Choice
#1: The Imperial Mosques And The Church Of Divine Wisdom
Driving
across the Golden Horn over the Ataturk Bridge, and passing the Aqueduct
of valences, this tour will take you to the Suleymaniye Mosques,
built in the 16th century by the famous architect Sinan. The tour
will then proceed to the Blue Mosque and the old Hippodrome. The
next stop will be St.Sophia, the church of Divine Wisdom. The route
back to your hotel will take you along the harbor of the city and
the famous Galata Bridge.
(on Mondays St.Sophia is replaced by Kariye Museum.)
Choice
#2: Ottoman Treasures
This
tour will take you to the Topkapi Palace Museum, the imperial residence
of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th until 19th century. You will
have the chance to see the jewelry, porcelain, miniature, and textile
collections and various other objects of art which formerly belonged
to the sultans. The tour will then take you to the Grand Bazaar,
one of the most irresistible attractions of the city.
(Topkapi Palace is replaced
by the Museum of Turkish & Islamic Arts on Tuesdays. The Covered
Bazaar is closed on Sundays.)
Choice
#3: The Glorious Bosphorus
This
tour is organized to introduce you to the beauties of Bosphorus,
the picturesque waterway separating Asia from Europe. Embarking
the passenger ferry at Eminonu, you will sail past the Dolmabahce
palace and the fortress of Rumelihisari, viewing the beautiful
old wooden houses(Yali) built on the shores of the Bosphorus. You
will disembark at Sariyer and visit the Sadberk Hanim Museum, which
houses a small but comprehensive collection of artifacts from prehistoric
to the late Ottoman era.
(On Wednesdays Sadberk Hanim Museum replaced
by Rumelihisari.)
Choice
#4: Europe & Asia
This tour will
take you across the Bosphorus. Bridge to Asia. You will drive up
to the Camlica hill for a superb panoramic view of Istanbul. Then
tour will continue to the Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence
of the Ottoman Sultans on the shores of Bosphorus. After that an
orientation drive across the Bosphorus. bridge to your hotel.
(Beylerbeyi palace is closed on Mondays and
Thursdays.)
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Special
Tours
Choice#1:
Istanbul By Night
This
tour will pick you up from your hotel and take you for an evening
out. After driving through the streets of the city, viewing Istanbul's
magical skyline of domes and minarets, you will proceed to a
famous night club where you will enjoy an "a-la-carte" dinner
while watching Turkish floorshow, including belly dancers, folk
dances, and songs in many languages.
Choice
#2: Princes' Islands
Embarking
the passenger ferry at Eminonu, this tour will begin with a short,
leisurely journey at sea. As you make your way to the islands,
you will have a magnificent view of Istanbul's magical skyline
adorned by the domes and minarets of the imperial mosques. Stopping
briefly at Kinali(Proty), Burgaz(Antigone), and Heybeli(Halki)
islands, you will get off at Buyukada(Principo), the largest of
all. After enjoying a tour of the island by horse carriage, a lunch
can be enjoined at a seaside restaurant.
(This tour is offered only in late spring
and summer months.)
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Tours
Around Turkey
Choice#1:
Wonders Of Ephesus (One day trip)
Take
an early flight to Izmir. Your guide will meet you at the airport
and take you to Ephesus, one of the most impressive and best
preserved archaeological sites in the world. Spend the morning
strolling through the streets, temples, and fountains of this
ancient metropolis. After lunch, visit the local archaeological
museum, the Basillica of St. John, where the apostle lies buried
and the House of Virgin Mary, where it is believed that she has
lived her last days. At night you return to Izmir to take flight
Back to Istanbul.
Choice#2:
Ephesus Pergamon (Two day trip)
Extended
version of choice#1 by staying in Kusadasi or Izmir. Visit Persimmon,
the Hellenistic Attlaid kings. See the acropolis adorned with
several temples and the famous Altar of Zeus, now in Berlin.
Visit the Asklepion, an important health center of antiquity.
Take your return flight this evening or extend
your stay. Excursions to Priene, Miletos, Didyma and to Aprodisias
and Pamukkale can be arranged.
Choice#3:
Journey to a Dreamland.(Two day trip)
Take
a trip to the heart of Turkey, to Cappadocia, a dreamland of
volcanic landscape eroded and sculpted by the forces of nature
through the ages. Human beings carved their homes and shrines
into the volcanic rock, creating entire villages, and underground
cities.
Fly to Ankara where your guide will meet
you at the airport and drive Cappadocia. You will stay overnight
in the area next day visit Goreme valley, where early Christian
communities carved their churches into the volcanic rock and
decorated them with frescones. Visit the picturesque villages of
Avanos, Uchisar, and Zelve and the underground city of Kaymakli.
Return to Ankara for the evening flight Back
Choice#4:
Troy and Gallipoli. (One day trip)
Depart
by the car early in the morning from Istanbul. After driving along
the shores of the sea of Marmara, have lunch in the small town
of Gallipoli, located on the Dardanelles, the famous strait known
as Hellespont in antiquity.
Take ferry across to Asia and visit Troy,
Homer's legendary city.
Wonder along its walls and remember the great
heroes who fought at the siege of Troy. In the afternoon, visit
the World War I battlefields and cemeteries on the Gallipoli peninsula.
Drive Back to Istanbul in the evening.
Choice#5:
Bursa (One day trip)
The
trip to Bursa takes about 3 hours. You r tour includes visits
to green Mosque and Mausoleum, the grand Mosque and the old Silk
Market. You will have lunch at a restaurant serving famous Bursa
specialty, the Iskender Kebab.
The fifth largest city of turkey, Bursa was
once the capital of Ottoman before they captured Istanbul.
Originally called the Prussia after its founder,
Prusias I (BC 228-185), the city was incorporated into the Roman
Empire in BC 74. Prosperous under the Romans and early Byzantine,
the city suffered badly from the Arab raids in the 7th and 8th
centuries.
Bursa wa conquered by the Ottomans in 1324.
The city was always famous for its mineral springs, its production
of silk and other textile products such as velvet and towels. Carpets,
kaftans, and many valuable textile products were produces in the
imperial workshops.
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