Istanbul Exclusive

Itinerary

• Turkey

  Turkey stretches across the Anatolian peninsula in western Asia and Thrace in southeastern Europe, making it a multi-continental country. The Mediterranean Sea is to the south; the Aegean Sea to the west; and the Black Sea to the north. The first major empire in the area was that of the Hittites, from the 18th through the 13th century BC. All of Anatolia was conquered by the Persian Achaemenid Empire during the 6th and 5th centuries and later fell to Alexander the Great. In 324 the Roman emperor Constantine I chose Byzantium to be the new capital of the Roman Empire, renaming it Constantinople (now Istanbul). After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, it became the capital of the Byzantine Empire. This empire was defeated by the Turks, who were subsequently defeated by the Mongols in 1243 giving rise to the mightly Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire interacted with both Eastern and Western cultures throughout its 623-year history. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was among the world's most powerful political entities. Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Ataturk) led the independence movement in 1922 which produced the modern secular Turkish state. 

• Istanbul

  Istanbul (Byzantium, and later Constantinople) is the world's 3rd largest city and Turkey's cultural and financial center. It is located on the Bosphorus Strait and encompasses the natural harbor known as the Golden Horn. It extends both on the European (Thrace) and on the Asian (Anatolia) side of the Bosphorus, and is therefore the only metropolis in the world which is situated on two continents. In its long history, Istanbul served as the capital city of the Roman Empire (330–395), the East Roman (Byzantine) Empire (395–1204 and 1261–1453), the Latin Empire (1204–1261), and the Ottoman Empire (1453–1922). The city was chosen as joint European Capital of Culture for 2010. The historic areas of Istanbul were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

• • Istanbul
  • Istanbul
  • Four Seasons Bosphorus Exterior

  Day 1: Istanbul

  Enjoy a private airport transfer today with a car/driver and airport assistant.

  A welcome package with your vouchers, a city map, plane tickets (if relevant) and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your first hotel on your trip.

  Enjoy a half a day tour in Istanbul with your own English speaking guide and private car. The tour includes visits to the St. Sophia Church, the pride and glory of the Byzantine architecture; the Blue Mosque, famous for its architecture as for its blue tiles; the Byzantine Hippodrome, where chariot races were held. The tour ends with the famous Grand Bazaar, the world’s largest, with 4,000 shops.

  This new center is recently converted from a 550 years old historical Turkish Bath called Hoca Pasa Bath. . It was a double bath for both men and women with high dome, made of cut stone and the corner walls are designed like a peacock tail. This building served as a Turkish bath till 1988, and is located in Old City Center. The rituals of the Whirling Dervishes is an exquisite ceremony of spirituality and is an act of love and a drama of faith. Return transfer and entrance fee to the Whirling Dervishes Ceremony is included in the cost of the tour.

  Accommodation: Four Seasons Bosphorus (5*)

  The Four Seasons Bosphorus is a 19th-century Ottoman building that has been completely restored and modernized. It has 166 guest rooms (of which 28 are suites), all with flat-screen HDTVs and wired and wireless high-speed Internet connections. East-facing rooms have marvelous Bosphorus views. Facilities include Turkish and Mediterranean restaurants with Bosphorus views, a lobby lounge, spa with hamam, heated outdoor swimming pool with whirlpool, pool-side terrace and grill, and private dock. Located north of Besiktas on the European Bosphorus shore, it's only a short walk from Yildiz Palace and Park, and the ferry docks at Besiktas.

• • Dolmabahce Palace

  Day 2: Istanbul

  Enjoy a full day tour with private vehicle and guide. Drive to Dolmabahce Palace to visit the beautiful 19th century residence of Ottoman Sultans, located on the banks of the Bosphorus. Visit the Underground cistern, the largest of the underground water reservoirs from the Byzantine era. The pillars were brought from antique cities of Asia minor. Then drive to Suleymaniye mosque, commissioned by Suleyman the magnificient, this mosque is a masterpiece of the grand architect Sinan. Continue your tour with Kariye Museum Church of St. Saviour in Chora, an ancient Byzantine church later converted into a mosque in the 15th century AD. It is now a museum of Byzantine mosaics and frescoes. Entrance fees are included in the total cost.

  Accommodation: Four Seasons Bosphorus (5*)

• Day 3: Istanbul

  In Istanbul, enjoy a port transfer with a private vehicle and driver.

  Accommodation: Depart

  Depart from Istanbul airport - end of itinerary.

Accommodation

• • Four Seasons Bosphorus Exterior

  Four Seasons Bosphorus (5*)

  The Four Seasons Bosphorus is a 19th-century Ottoman building that has been completely restored and modernized. It has 166 guest rooms (of which 28 are suites), all with flat-screen HDTVs and wired and wireless high-speed Internet connections. East-facing rooms have marvelous Bosphorus views. Facilities include Turkish and Mediterranean restaurants with Bosphorus views, a lobby lounge, spa with hamam, heated outdoor swimming pool with whirlpool, pool-side terrace and grill, and private dock. Located north of Besiktas on the European Bosphorus shore, it's only a short walk from Yildiz Palace and Park, and the ferry docks at Besiktas.

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The Fine Print

• Trip Operator

  Horizon & Co. (founded in 1963), is a privately-owned leading boutique travel company. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups.

• Contact Information

  Horizon & Co.
  Tel: 1-800-387-2977
  Email: admin@horizon-co.com
  Web: www.horizon-co.com

• What's Included:

  • Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

• What's not Included:

  • Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

• Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.horizon-co.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

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