A TALE OF TWO CITIES

5 NIGHTS – 6 DAYS

Cost:
The cost of all the services included in the tour for per person in a double room 1000 Euros

Accommodation: 2-night HB stay at 5-star Kervansaray Thermal Hotel in Bursa
3-night HB stay at 4-star hotels in Istanbul

DAY 1: BURSA-ULUCAMİ (THE GREAT MOSQUE)-YEŞİL CAMİ (THE GREEN MOSQUE) – YEŞİL TÜRBE (THE GREEN TOMB) – TOPHANE (THE ARMORY) – OSMAN GAZİ VE ORHAN GAZİ TÜRBELERİ (THE TOMBS OF SULTAN OSMAN AND SULTAN ORHAN)

With the guests having arrived at the airport, first we are heading to Bursa. The hotel check-in is at 14:00, but if the hotel is available beforehand, you can have some rest at the 5-star Kervansaray Thermal Hotel in the centre of the city, Bursa. We are going to have our lunch at famous Bursa İskender, which is extra. After lunch, we are travelling around Bursa, which was the capital city of the Ottoman Empire until Edirne was conquered and where the first Ottoman coin was minted. Our first stop in the city named after the King Prusias I of Bithynia, which is the centre of textile and automotive industry, is the hill of Tophane (The Armory) where the tombs of the founders of the Ottoman Empire, Osman Bey and Orhan Bey are located. Then, we are going to visit the Green Mosque and the Green Tomb, which give the city its name and built by Sultan Çelebi Mehmet, thought to be the second founder of the Ottoman Empire. Later,

we are heading to our hotel, where we can enjoy the Turkish baths (Hamams) for men, women or family only with a history of 700 years from the Byzantines and the Ottomans. The historical spas (thermal springs) which gives the hotel its name Thermal and known as Old Spas from the Byzantines, is made up of two sections men and women separately. The temperature of the water is 44 degrees C and is healing mineral water. Our guests are free to use the thermal pools as well. The dinner and stay will be at this hotel.

DAY 2 : ULUDAĞ – CUMALIKIZIK VILLAGE

After having breakfast at the hotel, we are heading to Uludağ, one of the most popular winter holiday destinations, which is also awesome in the summer. Uludağ is a flora and a Botanic garden indeed. There are about 791 different flowers, of which 104 are native to Türkiye and 28 can only be found in Uludağ. You can see tens of tones of green in the middle of summer. From the top of supreme Uludağ, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of the view. We are having a walk, visiting the peaks and enjoying the very fresh air of Uludağ. Later, we are heading to 700-year-old Turkish Cumalıkızık village, which was founded during the Seljuk period. Cumalıkızık , which is listed in UNESCO World Heritage list, is actually the living history of Bursa. You will enjoy the joy of getting lost in the streets of Nostalgic houses and live a natural village aurora. Although Cumalıkızık got its fame from a legendary TV series ‘Kınalı Kar’ (Henna Snow) , is a tiny Ottoman village that preserved its village atmosphere despite surrounded by a very crowded city. Today, it’s a breathing site whose texture, smell and peace have remained intact. Here is literally the backyard of Bursa. After a short info about the village by our guide, we are going to visit Art House and Cin Aralıgı, where you will have some free time to enjoy the site with your friends and buy some local products for your loved ones in your hometown. We are heading back to our hotel where you will enjoy your dinner and thermal bath and pool.

DAY 3: GÖLYAZI – ULUBAT LAKE

After breakfast at the hotel, we are heading to Gölyazı. We will be greeted by a newly restored historical windmill at the entry while driving to Gölyazı among olive trees. With its splendid view, you will be informed about Gölyazı and Ulubat Lake, after which we are heading to brunch with the guests for request. (Extra) You will have some free time to take overwhelming pictures with great sceneries. Afterwards, we are visiting the church of Saint Panteleimon, one of the significant and authentic samples of Anatolian Greek Orthodox churches. We are enjoying a leisurely walk to the village square. Visiting the Ağlayan Çınar (Weeping Sycamore) situated in the village square, and listening to the story of it, we are heading over the bridge to the Peninsula. Accompanied with the tour guide, we are going to visit the restored Gölyazı Bath, now a café, and the mosque, historical city walls, century-old auction where the fish caught from the Ulubat Lake was sold, mansion of Faik bey, and 250-year old Greek houses and have a tea break in the square. (If open). Our trip to Istanbul is starting afterwards.

DAY 4: DOLMABAHÇE PALACE- FENER ( THE LIGHTHOUSE) – BALAT – EYUP SULTAN MOSQUE- PIERRE LOTI HILL- SULEYMANİYE MOSQUE:

After the breakfast at the hotel, we are heading to our first stop, Dolmabahçe Palace, which is the most magnificent palace to our day from the Ottoman times. We are going to visit Golden Horn, along which we are having a short trip, enjoying one of the most jovial sceneries. During the trip, we will have a chance to visit the Orthodox Patriarchate located on the edge of Golden Horn, historical Feshane Building, Mehterhane (House of Seniors) buildings, the Lighhouse (Fener), and having a panoramic visit to featured works in Balat. Then we are visiting Eyup Sultan Mosque and tomb, visited by millions of people every year, and reaching the picturesque hill named after famous Poet Pierre

Loti. Here, we are having a tea break, after which we are arriving at Suleymaniye district and visiting Suleymaniye Mosque and tombs of Suleiman the Magnificent and Hurrem Sultan (Roxelana). After the visit, we are returning to the hotel and having some free time and going to our beds here.

DAY 5: TOPKAPI PALACE, THE HAGIA SOPHIA- THE BLUE MOSQUE (SULTANAHMET) – THE OBELISK OF THEODOSIUS (DİKİLİTAŞ) – THE BASILICA CISTERN (YEREBATAN SARNICI) – ISTANBUL ARCHEOLOGY MUSEUMS AND THE GRAND BAZAAR (KAPALI ÇARŞI)

After breakfast at the hotel, we are going to visit the Topkapı Palace, the biggest of the Ottoman Empire and the first palace of Istanbul, then once the most important church, later a mosque, masterpiece of the history of architecture, The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque / Ayasofya-i Kebir Cami-i Şerifi, and the Sultan Ahmet Mosque (The Blue Mosque), the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column, the Basilica Cistern and Istanbul Archaeological Museum. We are heading to the Grand Bazaar, where you will have free time to enjoy one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, with 61 covered streets and over 4,000 shops and unsurprisingly, the Grand Bazaar is one of the world’s top tourist attractions, and a visit here rates top of many people’s things to do list while in Istanbul. Returning to our hotel and enjoying the tiring day with great memories, we are going to sleep in our hotel.
Upon request you can join Turkish night with dinner included

DAY 6: PRINCES’ ISLANDS: SADDLEBAG ISLAND (HEYBELİADA), HALKI SEMINARY- BIG ISLAND- CHURCH OF ST GEORGE- THE PRINKIPO GREEK ORPHANAGE

We are going to take a ferry to reach the Princes’ Island. We are starting our tour with a visit to The Navy School, which dates back to 1773. We are climbing to the highest point of the island, Değirmen Burnu, where we can enjoy the breath-taking view of the city and take some great photos. On the way back to centre of the island, we are dropping by at Halki

Seminary and visit the house of Ismet Inonu (The second President of Turkey). After a short rest, we are taking the ferry to Big Island, where we will have our lunch and start a big tour from Birlik Square. We are going to walk amid magnificent mansions and houses, pine trees and Dil Burnu Picnic area. Walking over the Yoruk Ali Beach, around the bay and arriving at Church of St George, we can enjoy a hot cup of tea or coffee. We are visiting the biggest woodwork the Prinkipo Greek Orphanage and you are having some free time till the ferry departs back to the land. We are getting on our coach and heading to the airport with great memories and wishes to travel again with ATOM TUR.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
➢ 2-night stay at 5* Kervansaray Thermal Hotel, Bursa
➢ Open Buffet Breakfast at 5* Kervansaray Thermal Hotel, Bursa
➢ Open Buffet of Set Menu dinner at 5* Kervansaray Thermal Hotel, Bursa
➢ Thermal Baths and pools and Saunas at 5* Kervansaray Thermal Hotel, Bursa
➢ 3-night stay at 4* hotels in Istanbul
➢ Open buffet breakfast at 4* hotels in Istanbul
➢ Open buffet of Set Menu dinner at 4* hotels in Istanbul
➢ Boat trip along the Bosporus
➢ Ferry fee to the Princes’ Islands
➢ Tour of the Saddlebag Island ( Heybeliada) in electric-run vehicles
➢ Tour of the Big Island Island ( Büyükada) in electric-run vehicles
➢ Expert Guide
➢ All the transportation and transfer, hotel pick up & drop off
➢ TURSAB travel insurance

WHAT’S EXCLUDED
➢ Extra trips and shows stated in the tour programme
➢ Turkish night with dinner included
➢ Parasailing
➢ Lunch
➢ Drinks at all meals
➢ Personal expenses
➢ Museums and Ruins entrances (Topkapı Palace, The Basilica Cistern, The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul Archaeological Museum)

IMPORTANT:
Atomtur organizes its tours with TÜRSAB Document No. 7868. (Law No. 1618: It covers all kinds of organizations such as travel, sports, meeting, entertainment, which includes one or more of transportation, accommodation, guidance, catering services.Only TÜRSAB member travel agencies can carry out these activities. Associations, foundations, clubs, schools, public and private institutions cannot organize tours and the above activities without agencies. Make sure that the tours are made by TÜRSAB member agencies such as Atomtur.)

P.S
Our guide can make changes in the tour program according to unexpected weather and road conditions, provided that the specified program is followed as much as possible. Atom tour is not responsible for the places that cannot be visited even though it is written in the tour program as a result of the guests not complying with the hours given by the guide during the tour. Before and during the tour due to unfavourable weather conditions, and force majeures, Atom tour is not held responsible for tours that cannot be done due to stated reasons. Our tours are a whole with hotel, bus, tour program and guide services, they cannot be considered separately. Seats cannot be promised at the time of reservation.