ISTANBUL TURKEY
Saturday 4 - Wednesday 8 April (School Break)

Saturday 4 : Our early morning flight allows us time for an orientation tour of Istanbul on arrival, before checking into our 4 star hotel Zurich for 4 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

Sunday 5: This morning we have guided tours of some of the world famous sites of ISTANBUL, including THE HIPPODROME, (dating back to 203 B.C. and was the largest racetrack in ancient times). We also visit the TOPKAPI PALACE, built in 1465 by Sultan Mehmet which was home to Ottoman Sultans until the 19th century. Today it is a museum housing, amongst other things,12,000 pieces of porcelain including a rare Chinese collection. THE BLUE MOSQUE , built in 1617 is the only mosque in the world with six minarets. The name relates to the colour of the beautiful tiles decorating the interior. You will also have free time to explore Istanbul at your leisure or enjoy the hotel facilities.

Monday 6: Today we explore the Asian part of the city and enjoy an included cruise on the Bosporus, sailing the waterways separating the continents of Asia and Europe. We board the boat at SARIYER, a charming fishing village where the Bosphorus meets the Black Sea. We have a perfect vantage point to see the Sultan’s palaces, RUMELI FORTRESS and the mansions and modern villas forming the elegant part of the city. We also visit a spice bazaar.

Tuesday 7 : This morning we see ST. SOPHIA CHURCH and the UNDERGROUND CISTERN which was built in the 6th century, and is the largest of the Byzantine cisterns. This supplied much of the city with water during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. We then head to the famous GRAND BAZAAR , where you have free time to browse through the labyrinth of shops which are grouped together according to trade; silver, jewellerey, leather,carpets, copper, etc. It is a shopping paradise for natives and tourists alike.This evening we offer an optional farewell meal at one of Istanbul’s great restaurants.  

Wednesday 8 : Today we visit THE GREAT WALLS and THE GOLDEN HORN . This body of water, shaped like a horn, separates the old and new parts of Istanbul. The Great Walls have surrounded and protected the city since it was the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. Built by Constantine The Great and added to by Theodosius II, they were the last great fortification system of Antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built.

We then transfer to the airport for our flight back to the UK.

We reserve the right to make changes to the order of the itinerary if necessary.
 

PRICES: (per person)

DEPARTS: Saturday 4 April Heathrow (Early Morning)

RETURNS: Wednesday 8 April

Call for a special booking form - Passports, Insurance & Visa are required

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