Istanbul Extravaganza
Explore Istanbul in this extravaganza of history, culture, cooking, sailing and enjoying! We take in the best that Istanbul has to offer, from great markets to historic sights, fabulous food, glimpses of everyday life, and we relax with a luxurious Turkish bath. You will love it!
Dates: flexilbe2010 (5 days/4 nights)
Price: Euro890
Meeting Point: Istanbul
Maximum number: 10
Price includes all hotels, lunches days 2, 3 and 4, entrance fees, guide and excursions. Airport transfers (we can assist in organising these) and dinners not included. Your group leader will normally assist in organizing group meals at most stops so that you may benefit from better choice and prices.
Drinks, snacks, water, fruit juices or any other personal expenses are not included.
Day One:
Welcome to Istanbul!
This evening we dine together to get to know the group and to introduce you to Istanbul and local food.
Day Two:
Today we discover the essence of the city. Staying on the beaten path, we head directly into the heart of the historical and cultural wonders that make the city unique.
Byzantine Hippodrome: Heart of Constantinople's political and sporting life, and the scene of games and riots through 500 years of Ottoman history as well. Monuments decorating the Hippodrome include the 3500-year-old Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and the spiral bronze base of a three-headed serpent sculpture brought from Delphi in Greece.
Blue Mosque: The world famous Blue Mosque is one of Istanbul's premier sights. Istanbul's imperial mosque is still a working mosque with fascinating blue tile work, 6 minarets and great cascades of domes.
Sultan Ahmet I commissioned the Blue Mosque when he was only 19 years old.
Hagia Sophia and the Gallery: The church of the Divine Wisdom is eternally impressive and important. Its dome was a daring engineering feat in the 6th century and engineers still marvel at the building's many innovations. Our visit include the second the floor gallery to see the mosaics that survived after the Iconoclastic period had ended.
It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings.
Basilica Cistern: Beneath Istanbul lie hundreds of gloomy Byzantine cisterns. The Basilica Cistern is the best preserved and the grandest of all. With proper walkways and atmospheric lightening, it deserves a visit.
Turkish Bath: an excellent way to relax, this is a wonderful tradition. The hamam offers a complete range of services for body, mind and spirit, set in the sumptuous and authentic Cemberlitas hamam.
Evening Stroll for dinner: Cihangir- Tophane- Cukurcuma trio
The artsy neighborhood of Istanbul. Meet the artists, visit galleries, watch poets meeting their dates, marvel antique shops, try some second hand clothing, enjoy people watching and some serious tea ( wine?) drinking playing backgammon.
Day Three:
Topkapi Palace and the Harem: Witness the glory of the Ottomans. The palace was the home of the Ottomans for nearly 400 years. The heart of the great Ottoman Empire, ruled by the monarch who lived in Topkapi's hundreds of rooms with a huge family and servants. Our visit includes the exotic Harem, the private quarters of the Sultan.
Grand Bazaar: Built by Mehmet the 2nd in 1463 after the Ottoman conquest.
This is a classical example of Ottoman civil architecture and deserves a visit not only for the shopping experience but also to see the way it was built. This ultimate medieval shopping center is a monstrous hive of little shops all under one roof and cut up into labyrinthal alleys which are arched overhead.
Turkey's largest and oldest covered market offers excellent shopping: beautiful Turkish carpets, glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool...and all sorts of other things. We will walk around all these marvels stopping at local shops and trying Turkish coffee and sweets.
Evening Stroll for dinner: Beyoglu and Grand Rue de Pera
Walk around the Pera or Beyoglu district of the city. A pedestrian Street that leads off from Taksim Square. The area hosts a whole number of historical interest points from churches, historical buildings, picturesque arcades, old Ottoman hans, to bazaars and fine restaurants, all easily accessible over a couple of hours.
Day Four:
Culinary Sailing: The isles are about an hour's sail from the old city though in spirit they seem a far greater distance than that in atmosphere and appearance. The archipelago consists of nine small islands where the locals swim and picnic. There is no car traffic so it offers good walking, biking or a horse ride.
We will cruise to the largest of the Princes' Islands (Principio -Büyükada) by sailing boat BOLERO. Buyukada has lovely pine groves, wild cliffs plunging down to the sea and sandy coves for bathing. The monastery of St. George is worth a visit, too.
On the island we will stroll along the pier to visit the island's local market and stop at specialty shops.
After the tour we will stop for a succulent lunch by the sea. We learn the secrets of how to make delicious Turkish food from a great chef.
Following lunch we take a horse drawn carriage ride through the pine forest. Our tour will end with the island's famous ice-cream!
Evening Stroll to the Spice Market
Much smaller compared to the Grand Bazaar, the Spice Market is heaven if you like cooking.
All kinds of exotic spices from around the world are on sale, as well as Turkish Delight, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, different kinds of aromatic herbal teas, olive oil soaps and perfumes.
Day Five:
You wonderful exotic short break to Istanbul is over - breakfast and then transfer to the airport.
WANT SOME MORE??
Stay a bit longer and enjoy either a two day Ephesus-Bodrum extension or a three day Cappadocia extension...contact us for more details.
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