After you arrive in the Istanbul airport your driver will be there with a sign to pick you up after you gather your bags. You will then be transported to your beautiful, traditional hotel in Sultanahmet, the historical district of Istanbul. In the evening there are two optional programs that you can attend. The first option is a Whirling Dervish Ceremony at 7:30 for one hour (not operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays). The second option is a Turkish Cooking Class. In a small group, you will prepare a delicious menu of Ottoman specialties. Classes start at 10:30am or 5:30pm and go for about 4 hours. (offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays).

You will be picked up from the hotel to visit Emperor Justinian’s masterpiece, the Hagia Sophia. Afterward, you will walk to its counterpart, the Blue Mosque, with its intriguing blue Iznik tiled interior. A short jaunt past the Hippodrome and its monuments will be followed by a visit to the Grand Bazaar. Following an included lunch, you will continue your tour by visiting the home of the Ottoman Sultan, Topkapi Palace, with a chance to see its Imperial treasury and its incredible location on a hill overlooking all of Istanbul. Afterwards you will head to the Basilica Cistern, an underground water cistern, which is a beautiful piece of Byzantine engineering. You will then return to the hotel for some time to relax after the tour.

Optional: Turkish Bath (Full Cleanse – 35 minutes)
The traditional Turkish bath package includes:

• A gold-plated ottoman bath bowl, a traditional bath wrap (pestamal) and slippers for use in the hamam
• A toiletries set with comb, bath glove, olive oil soap, Judas tree essential oil shampoo, hair conditioner and body lotion
• Traditional body scrub
• Relaxing bubble wash massage
• Head and neck massage

You will be picked up from your hotel around 8:30 a.m for your Bosphorus Boat Tour. First, you will visit Rustem Pasa Mosque, special with its Ottoman tiles. Then, you will walk through the Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market), which was built in 1664 and is filled with the fragrances of the exotic East, such as spices, dried fruits, and Turkish delights. This is followed by your Bosphorus boat tour, which takes about 1.5 hours. You will see the most impressive sights along the shores of the Bosphorus, including: Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Maiden’s Tower, Bosphorus bridges, Rumeli and Anadolu fortresses, and Ottoman Residences. After your day of experiencing Istanbul at a different pace, you will be taken to the airport for your return flight.