ISTANBUL & BOLU/ABANT (07 Days)
Highlights: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Underground Cistern, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Spice Market, Boaphorus Cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Hill, Princess' Islands, Bolu, Abant, Golcuk Forest
Operates: All year-around
Package Rate: Please fill the form and tell us your travel dates & choice of hotels
Optional Tours: Turkish Bath (Hamam), Turkish Night Show & Whirling Dervishes Performance
Note: Istanbul & Bolu/Abant vacation is insuranced by TURSAB (Association of Turkish Travel Agencies)
DAY 01 - Arrival in Istanbul (Meal: None)
Upon arrival, you will be met at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and transferred to your hotel in the city of Istanbul, the only city in the world that overlaps the two continents of Europe and Asia. Remainder of day will be at your leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 02 - Splendors of Empire Sightseeing Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Your guide will take you to visit some of Istanbul’s most fascinating sights such as the Blue Mosque (unique with its 6 Minarets) and St Sophia Museum, the jewel of Byzantine architecture in Istanbul, a 6th Century Church dedicated to Divine Wisdom. You will walk around the Hippodrome, once the home of chariot races and other activities during the Roman period. After lunch and visit to Grand Bazaar, next stop is the Topkapi Palace, the home of the Ottoman Sultans and their families for over 400 years, a city within a city with 3000 residents. Your final stop for the day will be the Rustem Pasha Mosque which is famous for its exquisite Iznik tiles, set in beautiful floral and geometric designs. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 03 - Princess’ Islands Cruise Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Meet your guide to for your full day tour, escaping the bustle of Istanbul for the day. Start the day by boarding a ferry bound for the charming Princes' Islands, your destination, Buyukkada, the largest of the island chain, passing by four other islands during the trip. The islands are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation, ornate Ottoman houses and for being vehicle-free. The preferred means of transport is the charming horse-drawn carriage known as the Phaeton, which you will use on your trip around Buyukada, passing by elegant mansions draped in brilliant purple bougainvilleas. Feel as though you have stepped back in time to a more peaceful and graceful era. You can feel the 19th century gradeur that adorned the waterfront on your leisurely stroll along the promenade. Lunch will be at one of the many exceptional traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, with time to gaze across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul, so close, yet feels a world away. After the tour, you will cruise back to Istanbul and transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 04 - Bosphorous Cruise & Asian Istanbul Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch)
Your day starts with driving journey along the Golden Horn, the arm of the Bosphorus peninsula which separates the old and new cities of Istanbul. Next stop, the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar), with mystical aromas of various spices, followed by a cruise along the Bosphorus on one of the iconic ferries of Istanbul, giving you the chance to see the two bridges that link Europe and Asia. Disembark the ferry for a trip over the Intercontinental Bosphorus Bridge to Camlica Hill, the highest hill in Asiatic Istanbul to enjoy breathtaking views of both shores. Travel back to Europe with a stop at Beylerbeyi Palace which was the summer residence of the late royal Ottoman family. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 05 - Lake Abant Tour (Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
After breakfast and check-out, you will be met at your hotel and driven to Bolu, enjoying magnificent mountains views, verdant woodlands and clear lake waters. After taking in a panoramic view from Mount Bolu, enjoy lunch at lovely hotel with spectacular views of Lake Abant. This region is known for its brilliantly-colored foliage, and the nearby forests can be explored on foot, horseback or by horse-drawn carriage. After the tour, you will be dropped at your hotel in Abant. Overnight in Abant.
DAY 06 - Free Day in Abant / Drive to Istanbul (Meal: Breakfast)
After breakfast & check-out you will have the norning at your leisure will you will be met and driven to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul
DAY 07 - Transfer to Istanbul International Airport (Meal: Breakfast)
After you have checked-out from your hotel, we will arrange for the transfer to Istanbul International Airport for your onward flight.
Please take note of the following:
* We aim to respond to all requests within 24 hrs. We are happy to modify the itinerary upon request
* Smoking is not permitted in our tours but all tours make frequent stops
What's Included:
* Hotel accommodations in choice of preferred class
* Professional Guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism
* Noted sightseeing tours on regular group or private guided basis
* Main entrance fees to sights mentioned by the itinerary
* Meals mentioned by the itinerary - Vegeterian meals available
* Required land transport including roundtrip airport transfers with A/C minivans
* Local taxes & handling services
What's NOT Included:
* International flights to/from Turkey and personal travel insurance, any other expenses not noted in the above included section or airport tax, visa for Turkey (if required), any tips to guide, driver or staff at hotels, items of a personal nature, hotel extras (minibar, telephone/internet usage, laundry, etc), drinks with meals (except the drinks served with breakfast) and medical services.
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