Faith and History in Asia Minor

After breakfast, the Istanbul city tour starts in the Old City of Sultanahmet. Our first stop is Topkapi Palace, one of the world’s largest remaining historical palaces. It was converted into a museum in 1924 and features ancient and precious royal relics, including the Pavilion of the Holy Mantle, which houses some of the most important treasures from the Prophet Mohammed. The tour continues with a short walk to the Hippodrome, an area used for chariot races during Roman rule. After lunch at a Turkish restaurant, we proceed to the Hagia Sophia, a former Christian basilica and mosque during the Ottoman Empire. We then visit the Blue Mosque, an iconic building decorated with over 20,000 tiles. The day ends with a visit to the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, featuring Islamic calligraphy, tiles, rugs, and ethnographic displays of various cultures in Turkey. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

The Istanbul city tour starts with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the oldest and largest covered market in the world, with more than 3,000 shops attracting up to 400,000 visitors daily. Next, we visit the Eyup Sultan Mosque, considered one of the holiest sites for Muslims, and the Fatih Mosque, built on the orders of Mehmet the Conqueror in the 15th century. The day ends with a visit to the Suleymaniye Mosque, the largest mosque in the city, built in the 16th century by the great Ottoman architect Sinan. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

This is a free day for leisure, sightseeing, and shopping.

After hotel checkout, we continue to the port to catch a ferry to Yalova, then transfer to Bursa, the 4th largest city in Turkey. Bursa, also known as “Green Bursa,” was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and is considered one of the greatest treasure houses of Islamic architecture. The first stop is the Bursa Grand Mosque, the largest mosque in the city and a landmark of early Ottoman architecture. Next, we visit the Green Mosque, world-renowned for its spectacular decorations and green-blue tiles in the interior. Lastly, we visit the Emir Sultan Mosque. Overnight stay in Bursa.

On the sixth day, you have the opportunity to enjoy a free day at your leisure in Bursa. You can choose to relax and unwind in one of the many thermal spas or indulge in a traditional Turkish bath, known as a Hamam. The thermal baths and spas in Bursa are renowned worldwide for their healing properties, having been proven to cure illnesses and ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, skin problems, circulatory and heart diseases, gynecological diseases, and liver and kidney diseases.

After you check out of the hotel, we will transfer you to Istanbul for your overnight stay.

On the seventh day, after you check out of the hotel, we will transfer you to Istanbul’s airport for your departure flight.