Private Tours and Cruises with Bora!
- History of Christianity in Asia Minor
- Blue Voyage : Bodrum / Gulf Of Gokova / Bodrum
- Blue Voyage : Bodrum / Dodecanese / Bodrum
Classical Turkey
Day 1 Istanbul
Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day free at leisure.
Day 2 Istanbul
In the morning visit Suleymaniye Mosque, Byzantine Hippodrome, where stands the obelisk brought from Egypt by Theodosius and the Serpent Column taken from Delphi by Constantine.The Underground Cistern, built in the 6th century. Fine brick vaulting is supported by 336 Corinthian columns. The Blue Mosque, which has six minarets and a middle dome of 109 feet, is the next stop before St. Sophia, an originally Christian Basilica, conceived by Constantine and rebuilt by Justinian, then turned into a mosque in 1453 by Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror. In 1920s Ataturk made it a museum for all, regardless of creed. Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Topkapi Palace (*) which served as the home of Ottoman Sultans for 400 years and now serves as a museum with a exquisite collection of Chinese porcelain. Before returning to your hotel visit the Grand Covered Bazaar dating back to XVth century. It covers over 2,000 shops. Overnight. (BL)
(*) Only general admission is included.
Day 3 Cappadocia
Transfer to the airport for an early flight to Ankara, the capital of Turkey and one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a history that can be dated back 3000 years. Upon arrival, visit the Anatolian Civilisations Museum, which also exhibits the remains of Catalhoyuk, the Neolithic village dating back to 6500 BC Then visit the Mausoleum of Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkey. After lunch at a local restaurant in Ankara, destination is the mysterious Cappadocia. (BLD)
Day 4 Cappadocia
Sightseeing in this unique corner of the world. Goreme Open-air Museum is full of pink, rose and white tapering columns. These tall free standing cones of stone curve and twist as if pulled from earth like taffy. Others are tall like fairy chimneys .The caves were settled in the 4th century as monasteries. Visit some caves in cliffs to see Byzantine frescoes decorating early Christian churches. Among them are frescoes of St. Helene, who discovered the true cross at Jerusalem and of saints slaying the dragon, symbol of ancient religion. Lunch at a typical restaurant of the region. In the afternoon, first visit to Kaymakli Underground City; carved out of rock and completely self contained. More than 200 people lived on each of seven floors with the last one 250 feet underground. It is connected to Derinkuyu Underground city by six miles of tunnel. The tour of the region also includes the natural citadel of Uchisar and Zelve Valley . (BLD)
Day 5 Pamukkale
Transfer to Konya. On the way to Konya, visit 13th century Selcuk caravanserail "Sultanhan". Visit the tomb of Mevlana, the great mystic poet and Islamic spiritual leader, who founded the sect of ''Whirling Dervishes''. After lunch continue to Pamukkale, the cotton fortress, which rises above the fertile Menderes Valley. Hot mineral waters burst from the earth and cascade over steep cliffs forming pools, channels and stalactites. The therapeutic waters here were known to founders of the cure city of Hierapolis in 190 BC (BLD)
Day 6 Kusadasi
Stroll through the ruins of ancient Hierapolis, the Roman city, and transfer to Kusadası. En route lunch at a local restaurant and visit Aphrodisias, the ancient city dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Arrival, dinner and overnight. (BLD)
Day 7 Izmir
Visit the ruins of Ephesus, which played a major role in the development of architecture, religions, governmental and economic systems and arts. The temple of Artemis was one of the Seven Wonders of ancient world and centre of pagan religion for 15 centuries. Here Marc Anthony and Cleopatra once rode in procession, St. Paul preached in the Great Theatre and in a little house outside the city the Virgin Mary spent her last days. Departure for Izmir, birth place of Homer. (BLD)
Day 8 Canakkale
In the morning visit Bergama (ancient Pergamon). Parchment was invented here. This was the hometown of Galen, renowned doctor and surgeon and site of his temple devoted to healing, the Asclepion. The library once held 200,000 books; all parchment. Lunch at a local restaurant in Bergama and in the afternoon drive to Troy, the immortal city of the legendary Helen of Troy and Trojan Horse, which was destroyed and rebuilt nine times. (BLD)
Day 9 Istanbul
In the morning drive to Istanbul by crossing the Dardanelles Strait. Lunch en route. Arrival to Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure. (BL)
Day 10
The tour is over! Come back again! Transfer to the airport and departure.
Bon voyage...(B)
History of Christianity in Asia Minor
Day 1 USA - Istanbul - Ankara (Kayseri)
Fly from home to Turkey and arrive to Istanbul and connect to Ankara (or depending on availability to Kayseri) and stay there one night. Overnight in Ankara either Sheraton or Hilton Hotel in Ankara. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 2 Ankara - Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia and on the way, on the ancient silk road visit the one of the Caravanserails from 13th C AD. Arrive to Cappadocia and Check in to our hotel. Dedeman or Cappadocia Lodge Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 3 Cappadocia
Visit to first Christian sites such as Goreme Open-air Museum, Uchisar, Avanos, Zelve, Pasabag. Back to the hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 4 Cappadocia - Ankara - Izmir
Drive from Cappadocia to Ankara to catch flight to Izmir. On the way to Ankara visit to Kaymakli Underground City. Arrive to Ankara Airport and fly to Izmir one of the Seven Churches of the Revelation for 50 minutes. Izmir Hilton Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 5 Izmir
Drive from Izmir to Pergamon one of the Seven Churches and visit there Acropolis and Asclepion -ancient healing center- and drive to Thyatira, another Seven Churches and come back to Izmir. Dinner in the Hotel.
Day 6 Izmir - Sardes - Philadelphia - Pamukkale
Check-out from the hotel and visit to St Polycarp Church in Izmir and then drive to other Seven Churches, Sardes and Philadelphia. Arrive to Pamukkale. Colossae Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 7 Pamukkale - Laodicea - Miletus - Didyma - Kusadasi
Drive from Pamukkale to Kusadasi. On the way visit to Laodicea one of the Seven Churches, Miletus where St Paul met elderly people of Ephesus in his 3rd missionary journey. Temple in Didyma with its enormous structure will be our next and the last visit of the day. Drive to Kusadasi. Stay in Kismet Hotel. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 8 Kusadasi - Ephesus - Mary's House - St John's Cathedral - Kusadasi
Day will start with the visit of Mary's House. Ephesus ruins - one of the best remaining ancient city of the World and one of the Seven Churches- will be visited. St John's Cathedral will be our last visit of the day. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 9 Kusadasi - Izmir - Istanbul
Drive to Izmir to fly to Istanbul. Flight takes about an hour. After arriving to Istanbul, we will be starting our visit with Suleyman the Magnificent Mosque from 1550-1559. St.Savior in the Chora Museum, one of the best example for late Byzantine Art from 14th C AD will be our next visit. Check in to Swiss Hotel or Intercontinental Hotel. Dinner is not included.
Day 10 Istanbul
After driving to Old City Center of Istanbul ''Sultanahmet'' we are walking in Hippodrome Square with three obelisks, initiated by Emperor Septimus Severus in 2nd C AD. World famous Blue Mosque from 17th C AD. welcomes us into its impressive interior design. We will have our delicious lunch. St. Sophia Museum which was built as a church in 6th C AD during Emperor Justinian period will be our next place to visit. Basilica Cistern with its unique architectural design will be followed our visit to the biggest ancient bazaar of the World with its more than 3500 shops ''Covered Bazaar''. This evening we enjoy our dinner at one of fine fish restaurant.
Day 11 Istanbul
We start to highlight of the day ''Topkapi Palace''. Mysterious part of the palace ''Harem'' and home of one of the biggest diamonds of the World ''Spoonmaker Diamond'' in Treasury will be visited. After a nice trip from old part of the city to new one we reach to a dreamy place created by Silk Road ''Spice Bazaar''. After having some free-time in the bazaar, we depart for our private boat to discover the beauty of Istanbul from Cruise on Bosphorus. Cruise on Bosphorus will take us till the point that we can see Black Sea. Farewell dinner in the Beyti Restaurant.
Day 12 Istanbul - Usa
Jewish History In Turkey
Day 1
Departure from home to Turkey.
Day 2
Arriving to Istanbul, only city of the world which has been founded on to two different continents: Asia and Europe. Day in leisure. (depending on your arrival schedule we can have some sight seeing)
Day 3
Day will start with the visit of Hippodrome Square which has been started to be built by Emperor Septimus Severus in 2nd C A.D. One of the master pieces of Ottoman architecture Blue Mosque which is famous with magnificent tiles in its interior design will be our second visit. Aghia Sophia Museum from 6th C A.D., world famous ancient Byzantine church is our next visit. Topkapi Palace which was the second residents of the Ottoman Dynasty after they conquered the Constantinopole in 29th May 1453. Yerebatan Sarayi (Underground cistern) will be visited next.
Day 4
Today, we will be visiting important Jewish Sites in the city. We will start with Neve Shalom Synagogue in the old former Jewish section. Afterwards next stop will be Ahrida Synagogue which is the first synagogue in Istanbul after the Jews had been exiled from Spain and welcomed by the Sultan to Ottoman Empire. Turkish Jewish History Museum will be our next stop. Then we will drive to Ulus one of the suburbs of Istanbul to visit Jewish Cemetery. Ortakoy Synagogue will be our final visit for the day.
Day 5
First thing in the morning will be the visit of Spice Bazaar of the Istanbul. Best buy in the bazaar can be reasonable Turkish Safrane We will have our boat tour in a public boat on the one of the most beautiful water way in the World "Bosphorus" which is a strait between Sea of Marmara and Black Sea. As we are sailing on the Bosphorus we will be able to see outstanding suburbs of Istanbul (Boat tour takes about one and the half hours to two hours). We are finishing our boat tour in the Asian side of Istanbul and visiting another Synagogue at the Asian side. We are driving to world famous Covered Bazaar to see one of the biggest historical shopping mall of the world with more than 4000 shops.
Day 6
Check-out from our hotel and drive to Bursa. We will be visiting Green Mosque and Green Tomb In Bursa besides Historical Silk Bazaar and a Synagogue . Overnight in Bursa. Dinner at the Hotel.
Day 7
Drive from Bursa to Kusadasi via Bergama. We will be visiting ancient city of Pergamon from 3rd C BC with its Acropolis - city center and Asklepion - ancient healing center. After our visit to Pergamon we are driving to Kusadasi. Overnight in Kusadasi. Dinner at the Hotel.
Day 8
Day will start with one of the highlight of the ancient history of the world: Ephesus. The city has been founded by Lycimachos one of the best friend and successor of Alexander the Great in 3rd C BC. After Ephesus visit, we will drive to Ephesus Museum and see the findings from Ephesus excavation. Overnight in Kusadasi. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
Check-out from the hotel to Izmir. On the way to Izmir, we are visiting Sardes. One of the biggest and the oldest ancient Synagogues from 5th C AD of the world located in Sardes. Sardes was the capital of Lydian Empire founded about 8th C BC. We will be driving to Izmir in which we will stay two nights. Overnight in Izmir. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 10
Day in Leisure. Our hotel is located in the city center of Izmir. So, you will be able to walk in the city.
Day 11
Early check-out from our hotel in Istanbul and fly to Ankara, capital city of Modern Turkey. We are visiting Anatolian Civilization Museum in Ankara as the first visit of the day. A Synagogue visit will be done in Ankara (This visit depends on the permission). After finishing our visit in Ankara, we will be driving to Cappadoccia. Overnight in Cappadoccia. Dinner at the Hotel.
Day 12
Today, we are spending all our day in the surrounding area. We will be visiting Goreme Open-air Museum, which is the unique example of local formation with historical culture. Uchisar, Zelve,Avanos town famous with its potteries and Pasabag will be our next visits.
Day 13
We are leaving our hotel to Ankara. On the route to Ankara we will be visiting Kaymakli Underground City. At the beginning of the early Christian history, those underground cities had been used by Christians as a hiding place from Roman Pressure. As we will be traveling on the ancient Silk Road, we will visiting a Agzikarahan Caravansaray dating from 13th C AD. As we arrive to Ankara, after visiting Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk who is the founder of the modern Turkey, we drive to the Ankara airport to fly Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul. Dinner in the hotel.
Day 14
After check-out from our hotel, we are driving to Istanbul airport to take our flight to home.
Bon voyage...(B)
BODRUM/GULF OF GOKOVA/BODRUM
BLUE VOYAGE
Day 1 Bodrum
Embarking to the yacht in Bodrum. Overnight aboard in the harbour of Bodrum.
Day 2 Cati
Cruise to Karaada Island and Catı Bay. (BLD)
Day 3 Kufre
Cruise to Kufre Bay and overnight here. (BLD)
Day 4 Karacasogut
Cruise to Longoz Bay and Karacasogut which is a small village. (BLD)
Day 5 Cleopatra
Cruise to Cleopatra Island, Degirmenbuku and English Harbour. (BLD)
Day 6 Cokertme
Cruise to Akbuk in the afternoon continue to Cokertme Bay. (BLD)
Day 7 Bodrum
Cruise to Oraklar or Ciftlik and to Tavsanburnu. Continue to Bodrum. (BLD)
Day 8 Bodrum
Disembarking the yacht in Bodrum.
BODRUM/DODECANESE/BODRUM
BLUE VOYAGE
Day 1 Bodrum
Embarking to the yacht in Bodrum. Overnight aboard in the harbour of Bodrum. (D)
Day 2 Cos
Cruise to Cos. Possibility to visit Asclepion, Castle or the Museum. Overnight in Cos Harbour. (BLD)
Day 3 Leros
Cruise to Leros. Afternoon and evening open for excursions on foot or by rented motorbike. (BLD)
Day 4 Founoi
Cruise to Fournoi Island a tranquil region untouched by mass tourism. (BLD)
Day 5 Patmos
Cruise to Patmos. The island with its monasteries is of great importance for the Greek Orthodox Church. Leisure time to explore the island. (BLD)
Day 6 Kalimnos
Cruise to Kalimnos. Leisure time to visit the island. (BLD)
Day 7 Cos
Arrival to Cos. Opportunity to visit sights. Overnight stay in Cos or Bodrum in accordance with the clients' preference. (BLD)
Day 8 Bodrum
Disembarking in Bodrum. (B)
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* Please ask for the prices. Prices can vary depending on the number of people & time of the year
* Daily tours can be extended or shortened
* Please ask for the different itineraries
* All tours are available on group or individual basis
* Unless mentioned, meals are not included.
* Tell this tour to your friends.
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