9 Days Istanbul and Georgia Tour Package

- Istanbul City Tour - Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour - Istanbul - Tbilisi - - Mtskheta - Kazbegi - Gudauri - Gori - Uplistsikhe - Tbilisi - David Gareja - Signagi

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Istanbul
Upon arrival to  Istanbul Airport, you will meet with Turkey Travel Bazaar staff and transfer to your hotel for your first night. Overnight in Istanbul.

Day 2 - Istanbul Sightseeing Tour          (B + L)
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and  start a full day of sightseeing tour of Istanbul old city, discover the Byzantine and Ottoman Relics, visit Saint Sophia Museum, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the architectual marvels of all time, then visit the Sultanahmet Cami (Blue Mosque), built in the 16th century, unique with 6 minarets and its magnificent interior decoration of the blue Iznik tiles. The Ancient Hippodrome, was the scene of chariot races and constains three monuments: Obelisk of Theodosius,bronze serpentine column and German Fountian of Wilhelm II.  After lunch visit Royal Topkapi Palace, the great palace of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. As a last, Suleymaniye Mosque will be viseted. Little Hagia Sophia Mosque is known as one of the oldest standing churches in Istanbul dating back to 6th century.
At the end of the tour, you will be droped off your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.

 

Day 3 - Istanbul Sightseeing Tour & Bosphorus Cruise       (B + L)
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel and  start a full day of sightseeing tour of Istanbul sailing on the Bosphorus and visit two continents. First of all, drive along the Old City Walls to the Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar). We stop in the Spice Bazaar for shopping. Spice Bazaar famous for its fresh spice, turkish delight and souvenirs. Then, we pass across to Golden Horn Bridge for embarkation to boat for sailing between two continents. While we are sailg on the Bosphorus you will see the million dollar mansions and Bosphorus Bridge linking Europe and Asia. After cruising on the Bosphorus, drive to restaurant to have lunch. After having lunch, drive along the Bosphorus and passing the Bosphorus Bridge by bus  to Asia Side for visiting Beylerbeyi Palace. It was built by Sarkis Balyan Usta by order of Sultan Abdulaziz in 1865. After visiting interior of the Beylerbeyi Palace, drive up to Camlica Hill where is the highest point of Istanbul. There will be tea break on top of the Camlica Hill.
At the end of the tour, you will be droped off your hotel. Overnight at your hotel.

Day 4 - Flight from Istanbul to Tbilisi    (B + L + D)
After breakfast check out from the hotel and you will be picked up from your hotel then transfer to Istanbul international Airport. Flight from Istanbul to Georgian. Upon arrival Tbilisi, meet with our local representative and you will be escorted to your hotel room which is protected for immediate occupancy and rest up for your first day of adventure. After a short break, we shall start our tour. Georgian Art Museum - The Museum houses the best-known samples of Georgian artwork. Different collections of the Museum preserve approximately sixty thousand objects. The Museum is distinguished for its Georgian goldsmith pieces dated back to the VIII-XIX Centuries. The most significant exhibits are the icon of Zarzma Monastery, the Chalice of Bedia, Anchistkhati and Khakhuli Triptychs, Processional Liturgical Crosses etc. Tbilisi Open Air Museum exposes 14 ethnographic zones. Each of them presents the particular historic-ethnographic area of Georgia. Together with the architectural monuments the museum exposes ethnographic materials - different kinds of tools, textile and ceramics. The museum also exposes the V-VI c. basilica of Sioni, as well as a rich collection of the gravestones in relief. Overview of the city, excursions in the old part of Tbilisi; the 4th century Narikala Fortress, an ancient citadel on a steep hill overlooking the city; Metekhi Church (13th c.) - the grave of St. Shushanik the Christian martyr is within the church. Sioni - the cathedral of the 6th-7th cc; sulphur baths - a favorite place of Tbilisi citizens and foreign guests. At the end of the tour, transfer back to your hotel. If you want, you can try sulphur bath with massage for relax yourself. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 5 - Mtskheta and Kazbegi Tour Then Drive to Gudauri     (B + L + D)
After breakfast at the hotel, check out and you will be picked up from your hotel and start the tour today. First visit will be Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (XI c.) where is the largest ecclesiastical construction extant in the country; Jvari Monastery (VI c) is a symbol of Mtskheta; and we will visit to Ananuri Fortress. Through Military Highway arrival to Kazbegi. Walk up (1.30 hour trekking) Gergeti Sameba (Trynity) Church, enjoy a pleasant view of Mount Kazbeg (5000). For those who don't wish to trek there will be waiting a car (4X4) to drive up the hill. At last we will drive to Gudauri. Overnight in Gudauri.

Day 6 - Gudauri - Gori and Uplistsikhe  Tour Then Drive back to Tbilisi       (B + L + D)
After having breakfast at your hotel, check out and you will be picked up from your hotel for the tour. Our first visit will be  Stalin Museum. The museum has three sections, all located in the town's central square. It was officially dedicated to Stalin in 1957. With the downfall of the Soviet Union and independence movement of Georgia, the museum closed in 1989, but has since been reopened, and is a popular tourist attraction. On our way back to Tbilisi, we will have a stop in Uplistsikhe, it is the cave town is situated seven km (4.3 miles) southeast of Gori on the left bank of river Mtkvari and still amazes the visitors by its dimensions, extraordinary position, refined forms and the beauty of decors. You will find huge echoing halls, long meandering corridor-streets, chambers for pagan worship and even the remains of Georgia's oldest theatre there, and will be impressed by the skill, knowledge, experience and physical and spiritual power of all those, who created this unique monument. Afterwards, we will continue drive back to Tbilisi. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the evening is leisure. If you want you can attend the folk theatre Nabadi which is completely different and almost unique with its essence presents new style performance. The long history of Georgia, the country being a crossroad between Europe and Asia is shown in traditional and modern forms of expression, sense of rhythm, folk dances and songs. During the performance you will be treated with a glass of wine and sweets made of grape juice and nuts (Churchxela, Tatara). Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 7 - David Gareja and Signagi Tour  Then Drive to Signagi    (B + L + D)
After enjoy your breakfast at hotel and check out, Turkey Travel Bazaar will pick you up and we proceed to visit David Gareja Monastery, the cave town complex (the cradle of Georgian Christian activity of early and medieval period), where monks live and work. It is situated deep in semi-desert about 75 km south-east of Tbilisi. The Monasteries were founded in the 6th century by the Christian Father St. David. Walk up to Udabno to explore some of the fine frescos of the 8th-13th c. and cave architecture. The complex includes hundreds of cells, churches, chapels, refectories and living quarters hollowed out of the rock face. The area is also home to protected animal species and evidence of some of the oldest human habitations in the region.

Then we will head to visit Ikalto Academy (XII - XIII cc) and Tsinandali. A visit to Chavchvadze's Palace, the residence of the poet and public figure, Kakhetian prince of the 18th c. A. Chavchavadze, English park and the wine cellar (XIXc.) where you will taste wines.

Afterwards, we will depart for Signagi. It is one of the country's smallest towns with a population of 2,146 as of the 2002 census. Sighnaghi's economy is dominated by production of wine and traditional carpets. The town and its environs are also known for their landscapes and historical monuments. Sighnaghi has recently undergone a fundamental reconstruction program and has become an important centre of Georgia's tourist industry.

In Signagi you are invited to have a dinner and taste Georgian wines, learn about old Georgian wine making traditions and listen to Georgian folk songs. Overnight in Signagi.

Day 8 - Drive From Signagi to Tbilisi and Tiblisi Tour   (B + L + D)
After your breakfast in hotel, you will check out and be picked up then drive back to Tbilis. Upon arrive Tbilis, we will visit Tbilisi Open Air Museum where exposes 14 ethnographic zones. Each of them presents the particular historic-ethnographic area of Georgia. Together with the architectural monuments the museum exposes ethnographic materials - different kinds of tools, textile and ceramics. The museum also exposes the V-VI c. basilica of Sioni, as well as a rich collection of the gravestones in relief.

Afterwards, transfer you back to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day is free for you, walk along the city or do little shopping. Enjoy your last night in Georgia. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 9 - Tbilisi - End of the Tour
You will have breakfast at your hotel then check out. Today is last day in Tiblisi. You will have free time until your flight departure time. You can do last shopping or check out the city. Then you will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to airport regarding to your flight deparute time.

Includes

• Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport
• 3 nights hotel in Istanbul with breakfast
• Guided Istanbul city tour with lunch
• Guided Istanbul Bosphorus cruise and Asia Side
• Return transfer to Istanbul Ataturk airport
• Arrival airport transfer from airport in Tbilisi
• 3 nights hotel in Tbilisi
• 1 night hotel in Gudauri
• 1 night hotel in Signagi
• 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 dinners
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English-speaking tour guides
• Return airport transfer to airport in Tbilisi

Excludes

• International flights
• Visas
• Drinks
• Unmentioned services

Notes

In Istanbul Hagia Sophia closed on mondays, Topkapi Palace closed on tuesdays, Grand Bazaar closed on sundays.

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