Istanbul

Meet your guide in front of the exit gate of the Basilica Cistern, skip the long lines and visit the ancient water cistern built in 336. Admire the stunning architecture of this marvel of engineering on a guided highlights tour. After your tour, you can stay inside as long as you want and discover the Basilica Cistern at your own pace.

Witness the Mevlevi Sema ceremony at the HodjaPasha Culture Center in central Istanbul and see the whirling dances and dervishes. Enjoy complimentary drinks during the show. Step inside a 550-year-old Ottoman Turkish bath in Sultanahmet-Sirkeci and take your place. Learn more about the Mevlevi Sema from the provided booklet. Marvel at this cultural dance that dates back 800 years. The program begins with a classical Turkish music concert. See the dervishes and sheikh take their place and praise the Prophet Mohammed. Following the chant, hear the drum voice as the dervishes perform the seven-part Sema ceremony which represents the birth of humanity. The Sema ends with a Fâtiha for the souls of all prophets, martyrs, and believers, and a prayer for the salvation of the country.

Join a sightseeing dinner cruise along the Bosphorus Strait. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and dine with live entertainment. Pass some of Istanbul's most famous monuments, including Dolmabahçe Palace. Cruise between Europe and Asia and pass under the Bosphorus Bridge and Fatih Sultan Mehmed Bridge. See the summer palaces of the Ottoman sultans, including Dolmabahçe Palace and Beylerbeyi Palace. Admire the fortifications of Rumeli Castle and Anatolian Castle, and marvel at the mansions that line both coastlines. Watch live folk dances from the regions of Turkey, be seduced by a belly dancer, and relax to international music played by the on-board DJ.

After you meet your local guide, you will skip the ticket lines and get inside the fastest way. Once inside the Topkapi Palace, you can discover the three courtyards, terraces with astonishing views, as well as precious collections at your own pace and enjoy the highlights of this stunning. Starting from the square and fountain in front of the Topkapi Palace, you can see explore each of the famous gates while listening to interesting stories and surprising details about legendary figures from history.

Enjoy Turkish food and entertainment with the mesmerizing Istanbul views at night on an unforgettable dinner cruise. While enjoying very delicious dishes on board, you will come across some of the best city views of the Bosphorus Strait at night. Start with pickup from the European side of Istanbul or arrive at the meeting point by yourself, depending on the option chosen. First is the Whirling Dervishes Show (Sema), a spiritual ritual performed by the followers of famous mystic Rumi. Be captivated by Zeybek, an Aegean folk dance giving some epic, heroic vibes. Experience the energetic traditional celebration dance of Latin and Halay from Central Anatolia. Witness Turkish Belly Dancing and some Roman dance, which is a very rhythmic and fast-paced. Moving on to the Caucasian legacy, watch jaw-dropping Kafkas dance perform with traditional Caucasian music and costumes. Last but not least, visit the Black Sea region to lay eyes on their traditional dance Horon and set a high note before ending the night. The main dishes are served at 10:00 PM. The delicious food of fish or a mixed grilled meat plate will be accompanied by unlimited soft drinks as well as alcoholic drinks. After dinner, a live DJ performance starts to make this magical night even more unforgettable before heading back to the port.

Take a sunset cruise on the Bosphorus Strait to see the European as well as Asian half of Istanbul. Jump aboard a luxury yacht from Kabatas and keep your cameras ready as you cross mosques, palaces, and seafront villas. Learn about the city’s centuries-long history through your guide. Start the tour at Kabatas Pier aboard an elegant yacht, drinking traditional Turkish drinks, and nibbling on canapés and fruit from tastefully arranged platters. Glide by palaces and minarets as you sail along the Bosphorus.  When dusk sets in, feel the soothing breeze from the Sea of Marmara on your skin as the sky puts on a colorful show, tinted with shades of orange and rose. Few places in the world are as mesmerizing as Istanbul in the setting sun. Hear the muezzin's call from a towering minaret. Cruise past majestic palaces and villas along the strait’s banks. Breathe in the legacy of ancient Byzantium, Constantinople, and the mighty Ottoman Empire with each breath of fresh salty air. Kick back and ride gentle waves in the comfort of a yacht. Watch the city and its iconic landmarks pass by, which is the perfect way to unwind after a busy day of sightseeing. End the experience at Karakoy Pier.

Get tickets to the Turkish Dance Show at the Hodjapasha Cultural Center for an entertainment-filled evening in Istanbul. Watch a lively performance with traditional dances, folk music, colorful costumes, and video projections in a former hammam built in the 15th century. Be enticed by Turkish folklore dances from different regions of Anatolia performed by professional dancers, blended with modern choreography, stunning costumes, and live music. Enjoy the intimate and authentic atmosphere of this evening show inside the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre, situated within the ancient construction of the Hodjapasha Hamam, a restored 550-year-old Ottoman bath. Admire the original architecture of the building and discover the Dervish exhibition, presented in the foyer area.

Enter the most exciting theme park in Turkey home to the first shopping center that combines shopping and exhibition centers, entertainment, and lifestyle complex. Vialand (formerly known as Isfanbul) offers its guests world-class fun with its park filled with rides. Feel the adrenaline on Nefeskesen, the 4th biggest rollercoaster in the world which exceeds speeds of 110 kph in 3 seconds. Then, experience the 15 m sudden drop on the Viking water ride before heading to the 360-degree entertainment station which is suitable for all ages.  See all of Istanbul under your feet at the Tower of Justice viewing platform which is 50 m high. Finally, swing on the Saray Salincagi ride, with a 40-person capacity and 20 m diameter cycle. End your day at the outdoor concert and event stage which features the biggest outdoor screen in Turkey and seats a capacity of 10,000 people. Watch a range of special shows and concerts by famous artists at this never-ending festival environment. Choose between the All-Inclusive VIP, Diamond, or Gold Packages that offer food menus, drink options, and bonus attractions depending on your choice. Take a thrilling ride down the Zipline and Up-Side House and try ice cream, hookah, and coffee at Bloom Hookah Cafe.

Travel back in time to experience the story of the ancient Hagia Sophia on a guided tour in Istanbul. Trace how this iconic site has transformed over time with a local guide. Uncover stunning details as you explore this architectural gem. Meet with your professional local guide in front of Hagia Sophia. Hear a short history of the Old City then start the Hagia Sophia Tour.  Your guide will explain the mystery of the magnificent Hagia Sophia. Hagia Sophia is a great architectural beauty and an important monument both for the Byzantine and the Ottoman Empires. Once a church, later a mosque, and now a museum at the Turkish Republic, Hagia Sophia has always been a precious building. 

See the highlights of Ancient Ephesus including the popular pilgrimage sites such as the Temple of Artemis and the House of the Virgin Mary. Get picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and arrive at the airport for a 1.5-hour flight to Izmir. Meet your local driver and enjoy the ride to Selcuk, where you will join other group participants and begin your tour. Start off with a visit to the House of the Virgin Mary, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site known as the house where Mary spent her final days. Contınue on to explore Ancient Ephesus, one of the best preserved classical cities in the Eastern Mediterranean and once considered the most important trading center in the region. Marvel at the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you walk along the streets of Ephesus and admire beautiful monuments such as the third largest library of the ancient world and the largest Roman theater on the Asian continent. Drive back to Izmir for your return flight to Istanbul where your driver will greet you and take you back to your hotel.