 |
|
|
|
|
|
5 Nights Pre Cruise Package Tour includes
- Pick-up from the Istanbul
Port or from airport,
- Visit to Topkapi Palace
- Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Hippodrome, Blue
Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar
- Goreme Open Air Museum, Uchisar
- Kaymakli Underground City, Cavusin, Avanos,
Pasabag, Zelve
- Underground Cistern, Rustem Pasa Mosque
- Bosphorus Cruise with private boat, Spice Market
- By the end of the tour drive back to Istanbul Port or
to airport. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Day 1 - What You Visit
You will be met by your guide
at Istanbul International Airport and transfer to your
hotel by private vehicle. Check into your hotel with
some time to relax. At approximately 2:30 pm, you will
start your half-day tour of the wonderful highlights of
Istanbul. |
|
Topkapi Palace - A huge walled complex hugging the
Bosphorus, the former palace of the Ottoman sultans is now a museum with an extraordinary collection of Chinese porcelain, art, artifacts and jewels, including the Topkapi diamond and the dagger. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Day 2 - What You Visit
Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum - was built in 1524 by the Grand Vizier to Suleyman the
Magnificent, Ibrahim Pasa, as his residence. It was the
grandest private residence ever built in the Ottoman Empire.
Today it holds a superb collection of ceramics, metalwork,
miniatures, calligraphy, textiles, and woodwork as well as
some of the oldest carpets in the world. |
|
Hippodrome - The large, open square was once the site of a Roman circus that rivaled the Colosseum and could seat a quarter of a million spectators. Monuments on the site include the Snake Column from Delphi and an Egyptian obelisk taken from the Temple of Karnak at Luxor. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Blue Mosque - Six graceful minarets adorn the elegant mosque, one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. More than 20,000 blue Iznik tiles highlight the superb interior. |
|
Hagia Sophia - Built by the Emperor Justinian when
Istanbul was Constantinople, this magnificent example of Byzantine architecture boasts a massive dome, a lengthy nave, and an interior decorated with marble, precious stones, and pillars from Ephesus. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Grand Bazaar - The largest and the oldest covered market place in the world with more than 4,000 shops in the labyrinth of streets. Enjoy the colorful array of shops that offer an endless selection of goods that includes jewelry, fabrics, spices and local handicrafts. |
|
Day 3 - What You Visit
Cappadocia - After an early breakfast, you will
be transferred to the airport for your flight to Cappadocia.
Upon your arrival in Cappadocia, you will be met by your
private guide and begin exploring this interesting region. Cappadocia is the jewel of Central Anatolia, and home to a bewitching landscape of spectacularly eroded tuff (hardened volcanic ash). The most famous and |
|
 |
|
|
characteristic features of the landscape are
the remarkable conical rock outcroppings know as fairy chimneys. The softness of the tuff made it easy to excavate and create dwellings, so whole cities were constructed underground as well as hundreds of rock-cut chapels, beautifully frescoed churches and monasteries. Lunch will be served at the lovely restaurant serving traditional Turkish cuisine. After lunch you will visit the
Goreme Open-Air Museum. |
|
 |
|
Goreme Open-Air Museum - The
best examples of Byzantine art in Cappadocia in rock-cut
churches with frescoes and paintings. Wonderful and
primitive 11th- and 12th-century frescoes cover the walls of
these churches. The oldest churches in the area date back to
the 6th century. |
|
Uchisar
- a small town situated right in the middle of Cappadocia,
full of towering rock houses typical of this area. It is
named after the enormous piece of rock in the center of the
town, which was once used as a castle. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Day 4 - What You Visit
(Optional) Balloon Tour
- Get an early start for your optional (extra cost) one-hour
hot air balloon flight. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime
experience and there is no better way to see the distinctive
landscapes of Cappadocia than by gently floating overhead in
a hot air balloon. Your skilled pilot will skim the basket
across fruit trees and rise up over the fairy chimneys,
before ascending to great heights for breathtaking views. |
|
Kaymakli Underground City
- one of the most interesting underground settlements in
Cappadocia. People of Kaymakli (Enegup in Greek) village have constructed their houses around nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city. The inhabitants of the region still use the most convenient places in the tunnels as cellars, storage areas and stables, which they access through their courtyards. Kaymakli
Underground City has |
|
 |
|
|
low, narrow and sloping passages.
While the city has 8 floor, only 4 of them are open to the
public today, in which the spaces are organized around the
ventilation shafts. |
|
 |
|
Cavusin
- view the lovely village of Cavusin before continuing to
Avanos. Avanos
- center of terra cotta work of art since 3000 BC. dating
back to the Hittite period.
You will have a chance to see how pottery is made in
this region. |
|
Pasabag Valley
- where the formation of "fairy chimneys" can be best observed. Pasabag,
the Pasha's Vineyard, is surrounded by incredible natural
rock formations-a spectacular scene.
Zelve -
where three canyons meet in the Valley of Monks. The rock
face at Zelve is honeycombed with caves and churches, and
much of the decoration inside the churches is symbolic. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Day 5 - What You Visit
After your breakfast, you will
be transferred to Cappadocia airport and fly to Istanbul. After arriving in Istanbul, you will
be met by your private guide to visit Underground
Cistern... |
|
Underground Cistern - Built by Justinian in the 6th century, the Underground Cistern is supported by 336 beautiful columns. Two are incised with the head of Medusa. |
|
 |
|
 |
|
Rustem Pasha Mosque - It is constructed to Mimar Sinan on 1561 by one of the viziers of Kanuni, Rustem Pasa. As the place at Eminonu is both hollow and a commercial center, Sinan, had opened inns and shops under mosque. |
|
Day 6 - What You Visit
Bosphorus Cruise
- The Bosphorus bisects Istanbul, separating Europe and Asia, and connecting the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara.
Your boat will pass by magnificent palaces, old
seaside mansions, and impressive fortresses. You will be
surprised to see that the old Ottoman buildings harmonize
perfectly with the more modern architecture. |
|
 |
|
|
Watch for the Imperial Pavilions of Yildiz Palace, the famous Ciragan Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, Ortakoy, Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Rumeli Fortress, built to control the Bosphorus and protect Istanbul
from its enemies. |
|
 |
|
Egyptian Bazaar
(Spice Market) - The
Egyptian Bazaar is famous for selling the best spices in
Istanbul. you will find an immense selection of spices like saffron, oregano, mint, cinnamon, henna for the hair, special Turkish spices for meat, different kind of pepper. There are typical Turkish sweets such as "baklava", "lokum" and different types of tea like chamomile, island tea, apple tea, black tea... |
|
|
Later in the afternoon,
transfer to your ship. |
|
|
- |
Guests must be able to walk
approximately 1-1.5 miles over uneven and cobblestone
surfaces, inclines and 40 to 65 steps thus the guests must
be cautious to watch their step at all times in order to
avoid injuries. |
| - |
Comfortable clothing, flat walking shoes, sun hat, sun glasses and sun
screen are strongly recommended. |
|
- |
Please expect dense traffic conditions in
Istanbul. |
| - |
The
order of the sites visited may change to avoid the crowds. |
|
- |
Temperatures can reach extreme
highs during summer months; we recommend that you drink a
lot of water and use suitable sun protection. |
| |
|
| |
The rates includes; |
| - |
A deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with a professional driver
for entire touring and transfers |
| - |
Licensed professional tour guide in your preferred
language |
| - |
Entrance fees of all the sites and museums as marked on
the itinerary |
| - |
Accommodation at 4 star hotel on bed & breakfast basis |
| - |
Bosphorus cruise by boat |
| - |
VAT taxes |
| |
|
| - |
Rates are based on per person, starts from... |
| |
|
|
2 pax |
4 pax |
6 pax |
8 pax |
10 pax |
|
|
2394$ pp |
1513$ pp |
1219$ pp |
1071$ pp |
984$ pp |
|
| |
|
| - |
As the number of participant increases the certain amount of discount will be applied. |
| - |
Please kindly contact us for your group requests. |
| |
Bosphorus Cruise tour can also be
organized with private boat. |
| - |
Children 0-6 ages are free. |
| |
|
| - |
In the
event of cancellation, written notice must be received by Meander Travel
at least three days before the arrival in order to receive the full refund. |
| - |
In the event of no show, 100% cancellation fee will apply. |
| |
|
| |
5 NIGHTS POST CRUISE PACKAGE |
| |
The above package will begin with your disembarkation from your ship and end with a transfer to the Istanbul airport. |
| |
We can modify the
tour according to your preferences. |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
