Embark on a carefully crafted journey where food and wine take center stage, immersing you in the culinary heart of each destination. This tour brings food and wine to the forefront, showcasing each destination through its rich local cuisine.
Curated by experts in the field, this high-end culinary tour offers the best of the best in gastro-tourism, taking you deep into Turkey’s food culture and its vibrant communities. More than a journey; it’s a story of flavors, places, and people, woven together in true Roots Adventure Travel style.
Dates: October 29th – November 5th, 2025
Region: Istanbul, Mardin, Izmir, Bodrum
Trip Length: 8 days
Activities: Cuisine
Price: Starting from €5335 per person
Experience Turkey’s incredible regional cuisine, from the cosmopolitan streets of Istanbul, to the spice and heat of the southeast and the fresh flavors of the Aegean, we’ll taste our way through Mardin, Urfa, Gaziantep, Izmir, Urla, and all the way to Bodrum. Remarkable flavors, incredible landscapes, and the warmth of Turkish hospitality.
Led by trained chef Rikki and local expert Altay, this exclusive experience blends Mediterranean and Aegean flavors with luxury group travel, offering an unforgettable immersion into Turkey’s diverse gastronomy.
Arrive in Istanbul
Touch down in one of the world’s most vibrant cities. Settle in and get ready to explore Istanbul’s iconic blend of history and modernity.
Istanbul
Dive into the city’s eclectic cuisine with guided tastings and a deep-dive into Istanbul’s bustling markets, where spices, sweets, and local delicacies await.
Fly to Mardin.
Visit a local village for a taste of traditional production techniques. We’ll then dive into the storied history of locally-made Syriac wines, tasting some of the favorites of our wine expert. Our dinner will be specially prepared just for in our gorgeous hotel: Arura.
Urfa.
Explore Urfa’s colorful bazaar, first with a taste of the city’s public bakeries. Also on the menu are Urfa’s famous liver kebabs, lahmacun, delicious desserts, and extra strong local coffee known as mirra. We’ll also visit the Neolithic site of Gobeklitepe and discuss how it changed the course of human history and cuisine.
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Gaziantep
Another day, another bazaar, this time in Antep. We’ll sample the city’s kebabs and famous baklava, perusing its shops for unique kitchen gadgets and flavorful spices. Sip a wild pistachio ‘coffee’ in the historic Tahmis Kahvesi before visiting the Mosaic Museum. Our day ends with a cooking workshop exploring some hyper-regional dishes and a glass of wine or raki in a converted caravanserai.
Izmir and Urla
Arriving in Izmir Airport, we’ll head to a village near Urla to try our hand at cooking some Aegean-style dishes. After the workshop, we’ll visit a local winery to sample the finest wines of the region before dinner in one of the fine-dining restaurants the area has become known for.
Ephesus and Bodrum
Leaving Urla, we’ll visit the must-see ancient city of Ephesus before stopping in a small village for olive oil tasting and sampling the vegetable dishes known as ‘zeytinyaglilar’, meaning dishes with olive oil. Our evening in Bodrum will be spent in search of the town’s freshest fish and most unique mezes, all capped off with a raki tasting at a local ‘meyhane’.
Departure.
Level 1: Easy
Local flights, all car transfers, accommodation, all food during tour, professional guide.
Not Applicable
Cappadocia – don’t miss out on one of Turkey’s most popular destinations; this tour can be extended to include a few magical days in Cappadocia.
Enjoy a handpicked mix of boutique charm and modern luxury. From the stylish Rixos Tersane in Istanbul to the historic ambiance of Arura Hotel in Mardin and Stone Houses by Cevahir in Şanlıurfa, each stay reflects the local character. Relax in Anadolu Evleri, a heritage gem in Gaziantep, savor vineyard serenity at Teruar Urla, and end with coastal luxury at Mett Hotel in Bodrum.
Embark on an unforgettable adventure travel journey through the ancient wonders of Turkey, Greece, and beyond with our travel experiences that seamlessly blend historical marvels with modern delights.