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6 Day Treasures of Istanbul | ARZA World
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6-Day Treasures of Istanbul

Land + Air
$824
Land only
Turkey Tours
Travel beyond Istanbul to explore Turkey. Enjoy the tastes, smells and discoveries of this exotic land that is Muslim in character yet secular in spirit. This tour looks at Turkey's warm welcome to Jews throughout her history, including during the Inquisition when many Jews fled to Turkey. Spend your time visiting this land's ancient synagogues and places of prayer, its neighborhoods and markets, as well as a sail down the Bosphorus.
Program Highlights Need to Know Register Now
 

Tour Highlights

  • Visit to the Jewish Quarter in Istanbul.
  • Ferry ride along the Bosphorus.
  • Visit to the Underground Basilica Cisterns.

 

Trip Includes


  • 4 nights accommodation in Istanbul.
  • Breakfast daily.
  • 2 days of Sightseeing and transfers by deluxe air-conditioned van or motor-coaches as per itinerary.
  • Services of a friendly and professional English-speaking Expedition Educator throughout the trip.
  • Entrance fees per itinerary.
  • Arrival and Departure airport Transfers.
  • All hotel and airport portage and tipping included.

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY
DEPARTURE

  • Departure from the U.S. to Turkey.

Overnight: Flight


DAY TWO: Thursday
ARRIVAL TO TURKEY
  • Arrive in Istanbul.
  • Welcome by our representative and assistance with arrival formalities.
  • Transfer to your hotel and check in. Airport transfer included
  • Dinner on your own at an area restaurant.

 

Overnight:  Istanbul

 


DAY THREE: Friday

THE JEWS OF ISTANBUL

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Visit the site of the Jewish Quarter of Istanbul - enjoy a guided tour of the Galata neighborhood, once the center of Jewish life in Istanbul and home to many Jews of Italian descent who fled Spanish-controlled Italy during the 16th century.
  • Visit the Neve Shalom and Ashkenazi Synagogues in the Byoglu district of Galata.
  • Tour the Jewish Museum and continue to the Ahrida Synagogue, founded by Jews from modern-day Macedonia who were escaping Ottoman Empire oppression. False messiah Sabbatai Tzvi, founder of the 17th century Jewish Sabbatean movement, prayed there.
  • Lunch on your own.  
  • Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Topkapi Palace, a unique palace complex, where you can gaze at the priceless works of art in the Imperial Treasury, home to precious jewels, spoils of war and handcrafted, bejeweled armor of the Sultans. See the Imperial Harem, which was home to many Jewish women and girls during the Ottoman Empire.
  • Visit Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, which dates from 1461 and is a known haven for its spice, carpet and pottery stalls.
  • Dinner on your own at an area restaurant.

 

Overnight:  Istanbul

 


DAY FOUR: Saturday
SHABBAT IN ISTANBUL
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Optional Shabbat morning services at the Etz Hayim synagogue, originally built in 1661 - destroyed by fire in 1941, it was rebuilt and continues to serve its community.
  • Day at leisure or enjoy one of a number of optional tours.
  • Dinner on your own

 

Overnight:  Istanbul

 


DAY FIVE: Sunday
ISTANBUL LAYERS OF HISTORY
  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Begin your day with a visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the National Mosque of Turkey built in the 18th century, and also known as the Blue Mosque. A classical example of Ottoman architecture, the impressive structure incorporates traditional Islamic architecture with popular Byzantine elements.
  • Visit the Hagia-Sophia, once the largest cathedral in the world. A massive, sixth century Byzantine basilica, it was converted into a mosque in the 15th century and by 1935 became a museum.
  • Descend to the underground Basilica Cisterns, a vast cathedral-sized water collection space with 13-foot walls and 30-foot high decorated columns - 336 in total, it is one of a network of cisterns in the city.
  • Lunch on your own.
  • Take the ferry and cruise along the Bosphorus. Experience the mix of local architecture; imperial palaces mingle with wooden seaside mansions, decorative ferry landings, the impressive twin fortresses of Rumeli Hisar and Anadolu Hisar, and Istanbul's two suspension bridges, the Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
  • Return to the hotel.
  • Dinner on your own at an area restaurant.

 

Overnight:  Istanbul

                      


DAY SIX: Monday

DEPARTURE

  • Breakfast at the hotel.
  • Check out of the hotel.
  • Transfer to the airport for flight home. (Airport transfers included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for check-in).
  • Flight back to the U.S.

Need to Know

  • Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the Expedition Educator are included.
  • Hotel Accommodations: The tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private baths. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering value. Although the level of the accommodations may differ slightly from hotel to hotel, we are committed to your comfort. Two-bed rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bed rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended when considering the comfort of those in the room. King-size beds are not available in most hotels; what is considered king-size usually consists of two single beds pushed together and made up separately, but with one headboard. Some two-bed rooms may have two twin - not full- or queen-size - beds.
  • Meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
  • Expedition Educator: All trips are conducted by our Expedition Educators or local guides who remain with the group throughout the tour.
  • Gratuities Included: All gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff.
  • Luggage Responsibility: All tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person and one carry-on bag. Excess luggage will be subject to charge of up to $100 per piece. The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to your insurance company.


Not Included


  • Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from us for travel originating in the United States. Please see Flights tab in the right-side toolbar.
  • Personal Expenses: All personal expenses such as: laundry, valet service, cables, telephone calls and postage are not included.
  • Guide and Driver Gratuities:
    • 4 seater - $70  (i.e. 2 pax) - per day
    • 7 seater - $90 (i.e. 3-5 pax) - per day
    • 10 seater - $110 (i.e. 5-7 pax) - per day
    • 10-19 passengers: Guide $10, driver $5 - per participant per day
    • 20 passengers and more: Guide $8, driver $4 - per participant per day 


       

Additional Information


  • Airline Security Measures: In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
  • If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
  • Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items.
  • Holidays and Museum Closures - Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed in the destinations being visited.
  • Photography During Tours: We will occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your tour.
 
6 Day - Gold
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6 Day - Platinum
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Apr 21$1209On Sale
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Jun 23$1209On Sale
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Jul 21$1209On Sale
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Aug 4$1209On Sale
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Aug 11$1209On Sale
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Oct 6$1209On Sale
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Nov 3$1209On Sale
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Dec 15$1209On Sale
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Important to Know
  • Land-only price does not include arrival/departure transfers unless otherwise indicated.
  • By paying a deposit upon registration, you are agreeing to ARZA World terms.
  • We highly recommend carefully reviewing those terms for full details about conditions and penalties.
 
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