6 DAYS ISTANBUL & SOFIA CITY TOUR ITINERARY:

Tour Start Date: Every Thursday Available Between: (9.01.2015 – 11.12.2015)

Day 1 - Istanbul - Arrival Day
Welcome to Turkey Istanbul Airport. Meet with TravelShop Turkey staff and transfer to your hotel. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 - Istanbul City Tour
(Open buffet breakfast included)
Pick up at 08:30am from your hotel for the a day tour of old Istanbul city.

Visit to 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.

TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, 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.

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.

Murtis Tour will then take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Free Evening and optional Istanbul Evening Shows or Bosphorus Dinner Cruise incluing traditional Turkish entertainment and dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 3 - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour
(Open buffet breakfast included)
Pick up at 08:30am from the hotel and depart for the Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour. Visit the SPICE BAZAAR (Egyptian Bazaar) The air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme and every other conceivable herb and spice.

BOSPHORUS BY 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 see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade 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 the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world.

BEYLERBEYI PALAS (PALACE) The summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul.

BOSPHORUS BRIDGE enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe).

CAMLICA HILL the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosporus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style.

SHOPPING TOUR (after cruise) Experience the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish women at the carpet weaving courses provided by The Ministry of National Education. You will get the opportunity to see jewellery, handcrafts centre and a modern leatherwear show. Enjoy the experience of shopping whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen, with Murti's Tour's local escort full of knowledge about how to haggle the streets of Istanbul. The rest of the evening is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.


Day 4 – Istanbul Turkey – Sofia Bulgaria
(Breakfast included)
After your breakfast, check out from the hotel and we will arrange your transfer to Istanbul Ataturk International airport for flight to Sophia. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation. Guided sightseeing tour of the city center, including visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral - one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in Europe, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and a primary tourist attraction; St. George Rotunda, St. Sophia Church, built by emperor Justinian in the 6^th century, National Theatre, former Royal Palace, today housing the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum, Presidency, etc. Optional visit of National History Museum and Boyana Church in Sofia. Tour duration - approx. 3 hours. Upon request - evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 5 - Free Day In Sofia Or, Optional One Day Tour To Plovdiv ( Sightseeing Tour )

(Breakfast included)

A free day in Sofia or, optional one day tour to Plovdiv. Sightseeing tour of the town. Plovdiv - the ancient Philipopolis is one of the oldest towns in Europe. It was inhabited by the Thracians, Romans, Goths, Slavs and Ottomans, whose traces have turned the town into a museum. A place of special interest is the old part of the town. Brilliant examples of the Bulgarian National Revival period are preserved here. One can sit among the ruins of the ancient Roman Theatre and feel the atmosphere of an extinct world. Tour duration - approx. 8 hours. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 6 - Transfer To The Airport And Departure, or Optional One Day Tour To Rila Monastery

(Breakfast included)

Free time. Transfer to the airport and departure, or optional one day tour to Rila Monastery (for late departures only). Rila Monastery is the most exquisite example of monastery art and architecture in Bulgaria. Guided tour of the monastery. Visit to Nativity of the Virgin Church with its miraculous icon of the Virgin and splendid guilded iconostasis; old kitchen, the museum - keeping the long and heroic history of the monastery and the famous wood-carved corss made for a period of twelve years by a monk called Rafael, Hrelyo’s Tower and many spectacular views from the mountain and the surrounding nature. Tour duration - approx. 8 hours. End of the tour.

ISTANBUL SECTION INCLUDES:

• Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport
• 3 nights hotel in Istanbul
• 3 open buffet breakfasts
• Guided Istanbul City Tour
• Guided Istanbul Bosphorus cruise and shopping tour
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English-speaking tour guides
• Return transfer to Istanbul Ataturk airport

Please Note: Hagia Sophia is closed on mondays, Topkapi Palace closed on tuesdays, Grand Bazaar closed on sundays. If your tour is on one of these days we would offer you to visit Underground Cistern instead of Hagia Sophia and Topkapi palace museum, instead of Grand Baazar you will visit Spice Bazaar.

SOFIA SECTION INCLUDES:

·         Arrival and departure transfers;

·         2 nights accommodation on BB basis at a 4* hotel in Sofia;

·         Sightseeing tour of Sofia with professional English guide.

TOUR NOT INCLUDE:

·         International flights

·         Insurance: All types

• One day tour to Plovdiv;
• One day tour to Rila Monastery (for late departures only);
• Visit to the National History Museum and Boyana Church;
• Evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances.
• Turkey & Bulgaria entry visa
• Items of a personal nature such as alcoholic drinks, cold drinks, laundry
• Any others expenses which are not mentioned at the included section.

6 DAYS ISTANBUL  & SOFIA CITY TOUR PRICES IN EURO
Per Person	Double Share	Single Room
Regular Tour	€   379,00	€  499,00
Tour Start Date: Every Thursday Available Between: 9.01.2015 – 11.12.2015

What are the discounts for children?
0- 6 Year    :  Free of Charge
6 - 11 Year :  Charged at 50% of a full priced

OPTIONAL SOFIA TOURS:

• One day tour to Plovdiv –  Euro:62,00
• One day tour to Rila Monastery (for late departures only) - Euro:59,00
• Visit to the National History Museum and Boyana Church - Euro:46,00
• Evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances - Euro:59,00
  
  

OPTIONAL TOUR
Princes Island Cruise	€              45,00	Per Person
Bosphorus Cruise	€              40,00	Per Person
Dolma Bahçe Palace	€              50,00	Per Person
Turkish Bath Tour Istanbul	€              35,00	Per Person
ISTANBUL BY NIGHT OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES
1001 Nights Dinner Show	€              40,00	Per Person
Bosphorus Dinner Cruise	€              50,00	Per Person
Whirling Dervishes Show	€              30,00	Per Person
OPTIONAL MEAL
Standard Dinner	€              16,00	Per Person
Standard Lunch	€              12,00	Per Person

HOTEL LISTS:

ISTANBUL:
5 Star Dosso Dossi Hotels Downtown
4 Star Feronya Hotel Taksim,
5 Star Ramada Plaza Hotel Tekstilkent,
5 Star Holiday inn Old City,
4 Star Dora Hotel near by Taksim,
Momento Hotel Boutique
 Hotel Manesol Boutique and Bigbox Hotel Boutique


BULGARIA:
4* hotels in Sofia (Best Western City hotel, Best Western Trachia, Ramada Sofia), Plovdiv (Ramada Trimontsium Plovdiv, Park hotel Plovdiv, Park hotel Imperial), Veliko Tarnovo (Hotel Yantra, Best western Premier);

HOTELS:
The hotel options we have provided may have Different pricing policies for some dates, and we have limited room numbers for each hotel. If you could please inform us about the hotel you requested, we will be happy to Check this hotel for availability and confirm you accordingly.

If above listed hotels will not be available, we will book you a hotel of same standard.

For additional information please do not hesitate to contact us - please see details provided below.

Web    www.travelshopTURKEY.com Email  headoffice@travelshopturkey.com

Skype: travelshopturkey

Tel:   +9 0 212 529 77 08  Faks:+9 0 212 632 27 02

Member of TURSAB, ASTA, ETOA ATTA, WRTA and TIES