Day 1 – To Istanbul: Fly from London
Heathrow to Istanbul with British Airways. Transfer to the Garden House Hotel for 5 nights.
Evening welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2 – Istanbul: Morning visit to the Church
of Theotokos Kyriotissa (Kalenderhane Camii),
Zoodochus Pigi (Silivri Kapi cemetery), the
Suleymaniye mosque complex and the Basilica
of St John of Studius (Imrahor Camii), the
oldest church in Istanbul, erected in 454AD.
This afternoon, see the fabulous mosaics
and frescoes of St Saviour in Chora (Kariye
Camii), Theotokokos Pammakaristos (Fethiye
Camii), Porphyrogenitus Palace ruins and the
Theodocian city walls at Edirne Kapi. (B)
Day 3 – Istanbul: Take the early morning
ferry to the Princes’ Isles in the Sea of
Marmara passing Leander’s Tower, ancient
Chalcedon and Antigone. Stop at Chalki to
visit the Church of St Nikolaos and the Greek
Orthodox seminary. Continue to the isle of
Prinkipo to visit the Monastery of St George.
The final visit of the day will be to the Crimea
Memorial Church, built in the mid 19th-century in memory of fallen British soldiers,
where a special drinks reception has been
arranged (subject to con. rmation). (B)
Day 4 – Istanbul: Istanbul: Morning walking tour in Sultanahmet, including the Topkapi Palace, and the superb collections of the archaeological museum. This afternoon, view the Hippodrome remnants, the Blue Mosque, the Mosaics Museum, the ruins of the Great Bucoleon Palace and the Church of SS Sergius and Bacchus (Kucuk Aghia Sofia). (B)
Day 5 – Istanbul: Morning visit to the Church of Theotokos Panaghiotissa (known as Mouchliotissa), the only Byzantine church in the city still belonging to the Greek Orthodox patriarchate. Continue around the old Greek district of Fener and the Greek lycee school (Megali Schole) and see the cast iron Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars. This afternoon, visit Agia Sofia and nearby Basilica Cistern, followed by a brief stop at the lovely garden of the sacred spring, Ayazma Blachenae, dating back to 451AD. Evening farewell dinner. (B, D)
Day 6 – To London: Morning walking tour of
Beyazit, the Third Hill and the old city centre.
Fly from Istanbul to London Heathrow with
Turkish Airlines. (B)
Extensions: If you wish to extend your stay
in Istanbul or other parts of Turkey for more
independent exploration, please contact us for
details.
Meal Basis: (B) = Breakfast, (L) = Lunch, (D) = Dinner, (N) = No Meals
