Taste of Istanbul - Ephesus Excursions

Gather your friends and family and board a private yacht for a short ride on the Bosphorus Strait with your private guide. Take in the city’s famous and beautiful landmarks from the water as your guide recounts Istanbul’s colorful history.

Disembark the yacht and transfer to the old city to visit the historical Blue Mosque. Also called the Mosque of Sultan Ahmed, the Blue Mosque is a triumph of harmony, proportion, elegance and the only mosque in the world with six minarets. Part of the breathtaking interior is the stained-glass windows creating a marvelous colored effect and the graceful arabesques decorating the mighty dome and series of small domes.

Tour will continue to ancient Hippodrome, which was for 1,000 years, the center of Byzantium's life and afterwards for another 400 years, the center of Ottoman life. The Hippodrome was the scene of countless political and military dramas, including rival chariot races. The main monument left today is the impressive granite obelisk, carved in Egypt around 1500 BC and brought to Constantinople in 390 AD.

Another fascinating attraction from the Byzantine period that you will visit is the massive Underground Cistern, the imperial water storage tank. More than 300 beautiful columns of various designs support the cistern's vaulted brick roof.

The Grand Bazaar is one of the most colorful sites of Istanbul; this Bazaar is composed of two sections namely the covered part and the modern part. The covered part is a whole quarter on its own, surrounded by a wall and entered through eleven gates. The maze of streets and lanes are one of the greatest sights in the city, where various trades such as carpets, jewellery, leather goods, silver; varieties of souvenirs, textile, antiques, and home textile are segregated into particular sections of the bazaar. You will have chance to explore the exotic atmosphere of the covered part. You will also have the opportunity to visit the open and modern section of the Grand Bazaar which offers the best artworks and reliable shopping to your disposal.

Rates
Approx Duration: 6 hour(s) 45 minute(s)
Current Price: Starting from
168 Adult (USD) for minimum 4 guests
Activity Type: Historical, Sightseeing, City Tours
Activity Level: Strenuous

Sites to Visit
Bosphorus Strait onboard your private boat
Blue Mosque
Hippodrome
Underground Cistern
Grand Bazaar

Shore Excursion Points of Distinction
* Professional English-speaking experts to guide you through your journey.
* Peace of mind in knowing that your excursions are monitored by our staff.
* A staff of experienced, excursion specialists expertly plans each tour and is dedicated to maximizing your time in each port.
* Travel with premier, licensed and insured, best available, climate controlled luxury transportation.
* In addition to our private departures, just like this tour, you may choose the Executive Collection - customized, private tours with highly personalized service.

Remarks
* Guests must be able to walk approximately 1-1.5 miles over uneven and cobblestone surfaces, inclines and 40 to 65 steps thus the guests must be cautious to watch their step
at all times in order to avoid injuries.
* Comfortable clothing, flat walking shoes, sun hat, sun glasses and sun screen are strongly recommended.
* Please expect dense traffic conditions in Istanbul.
* The order of the sites visited may change to avoid the crowds.
* Temperatures can reach extreme highs during summer months; we recommend that you drink a lot of water and use suitable sun protection.

Note
* The program can also be completed in 2 days according to your preference.

Book this Tour
Click here for reservation details.