7 NIGHTS 8 DAYS PRIVATE ERTUGRUL GHAZI TOUR (ISTANBUL – BURSA – KONYA)

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL AND PRIVATE TRANSFER TO YOUR HOTEL.
Overnight at: https://www.feborhotel.com/ or similar 4 stars hotel for 3 nights on bed and
breakfast basis

DAY 2- PRIVATE BYZANTINE & OTTOMAN RELICS
In the morning sightseeing
tour in the old city of
Constantine, Istanbul starts
with Hippodrome Square
where chariot races were
once held in Roman Age and
today one can see the
Obelisk from Egypt, the
Fountain of Wilhelm II and
the Colossus, Serpentine
Column from Delphi and the
marvelous Underground
Cistern built in order to solve water supply problem nearby. Followed by a
visit to the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture St. Sophia operates as
mosque today. The splendor of the interior decoration, the massiveness of
its architectural proportions being unusual for a church and the most
important of all, the height of its central dome has amazed everyone since it
was first constructed. Then only a
short walk away, Sultanahmed Mosque is the only mosque
with six minarets in Istanbul. Called as blue mosque by
foreigners because of the dominant color of more than
20.000 Iznik tiles decorating the spacious interior The
Mosque is regarded as the peak achievement of Ottoman
architecture. The highlights of the afternoon are a visit to the
magnificent Topkapi Palace which is the only palace
remaining from the Ottomans reflecting the splendor of the once mighty empire. End the day with a
visit to the incredible Grand Bazaar.

DAY 3 – BOSPHORUS CRUISE BY PUBLIC FERRY WITH A VISIT TO SULEYMANIYE MOSQUE
Enjoy the Bosphorus Cruise on a
public ferry (also known as Gypsy
Boat) passing half a dozen Ottoman
imperial palaces, traditional Yalis
(waterside villas) and shore villages.
We drive to visit Suleymaniye
Mosque which was built by the
most important architect of
Ottoman times, Architect Sinan,
this superb monument is Istanbul’s
largest mosque complex.

DAY 4 – BURSA AND CUMALIKIZIK VILLAGE TOUR
Early morning departure to Bursa. Bursa; the first
capital of the Ottoman Empire and one of the great
treasure houses of Islamic architecture. We will visit the
Green Mosque and the neighboring Green Mausoleum,
both world-renowned for their superb tile decoration,
as well as the late 14th century Great Mosque and the
Koza Han, which for centuries was the center of the silk
trade. After visit tomb of Sultan Osman Gazi founder of
the Ottoman State and his son Orhan Gazi. Enjoying a
cable car ride up the slopes of Mount Olympus
(Uludag), we drive to the village of Cumalikizik; one of the best-preserved Ottoman villages in Turkey
with scores of picturesque houses built in the traditional style.
Overnight in Bursa at: http://www.gorukleoruchotelspa.com/en/ or similar 4 stars hotel for 1
night on bed and breakfast basis.

DAY 5 – PRIVATE İZNİK AND SÖĞÜT TOUR & DRIVE TO KONYA
Early morning head to İznik (Nicaea). This tour
includes to visiting İznik’s Green Mosque (Yeşil
Cami) is a fine Seljuk Turkish-influenced work.
Across the street is an Ottoman imaret (soup
kitchen) that now houses the city’s good museum
and also İznik Hagia Sophia Mosque.
Drive to Söğüt.
Söğüt was the
birthplace of
the Ottoman
Empire. The founding Ottoman is buried here. That would be
Ertuğrul Gazi (died 1288), the warrior chieftain who fought on
the border of the Seljuk Turkish and Byzantine empires, and
whose sons went on to form the Ottoman state. End of the tour
departure to Konya.
Overnight in Konya at https://konya.bera.com.tr/en or similar 4 stars hotel for 2 nights on bed and
breakfast basis.

DAY 6 –PRIVATE KONYA TOUR
Konya; the last capital of the Seljuk Empire and another of the great
treasure houses of Islamic architecture in Central Anatolia. We will
visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, the world-wide famous mystic.
Proceed to Martyrs Monument of 1919 Independence War and
Konya Panorama Museum. Drive to Karatay Theological School in
which beautiful tiles are on display and Ince Minaret Madrasah,
after here walking to visit Alaeddin Keykubat Mosque and Palas of
Seljuk Empires.

DAY 7 – PRIVAT AIRPORT TRANSFER TO YOUR ISTANBUL FLIGHT & ECLECTIC TOUR OF ISTANBUL
Pegasus Airlines, Konya (KYA) to Istanbul (SAW): 09:25 – 10:40 am
This private tour includes a perfect visit to the Galata
Tower built by the Genoese in 1348. The Old Pera was
given to them by the Ottoman Empire because of their
help in defeating a Crusade. After a short gentle walk
we take the oldest
functioning metros in
the world. The
“Tunnel”, Completed
in 1873, it is the
shortest metro ever
built which connects
Karakoy to Beyoglu, followed by a local window-shopping if you
would like to experience. We will visit the Galata Mevlevi Lodge
(Galata Mevlevihanesi) is an exciting museum showcases variety of
Turkish calligraphic art items, music items and items belonging to
the Mevlevi cult ure. Gentle walk to Taksim Square then drive into
the colorful sights, vibrant sounds and intriguing scents of the
Egyptian Bazaar (Spice Market).
Near the mighty Hagia Sophia Basilica and the magnificent Topkapi Palace, Hodjapasha Cultural
Center is a delightful piece of the city’s striking cultural mosaic. Transformed from a large 15thcentury
hamam (Turkish bath), it now welcomes visitors under its high dome ceilings to showcase
some of the best of this vast country’s traditions.
Sufi whirling is a form of Sama or physically active meditation which originated among Sufis, and
which is still practiced by the Sufi Dervishes of the Mevlevi order. It is a customary dance performed
within the Sema, or worship ceremony, through which dervishes (also called semazens) aim to reach
the source of all perfection, or kamala. This is sought through abandoning one’s nafs, egos or
personal desires, by listening to the music, focusing on God, and spinning one’s body in repetitive
circles, which has been seen as a symbolic imitation of planets in the Solar System orbiting the sun.
As explained by Sufis. In the symbolism of the Sema ritual, the semazen’s camel’s hair hat (sikke)
represents the tombstone of the ego; his wide, white skirt represents the ego’s shroud. By removing
his black cloak, he is spiritually reborn to the truth. At the beginning of the Sema, by holding his arms
crosswise, the semazen appears to represent the number one, thus testifying to God’s unity. While
whirling, his arms are open: his right arm is directed to the sky, ready to receive God’s beneficence;
his left hand, upon which his eyes are fastened, is turned toward the earth. The Semazen conveys
God’s spiritual gift to those who are witnessing the Sema. Revolving from right to left around the
heart, The Semazen embraces all humanity with love.

DAY 8 – PRIVATE TRANSFER TO AIRPORT FOR FLIGHT BACK HOME.
End of the service