EXPLORE ISTANBUL

EXPLORE ISTANBUL WITH RESPITE WAYS

This 5 Nights and 6 Days tour covers Istanbul only. Visiting all important Heritage and Nature sights of Istanbul City.

Day 1: Welcome

Welcome to Turkey. Arrive at Istanbul Airport, get picked up and transfer to your hotel. Check in.

Free day.

First overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul.

Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch Included

Breakfast

Full day tour of Iconic Istanbul – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 18:00;

You can take in some of the most iconic sights of Istanbul in this morning tour that commences with a visit to the Blue Mosque.  This magnificent mosque which was designed by Sinan and completed in 1616 is known for its majesty and superb iznik ceramic tiling.

Continue outside to stroll along the Hippodrome.  This vast public space was built by the Romans in the 3^rd and 4^th centuries AD to accommodate events such as chariot races and gladiator fights.  It is also home to the Column of Constantine, an Egyptian obelisk and the Serpentine Column.

Next to the Hippodrome we will visit the Hagia Sophia (only from outside view, no interior visit). Originally built in 537AD as a Greek Orthodox church, this breath-taking building was converted to a mosque by the Ottomans and is now a museum.  Inside there are two floors built around a central nave.  It is adorned with superb decorations and has an enormous dome that soars overhead.

Finish the morning with a walk through the Grand Bazaar for some shopping or just to absorb the sights, sounds and historic architectural beauty of this bustling market.

Lunch

Come on a tour to the famous Topkapi Palace and skip the queues that flock to see this magnificent and historically significant site. Built in the middle of the 15th century, the walled complex comprised of the palace and its buildings dominate a small raised peninsula. The buildings are nestled within beautiful grounds that sweep down to the sea. For centuries, the palace was the political centre of the highly influential Ottoman Empire and although it is now purely a museum, as you visit its parts including courtyards, the Treasury, various pavilions, the holy relics, weapons and the Harem you will see how great it was.

Originally meaning “sacred peace”, the Hagia Irene is located in the outer courtyard of Topkapi Palace and it is the oldest church of the Eastern Roman Empire (Byzantine). The building reputedly stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. It ranks as the first church completed in Constantinople, before Hagia Sophia, during its transfiguration from a Greek trading colony to the Eastern capital of the Roman Empire. It was also the second largest church in Istanbul after Hagia Sophia.

Second overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Day 3; Breakfast, Lunch Included

Breakfast

Full day tour of Europe & Asia – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 17:00;

Take a cruise on the Bosphorus Strait, the busy waterway that runs between the Marmara and Black Seas with European Istanbul on one shore and Asian Istanbul on the other. Sit back, relax and enjoy the fresh air, the sea and the sights as you pass magnificent palaces, mosques, mansions and places of historical note.

After getting off the boat at Eminonu, continue your tour into the historic Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar nearby that is bursting with traditional sweets, coffee and spices, and oozing with appeal.

Later you will drive over the Bosphorus Bridge to the summit of Camlica Hill which is popular for its magnificent panoramic views and the opportunity to take some great photos.

After free time given at the hill, you will continue your adventure with your guide by spending a great time in the Asian side of Istanbul visiting the Beylerbeyi Palace which was a summer residence of the Ottoman sultans. Ordered to be built by Sultan Abdulaziz, started constraction in 1861 and completed in 1865. Its marvellous view will mesmerize you and you will immerse yourself into Ottoman history as our guide gives detailed information about the palace.

We will finish our day dropping you off at your hotel.

Third overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Day 4; Breakfast,Lunch Included

Breakfast

Full day Princess Islands of Istanbul – pick up by 08:30, drop off by 18:00;

Enjoy a full day’s tour to the scenic islands of Heybeliada and Buyukada, the largest of the Princess Islands in the Marmara Sea.  This is a really relaxing day – enjoy the views of Istanbul on the ferry ride to and from the islands, a delicious lunch, free time to wander, and a swim if the weather is nice.

We will finish our day dropping you off at your hotel.

Fourth overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul.

Day 5; Breakfast Included

Breakfast

Free day

Fifth overnight stay at your hotel in Istanbul,

Day 6; Breakfast Included

Breakfast

Free day

Afternoon/Evening Transfer to Istanbul Airport 4 hours before your flight.

End of our services here.

Thank you for choosing us for your travel in Turkey.

Package Included

# 2 full day Istanbul tours & Museums entry fees, parking and road tolls

# Bosphorus cruise

# 1 full day Princess Island tours, ferry rides, parking and road tolls
# Pick up and drop off at your accommodations

# Transportation in A/C non-smoking car or bus with professional English

speaking guide and driver and their daily expenses.

# Meals as mentioned at above itinerary day by day

# 5 nights accommodation in Istanbul (Options of Orient Express Hotel,

Avicenna Hotel, Edibe Sultan Hotel or similar)

# Airport transfers

# Small group tours

# Step back in time on a history tour

# All taxes, fees and handling charges

Package Excluded:

# Below suggested optional activities

# Tips for the driver are not included and are at the discretion of the guest.

# International flight tickets
# Insurance: All types
# Turkey entry visa
# Items as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry
# Any other expenses which are not mentioned at the included section

General Information & Policies About All Packages

# Hotels’ check in time is at 14:00 and check out is at 11:00. In case you are in a tour around the check in and out time, know that you can leave your luggage packed in your room or at the reception together with your room’s key. For your convenience, early and late check in and out could be arranged. Just let us know in advance and also an extra fee will be applied for  this accommodation.

# Guests will be informed by us day before about next day’s pick up time, schedule in written by message threat. Please check carefully. Ask us if there is anything not clear in mind. We will be happy to answer all questions. We are not responsible if any tour or service is missed because of guests’ miscommunication

# All communications must be done written as it will be better to keep in notes not to miss or forget anything said, not by calls.

# We kindly request our guests to be ready 15 minutes prior to departure time. Guests need to arrive promptly at the meeting points given by Tourkeystay (hotel lobby, not inside room or breakfast hall), or the tour will proceed without them.

# Due to traffic conditions beyond our control, pick up may be delayed.

# Respite Ways is not responsible for any loss or theft of belongings during the tour. If any guest forgets belongings anywhere and return to get it, group will not wait for them and proceed to next place in programme.

# Please check hotels given by us in advance online about their locations, amenities, room sizes etc. Let us know if to change to any other. We are not able to do any changes once tour starts at free of charge. Cancellation penalties will apply by hotels if the reservations are cancelled within last few days.

# Please expect as much service as explained on itineraries, tour or service means from 8-9 am to 4-5 pm. After finishing day tours contact us only if any emergency occurs any time 24 hours (Night flights or tours are exceptional).

# The luggage allowance is 15 kilos carry on and 8 kilos cabin for domestic flights and 30 kilos carry on and 8 kilos cabin for International flights per person. Guests with extra luggage might be subjected to pay additional fees by the airline company arranging directly at airports. Carrying of extra luggage is guests own responsibility anywhere they go.

# Airport transfers waiting time we can do maximum at International arrivals is 1 hour, Domestic arrivals is 30 minutes after landing. Guests getting out after this time period are responsible to arrange their own transportation at their own cost to the hotels booked. Please do not waste time at airports eating, drinking something or getting a sim card, there are lots of restaurants or phone shops in city center at lower rates around the hotels we will book for you. Guests going from their hotels to airports need to be ready on time also, or the vehicle will depart to catch its next schedule and guests will need to arrange their own transportation at their own cost as well

# Please read all tour descriptions carefully, let us know if you have any

questions in advance.

# Full due of payment need to be done at arrival day, not left to later.

# All tours in each city have some walking parts. Please dress up and get

comfortable shoes ready accordingly.

# None of the tours are suitable for disabled people.

# Always remember whatever your position or rank in your country stays in your country, everyone visiting Turkey is a normal tourist for us, has the same value like all our guests, no one is privileged.

# None of our packages include dinner, we are accommodating our guests at

most central hotels and lots of restaurants to go directly by their own. Please

do not ask to include dinner.

# Tour package of guests who are not following above conditions will be

stopped at the time of first problem occurs and not refunded. Same rules

apply to B2B agencies.