A large number of our guests over the years have enjoyed doing a tour of Istanbul before or after one of our gulet cruises. We are often asked to recommend hotels, restaurants, sites to see and local guides in this amazing city, Peter’s favourite metropolis in the world. So we thought we should use our extensive knowledge and contacts to create the definitive Istanbul tour, the very finest historical adventure and exploration of this vibrant and exotic city.
Deësis mosaic
The key, as with all our trips, was to find the best possible expert guide to help shape and lead the tour. Jim Crow was the man we wanted. The many years he has spent leading archaeological projects in Istanbul have given him an unparalleled knowledge of the city throughout its history: from its roots as a small Greek town on the Bosphorus to the teeming and opulent capital city that it became under the Byzantine and Ottoman Empires.
It’s hard not to speak in superlatives when describing this epic cradle of civilisation. No other city in the world has been besieged so many times, so greatly was it coveted by peoples outside of its walls. Not just age old, and, like no other city on earth sat astride two continents; during its time as capital of the Ottoman Empire it was the most multicultural city in Europe, on whose streets more than a dozen languages were spoken, from Italian to Persian, Greek to Arabic. This city utilised its mercantile dominance over the narrow waterway that connects the Mediterranean and Black Sea to grow wealthy and enhance its political strength. These succeeding cultures have liberally endowed the city with beautiful symbols of imperial power, from its imposing fortifications to its serene places of worship.
On this escorted Istanbul tour you will see such world-famous sites as Topkapı Palace, Haghia Sofia and the Blue Mosque through expert eyes, and compare them with some seldom-visited wonders that only the true connoisseurs of the city ever visit. We sample some of the best food that Istanbul has to offer, from the long-established cornerstones of Istanbul-cuisine to traditional local eateries that have raised the simplest of local dishes to a culinary art form. Our Istanbul tours allow you to immerse yourself in a city that has been shaped and moulded by some of the key cultures of the western and eastern worlds for over 3,000 years.
If you’d like to know more about our expert-led tour of Istanbul, please get in touch. One of our specialists, even Peter himself, will be only too pleased to give you a call and answer any questions you might have.
Request a brochure or to book your place, please contact our office.
Underground Cistern, Istanbul
Day 1: Our hotel is about 30 minutes from Istanbul’s Ataturk airport in the heart of the old city. Welcome drink and dinner.
Day 2: We begin our historic tour of Istanbul with a stroll around some of the key sites of Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. We visit the extraordinary column filled underground cistern, the Yerebatan Sarayi, the Hippodrome, the Archaeological Museum, and the beautiful church of SS. Sergius and Bacchus, the prototype of the great Haghia Sophia.
Day 3: A day out in the country, in Thrace. We head west out of the city, to visit two of Richard’s personal survey projects, the great aqueduct of Constantinople, the longest in the ancient world, and the Anastasian Wall, part of the city’s outer defences.
Day 4: We head out to the walls of Constantinople, the mighty fortifications that kept besiegers at bay for centuries. We explore the beautiful little church of St. Saviour in Chora, housing some of the world’s finest Byzantine mosaics, and conclude with the Haghia Sophia itself, the greatest church in Christendom for almost a thousand years and one of the most spectacular buildings ever created.
Day 5: We delve into Istanbul’s rich Ottoman legacy, walking around some of the city’s finest sights, including the great mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent, the elegant Rustem Pasha Camii, and the lively streets and market areas between the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar.
Day 6: We head out onto the water on a private boat and cruise up the Bosphorus, the vital water way separating Europe and Asia, and linking the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, which gave Byzantium its strategic significance. We visit Rumeli Hisarı, the impressive Ottoman fortification built by Mehmet the Conqueror during his siege of Constantinople and the beautiful Sadberk Hanım Museum, a private cultural gem.
Haghia Sophia, Istanbul
Day 7: Our historic odyssey concludes as we discover some of the city’s best known and loved highlights. We visit Topkapı Palace, seat of the Sultans, their family and harem for centuries and the majestic Blue Mosque, built to rival the Haghia Sophia, still a place of worship whose six minarets shine silver in the sun. In the afternoon we take tea and cake at the gloriously restored Pera Palace hotel, which first welcomed European travellers on the Orient Express.
Day 8: Transfer to Istanbul’s Ataturk airport, about 30 minutes away.
Arrival and Departure Information
Arrival Airport - Istanbul
Departure Airport - Istanbul
Check in time at your hotel in Istanbul is after 14:00 so we recommend choosing a flight that arrives mid to late afternoon on September 7th. Check out time on September 14th is 12:00. We will arrange local transfers from the airport on the 10th and to the airport on the 17th.
Booking Flights
The cheapest way to book flights is directly with the airline online.
If you prefer to book with a travel agent, our UK, ATOL accredited flight specialists are Diplomat Travel, Tel: +44 (0) 207 730 2201 - Sarah and Matt are our point persons in their office, but anyone there will be able to help you.
Our recommended flight specialist in the US is Julie Gorny, Email: juliannegorny@yahoo.com • Tel: +1 773 972 8849.
We are happy to recommend the following flight specialists in Australia; Arlette de Brey from Mary Rossi Travel, Email: arlette@maryrossitravel.com • Tel: + 61 2 9957 4511 or Matt Hodgins from Alumni Travel, Email: matt@alumnitravel.com.au • Tel: +61 2 9290 3856. They will be more than happy to help you with international flight options.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a requirement of our booking conditions and we recommend you investigate the options thoroughly to make sure that your trip is properly covered.
In the UK we work with specialist travel insurers Milsom Howard Ltd. 22 Highfield Drive, Ickenham, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB10 8AN, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1895 234 919 • Fax: +44 (0) 1895 231 864 • Email: globetrotter@milsomhoward.com.
Our travel insurance specialist in the US is Julie Gorny, Email: juliannegorny@yahoo.com • Tel: +1 773 445 7537 • Mob: +1 773 972 8849.
Alternatively you might like to look at an online travel insurance company like World Nomads to give you a comparison in terms of price and coverage.
If you would prefer not to take out travel insurance you will need to complete a travel insurance waiver form.
Visas
Visas are easily obtained on arrival at Istanbul airport (or other local airports). A visa costs £10 for UK Nationals, $20 for USA Nationals and AUS $20 for Australian Nationals and must be paid for in cash. Once you have arrived in the terminal, do remember to obtain your visa before queuing up for immigration control.
Istanbul
If you are planning to extend your stay in Istanbul before or after your tour we have included below links to more information and things to see and do.
Istanbul Destination Guide
Istanbul Travel Article
Custom Tours
If you are thinking of extending your trip to Turkey to include visits to Cappadocia, Ephesus or further afield, please contact our office for further information.
