ISTANBUL-BURSA CULTURAL TOUR (12-15.11.2025-Mid-Term Break)

ROUND BY BUS - RETURN BY FLIGHT

If the world were a single state, its capital would be Istanbul...

Napoleon Bonaparte

Capital of three great civilizations, fascinating, dazzling, and dazzling. Istanbul... A mosaic of culture and history, the subject of songs, poems, and novels... Exploring Istanbul, a city of mosques, palaces, parks, and mansions, unique in the world and situated on the continents of Europe and Asia, with its dazzling historical and cultural fabric, will be both exciting and enjoyable.

TOUR INSTITUTE

DAY 1: MARMARIS-BURSA JOURNEY - GREEN MOSQUE - KOZAHAN-Grand Mosque - ISTANBUL JOURNEY - HOTEL

At 5:00 a.m., we will meet you, our valued guests, at Eşref Girginç Park (across from LC Waikiki) and depart for Bursa. After breaks for food and refreshments along the way, we arrive in Bursa and visit the Green Mosque, which served as the Ottoman Parliament. We see the calligraphy on its portal and early Ottoman architecture. Then, we visit the Green Tomb, built by Çelebi Sultan Mehmet and decorated with turquoise tiles. Afterwards, we visit the Bursa Ulu Mosque, the largest Ottoman mosque in the region with 20 domes, and have free time at Koza Han. After a free dinner break, where you can sample Bursa's famous Iskender kebab, we depart for our hotel in Istanbul and check in for a rest. (ISTANBUL ACCOMMODATION) 4* THE PARMA DOWNTOWN HOTEL

DAY 2: SULTAN AHMET SQUARE - BASEMENT CISTERN - TOPKAPI PALACE - HAGIA SOFIA - SULTAN AHMET MOSQUE - GRAND BAZAAR - HOTEL

After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for a tour of the Historic Peninsula. Accompanied by our guide, we head down to Sultan Ahmet Square and visit the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, a landmark of Istanbul with six minarets adorned with 20,000 tiles and known to Westerners as the Blue Mosque. After understanding the historical significance and place of this magnificent six-minaret mosque, we proceed to the magnificent and mystical Basilica Cistern. Scenes from blockbuster films like "The Da Vinci Code" and "Inferno" were filmed there. The Basilica Cistern was commissioned by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I to meet the region's water needs. After this enjoyable tour, we proceed to Topkapı Palace for our next visit. This precious cultural heritage, part of the Ottoman Empire, served as the administrative center of the state for 400 of its 600-year history, hosting nearly 4,000 people at some points. With its beautiful gardens, treasury, and Treasury of the Sacred Relics, we tour and explore Topkapı Palace, Turkey's most precious museum, where the sultans also lived, accompanied by our guide's narration. We then take a break from this enjoyable day for lunch. After lunch, we explore Hagia Sophia, with its 1,500-year-old splendor, mosaics on its walls, and vibrant marble. Formerly known as the Hagia Sophia Church and now known as the Hagia Sophia Mosque, a blend of two religions in one structure, it is among the most important monuments in world architecture that have survived to this day. After exploring and learning about this precious cultural heritage, we head to the Grand Bazaar, known as the world's largest bazaar and one of the oldest covered bazaars. Resembling a giant labyrinth with its aesthetic design, the Grand Bazaar houses nearly 4,000 shops and employs approximately 25,000 people. Our guide will provide you with information about the Grand Bazaar, a major tourist and commercial center in Istanbul, and then offer you free time. Because our hotel is very close to the Grand Bazaar, you can spend as much time as you like in the Grand Bazaar and then transfer to the hotel or plan a different program. You can also have dinner in or around the Grand Bazaar. (ISTANBUL ACCOMMODATION) 4* THE PARMA DOWNTOWN HOTEL

DAY 3: BALAT - ORTAKÖY - FISH AND BREAD IN EMİNÖNÜ - OPTIONAL BOSPHORUS TOUR - GALATA TOWER - İSTİKLAL STREET WALKING TOUR - HOTEL

After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the day's visits. First, we head to Balat, famous for its colorful houses and narrow stone-paved streets. Home to Jewish, Armenian, and Greek communities, this cosmopolitan area takes beautiful photos and receives valuable information from our guide. Then, we head to Ortaköy, a district overlooking the Bosphorus, home to popular nightspots, bars, and charming cafes and restaurants. We take some beautiful group photos overlooking the Bosphorus. Afterward, we visit Ortaköy Square, one of Istanbul's most popular meeting places, and arrive at the Ortaköy Büyük Mecidiye Mosque. This mosque, one of Istanbul's iconic landmarks, appears to be standing on the sea. After completing this visit, we head to Eminönü. We'll also visit the Spice Bazaar, one of Istanbul's oldest markets, dating back to 1664, and offer free time for those who wish to enjoy fish and bread in Eminönü. Afterward, we'll head to Eminönü Pier for a Bosphorus Cruise with our guests who wish to join us. We'll explore Istanbul's shores, which have hosted numerous civilizations throughout history, the beauty of the Bosphorus, and its historical structures from the sea, while also breathing in the sea air and enjoying the magnificent atmosphere. During the Bosphorus cruise, we'll see Istanbul's iconic landmarks, including Galata Tower, Topkapı Palace, Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, the Savarona Yacht, Rumeli Hisarı, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Anadolu Hisarı, Kuleli Military High School, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the Maiden's Tower. After our delightful boat tour, we'll disembark in Karaköy and walk towards Galata Tower. After learning about its history from our guide, we'll head to Istiklal Avenue, another of Istanbul's famous streets, for a pleasant walking tour. After our walking tour, you'll have free time for dinner. After completing our visits, we'll head back to our hotel for a rest. (ISTANBUL ACCOMMODATION) 4* THE PARMA DOWNTOWN HOTEL

NOTE: The Istanbul Bosphorus tour will be organized and provided by our guide, depending on participation.

DAY 4: DOLMABAHÇE PALACE – ISTANBUL DALAMAN FLIGHT - MARMARIS TRANSFER

After breakfast at our hotel, we check out and visit Dolmabahçe Palace at 9:00 AM.

Note: The Dolmabahçe Palace Museum requires a reservation, and reservations must be made at the designated time.

Dolmabahçe Palace, designed by the Armenian Balyan Family, was built in a 13-year period, incorporating late Ottoman and European architecture. Our guide will provide a tour of this magnificent palace, where you will be captivated by its 4,000-square-meter examination hall, adorned with a 4.5-ton British crystal chandelier. This magnificent palace, with its spiritual significance, was the final residence and final resting place of the Great Leader Atatürk. After our visit to this magnificent palace, we depart for Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, delighted by the joy of having explored Istanbul to the fullest, to catch our 6:20 PM flight from Istanbul to Dalaman (Pegasus PC2292). After landing at Dalaman Airport and collecting our luggage, we board our waiting vehicle and depart for Marmaris. We drop you off at our designated meeting points in Marmaris and bid you farewell, hoping to see you again on new adventures.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

**Child discounts apply when sharing with two adults.

**Seating arrangements in our vehicles are determined by seat numbers, and seat numbers are automatically assigned after the initial payment. If you have any concerns about seat numbers, please contact us.

**The type of vehicle (minibus, midibus, or bus) for the tour is determined by the final number of participants. Our company assigns the most suitable vehicle for the tour based on demand.

**Our guide reserves the right to make changes to the program and routes, provided that all visits are completed, taking into account factors such as weather and road conditions that may affect the course of the trip.

**If physical conditions make a visit impossible (road, weather, natural disaster, etc.), our agency cannot be held responsible for the cancellation of the visit.

NOTE: The child discount is only valid when staying with 2 adults.

**The prices listed are early booking prices valid until October 20, 2024. You can take advantage of these prices by pre-registering with a 2750.00 TL deposit at the time of your initial reservation.