the most marvelously restored ancient cities in the world; Ephesus was the third largest city in the Roman Empire, after Rome and Alexandria. Here St. Paul lived and preached to the Ephesians, and here you may explore excellent marble houses with well preserved mosaics and stroll the mile-long marble-paved Arcadian way from the theater to the harbor, feeling transported back to Roman times. Ephesus is one of the few Greco-Roman sites which gives a true sense of the splendor of past days. One of its treasures is the restored facade of the Library of Celsus, dedicated in 120 AD. Its theater, once the largest in the world, could host 25,000 audience and has miraculous acoustic qualities.

Fairytale Cappadocia
With its ancient cultural heritage and unique scenery of tufa towers on the Anatolian steppes, Cappadocia is awe-inspiring. Go to the Ihlara Valley, a stream-lined oasis with a dozen small and frescoed Byzantine cave churches, and then follow underground to see the unique cave cities of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu, with their labyrinth of hand-cut tunnels going under 12 stories deep into the soft tufa rock. These refined underground cities date back 4,000 years. Or visit the village of Uchisar, a natural fortress at the center of Cappadocia’s magnificent lunar scenery of fantastic rock formations, and walk through the mesmerizing open-air museum of the Goreme Valley, with its rock-carved churches.