8-Day Living Masters of Anatolia: A Journey through Turkish Arts & Crafts

After breakfast, explore the historic peninsula, beginning around Sultanahmet Square. Continue into the old market district, where your guide introduces the relationship between trade, workshops and everyday life.

Visit the Grand Bazaar, subject to its opening schedule. Take time to look closely at the objects on display and discuss the differences between handmade work and mass-produced souvenirs.

After free time for lunch, join a beginner-friendly paper marbling workshop. Your instructor demonstrates how colours are floated on a prepared liquid surface, shaped into patterns and transferred onto paper.

Create your own designs, experimenting with colour and movement. Your finished work will be collected once sufficiently dry.

Overnight: Istanbul
Meals: Breakfast

Leave Istanbul after breakfast and travel to İznik by private vehicle.

Enjoy an introductory walk through the town, with selected stops around its historic streets and lakeside. There is free time for lunch before your afternoon studio visit.

At a local ceramic workshop, watch a demonstration and learn how the different stages of production fit together. Then choose from the workshop’s available designs or develop a simple pattern of your own.

With guidance from your instructor, decorate a small ceramic item. Any glazing and firing will be completed by the workshop after your visit.

Continue to Bursa and check in to your hotel.

Overnight: Bursa
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, explore Bursa’s historic centre. Visit the Grand Mosque, subject to prayer times, and walk through the surrounding market streets.

At Koza Han, pause to browse the textile shops and enjoy tea in the courtyard. Your guide introduces Bursa’s association with silk and helps you look more closely at materials, patterns and workmanship.

Following free time for lunch, visit a textile workshop or studio arranged for your group. The session includes a demonstration and a simple guided activity, such as hand printing or decorating a fabric item, depending on the selected host.

Return to your hotel with time to explore independently.

Overnight: Bursa
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, travel to Kütahya, with a comfort stop along the way.

On arrival, take an introductory walk through selected parts of the historic centre before visiting a ceramic studio. Meet the makers and observe the stages available on the day, which may include shaping, painting, glazing or preparing work for the kiln.

The visit offers time for conversation. Ask about their training, how they develop designs and the patience involved in producing a finished piece.

Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Overnight: Kütahya
Meals: Breakfast

Today is devoted to a longer hands-on ceramic session.

Begin with a demonstration of brush techniques and pattern planning. Building on your experience in İznik, work on a small tile, plate or another item selected by the studio.

There is no need to rush. Your instructor will help you practise on a sample surface before decorating your piece, offering advice as you work.

After a lunch break, enjoy a cultural visit or walk through the town, followed by free time to browse local shops. The guide can help you understand the finishing and delivery arrangements for your workshop item.

Overnight: Kütahya
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, depart for Afyonkarahisar.

Explore the old town on foot, taking in its traditional streets and views towards the castle. The programme focuses on the lower town; climbing to the castle is not included.

Visit a local maker for a demonstration of a traditional craft, with the discipline and host confirmed before departure. Where the workshop allows, join a short practical activity.

Later, enjoy a tasting of selected regional products. There is time to browse local shops before checking in to your hotel.

Gather in the evening for a farewell dinner and share the pieces, patterns and encounters that made the journey memorable.

Overnight: Afyonkarahisar
Meals: Breakfast and dinner

Enjoy breakfast before checking out.

A departure transfer to Zafer Airport is included in the proposed programme and will be timed to your confirmed flight. Transfers to another airport or an overland return to Istanbul can be quoted separately.

Meals: Breakfast