Istanbul Package Tour (8 Days - 7 Nights)
Day - 1: Arrival to Istanbul
When you arrive at Istanbul airport or Istanbul harbour in Turkey.A Castle Travel Representative will meet you.One of our Castle Travel representatives will be holding up a sign with your name on it.At the begining of your Istanbul Package Tour,your Istanbul guide will provide you with an Istanbul Package Tour programme, vouchers and a complimentary city map of Istanbul, and on the reverse side a map of the historical attraction of the city so when you are walking around the city ,you can have a better understanding of Istanbul, Turkey.Airport transfer to your hotel. Brief orientation followed by a free day to enjoy at your own leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day - 2: St.Sophia Museum - Hippodrome - Blue Mosque Bazaar
Visit the St. Sophia Museum, it is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Its decorated interior was of great artistic value with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian proclaimed, "Solomon,I have outdone thee" Justinian himself had overseen the completion of the greatest cathedral ever built up to that time, and it was to remain the largest cathedral for 1,000 years up until the completion of the cathedral in Seville in Spain. Across from St. Sophia is the Blue Mosque, recognizable from its six minarets, built between 1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I and decorated inside with 21,043 tiles from Iznik in a dominant blue colour; because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.Hippodrome, Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. We continue to Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Conclude your day of touring with a short drive to the exotic Grand Bazaar, which is one of the most colourful institutions of Istanbul, Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)
Day - 3: Bosphorus Tour-Rumeli Fortrees-Spice Bazaar
Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other concievable herb and spice. Bedesten exhibits the traditional silk weaving courses carpet weaving courses authorised by the Ministry of National Education. Possibility to see the jewellery, handicrafts center and leatherware show. Free time provided for shopping. Bosphorus Tour on Boat, a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway seperating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace. Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of is marble facade faces the shore. Rumeli Fortres, Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul, was completed in only four months to control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of ottoman sultans with its orginal furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian. Bosphorus Bridge unique change by stepping from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe) Camlica Hill the highest point in istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the bosphours from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day - 4: Flight to Trabzon & Trabzon City Tour
In the morning transfer to airport and flight to Trabzon. Arrive and meet with your guide, in the morning our first stop is Ataturk Kosku, we go uptown to see Ataturk Villa which had been the residence of a Greek banker and hosted Ataturk during his comings to Trabzon. Ataturks summer villa is now a museum dedicated to the founder of Turkey. The attractive white gingerbread house, set in a small forest, is pleasant and has a nice view of the city below. After that drive to city center. Visit the Ataturk Alani, The heart of Trabzons social activity is in its pleasing central square. Its full of trees and tea gardens and surrounded by most of the citys hotels-restaurants. After that within short walking distance visit the Gulbahar Hatun Camii, mother of Sultan Selim the Grim, it was constructed within a kulliye near the Zagnos Bridge on the west of Orta Hisar. Only a mosque and a tomb survived to the present, all other structures within the complex such as soup kitchen, medrese, public bath and school were all mined. On the site of the former school, todays Gulbahar Hatun Primary School was constructed in 1899. Historic records reveal that the complex was put up in 1514 after the death of Gulbahar Hatun. After the mosqe drive to St.Ayasofia Church(Museum) in Trabzon. (Hagia Sophia) church, now used a museum, was built during the reign of Manuel Comnenos I, one of the kings of the Empire of Trabzon (1238-1263). Following Trabzon''s conquest by Sultan Mehmet, the Conqueror in 1461, the church was transformed into a mosque. For centuries, the Hagia Sophia church has attracted the attention of travellers and researchers visiting the city. The building is a very good example of late Byzantine architecture. It has a cruciform plan with a high central dome. It has a vestibule called a narthex, and 3 aisles. The central aisle has a pentagonal abscissa and the adjacent aisles end with semi-circular abscissas. The building has three porches on the north, west and south sides. The dome has twelve corners and is supported by four marble monolithic columns, arches and pendants. After the museum we will drive for lunch. After lunch, we will walk to Covered Bazaar of the city, which includes a 16th-century bedestan, or market, that has been restored and now houses several cafes and some gift shops selling unremarkable trinkets. The bazaar does have a small but appealing section of coppersmiths, who make a variety of bowls, trays, and pots. After the Bazaar we will drive to Citadel, Trabzons Byzantine-era citadel, in between two ravines, is still imposing, though its pretty much a ruin. Its ramparts were restored after the Ottoman conquest in 1461, although the remains of the Byzantine palace are insignificant. No army ever took Trabzon by force, though many tried. Inside the citadel walls is the 10th-century Church of Panaghia Chrysokephalos (the Virgin of the Golden Head), which was the citys most important church for several centuries until the Aya Sofya was built.The Ottomans converted it into a mosque, the Ortahisar Cami, in the 15th century. Not much is left of the buildings Byzantine glory, although its soaring basilica and massive columns are still impressive. An evening transfer to hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.(B,L)
Day - 5: Sumela Monastery & Long lake Flight to Istanbul
Situated in a very beautiful and natural setting, Sumela Monastery built in the 14th century is nestled into the side of rocks in a famous valley in Maçka, only 50 kilometers away from Trabzon. The setting is 1200 meters above the sea level. Two Greek monks, Barnaby and Sophronios started the original building. The 7th century Icon apparently painted by an anonymous Trabizond(Trabzon) artist became the symbol of the monastery. Some say that the name "Sumela" comes from the Greek word "melas" which means "black" and it refers to the characteristic dark colour of this icon. But others say that "Melas" is the name of the mountain above the monastery, "sou" in the Pontian Greek dialect means "at the", so Sumela (Sou + Mela) means "at the Melas (mountain)". The Church of the Assumption of the valley and the large monastery complex had 5 floors and a total of 72 rooms. The upper floor was used as a gallery and a lookout post. The whole building was full of frescoes and the wall paintings. The large part of the building was hewn out of the rock. It stands in front of a beautiful valley scenery and sharp rocky mountains behind Uzungöl (Long lake) is a lake situated to the south of the city of Trabzon in Turkey It is also the name of a nearby village. It was formed by landslide making the stream bed to become a natural dam in the valley of Haldizen Stream.The area is most famous for its natural beauty. Located in a valley between high rising mountains,the lake and village at first appear inaccessible . The surrounding greenery of the mountain forests and fog,occasionally enveloping the lake at night which also adds to the scenery, Return back to Trabzon airport and fly to Istanbul. Arrive at Istanbul and transfer to hotel.Overnight in Istanbul.(B,L)
Day - 6: Freeday at Leisure in Istanbul
Freedat at Leisure in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. (B)
Day - 7: Flight from Istanbul to Home Sweet Home
Transfer to Istanbul airport and flight back to home sweet home. (B)