South Caucasus & Turkey

Itinerary

• Days 1-2: Istanbul (Turkey)

  After arriving into Istanbul, spend the next day exploring the Sultanahmet area – Istanbul’s atmospheric Old Town where the city’s finest monuments including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, and the Basilica Cistern are found.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Exploring the historic Sultanahmet district with visits to UNESCO-listed Topkapi Palce, the Great Palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15^th to 19^th centuries; UNESCO-listed Hagia Sophia, originally built by Byzantine Emperor Justinian around 537; the UNESCO-listed Blue Mosque, with its towering minarets and layered domes; and the Basilica Cistern, an underground forest of columns under Istanbul.
  • Stopping by the Hippodrome of Constantinople, once used for chariot races and public gatherings.
• Day 3: Kuzguncuk & Karakoy Districts

  Pay a visit to the Dolmabahce Palace on the shores of the Bosphorus this morning to learn more about the late Ottoman period, then drive over the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge to the Asian side of the city and the Kuzguncuk (“Little Raven”) area. After exploring this “hidden gem” of a neighborhood, with many opportunities to sample Turkish cuisine and sweets along the way, hop aboard a boat for a cruise on the Bosphorous and disembark on the European side of the city to stroll through the hip, historic harborside neighborhood of Karakoy.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • A visit to the mid-19^th century Dolmabahce Palace, the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856-1922 and the largest palace in Turkey.
  • Crossing the Bosphorus Suspension Bridge, which towers over the Bosphorus Strait and links European Turkey to Asian Turkey.
  • Exploring the delightful Kuzguncuk neighborhood on the Asian side of the city.
  • Cruising along the Bophorus by private boat for panoramic views of the city and surrounding area.
  • Strolling through the hip, historic harborside neighborhood of Karakoy.
• Days 4-5: More Istanbul Sights

  On your last full day of your private tour in Istanbul, start off with a visit to the magnificent 16^th century Suleymaniye Mosque, which dominates the Istanbul skyline along the west bank of the Golden Horn. Then stop by the Kariye Museum, originally named the Chora Church – a 4^th century church first constructed by Constantine the Great and recently re-converted into a mosque (Kariye Camii). After an independent lunch, spend the afternoon strolling through Istanbul’s famous Spice Bazaar and Grand Bazaar.

  HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit the 16^th century Suleymaniye Mosque build by the most renowned Ottoman architect at the time, Mimar Sinan. The mosque is part of the UNESCO-listed Historic Areas of Isanbul.
  • Pop into the Kariye Camii – recently known as the Kariye Museum and originally known as the Chora Church – world renowned for its priceless Byzantine mosaics and murals and recently re-instated as a working mosque.
  • Wander Istanbul’s covered 17^th century Spice Bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar.
  • Wandering through Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar, which dates back to the 15^th century and is one of the largest covered markets in the world selling everything from fine silk carpets to jewelry and T-shirts.