ISTANBUL - Domes and Minarets heli-tour and cruise

9am - your lecturer and guide will meet you at the pier where your ship is docked and you will board your Mercedes minivan to start your tour in this fascinating city where two continents meet.


Along the shores of the Bosphorus, you will first drive to Istinye, where you will board your private helicopter and begin an unforgettable experience:  Istanbul from a bird's eye view!  Enjoy the panormaic view of this timeless city, the scenic Bosphorus, the domes and minarets of old city and new. 


After your flight, you'll head to your private luxury boat with will be waiting for you at the shore.  Enjoy a cruise on the waters of the Bosphorus, running between Asia and Europe and admire the many historical Ottoman mansions and palaces from the water.  You will be overwhelmed by the exotic and entrancingly beautiful Istanbul skyline.


Savor a gourmet lunch in the calm garden of the Four Seasons Hotel in the Old City and discover how good Turkish cuisine can be.  In the afternoon you will visit the Blue Mosque - probably one of the most famous masterpieces of Ottoman religious architechture.  Named after its Turquoise colored tiles made of quartz minerals, the building is also unique for its six minarets.  Ottoman Sultans preferred to pray in this timeless shrine due to its incomparable beauty until when the empire collapsed after WWI.

Continue your day touring the Basilica of Saint Sophia that was built by Justinian the Great during the 6th century.  This massive structure will embrace you with surprise with its gigantic dome resting at a height of 176 feet and a diameter of 93 feet.  Built in only four and a half years, the Basilica served both Christianity and Islam and is now a museum displaying Byzantine art and architecture embellished by Ottoman taste.

Later in the afternoon, you will saunter through the Grand Bazaar and Nuru Osmaniye District where you can shop for rugs, jewelry, leathercrafts and handcrafted souvenirs.

After a full day of exploration, your guide will escort you back to the pier for embarkation.

Duration - 5 hours


Pricing - USD $4060 per person (2-3 pax) and USD $2050 per person (4-5 pax)


Includes - Professional lecturer/guide, luxury non-smoking minivan with A/C, all entrance and parking fees, one hour helicopter flight over Istanbul, transportation from Istinye to Kabatas by private luxury boat, guide books, maps, bookmarks and stamped postcards, complimentary refreshments in vehicle.  Lunch and guide tips are extra.


Languages - English, Spanish, Portuguese, French


Tour Code - TU-VTSidom

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