🍷✨ Apex Turkey: Autumn Harvest & Heritage
Autumn Harvest & Heritage
8 Days / 7 Nights | Istanbul • Cappadocia • Aegean Vineyards (Ephesus & Şirince)
An exclusive, private journey crafted for autumn’s golden light and seasonal abundance.
🌟 Introduction
In autumn, Turkey transforms: domes of Istanbul gleam in soft sunlight, Cappadocia’s valleys glow crimson and gold, and the Aegean hills overflow with figs, olives, and grapes. Apex Turkey: Autumn Harvest & Heritage is designed for travelers who seek more than a tour — it’s a curated journey.
From private yacht dinners on the Bosphorus to vineyard harvest lunches in Cappadocia and first-light walks through Ephesus, every experience is exclusive, intimate, and perfectly timed with the season. Luxury here means freedom: the pace is unhurried, the encounters authentic, and each day unfolds as a balance of discovery and indulgence.
📅 Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 – Istanbul Arrival: The Apex Welcome
- VIP Meet & Greet at IST Airport with fast-track and porter service.
- Private transfer in luxury vehicle to boutique 5★ hotel in Sultanahmet (Four Seasons Sultanahmet, White House, or Empress Zoe).
- Afternoon at leisure or guided orientation walk.
- Evening: Private sunset Bosphorus cruise on a classic wooden yacht, with chef-prepared meze & seafood. A historian brings the illuminated palaces and mosques to life.
- Overnight: Istanbul (Night 1 of 2).
Day 2 – Istanbul Icons, Beyond the Surface
- Morning: Early-entry Hagia Sophia (at first light for minimal crowds) + Basilica Cistern before public opening, led by a historian guide.
- Lunch: Private cooking class & lunch in a historic Ottoman mansion.
- Afternoon: Curated tasting tour of the Spice Bazaar, followed by ferry to Kadıköy for a local market walk.
- Evening: Reserved table at Mikla or Neolokal for a contemporary Turkish tasting menu with panoramic sunset views.
- Overnight: Istanbul (Night 2 of 2).
Day 3 – To Cappadocia: Valleys in Golden Light
- Morning flight: Istanbul → Cappadocia (~1h20).
- Private transfer to luxury cave hotel (Museum Hotel, Argos, or Yunak Evleri).
- Afternoon: Private hike in the Red & Rose Valleys, discovering hidden frescoed chapels.
- Sunset: Private wine & cheese toast at a secluded panoramic viewpoint.
- Dinner: Tasting menu at your hotel’s award-winning cave restaurant.
- Overnight: Cappadocia (Night 1 of 3).
Day 4 – Cappadocia Above & Below
- Sunrise: Private (or semi-private) hot air balloon flight. Backup: golden-hour photography tour if balloons are grounded.
- Breakfast: Champagne picnic after landing.
- Late Morning: Guided visit of Kaymaklı Underground City.
- Lunch: Vineyard harvest meal with a local family.
- Afternoon: Private artisan encounter (master potter in Avanos or carpet weaver).
- Evening: Intimate Sema ceremony in a historic caravanserai, with private discussion afterward.
- Overnight: Cappadocia (Night 2 of 3).
Day 5 – Apex Choice: Cappadocia Your Way
Morning options (tailored to you):
- Horseback ride, ATV, or e-bike through Love & Devrent Valleys.
- Private cooking workshop in a village kitchen.
- Guided photography walk to hidden chapels.
- Lunch: Relaxed meal at a farm-style restaurant (Ziggy’s, Seten, or similar).
- Afternoon: At leisure — spa, poolside, terrace with a book, or extra guiding if desired.
- Evening: Sunset drinks & light mezze at a panoramic terrace.
- Dinner: Free choice; we arrange exclusive reservations.
- Overnight: Cappadocia (Night 3 of 3).
Day 6 – To the Aegean Vineyards
- Flight: Cappadocia → Izmir (~1h15 direct or ~3h with Istanbul connection).
- Private transfer (1h) to Şirince village, a cobblestone town with vineyard estates.
- Stay in luxury vineyard inn or historic stone house (Nişanyan Evleri, Güllü Konakları).
- Afternoon: Light orientation walk, vineyard tastings.
- Evening: Farm-to-table dinner at your estate.
- Overnight: Şirince (Night 1 of 2).
Day 7 – Ancient Ephesus & Olive Harvest
- Morning: Early-entry guided tour of Ephesus, incl. Terrace Houses & Great Theatre.
- Late Morning: Visit Temple of Artemis & Ephesus Museum.
- Lunch: Private cooking class at an organic olive oil estate; tour groves & press.
- Afternoon: Leisure at vineyard inn, or guided foraging walk for figs, herbs, and pomegranates.
- Evening: Grand Harvest Dinner at vineyard estate, paired with boutique wines.
- Overnight: Şirince (Night 2 of 2).
Day 8 – Departure
- Leisurely Turkish breakfast among the olive groves.
- Private transfer to Izmir Airport (ADB).
- Flight to Istanbul for onward international connection.
