Day 1 – depart Johannesburg
Make your way to OR Tambo International Airport for you overnight flight to Istanbul via Cairo.

Day 2 – arrive Istanbul
Arrive at Cairo International Airport and transfer to your onward flight to Istanbul.
Welcome to Turkey! On arrival at Istanbul Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 3 – Istanbul sightseeing
St. Sophia – this ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. Sultanahmet Imperial Mosque – across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the Blue Mosque because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles.

Hippodrome – ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum and Grand Cover Bazaar – in this labyrinth of streets and passages are more than 4000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as hand painted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes.

Topkapi Palace – the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed.

Suleymaniye Mosque – the mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent was built between 1550 and 1557 by the famous architect Sinan whose wish was to surpass the builders of St. Sophia which is conspicuous from its great size, emphasized by the four minarets rising one from each corner of the courtyard. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 4 – Istanbul
Day at leisure. Tonight you will enjoy the 1001 Night Show including dinner. Evening show starts at 20h30 and ends at about 23h45. You will enjoy dinner in a first class restaurant “Orient House Restaurant”, while watching a spectacular floor show of famous belly-dancers and traditional live 1001 Nights Anatolian Folklore groups featuring popular musical instruments and Turkish singers. You will be transferred back to your hotel at around midnight. Overnight in Istanbul

Day 5 – Istanbul sightseeing
Spice Bazaar – the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.
Bedesten – exhibits the traditional silk weaving courses and carpet weaving courses authorised by the Ministry of National Education. Possibly to see jewellery, handicrafts centre and leatherwear show. Free time provided for shopping.

Bosphorus on Boat – a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions and Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble façade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

Rumeli Fortress – built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect Bosphorus. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.
Beylerbeyi Palace – the summer residence of ottoman sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian.
Camlica Hill – the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the bosphours from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. Free time provided for shopping.
Overnight in Istanbul

Day 6 – depart Istanbul
Check out of the hotel after breakfast. You will be transferred to Istanbul Airport for your departure flight via Cairo back to Johannesburg

Day 7 – arrive Johannesburg
Early morning arrival at OR Tambo International Airport.

Included:
• Airfare on Egypt Air – JNB/CAI/IST/CAI/JNB (subject to certain seats & conditions)
• Return airport transfers in Istanbul
• 4 nights accommodation at a 3* hotel in Istanbul incl. breakfast
• 2 x Full day city tours with professional tour guide
• 1001 Night show in Istanbul (with dinner)
• All entrance fees for Museums & sites.