Share Turkish Culture

City tour of Tokat. Visit Gokmedrese, Hatuniye Mosque, Tas Han, the Handicrafts Bazaar, the Latifoglu House and other historical houses. Continue to Sivas. Dinner and overnight in Sivas.

• Depart for Beypazari, Ankara . Enjoy the fascinating traditional market, the picturesque row of old Ottoman houses and local delicacies. Drive to Ankara. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.

• After breakfast, transfer to airport for homebound flights.
  OR
  After breakfast, departure for Central Turkey Tour

• After breakfast, check-out and depart for Istanbul, on route visit Iznik/Nicea, a little town set beside a picturesque lake, historically famous for hosting the First Ecumenical Council of the church at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.
• Visit to Green Mosque, Iznik Hagia Sophia, the Iznik Museum and the Iznik Foundation, an organization reviving the tradition of the Turkish tile “Cini”.
• After lunch, proceed to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

• Arrival in Istanbul, transfer to your hotel.
•  Welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight at hotel.

• Visits to the beautiful Green Mosque and Tomb, the Great Mosque, the Koza Han, the home of the silk trade, and Osman Gazi and Orhan Gazi Tombs, the founders of the Ottoman Empire.
• After these visits, view a Hacivat/ Karagoz play at the Karagoz House.
•  Dinner and overnight in Bursa.

• Departure to visit Homer’s Troy. Drive along the Marmara Sea to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire.
• Lunch is on route in a local restaurant.
• Visit Uluumay Ottoman Folk Dresses and Handicrafts Museum.
• Dinner and overnight in Bursa

• Departure to Edirne, the second capital city of the Ottoman Empire. Tour includes masterpieces of Turkish architecture, the Selimiye, and Sultan II. Bayezid Külliyesi/Complex Health Museum, which was awarded as the best European Museum in 2004 by the European Union. Enjoy  listening to Turkish music, used for therapeutic purposes performed by a Ney player.
• Lunch at a local restaurant in Edirne serving traditional dishes. After lunch, drive to Canakkale. Visit Anzac Cove, 57th Infantry Regiment Cemetery and Memorial, Chunuk Bair, Çanakkale Martyrs Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery & Memorial. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

• Visit the Sokullu Mehmet Pasa Mosque in Kadirga. A “Mevlit” ceremony, Turkish versed hymn that praises the Prophet Mohammed at the Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Mosque.
• Drive to Fener & Balat area, visit to the Ahrida Synagogue [the oldest synagogue built in 1400’s],  the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, Surp Hiresdagabad Armenian Church.
• Lunch is going to be in a local fish restaurant.
• Visit the Jewish Museum in Karakoy and the Spice Market [17th C.A.D. introduction to Turkish cuisine, eating culture and use of spices]. 
• See the Rustem Pasa Mosque [16th C.A.D.] in Eminonu.
• Visit the Chora Church (Kariye) Museum by the city wall in Edirnekapi.
• Live Turkish Classical Music called fasil accompany the authentic Turkish kitchen tastes during dinner in Edirnekapi.