EARLY BIRD PRICING : Exploring Turkey: Sacred and Sublime (with Add On)
At a Glance
Exploring Turkey: Sacred and Sublime
Why do we fall in love with a place? Because its beauty is so profound and mystical. Because the people are open and caring. Because its history is complex and central to our understanding of the world. Because it’s like nowhere we’ve been before.
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That’s why 15 years ago, NextTribe founder Jeannie Ralston was captivated by Turkey and is so eager to return in 2026. Its location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia has formed a unique and fascinating cultural identity over millennia. It’s a blend of cultures and of chapters in history—traditions from the East mesh with those of the West. The ancient and medieval co-exist beautifully with modern life.
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Turkey delivers on multiple fronts—from historical treasures like the magnificent Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque to the stunning turquoise waters and white travertine terraces of Pamukkale to the supernatural landscape of Cappadocia. The cultural immersion is profound–you can experience bustling bazaars, traditional hammams (Turkish baths) and fresh, gourmet meals.
NextTribe is offering 7 glorious days in Istanbul and enchanting Cappadocia, with the opportunity to add on Ephesus and a visit to the beach town of Bodrum, on the Aegean Coast.
Please note that this is a sample itinerary. Accommodations and activities may change but we will always replace them with something of equal or better value.
5 Things We Love About This Trip
- Eye Candy. Nothing prepares you for the grandeur of Hagia Sofia, the colors of the Grand Bazaar or the enchantment of Cappadocia’s landscape.
- Different Perspectives. We’ll cruise along the Bosphorus, soaking in the centuries worth of history that have taken place on these shores. Floating in a hot air balloon, we’ll get a bird’s eye view of the famous rock formations in Cappadocia that once hid early Christians from invaders.
- Deep Dives. We’ll get immersive with a traditional cooking class, a water marbling workshop, and a traditional hammam treatment. We’ll learn about carpet weaving and taste Turkish wine. And we’ll learn belly-dancing from a professional dancer.
- Two words. Cave Hotel.
- Inspirational Women. We’ll meet women artisans, entrepreneurs and winemakers. And of course, your fellow travelers will be interesting, friendly companions who’ll enhance your experience as you explore together.
4 More Reasons if you join us for the Add On
- Ancient Ruins.. Ephesus, built by the Romans, is one of the best-preserved historic sites in the world.
- Dreamy Landscapes. For centuries, people have flocked to Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we’ll wade in shallow, azure thermal pools, one of which—the Turks say— Antony built for Cleopatra
- Idyllic beaches. Greece and Italy are better known for their gorgeous coastlines, but Turkey’s is equally breathtaking. We’ll explore from our base in the seaside town of Bodrum.
- Time on the water. We’ll set sail on a gulet, and the sailors will cook us a fresh lunch on board after we swim in the clear, blue water.
Meet Your Trip Leader: Jeannie Ralston
Several years ago, when Jeannie Ralston was homeschooling and traveling with her family, she arranged a visit to Turkey as part of an ancient history tour. She was charmed by the warmth of the Turkish people, the delicious food, and the beauty of the country. She has chosen the best features of that trip and offers them in this itinerary. Her route then was Bodrum, Sirince (see above), Ephesus, Istanbul, Cappadocia. This NextTribe trip will take us to the same places, but in a different order.
Photos
Map
Sample Itinerary
Itinerary Overview
To view the full itinerary and download a brochure, Click Here
Sept. 26th: Welcome to the Crossroads of Continents
Sept. 27th: Discovering Istanbul–Hagia Sofia and Grand Bazaar
Sept. 28th: Art Class and Cruise on the Bosphorus Strait
Sept. 29th: Turkish Bath and Bellydancing Class
Sept. 30th: Onto the Surreal World of Cappadocia
Oct. 1st: Floating on Air and Going Underground
Oct. 2nd: Goodbye OR Onto the Coast
ADD ON
Oct. 2nd: The Ancient Wonder of Ephesus
Oct. 3rd: Water that Wows
Oct. 4th: Wine and a Sparkling Sea
Oct. 5th: Setting Sail
Oct. 6th: Bye from Bodrum
Logistics
Arrive in Instabul (IST) Saturday, September 26 by 3:00PM
We will arrange airport transfer for you.
Depart from Istanbul Friday, October 2 after 2:00PM
For ADD ON Travelers ONLY
Depart from Bodrum (BJV) Tuesday, October 6.
We require all international travelers to purchase travel insurance. We strongly recommend trip protection insurance to protect your investment.
You will be receiving periodic communications from us leading up to departure with other important details included. If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com
No Visa is required for US citizens to enter Turkey. Please ensure that your passport is valid for 6 months beyond the trip.
You will be receiving periodic communications from us leading up to departure with other important details included. If you have any questions, you can contact our travel manager, Marcy, at travel@nexttribe.com
Arrival
- Fly Into Instanbul
Departure
- Fly Out of Istanbul
What's Included
- 6 Nights Lodging
- 6 Dinners
- 4 Lunches
- 6 Breakfasts
- Domestic Airfare: Round trip Istanbul-Kayseri
- Hamam in Cappadocia
- All Ground Transportation
- Airport Transfers
All activities noted in the itinerary.
- FOR ADD ON
- 4 Nights Lodging
- 3 Dinners
- 2 Lunches
- All Breakfasts
- Domestic Flight Kayseri - Izmir
- All Ground Transportation
- Airport Transfers
All activities noted in itinerary.
What's Not Included
- Roundtrip International Airfare
- Meals, transportations and activities not listed in the inclusions
- Flight from Bodrum to Istanbul (at the end of the add-on)
- Alcohol not mentioned
- Personal Expenses such as gifts and snacks
- Travel Insurance
- Tips and Gratuities to Local Guides, Maids Etc.
Gratuities to local guides, drivers, maids and hotel staff, travel insurance, round trip airfare, passport and visa fees, personal items such as phone calls, laundry, baggage fees and items not expressly listed as included.
Additional Add-Ons
5 Days/4 Nights Turkey Add On
Dates: October 2 - 6, 2026
Oct. 2nd: The Ancient Wonder of Ephesus and Cooking Class in the gorgeous town of Sirince.
Oct. 3rd: The travertine terraces of Pamukkale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Bodrum on the Aegean Coast
Oct. 4th: Exploring Bodrum and Vineyard Visit
Oct. 5th: Setting Sail on the Aegean Sea
Oct. 6th: Farewell
Turkey Add On Logistics
$2999 - Double
$3999 - Single
You'll have the option to include this extension when you book the trip.
The flight to Izmir is included. The add-on portion of the trip ends in Bodum. Flights departing Bodum are NOT included.
Hotels
Our travelers love us (yay!)
Colleen M., California
What I love about the NextTribe trips is that there is so much camaraderie of other women that are like you, and then the fabulous things that the organizers puts together to give you that viewpoint, it’s awesome.
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Courtney M., Texas
What I love about NextTribe trips is that you get the experience from an insider’s perspective—someone that has ties to the community and focused on building relationships from the start. I’ve been on a trip with another women’s travel group that dropped a guide in, not personally knowing anything about the locale, traditions, or culture. She was there to make sure you showed up on time, got on the bus, etc. With NextTribe, you feel like you’re having a personalized experience with your best girlfriends.
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Donna B., Washington
I didn't know anyone going on the trip but that didn't stop me from signing up. I have learned that some of my life's greatest adventures have come from taking a risk and jumping in feet first. So glad I did with NextTribe! I may not have known anybody at the start, but now I feel like I know everybody.
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Connie B., Pennsylvania
I love to meet and interact with strong, mature women from across the country as we learn together.
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Leslie M., Georgia
I always come by myself on NextTribe trips because I like to meet super fun and interesting women. We're always doing fun and interesting things in great cities that you couldn't do on your own because you wouldn't know the people or places or the insiders.
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Teresa S., Kentucky
NextTribe fills the need I have to travel with older interesting women who are curious about the world and want to share the journey.
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Travel Insurance – Do You Need it?
Short Answer: Yes, we require trip protection insurance for all international trips. For domestic trips, we strongly suggest it. Protect your investment if things go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
What’s different about your trips?
We curate trips specifically for curious, engaged women over 45. You’re pretty well assured that your fellow travelers will be a lot like you–since you’ve all responded to the idea of “aging boldly.”. That means built-in compatibility in your small group, including the woman who is leading the adventure.. In addition to specializing in group travel for people who don’t normally like group travel, we also pride ourselves on creating experiences that allow you to interact with local women or get deeper into the culture than you would if you planned the trip yourself.
Where do you go?
We have a wide range of weekend jaunts here in the U.S. for those who want a quick getaway. We also love taking women to Mexico, where founder Jeannie Ralston used to live. We’re always talking about pushing boundaries, and we’re doing that in the geographic sense too. For those with more time, we offer trips all over Europe, to India, Vietnam, Peru (for a hike on the inca Trail to Machu Picchu). Soon, our travelers will be getting passport stamps in even more countries on six continents. Be saving those frequent flier miles!
What do you mean by transformational travel?
NextTribe is affiliated with the Transformational Travel Council, an international group of travel professionals dedicated to making the world a better place, one trip and one traveler at a time. We recognize that travelers, especially post-pandemic, are looking for more than just a date and a destination. They can shop for that anywhere online. Our community honors the intention behind a traveler’s investment in a trip. Our travelers want to have fun (we do too!) and to travel with a sense of purpose and belonging. That’s why we go to great lengths to provide ways for women to self-select by reading the articles in our magazine and the content of our website. If you like what you see, you’re likely to be a NextTribe traveler, and we look forward to seeing you on a trip soon!
What if I travel solo?
If you really prefer to book your travel yourself and go it alone, we applaud you. That’s brave and bold and we would never try to talk you out of it. But our trips are designed so that even a woman who’s used to traveling alone, or someone shy about meeting new people, will feel comfortable in our group. Our trip leaders are there to “read the room” and make sure everyone feels included and respected.
What if I don’t like group travel?
We don’t either! Not the way most groups do it. If you feel like doing what the group is doing, great! Join us for dinner or just some of the activities. All the benefits of solo travel and the comfort of being with a group. Our groups are small (normally around 12 to 14 women) and in most situations, you are free to opt out of an activity. We figure you’re grown-ass women who know what’s best for you.
What’s the price range of your trips?
We are committed to providing what we call “affordable-luxury” travel. Don’t expect
the Four Seasons, but who wants to stay in a gilded bubble anyhow? We always look for good value and offer wonderful hotels and memorable experiences that won’t break the bank and will get you closer to how locals live. Our prices depend on the length of the
trip and the destination. We offer domestic trips for under $2,000 for a shared room, which we encourage. If you don’t have a roommate we will match you with someone. Sometimes this has resulted in lasting friendships with new travel buddies., Some of
our longer trips–two weeks in India or Vietnam, for example–will cost between
$4,800 and $6,000.
What’s included in the price?
Our trips cover most everything you’ll need to dive into a destination. Hotels and most meals, plus special experiences such as hands-on classes and sessions with local artists, writers or entrepreneurs are almost always included, but each trip is different so please be sure to read The Experience and the itinerary. We occasionally have an add-on for an extra price, but those are clearly designated. What’s not covered as a rule are airfare, alcohol and tips.
Do you have payment plans?
We sure do. It’s easy to pay for our trips by setting up automatic credit card charges at regular intervals, interest free. Think of it as the layaway plan to feed your soul.
How do I get trip discounts?
Our NextTribe members get a discount on every trip. Plus, members are the first to hear about new trips and receive upgrades on rooms if they’re available. Check out our three different membership levels here.
What’s the average age of women on the trips?
We welcome all women over 45, but most of our travelers are in the 50 to 65 age range. More important than age is the spirit of the traveler–her curiosity about the world, and her eagerness to embrace new opportunities. We’ve found women of any age with those qualities fit in well with our groups.
What’s the activity level of the trips?
Most of our trips are geared for active travelers who like to walk–a rating of 3 on our 1-5 rating scale. Here are some examples of how we rate. A designation of 1 would be our beach trips, where it’s up to you if you’d like to stroll down the beach, or play in the waves or walk around the small town. Trips where we have dedicated transportation for much of the time (such as India) are a 2; Paris is a 3 because we believe the best way to appreciate a city is to view it on foot. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is a 4, because you’ll be walking up some hills (at 6,000 feet altitude) and occasionally on cobblestone sidewalks. Our Inca trail trip is a 5, as are our more adventurous outdoor trips.
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