10 Day Turkey Private Culinary Tour
Ten private food days from Istanbul to the Aegean, Cappadocia, Mardin and a Gaziantep market day. The long route for people who came to eat the map.
Key facts
- Package type
- Private multi-city itinerary
- Duration
- 10 days
- From
- From $3,720 per person
- Cities
- istanbul, izmir, cappadocia, mardin
- Guides
- Licensed private guide per region
- License
- TURSAB #14817
Operator: Turkey Travel Agency · TURSAB #14817 · +90 544 673 22 02
From $3,720 per person
10 days
From $3,720 per person for two sharing. Southeast flights move with the seasonal schedule.
Package Highlights
- • Istanbul and Aegean kitchens
- • Cappadocia clay-pot lunch
- • Mardin kaburga day
- • Gaziantep baklava and kebap day
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Istanbul arrival, Kadıköy
Private transfer and the Asian-side market. The ten-day pace starts slow: one neighbourhood, one lesson, sleep. Private guide and vehicle in istanbul — pace the day to your interests with photo stops and a recommended local lunch break.
Day 2
Istanbul Spice Bazaar
Historic peninsula tasting and a spice-buying lesson you can use at home. No carpet stop. Afternoon free. Private guide and vehicle in istanbul — pace the day to your interests with photo stops and a recommended local lunch break.
Day 3
Izmir
Fly to Izmir. Evening on the Kordon is a walk and a light meze, saving boyoz for the morning when it is fresh. We handle domestic flight check-in and izmir airport transfers. Luggage is stored securely between checkout and departure.
Day 4
Aegean olive-oil day
Boyoz, seasonal zeytinyağlı, and a cheese or fish bite. Ephesus is optional and secondary. The olive oil is the subject. Private guide and vehicle in mardin — pace the day to your interests with photo stops and a recommended local lunch break.
Day 5
Cappadocia
Flight and cave hotel. Dinner is regional. Balloon is an add-on with its own morning, not the reason for this day. Pre-dawn pickup from your cave hotel in cappadocia. After the flight, champagne toast and return for breakfast — optional valley hike in the afternoon.
Day 6
Testi kebab
Clay pot, mantı, pottery context, Emir or juice. A full food day in Cappadocia before the southeast flights. We handle domestic flight check-in and cappadocia airport transfers. Luggage is stored securely between checkout and departure.
Day 7
Mardin
Fly toward the southeast and reach Mardin’s stone terraces. First meal is the view and a simple grill or stew, not the kaburga yet.
Day 8
Mardin kitchen
Kaburga when the pot exists, içli köfte, and a terrace breakfast’s logic explained even if you ate it earlier. The guide separates Mardin’s lamb-and-bulgur table from Gaziantep’s pistachio one.
Day 9
Gaziantep
Market and workshop day: pistachio baklava, a kebap or Ali Nazik, and isot explained as Urfa’s pepper even when you taste it here. Zeugma mosaics only after lunch, and only if you want them.
Day 10
Departure
Private transfer to Gaziantep or a connection back through Istanbul. The last morning is breakfast and the airport, not a new city.
What's Included & Not Included
Included
- Private guides in each city on the route
- Hotels with breakfast, cave hotel in Cappadocia
- Domestic flights including the southeast
- Tastings through Gaziantep and Mardin as listed
- Airport transfers
Not included
- International flights to/from Turkey
- Travel insurance
- Most lunches and dinners unless stated
- Personal expenses and optional tips
- Visa fees where applicable
Airport transfers & chauffeur upgrades
Multi-city packages usually include arrival and departure transfers as quoted. Upgrade to a private IST/SAW meet-and-greet, add hourly chauffeur hire in a city, or keep guided touring separate from driver-only days — without opening duplicate product pages.
Booking from abroad
We tailor this package for travelers worldwide — see dedicated planning pages:
Package overview
Ten private food days from Istanbul to the Aegean, Cappadocia, Mardin and a Gaziantep market day. The long route for people who came to eat the map. This private itinerary covers istanbul, izmir, cappadocia, mardin with licensed guides in each city, boutique or mid-range hotels (upgrades available), and domestic flights where the route requires them. Turkey Travel Agency coordinates every transfer so you do not lose days to logistics — unlike DIY booking across Turkish carriers and regional drivers.
Why travelers book this route
The 10 days format balances Istanbul and Aegean kitchens, Cappadocia clay-pot lunch, Mardin kaburga day without rushing. First-time visitors to Turkey often choose this template because it hits UNESCO sites, iconic landscapes and at least one coast or bazaar experience. Every departure is customized — add nights in Bodrum, swap Pamukkale for Antalya, or extend balloon flights in Cappadocia on request.
Day-by-day flow
Your confirmed itinerary follows this structure: Day 1: Istanbul arrival, Kadıköy; Day 2: Istanbul Spice Bazaar; Day 3: Izmir; Day 4: Aegean olive-oil day; Day 5: Cappadocia; Day 6: Testi kebab; Day 7: Mardin; Day 8: Mardin kitchen; Day 9: Gaziantep; Day 10: Departure. Each day includes private guiding and vehicle; domestic flights are arranged when cities are far apart. We send hotel names, flight times and guide contacts before you leave home. WhatsApp support answers last-minute questions in your timezone when possible.
Inclusions and how to customize
Typical inclusions: private licensed guides, AC vehicle, hotels as quoted, domestic flights on multi-city routes, and entrance fees where listed. Exclusions usually cover international flights, insurance, most lunches and personal expenses. Request changes when you quote — honeymoon upgrades, halal dining, accessible pacing and family rooms are standard requests we handle weekly.
Why the southeast is at the end
Gaziantep and Mardin hit harder after you have already tasted Istanbul and the Aegean. The pistachio baklava and the lamb rib mean more when you can compare them with what you ate the week before. We do not open with the richest kitchen and then spend a week of lighter plates.