Charismatic Turkey 4 nights and 5 days

Descend at Sabiha Gökçen Airport with absolute peace of mind knowing that our friendly guide awaits you at the airport’s arrival area. After the meet and greet, prepare for a convenient transfer to your Istanbul accommodation, about 1.5 hours away. Check in to the hotel (standard time is 12:00 hrs.) and settle in your room, or spend time exploring the city on your own.

On day three, you will set out for a guided old city tour that allows you to discover the Ottoman and Byzantine empires’ historical heritage and influence. Starting around 08:00–08:30 hrs, this tour with an English-speaking guide will lead you to the legendary Hagia Sophia, a 1400-year-old Byzantine cathedral. You will next pause at the iconic Blue Mosque, also called Sultanahmet Mosque. More sights await you as the tour progresses, such as the Hippodrome Square, the German Fountain and Obelisk, and Topkapi Palace. You also get to explore one of the world’s oldest and largest covered indoor markets, the Grand Bazaar, with more than 1,200 shops. Before the tour ends, by around 16:00–17:00 hrs, you will enjoy lunch at a local restaurant offering vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Your fourth day in Turkey kicks off with a guided tour of Bursa, one of the country’s most significant destinations being once the capital of the Ottoman Turks. A relaxed three-hour drive will take you to Bursa, where an experienced guide will head you to some of the city’s top attractions like the stunning Green Mosque, the 15th century Green Tomb, and the magnificent Uludag Mountain, which is the center of winter and outdoor sports. Enjoy a cable car ride to absorb the city’s unparalleled beauty and stop for a delightful lunch at a local restaurant. The tour ends with a return transfer to your Istanbul accommodation.

Today, you have the whole day at your leisure. Just ensure you are ready when your guide arrives at your doorstep by 19:00-19:30 hrs to transfer you to the port for the Bosphorus Dinner Cruise along the Marmara Sea. As the cruise sets sail, see some of the region’s most iconic and historical gems unfold before you, from the antiquated Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, and Rumeli Fortress to the Bosphorus Bridge, bridging the city’s Asian and European parts. But the cruise is not all about the views as you can savor a delicious dinner and watch a spectrum of entertainment shows, such as belly dance, Caucasian dance, Turkish gypsy dance, and the 700-year-old dervish performance. Following a night of superb views, fantastic food, and inspiring shows, you can have a stress-free transfer back to your Istanbul accommodation.

Today, you will wind up your Turkey holiday. The standard check-out time is 12:00 hrs, and you can expect our representative to pick you up at least four hours before your flight time. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach Sabiha Gökçen Airport, but you can be assured that you will have enough time to complete all travel formalities before you board your flight home.