Tour1 - Sultanahmet ( Old Istanbul ),
Tour2 - Bosphorus Cruise with Dolmabahce
Tour3 - Bosphorus Cruise with Chora ...
Tour3 - Bosphorus Cruise with Chora ...
Guaranteed departure everyday, all year-round in 2010 !
Discover highlights of Istanbul and get the most of it with the assistance of a professional team.
Itinerary
Tour1 - Sultanahmet ( Old Istanbul )
Visit The St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the hidden underground Cistern. See the Grand Covered Bazaar.
* May be done as a walking tour if your hotel is centrally located.
Tour2 - Bosphorus Cruise with Dolmabahce
Tour2 - Bosphorus Cruise with Dolmabahce
The tour starts with a visit to the exotic and aromatic Egyptian Spice Market. You may buy spices, caviar, and almost anything imaginable. Continue over the Galata Bridge and the Golden horn. We will visit the “Selamlik” chambers of the incredible 19th c. Dolmabahce Palace. We continue up the Bosphorus and cross over to Asia to Camlica Hill for a view of Istanbul. After lunch visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, with its well-organized archaeological and ethnographical sections. The Bosphorus cruise begins in the afternoon (ferry). We pass by the Rumeli Fortress and you will enjoy crossing from continent to continent traveling down the Bosphorus, which is lined with old Ottoman seaside mansions, marble palaces and small fishing villages.
Tour3 - Bosphorus Cruise with Chora
Visit the exotic Egyptian Spice Market on the Golden Horn, and then board for your cruise of the Bosphorus by public ferry. Visit Rumeli Fortress, built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 to prepare for his conquest of Istanbul. After lunch cross over the Bosphorus Bridge to Asia and up to Camlica Hill, for a magnificent view of Istanbul. Return over the bridge back to Europe and old Istanbul. We will view the old Theodosian city walls and visit Kariye Church (Chora museum) with its 14th c mosaics and frescoes, depicting scenes from the Bible then on to Eyup Imperial Mosque and Tomb of the standard bearer of Mohammed. Cruise is done by public boat unless other arrangements are made.
Tour4 - Jewish Heritage - Galata and Balat
Visit the Askenazi Synagogue, and then cross over the Golden horn to Balat, which has been the core of Jewish presence in Istanbul for over five centuries. We then continue to Neve Shalom Synagogue. Visit the old neighborhood and the Ahrida Synagogue. It is the oldest and most beautiful synagogue in Istanbul and was built in the 15th c. Later we will visit the Galata Tower and the old neighborhood of Galata and where you can get a nice view of Old Istanbul and the Zulfaris Museum, with historic and ethnographic sections, celebrating over 500 years of friendship between Turks and Jews. We will end the tour in Ortakoy, where the Sephardic Jews were welcomed to Turkey by the Ottoman Sultan (nice cafes and small restaurants).
* Prior notice and copies of passports are needed for this tour.
Tour5 - Istanbul / Canakkale - Anzac Cove - Troy - Istanbul ( same day )
Pick up from Istanbul hotel early morning and drive to Ecebat. We will visit Kabatepe Museum, ANZAC Cove, Lone Pine Australian Memorial, Johnston’s Jolly, Turkish Memorial and Cemeteries, Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial.
Drive to Troy and visit the famous archaeological and mythological site of Troy, home of the ‘Trojan Horse’ and ‘Helen of Troy.
Return to hotel in Istanbul.
Return to hotel in Istanbul.
