ABOUT TOUR
Highlights of İstanbul; Underground Cistern - Bosphorus Cruise Sightseeing Boat Trip - Topkapi Palace - Grand Bazaar - Blue Mosque - St.Sophia Museum (Hagia Sophia) - Archaeological Museum - Spice Market and more...
4 Days - 3 Nights Highlights of İstanbul Tour
RESERVATION<data:post.body/>
Tour Program
DAY 1 : Arrival ISTANBUL (Airport Arrival Transfer)
Welcome to istanbul, Meet your transfer guide at the Atatürk airport and transfer to your Hotel...during your transfer, you will have an orientation drive in the city… Hotel Check-in and Overnight Hotel in Istanbul.
Please note: After going through the passport control, please get your luggage and then walk towards the exit to get out of the customs area and as soon as you get out of the customs, you will see a lot of people waiting in front with signs. Your/our transfer guide will be around there as soon as you come out holding a paper sign bearing your name on it.
DAY 2 : ISTANBUL ( full day tour)
After breakfast meet your tour guide at the lobby and spend the day exploring Istanbul… Visit Church of Divine Wisdom (Aya Sofya in Turkish, Sancta Sophia in Latin, Hagia Sofia in Greek). Now a museum, Aya Sofya built by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in the 6th Century and reigned as the grandest church in Christendom until its conversion into a mosque by Sultan Mehmet II just after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453. The Ottomans added minaret and buttresses, plastered over the Byzantine mosaics in the interior, and installed exquisite calligraphies medallions. Much of the plaster has now been removed and several of the original mosaics restored. Visit The Hippodrome - the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years, including coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution. At the opposite end of the Hippodrome (at Meydani) is the elegant ‘’Blue Mosque’’of Sultan Ahmed I, with its six minarets. Built in the early 17th century, its popular name is derived from the 20.00 predominately blue Iznik tiles lining the interior walls... Lunch at a local Restaurant (lunch is excluded to the tour) Visit Topkapi Palace, residence of the Ottoman Sultans for three centuries. Now a museum, it consists of gardens and buildings of the former palace restored to hold a wealth of treasures. Among the most notable are one of the world’s finest collections of Chinese porcelain, a spectacular collection of jewellery, gems and gold, and the wardrobes of the Sultans, consisting of more than 13.000 customers( Harem section is excluded; entrance requires additional admission fee)… Our last stop will be the famous Grand Covered Bazaar; the largest covered marketplace in the world where a dazzling array of items-from Furniture and carpets to jewelers and clothing are sold in the bazaar’s 4000 shops. Overnight at your Hotel in Istanbul. (B)
DAY 3 : ISTANBUL (Full day Tour)
FULLDAY TOUR OPTION 1
After breakfast meet yourtour guide at the lobby for a second full day tour and spend the day exploring Istanbul. A pleasant drive to the Asian part of Istanbul over the Intercontinental Bosphorus Bridge. Our first stop Camlica Hill, the highest point in İstanbul, commanding a panoramic view of the city…Our second stop is Beylerbeyi Palace, we take a short drive to the 19th century summer palace of the Sultans in the Bosphorus village of Beylerbeyi. Completed in 1865, the palace has 24 rooms and six large halls. We turn back to the European side of İstanbul and Lunch at a local Restaurant (lunch is excluded to the tour)… proceed to the the famous Rustem Pasa Mosque which is skillful accomplishment of achitect Sinan.İt was built in 1561 and displays exquisite Iznik tiles decorting the superbly proportioned interior… We take a Bosphorus Cruise Sightseeing Boat Trip * (almost 1 hr boat ride) up Istanbul's winding straits for a chance to relax and admire the shoreline of beautiful mosques, lavish palaces and decadent villas - you'll see Dolmabahce and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Ottoman summer mansions and Ortakoy mosque, the defensive Rumeli Fortress and Bosphorus Bridge - one of the world's largest suspension bridges, all alongside passing fishing boats, yachts. Overnight at your Hotel in Istanbul. (B)
FULLDAY TOUR OPTION 2
After breakfast meet yourtour guide at the lobby for a second full day tour and spend the day exploring Istanbul. Firstly, explore the mysterious and surreal Underground Cistern which is also known as Yerebatan Saray, one of the Grand underground cisterns which were an important source of water fort he city during the Byzantine and Ottoman times. The roof is supported by 336 Corinthian Columns. Sensitively restored, the cistern is now equipped with meandering walkways above the water, atmospheric illumination, and classical music… Then, visit the Archaeological Museum adjacent to Topkapi Palace, which includes the celebrated Alexander Sarcophagus…This is a very rich museum, well worth a visit. After lunch Our last stop is the famous Spice Market also known as Egyptian Bazaar at the base of the Golden Horn. This colorful, covered bazaar has shops selling all sorts of exotic goodies. Return back to your hotel. (B)
DAY 4 : ISTANBUL DEPARTURE (Departure Transfer to Ataturk Airport)
After breakfast, meet your driver at the lobby and Transfer to the airport for your outgoing flights. End of our services…
HOTEL/ACCOMMODATION; For Groups & individuals (F.I.T guests); 4* - 5* star / Deluxe / Boutique Hotels or similar… (depending on your personal preferences and Istanbul Hotel availabilities)
*Please note that; We may switch the visiting places (as per above program) depends on museum closed days, weather or traffic conditions or your travelling dates. We may provide Halfday tour instead of a full day (up on request). We did not include the lunch and dinners in Istanbul as you can have more flexibility for your own choices.(up on request)some Lunch & Dinners will be included for Group requests!
Museum CLOSED days;
- Hagia Sophia on Monday replaced with Underground (Basilica) Cistern
- Blue Mosque visited from outside on Friday mornings because of noon prayer
- Grand Covered Bazaar on Sunday replaced with authentic shops
- Topkapı Palace on Tuesday replaced with Tour to Byzantium
- Sultan Tombs on Monday replaced with Little Hagia Sophia (St. Sergius & Bacchus)
- Dolmabahçe Palace on Monday & Thursday replaced with Eyüp + Pierre Loti Coffee House + Miniatürk,
- St. Savior in Chora (Kariye Museum) on Wednesday
"Please do not hesitate to contact us for Group & (F.I.T) individual tour rates"
Liability Included Services
Above package tour fees include; Airport Transfers (arrival & departure), A/C transportation, Accommodation BB basis (Bed & Breakfast), English speaking professional tour guide, entrance fees to the Sites and Museums and mentioned meals...We kindly request our guests to be ready by the hotel’s reception 10 minutes before departure time,
30% discount for children below the age 7, free for the ages of 0-2,
Guests are to be promptly on time at the meeting points given by the tour guide. Tours will proceed without waiting the delayers,
Tour programs and prices may change without prior notice. Any increase in museum entrance fees will be reflected in the prices.
Services not included in the price list
Passport and Visa expences, Airport Taxes, dinners and lunches, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages other than mentioned above, personal expences and customary end-of-tour gratuities to guide and drivers...Turkey Holiday Planner is not responsible for any loss or theft of personal belongings during the tour.
Payment and Cancellation Policy
GROUP BOOKINGS : A deposit of 10 % of the total amount is required to process and confirm the reservation at the time of registration. Balance of payment must be received 30 days prior to departure.
If your balance is not paid at the specified time (unless previously arranged with us in writing) we reserve the right to cancel your booking.
CANCELLATIONS / REFUNDS : Cancellations should be received by Turkey Holiday Planner in writing. We strongly suggest the purchase of the Trip Cancellation and Tour Interruption Insurance. Deadline for cancellation of individual bookings is 3 days, for groups 35 days prior to the departure of the tour. For cancellations on departure date or after no refund will be made regardless of the cause, whatsoever. No refund can be made for no-shows, unused hotel accommodation, meals or tours not taken cannot be refunded.
Should we cancel your holiday, your deposit and any other payments made will be refunded in full. However, if our cancellation is due to ‘force majeure’ any reasonable expenses we have incurred will be deducted from your refund. (War, civil or political unrest is usually known as force majeure). All refunds and compensation are strictly limited to the amount paid to us and we are not liable for any expenses you have incurred as a result of this booking. Your holiday will not be cancelled after the final payment is due unless we are forced to do so by force majeure.
The tour leader/guide who represents Turkey Holiday Planner has overriding authority on our tours. By signing our booking form, you agree to do this. If you commit any illegal act on a tour with us or if in the opinion of the tour leader or ground operator your behavior is detrimental to the safety and welfare of the group as a whole you may be asked to leave the tour without any right to refund.
Any complaints with regard to our tours must be immediately brought to the attention of the tour leader, ground operators or hotelier so that the necessary action to rectify the matter can be taken. However, if by the end of the tour you still feel you have a valid complaint you must notify the company, in writing, within 14 days of the end of your tour with Turkey Holiday Planner.
You are responsible for ensuring all necessary travel documents are in order. Many countries require passports to be valid for at least six months after entry.
We will be looking forward to hearing from you and being of service to your group...
Please do not hesitate to contact us If you would have any further questions...
Best Regards,