ISLAMIC TOUR OF ISTANBUL & BURSA 05 NIGHTS / 06 DAYS

DAY 01 ————— / ISTANBUL
Arrival to Istanbul International Airport, meet and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leusire.

DAY 02 ISTANBUL
Full day Sahaba visits in Istanbul with lunch. Sahaba means The Companions of Prophet Muhammed S.A.V. According to the 2000 census, there were 2691 active mosques hundreds of Tombs & holy places. In our Islamic tour; we will take you to the important Islamic locations by explaining to you the stories of the places. Above places are visited in this tour:

* Visit of Yeralti Camii ( Underground Mosque ) Karaköy
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Vehb Bin Huseyre ( RA )/ Inside Yeraltı Mosue
* Visit The Tomb of Amr Bin As ( RA )/ Inside Yeraltı Mosque
* Visit The Tomb of Sufyan Bin Uyeyne ( RA )/ Inside Yeraltı Mosque
* Visit of Edirnekapi & City Walls Area
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Sube ( RA ) Sahabei Ikr. / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Hafir ( RA )/ Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Muhammed-El Ensari / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Abdussadık Bin Amir Bin Same ( RA ) / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Ahmed Ul Ensari / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Abdullah El-Hudri / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Ebuzer El Gıffari / Ayvansaray
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Cabir ( RA ) / Ayvansaray
* Merkezefendi Area, Cemetery & Surroundings Visit
* Lunch in Historical Merkezefendi Kofte ( Included )
*Visit to Mihrimah Sultan Mosque
* Visit The Tomb of the Conquer & Seyh-Ul Islam Eyüp Sultan
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Ebu Derda / Eyüp Sultan
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Edhem ( RA ) / Eyüp Sultan
* Visit The Tomb of Arpaci Hayreddin (RA ) / Eyüp Sultan
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Kaap ( RA ) / Eyüp Sultan
* Visit The Tomb of Hz. Hamidullah El Ensari / Eyüp Sultan
* Eyup Mosque & Cemetery Visit
* Visit The Tomb of Eyup El Ensari ( RA ) / Eyüp Sultan

Return to your hotel and overnight.

DAY 03 ISTANBUL
Full day Mosque visits in Istanbul with lunch. Below mentioned mosques and places are visited.

* Rustempasha Mosque
The Rüstem Pasha Mosque was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for the grand vizier Rüstem Pasha (the husband of one of the daughters of Suleiman the Magnificent by Hürrem Sultan (Roxelana), Mihrimah Sultan). Rüstem Pasha died in July 1561 and the mosque was built after his death from around 1561 until 1563. The mosque complex hosts now a religious school.

* Suleymaniye Mosque
The Süleymaniye Mosque, built on the order of Sultan Süleyman (Süleyman the Magnificent), “was fortunate to be able to draw on the talents of the architectural genius of Mimar Sinan” (481 Traditions and Encounters: Brief Global History). The construction work began in 1550 and the mosque was finished in 1557.

* Hagia Sophia Mosque
Hagia Sophia, an important Byzantine structure in Istanbul and one of the world’s great monuments. It was built as a Christian church in the 6th century ce (532–537) under the direction of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I. In subsequent centuries it became a mosque, a museum, and a mosque again. The building reflects the religious changes that have played out in the region over the centuries, with the minarets and inscriptions of Islam as well as the lavish mosaics of Christianity.

*Sultanahmet Mosque ( Blue Mosque )
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, also known by its official name, the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is an Ottoman-era historical imperial mosque located in Istanbul.  It was constructed between 1609 and 1617 during the rule of Ahmed I and remains a functioning mosque today. It also attracts a large number of tourists and is one of the most iconic and popular monuments of Ottoman architecture. The mosque has a classical Ottoman layout with a central dome surrounded by four semi-domes over the prayer hall. It is fronted by a large courtyard and flanked by six minarets. On the inside, it is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles and painted floral motifs in predominantly blue colours, which give the mosque its popular name. The mosque’s külliye (religious complex) includes Ahmed’s tomb, a madrasa, and several other buildings in various states of preservation.

* Hippodrome
Hippodrome of Constantinople, located in Sultanahmet/Istanbul, was a public arena mainly for chariot races. The word hippodrome comes from the Greek hippos (horse) and dromos (way). The Hippodrome of Constantinople was also home to gladiatorial games, official ceremonies, celebrations, protests, torture to the convicts and so on. Hippodrome functioned all in Roman (203-330 CE), Byzantine (330-1453 CE), and Ottoman (1453-1922) periods.

* Kucuk Ayasofya ( Little Hagia Sophia ) Mosque
Little Hagia Sophia (Küçük Ayasofya Camii), a former Greek Orthodox church during the Byzantine period, currently functions as a mosque. Architecture of Little Hagia Sophia church is unique and not similar with Hagia Sophia. The structure has an octagonal nave inscribed within an irregular rectangle and is covered by 17 meters diameter umbrella dome. The church was converted into a mosque in 1513, sixty years after the conquest of Constantinople. Transformation of the church was commissioned by Hüseyin Ağa, who was the Chief Eunuch of the Topkapı Palace in the first quarter of the sixteenth century. Today, the temple functions as a mosque and welcomes visitors everyday except prayer times.

*Grand Bazaar ( Covered Bazaar )
Istanbul‘s Grand Bazaar (Kapalı Çarşı) is Turkey’s largest covered market offering excellent shopping. Covering a total area of 45000 sq. meters with approximately 4,000 shops, the Grand Bazar is definitely worth a visit if your path crosses Istanbul. Anything from beautiful Turkish carpets, to glazed tiles and pottery, copper and brassware, apparel made of leather, cotton and wool, meerschaum pipes, bookends and ashtrays, jewelry, and all sorts of other things can be found.

* Sokollu Mehmed Pasha Mosque
The mosque was designed by Ottoman imperial architect Mimar Sinan for the grand vizier Sokollu Mehmet Pasha (the husband of one of the granddaughters of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, Princess Esmahan). According to the foundation inscription, the building was completed in AH 979 (1571/72 CE). The mosque is officially named after Princess Esmahan but is more commonly known for its association with her far more famous husband. After the tour return to your hotel and overnight.

DAY 04 ISTANBUL
Free day at leusire.
*Optional Bosphorus & Asia Tour.
*Sufi Night / Whirling Derwish Ceremony at The Dergah of Caferaga.

DAY 05 ISTANBUL / BURSA & ERTUGRUL GAZI TOUR
Breakfast and early departure for the tour. The Tomb of Edebali Master of Ertugrul and Osman Ghazi, Orhan Gazi Mosque in Bilecik, Bala Hatun Tomb, Timeline of Ottoman Museum in Bilecik, The Tomb of Ertugrul in Sogut, Halime Hatun Tomb in Sogut, Tombs of Dundar bey, Abdurrahman Ghazi, Savci Bey, Alps, and Hatuns in Sogut, Alp’s Mezaar in Ertugrul Shrine are visited. Free Time for Kayı Merchandise Shopping,  Osman Ghazi  Tomb in Bursa, Orhan Ghazi Tomb in Bursa. Return to Istanbul and overnight.

DAY 06 ISTANBUL / ————-
Breakfast and transfer to Istanbul International Airport for home bound flight.

NOTES :
* Some mosques may close during praying times i.e. 5 times/day so try to plan your visit accordingly.
* Visitors are requested to dress modestly, which means no shorts, tank tops, or mini skirts. In particular, women should wear long bottoms as well a headscarf (there are scarfs there if you don’t have one).
*You cannot wear shoes inside, so try not to bring your boots that take an eternity to get on in the morning.
*Women are not allowed in some places inside. That’s just the way it is.
*Finally, try to talk softly. Respect the prayers!!!
*The hotels we are offering are non-alcoholic hotels unless other hotels requested by guests.
*The restaurants we are using on tours are non-alcoholic restaurants.