2010 Tuscany Tours Specialty Travel

Istanbul!

April 21 to April 25, 2010

Register Now

DAY 1: Arrival

After introductions all around we will begin our adventure in Istanbul, Turkey with an orientation walk in the late afternoon. We'll explore some of the neighborhoods and sights immediately around our hotel. Afterwards we'll return to our hotel for a chance to relax followed by our first dinner together in Istanbul!

DAY 2: Sultanahmet

Today we will explore the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul. During the course of the day we'll visit such wonders as Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace and the Grand Bazaar. At some point in the middle of the day we'll take a break and enjoy a leisurely lunch at the legendary Tarihi Sultanahmet Köftecisi.

DAY 3: Bazaars and Mosques

In the morning we'll go for a cruise along the Bosporus followed by a visit to the colorful Spice Bazaar of Istanbul, Turkey. We'll pause for lunch at Hamdi. In the afternoon, we'll explore three dazzling mosques: Rüstem Paşa Camii, Şehzade Camii and Süleymaniye Camii. They were each designed by the brilliant 16th century architect, Sinan, who has been described as "the Michelangelo of Istanbul".

DAY 4: A late morning boat ride across the Bosphorus to Kadikoy

This morning we'll cross the Bosphorus by boat to take a stroll through the colorful Kadikoy market, followed by lunch. After lunch we'll return to the European side of Istanbul for an afternoon stroll through Fener and Balat, the old Greek and Jewish neighborhoods. Our final stop will be the Chora Museum with its breathtaking frescoes and mosaics.

DAY 5: After breakfast we'll be saying our farewells. Bon voyage!

Pam and Sam will be accompanying this trip and our Istanbul guide is the incredible Ms. Katie Parla.

We recently sent a group of 12 out with Katie and they wrote to us afterwards and said that they would follow Katie anywhere! Katie loves Istanbul, Turkey and you will love Katie.

Katie Parla is an art historian, and food historian with degrees from Yale University and the Universita' degli Studi di Roma. She has lived and worked in Italy since 2003, but travels and works extensively in Turkey, as well. She has published articles on Turkish cuisine, history, and archaeology for publications including National Geographic and contributes to the Rough Guide. She is also a certified archaeological spelunker and sommelier.

Tour Specifics:

Dates: April 21, 2010 to April 25, 2010

LAND COST of TOUR / Airfare is not included.

Note: This tour is priced in Euro, but final payment will be made in U.S. dollars. A $350 deposit will secure your place on the tour. The tour cost in US dollars will be calculated on January 16, 2010*. At that time full tour payment - US dollar amount minus the $350 deposit will be due.

CASH DISCOUNT Cost: is 1650 EURO per person based on double occupancy. Cash discount cost is for payment by check or wire transfer. You may make your registration deposit using PayPal and/or your credit card and still be eligible for the cash discount cost if your final balance is paid by check or wire transfer.

NON CASH DISCOUNT COST: The land cost of the tour is 1699 EURO per person based on double occupancy.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Single rooms are available for a supplementary charge of 260 EURO.

Accommodations: 4 nights lodging at a central Istanbul Hotel. All rooms have private baths and air conditioning.

Meals: All breakfasts, one full-course meal daily (including beverages). We carefully choose the restaurants based on ambiance and quality of cuisine.

Transfers: The following transfers are included: Pick up from the Istanbul Ataturk International Airport and transfer to the hotel in central Istanbul; Bosporus Cruise; boat ride to Kadikoy and back; transfer from the hotel to the Istanbul Ataturk International Airport.

All scheduled visits will included guided tours with Katie Parla.

Admissions: Entrance fees for all planned visits to monuments, galleries and museums are included.

Small, Intimate Group: We will be limiting the number of participants to a maximum of 14.

Early Arrival/ Late Stay Options: Depending on hotel availability you may be able to arrive early or stay after the end of the tour. We'll be happy to help you make these arrangements.

Experienced Tour Leaders: Pam Mercer and Sam Hilt of Tuscany Tours have been leading tours since 1997.

* Conversion of Euro to Dollars
When Tuscany Tours invoices clients for services, the conversion of euros to US dollars is determined by converting the euro amount due at the site www.xe.com. Tuscany Tours then multiplies that amount by 1.02 which approximates the rate the bank will give us on that day.

Registration:

To reserve your place and register for this tour, please click the button below to jump to the Registration Page:

Please feel free to contact us via email or call us at (800) 634-3460 with any questions you may have about the tour or about traveling to Tuscany.

Here are some convienent links to other tours we are offering this season...