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Byzantium
From $3,640
Summary
Superbly situated on the banks of the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait and, like Rome, built on seven hills, the vibrant metropolis of Istanbul has been around for over two-and-a-half millennia. Two great empires have made it their capital – the Christian Byzantines and the Muslim Ottoman Turks – and it is their spectacular legacy that makes the city so appealing to those of us with a passion for archaeology and history. The Topkapı Palace and its mysterious harem, the gloriously Iznik-tiled Blue Mosque, and the gorgeous mosaics and frescoes of the Church of Savior in Chora are just some of the highlights – plus, we have secured very special out-of-hours access to one of the world’s most astounding buildings, the Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom).
Tour highlights:
Book Now
Today's Price
$3,640
Benefit from this limited time offer:
- Pay a low deposit of $149, was $149.
Single supplement: $845
Keeping you safe on your next tour
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FREE 'Travel Safe' kits for every traveller
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COVID-19 insurance
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Enhanced Health and Safety audits
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Distanced seating on coaches
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'Get me home' service and private airport transfers
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COVID protocols at our hotels, and aboard our cruise ships
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Packed lunches and flexible dining options
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Flexible balance payment date and COVID-friendly refund conditions
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COVID-testing and medical training for tour staff
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Constant monitoring and post-tour tracing
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Meet your Experts
Expert guides, whenever you travel
We are proud of our team of expert guide lecturers. Whenever you travel, your guide lecturer will be on hand to answer questions, tell stories and deliver insights to make your trip truly remarkable.
Terry Richardson
Guide Lecturer
Terry Richardson has a university background in ancient history and classical civilisation. He first travelled to Turkey as an undergraduate back in 1977 and has been back countless times since then, and he also lived in southwest Turkey for around 13 years.
Your itinerary
Day 1 - Istanbul
Today we arrive into Istanbul independently and meet our group for the first time when we sit down to dinner together.Â
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Dinner |
Day 2 - Istanbul
This morning, we pay a visit first to the Blue Mosque, then to the Hippodrome and the little-visited Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, which is now also a mosque. A walk across historic Sultanahmet brings us to lunch by the famed Basilica Cistern, which we visit after our traditional Turkish meal. The day ends with a very special private visit to the glorious Hagia Sophia – a real highlight of this tour.
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 3 - Istanbul
We begin at the Hagia Eirene (Church of the Holy Peace), sister church to the nearby Hagia Sophia, before spending the rest of the morning exploring the nerve-center of the mighty Ottoman Empire, the Topkapı Palace complex. In the afternoon, we explore the wonders of the Süleymaniye Mosque and its ancillary buildings before walking down to a bustling market area radiating out from the Ottoman-era Spice Bazaar.
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 4 - Istanbul
A free day for those who want to take a Turkish bath, shop in the Grand Bazaar or otherwise explore independently. Alternatively, and depending on the weather, our Guide Lecturer can take us on foot through the back streets of one of the most traditional parts of Istanbul, before ending on the banks of the Golden Horn for a ferry ride down this evocative waterway.
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | Breakfast, Dinner |
Day 5 - Istanbul
We have the entire morning to visit the extensive Archaeological Museum. Afterwards, we enjoy a boat ride up the continent-dividing Bosphorus Strait with marvelous views back of the skyline of the old city, the hills of Asia, the Dolmabahce Palace and the Ottoman fortress of Rumeli Hisar – and we might even catch a glimpse of shearwaters or dolphins.
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 6 - Istanbul
In the morning we head out to the Church of Saviour in Chora and admire its lovely mosaics, a visit that is followed by a look at the mighty Walls of Theodosius and nearby Byzantine Palace of the Porphyrogenitus. In the afternoon, we cross the Golden Horn and explore the Galata Mevlevi Lodge, a museum that was once the meeting-place of the ‘Whirling Dervish’ Mevlevi Order and, if the queues are not too long, we can enjoy panoramic views from the Genoese Galata Tower.
| Hotel | Yasmak Sultan Hotel, Istanbul |
|---|---|
| Meals included | All meals included |
Day 7 - Istanbul - London
Our morning is spent at leisure, but there is the opportunity to view a selection of superb quality Turkish carpets and kilims in a restored Byzantine-era cistern before stopping for lunch. After, we catch our independent flights home or carry on with any individual onward travel we may have planned.
| Meals included | Breakfast, Lunch |
|---|
Tour dates & prices
Included in your cost:
- Expert Guide Lecturer
- Professional Tour Manager
- Local travel aboard a private air-conditioned coach
- Meals as per the itinerary, tea or coffee with dinner
- Accommodation
- Entries to all sites as per the itinerary
- All taxes & gratuities
- Field notes
| Tour Departure | Tour ID | Departure date | Return Date | Guided by | Price | Deposit | Single Supp. | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2 2021 | ABYZ211102 | November 2 2021 (Tuesday) | November 8 2021 (Monday) | Terry Richardson | $3,640 (ex. flights) |
$149 |
$845 | Book Now |
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