Pick up from your hotel and begin the day touring the old city of Istanbul, Sultanahmet. We visit the Hippodrome; the stadium of ancient Byzantine, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture from Delphi of three entwined serpents which still survives todays. Continue to the Blue Mosque, which owes it’s name to the exquisite tiles adorning it’s interior and the magnificent Hagia Sofia. Our last stop is the exciting Grand Bazaar. After the visits you will be returned to your hotel. On Mondays, when Saint Sophia is closed (visit Chora Church instead).

* Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday

Pick up from your hotel and arrive at Topkapi Palace for an intriguing half day tour. From the 15th to the 19th Century, Topkapi Palace was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans. The palace is full of examples of Ottoman style architecture and also owns large collections of porcelain, robes, weapons, shields, armors, Ottoman miniatures, Islamic calligraphic manuscripts and mural decorations, as well as a display of accumulated Ottoman treasures and jewelry. At the tours end you will be transferred back to the hotel.

*Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.
 

Pick up from your hotel in the morning. After a brief visit to the 17th Century Spice Bazaar, we embark on breathtaking cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. After the cruise, transfer to your hotel.

* Spice Bazaar is closed on Sundays. .

 

Meet at the hotel in the afternoon and drive to the suburb of Sariyer along the European shore of the Bosphorus, passing by charming Ottoman villages full of beautifully decorated 19th Century houses. We return by ferry, cruising down the Bosphorus, gliding past palaces and the Rumeli Hisari and Anadolu Hisari Fortresses. At the conclusion of the tour we take a short visit to the legendary Spice Bazaar and after, return you to your hotel.

*Spice Bazaar is closed on Sundays

We begin the afternoon by driving across the first Bosphorus bridge, heading for the summit of Camlica Hill, which reveals fantastic panoramic views of Istanbul. From here, a short drive brings us to the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the shore of the Bosphorus (short visit). After the tour we transfer you back to the hotel.

*Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays and Thursdays
 

Enjoy a full day tour of the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul. Firstly we visit the magnificent Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome and the stadium of ancient Byzantium, where an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi still survive. We then continue on to the Blue Mosque which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior and the world famous Grand Bazaar. After lunch we visit the amazing Topkapi Palace, which from the 15th to the 19th Century was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Pick up and drop off at your hotel is included.

* Saint Sophia is closed on Mondays (visit Chora Church instead). Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays.

 

In the morning we take a brief visit to the fascinating 17th Century Spice Bazaar before embarking on our ferry for a breathtaking cruise along the Bosphorus, the beautiful strait that divides Europe from Asia. After lunch, we drive across the first Bosphorus bridge and head for the summit of Camlica Hill, which affords an amazing panoramic view of Istanbul. From here a short drive brings us to the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the shore of the Bosphorus for a short visit. Pick up and drop off at your hotel is included.

*Beylerbeyi Palace is closed on Mondays & Thursdays.
 

Pick up from your hotel in the evening to visit an exclusive nightclub where you will enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine, including the delicious array of appetizers known as meze. The Turks are justly proud of their food. They are equally proud of their traditional music and after dinner folk musicians from different regions of Anatolia will perform for us. Of course no night out in Istanbul would be complete without Turkish belly dancers. You will be returned to your hotel around midnight.

If you feel the need to escape from the bustle of Istanbul for a day, nothing could be easier. You simply join us aboard a ferry bound for the charming Princes’ Islands. Our destination is Buyukada, the largest of the island chain, but we will pass by four other islands on the way. All are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses, and on all of them cars are banned. The preferred means of transportation is the charming horse-drawn carriage known as the phaeton, which we will use on our circular tour of Buyukada, passing elegant mansions draped in brilliant purple bougainvillea. You will feel as though you have stepped back into a more leisured and gracious age, almost expecting grand 19th Century ladies and gentlemen to come strolling down to the waterfront on an afternoon promenade. Lunch will be at one of the many excellent traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, gazing across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul, so close though it feels worlds away. Pick up and drop off at your hotel is included.

Depart early morning from your hotel for Istanbul Airport to take your flight to Izmir. Upon arrival your guide will meet you and transfer you by A/C non smoking vehicle to Ephesus. Here you will visit the ruins of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. We then proceed to the Ancient City of Ephesus where you will explore some of the best preserved theatres, fountains and buildings in the world. A definite must while in Turkey. Not to be forgotten is the House of the Virgin Mary on top of Bulbul Mountain, a pilgrimage site for many people of all denominations. Lunch is included. At the end of the tour you will be transferred to the airport for your return flight to Istanbul and transferred to your hotel.

 

Early in the morning, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to Istanbul Airport to catch the morning flight to Kayseri. Meet with your guide and driver at the airport. On this full day tour you will visit: Devrent Valley, Zelve Open-air Museum, Monk's valley (Pasabagi) where you will find the world known fairy chimneys. Break for lunch in Avanos and then continue on to the Goreme Open-air Museum where you will visit the numerous churches and monasteries. Depart for a panoramic view of Esentepe and then on to Uchisar, a natural rock castle. After the tour, transfer to Kayseri Airport to catch the evening flight back to Istanbul. Arrive Istanbul, meet at the airport and transfer back to your hotel.