ISTANBUL (SAMPLE ITINERARY)

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1 SPOTLIGHT: ISTANBUL (SAMPLE ITINERARY) 121 West 27 th Street Suite 1201 New York, NY F HTprivatetravel.com Day 1: Arrival at Istanbul s Ataturk International Airport, where you will be welcomed by your expert guide, private driver and vehicle and escorted to your hotel. Check in at the Georges Hotel Galata, a contemporary boutique hotel in the Galata neighborhood, close to popular sites such as the Galata Tower and bustling Istiklal Street. You will be staying in a deluxe room. Rest and refresh at your hotel. This afternoon begin exploring the historic streets and dramatic backdrop of Istanbul with your expert guide. Take a stroll to the Galata Bridge for tremendous views of the Golden Horn and the historic city skyline. The very name of Istanbul conjures up images of a majestic skyline of slender minarets, domed mosques and sultans palaces that crown the hilltops of this majestic city. It calls to mind a city of intrigue and beauty at the terminus of the Orient Express,, and as the place where two continents meet.. Once-great great,, long-vanquished empires and twenty-seven centuries of history are embodied in this great city known at various times as Byzantium, Constantinople and Istanbul names that recall the fabled wealth, magnificent art and compelling history of this incredible city. Istanbul s great glory lies in its past, yet thrives on a vibrancy and energy very much rooted in the present. Istanbul has many excellent restaurants. We will send you a list of our favorites and will be happy to make reservations on your behalf. Day 2: This morning, your expert guide, private driver and vehicle will meet you at your hotel for a full-day tour of historic Sultanahmet. Your day begins at the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Built at the command of the Emperor Justinian during the Golden Age of Byzantium, Hagia Sophia was the greatest church in Christendom for centuries. Visit the restored second floor to see the spectacular Byzantine mosaics up close. Continue on to the Blue Mosque - one of the major monuments of Old Istanbul with six minarets and its famous turquoise tiles. Morocco Spain Portugal Turkey Sub-Saharan Africa

2 Day 2 (continued): Near the Blue Mosque is the small but rich Museum of Mosaics, many of which date from the 6 th century. Stroll through the Hippodrome - the center of Byzantine civic life for 1000 years. Over that time, it was home to coronations, Roman chariot races and more than one royal execution. Explore the mysterious and surreal 6 th century cistern under the streets of ancient Constantinople. Supported by over 300 Corinthian Columns and still filled with water, it is so extensive that transport was once small boats. Your afternoon concludes in the largest covered marketplace in the world - the Grand Bazaar in the heart of old Istanbul, boasting more than 3,000 shops. Day 3: Enjoy a full-day tour with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle. Begin your day at Topkapi Palace, the legendary home of the Ottoman Sultans, and now one of the finest museums in Turkey. Your visit includes the once secret harems where the sultan s many concubines were kept. Visit the outstanding Treasury Museum at the Topkapi, which is filled with spectacular objects from the era of the sultans. The adjacent Museum of the Ancient Orient has a remarkable collection of ancient artifacts. A little known museum without parallel in Europe or the States, the collection includes spectacular pieces from ancient Babylon, Persia and Mesopotamia. Visit the stunning Archaeological Museum adjacent to Topkapi Palace, which includes the celebrated Alexander Sarcophagus. Late this afternoon, enjoy a private cruise up the Bosphorus. Enjoy a leisurely exploration of this historic waterway between Europe and Asia (two hour cruise). Your cruise can conclude at the quay of one of the fine seaside restaurants where you can enjoy a relaxing dinner. Day 4: Enjoy a full-day tour with your expert guide, private driver and vehicle. This morning, drive across the first suspension bridge over the Bosphorus to the often overlooked Asian side of the city. Visit the Beylerbeyi Palace, built by Sultan Abdulmecid on the site of another wooden mansion. The decorations on the seaside façade, the well-kept gardens, the hall with a pool in the central section and the spiral staircase are some of the eye-catching features of the palace. Continue at the Sakirin Mosque. It is the first mosque in all of Islamic history whose interior was designed by a female. Discover Kadikoy, a populous cosmopolitan district that is the cultural center of the Asian side of Istanbul. Cross back over to the European shore in the afternoon. " presents a most glorious spectacle, extraordinary to those who behold and altogether incredible to those who are told of it. In height it rises to the very heavens and overtops that neighboring houses like a ship anchored among them Procopius - On the Hagia Sofia, AD.537

3 Day 4 (continued): In the afternoon, delight your senses and learn from a skilled chef, the art of Turkish cuisine. With the help of hands-on instruction, prepare a meal with your own flare. Reap the rewards of your hard work for dinner. Day 5: Today you will board your private yacht to enjoy a full-day visit to the largest of the Princes Islands, Buyukada. You will spend your day with both a curator and garden expert. Buyukada has been the summer resort of the elite of Istanbul since the days of the sultans. Enjoy a day on the island, traveling by horse and buggy (no vehicles allowed), as you explore its byways and sample whatever your like from its cafés and restaurants. The island is dotted with Ottoman homes, summer villas, and spectacular gardens. There is even an active Orthodox monastery dating back to the 6 th century. Enjoy a very special private garden visit with the curator of the recently opened Ada (Island) Museum. Spend the day exploring the grounds of the Vatican Embassy, the Fethi Okyar Mansion, the Riza Dervis Villa, the Mizzi Mansion and other prominent buildings on the island. The Vatican Embassy garden illustrates the pattern of a typical Italian garden, in the sense that it is composed of four parts a welcoming parterre, the living unit, a vegetable garden and a coppice forest. Fethi Okyar Mansion, which faces southwest, was used for experimental agriculture, by bringing in olive and orange trees. Every kind of fruit tree, such as fig and almond, can still be grown there. The Dervis Villa shows the style of an Ottoman garden, composed of different levels positioned according to the view of the full moon and the direction of the wind. The Mizzi Mansion, built by George Mizzi during the second half of the 19 th century, reflects the features of the Renaissance Italian garden. If you d like, we can arrange bike rentals for a ride around the car-less island! Board your yacht shortly before sunset so you have the pleasure of seeing the sun set over the spires and domes of Istanbul. I shall never forget my first impression of Constantinople. It has been my good fortune since then, to see it again and again, at every time of year, and under every possible aspect The glory of the scene was beyond description, and, in its way, surpasses anything I have witnessed in any part of the world. F. Marion Crawford, 1895

4 Day 6: This morning, our expert photographer will accompany you around Istanbul, helping you snap unique and special photos that can be relished for years to come. You will have private driver and vehicle at your disposal to navigate the city. This afternoon, embrace Istanbul s booming arts scene on a special gallery crawl. Zigzag through engaging Istiklal Street (pedestrians only), lined by stores and private galleries with visiting exhibitions. We will arrange a special visit to a private art gallery. The forefront of Istanbul s art scene encourages painters and sculptors to develop a Turkish identity in traditionally western art forms. Day 7: You will be escorted to Istanbul s Ataturk International Airport for your departing flight. The most Majestic, most varied, most magnificent, and most untamed site that a painter could hope to find. Lamartine Bon voyage!

5 Included in your land package: ACCOMMODATION: Six nights accommodation (double occupancy) in one of Istanbul s best hotels. Breakfast served at hotel every morning. TOUR LEADERSHIP: Professional Heritage Tours Private Travel-qualified expert guide (Day 2-5). SPECIAL HERITAGE TOURS PRIVATE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES: Istanbul: Private Bosphorus cruise. Istanbul: Private cooking class at the Istanbul Culinary Institute. Princes Islands: Full-day trip to Buyukada via private yacht. Princes Islands: Private garden tour with expert and curator. Istanbul: Photography tour with local expert. Istanbul: Private art exhibit visit and gallery crawl through Istiklal Street. OTHER PRIVATE TOURS AND ACTIVITIES: Istanbul: One half-day walking tour with expert guide. Istanbul: Four full-day tours with expert guide, private driver and vehicle. GROUND TRANSPORTATION: Round-trip airport transfers and assistance: Istanbul. (For help in planning my own trip)...i called my friend Joel Zack...whose Heritage Tours Private Travel specializes in Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Southern Africa. - Richard David Story, Editor in Chief DEPARTURES OTHER SERVICES: All sightseeing and admission fees. 18% Value Added Tax and all service charges. 24/7 assistance of our office in Istanbul. PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL: All of the intangibles that come with the connections, knowledge, passion and experience of one of the premier travel providers to Turkey. Not included in your land package: International flight arrangements. Domestic flight arrangements. Services on day at leisure. Gratuities. Visa fees. THE ABOVE ITINERARY IS ONLY A SAMPLE. ANYTHING CAN BE MODIFIED TO FIT YOUR WISHES. PRICE IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST AND VARIES BY THE NUMBER OF TRAVELERS AND TIME OF YEAR.