6 Days in West Istanbul
For those who would like to visit one of the most attractive city in the world and combine it with a private yacht charter in Turkey, this tour is a great option.
Day 1: Check out your boat in Bodrum and Prienne Miletos and Didiyma Tour, Overnight in Sirince
Arrive to Priene, early in the morning, which is considered as the Pompei of Anatolia by historians. Highlights contain the Agora, the Ecclesiasterium and Temple of Athena Polias. Next visit will be to Miletus where the Philosopher Thales was born. The phrase “Know Thyself” belongs to him. We will observe the Council Chamber, Baths of Faustina and Delphinion. Final visit is to Didyma which served as an divination center and a religious sanctuary to the god Apollo. Among the highlights, there are the Temple of Apollo and the Stadium. Antique Strabon regards Apollo Temple the most magnificent and Grand temple of the world. Transfer back to hotel.
Day 2: Ephesus Tour, Overnight in Sirince
After a short and scenic drive, visit to the House of Virgin Mary where she is believed to spend her last years together with St. John in the vicinity of Ephesus; Then to Ephesus, the best-preserved ancient city in Turkey and the place to get a feel for what life was like in Roman times, famous for its baths, temples, marble streets, great theatre and Celsius library. It’s situated in the productive Ionian landscape and has been known throughout history for its temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Ephesus is one of the most extensive archeological sites in the world. After lunch in the town of Selcuk visit to St. John’s Basilica and Ephesus Museum. Then drive back to Hotel.
Day 3: Fligth to Istanbul from Izmir, “Walking Tour in Istanbul”, Full Day Tour and overnight in Istanbul
The old city of Constantine Istanbul sightseeing tour in the morning starts with Hippodrome Square where chariot races were once held in Roman Age and today one can see the Obelisk from Egypt, the Fountain of Wilhelm II and the Colossus, Serpentine Column from Delphi and the marvelous Underground Cistern built in order to solve water supply problem nearby. Followed by a visit to the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture St. Sophia operates as museum today. The splendor of the interior decoration, the massiveness of its architectural proportions being unusual for a church and the most important of all, the height of its central dome has amazed everyone since it was first constructed. Then only a short walk away, Sultanahmed Mosque is the only mosque with six minarets in Istanbul. Called as blue mosque by foreigners because of the dominant color of more than 20.000 Iznik tiles decorating the spacious interior The Mosque is regarded as the peak achievement of Ottoman architecture. The highlights of the afternoon is a visit to the magnificent Topkapi Palace which is the only palace remaining from the Ottomans reflecting the splendor of the once mighty empire.
Day 4: “Splendors of Istanbul”, Full Day Tour
Visit the magnificent and colorful Spice Market which was the biggest spice mall of the middle east when the silk road was still functioning before the Suez channel and the route below Africa invented by the Portuguese The tour will include a short Bosporus cruise for an hour approximately giving us a chance to see the beautiful Bosporus mansions and old houses reflecting us the late Ottoman era architecture. We will experience the world’s second oldest subway after the cruise; Tunel which literally means Tunnel that will take us to contemporary Istanbul; Beyoglu district. A gentle walk up to the Taksim square will give us opportunity to see todays Istanbul and lunch can be held at one of the restaurants along the way. Walk down to the Galata tower, built by the Genoese in 1348, after lunch. The Old Pera was given to them by the Ottoman Empire because of their help in defeating a Crusade. We will get to Karakoy area, after a short gentle walk, to meet with our driver to take us back home.
Day 5: ‘Deeper Istanbul’ Full Day Tour
Our day is going to start with visiting the Chora church, Church of St. Saviour in the skirts of the Old City Constantinople. Late mosaics of the beautiful churh will take us to a journey to the late Byzantium era and prosperity of Christianity in Anatolia. Our minivan will take us to Grand Bazaar where we will wander in the hundreds of streets of the Grand Bazaar, have our lunch there, get lost in between the 4000 shops of the huge bazaar and enjoy Turkish bargaining, see handcrafts from all over the country, several artisans still working in their small shops and designing their own dreams. If time permits we will visit The Suleymaniye Mosque will be the next visit. This mosque complex is Architect Sinan’s most splendid work, built at the zenith of the Ottoman Empire. In the work called the Biography of the Construction, architect Sinan recounts the opening of the Mosque, and how the Sultan asked him to be the one to unlock its doors. Suleymaniye is not an ostentatiously decorated building, only a bare amount of tiles decorate its walls. It is said that 4 minarets and the 10 balconies of the Mosque represent Suleyman the Magnificent being the 4th Sultan to reign in Istanbul and the 10th Ottoman Sultan. Our minivan will take us back to the hotel.
Day 6: Private Transfer to Istanbul Airport for a flight to Bodrum, Marmaris or Gocek. Check in to your gullet