TURKEY ISLAMIC TOUR 9 NIGHTS / 10 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. Above 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 / BURSA
Breakfast and departure for Bursa, the first capital city of the Ottoman Empire. On arrival visit the early 15th-century Green Mosque (Yesil Cami) and the Green Tomb (Yesil Turbe), where Sultan Mehmet I was buried in 1421. Both these sites are celebrated for their pristine architecture and beautiful interior embellishment. You will visit a 600-year old plane tree to snap some photos. Short visit to İpekhan, the old silk market near covered Bazaar. Arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 05 BURSA / ANKARA
Breakfast and early departure for Bilecik. Visit 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. Continue to Ankara. Arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight

DAY 06 ANKARA / KONYA
Breakfast and visit to Anıtkabir, The Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk: Mustafa Kemal Ataturk was the national hero, savior of the Turkish Nation and the founder of Modern Turkey. He was born in 1881 and died in 1938. For his honor, the Turkish Government Constructed this mausoleum as a gathering and ceremonial place, as well as a museum. That’s for sure one of the main highlights of Ankara. Continue to Alaaddin Mosque , which is the oldest mosque of Ankara which was constructed in the 12th Century by the Seljuk Turks. Some Roman-Byzantine Columns or bricks were recycled in its construction. Visit to Haci Bayram Mosque (Haci Bayram Camii) The Mosque is dedicated to one of the respected clerics and trade union leaders of the City of Ankara in the Ottoman Period, constructed in around 1428. His name was Hacı Bayram and his tomb is just by the mosque and the Temple of Augustus. Drive to Konya, arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 07 KONYA / CAPPADOCIA
Breakfast and the tour starts by visiting, Mevlana Museum, located in Konya City Center. Today, it is the mausoleum of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi, a Sufi mystic also known as Mevlâna or Rumi. It was also the dervish lodge (tekke) of the Mevlevi order, better known as the Whirling Dervishes. You will visit all available section in Mevlana Museum such as Matbah (Kitchen), tombs, Tilavet Chamber (Quran Reading And Chanting), Semâ-Hâne (Ritual Hall). Continue the tour by visiting Selimiye Mosque which is located next door to Mevlana Museum. Then continue the tour by visiting Tavusbaba Tomb of belongs to Seyh Tavus Mehmet El Hindi, a Seljuk Period holy man (Sufi saint) near the Meram area. After visiting these places go to Karatay Madrasah was usually founded and maintained by the sultan, princes and other nobles as well as the Wakf, who could afford to meet the expenses needed for free education to students. Then visit the Ince Minaret Medrasah which dates from the 13th century. Originally a medrasa, an islamic school, it is now a museum of wood and stone carving. It is named for its elegant tiled minaret. The minaret was originally much taller than the section that survives today, and had an unusually slender appearance in comparison to the minarets of other contemporary Seljuk mosques, hence the name of the structure. Alaaddin Mosque which was built up at the hill is still surviving intact with its impressive beauty. The construction of the oldest and the biggest mosque of the period of Anatolia Seljuk in Konya was begun in the time of Seljuk Sultan Rukneddin Mesut I (1116-1156), was continued at the time of Kılıçarslan II, and was complated in 1221, during the time of Alaaddin Keykubat.At the end of the tour, drive to Cappadocia, arrival to your hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 08 CAPPADOCIA
Early morning Hot Air Balloon tour
Our first real encounter with Cappadocia almost Martian landscape is in the Dervent valley. We visit Pasabag’s “fairy chimneys”, where the voice of the wind harmonizes with songs of the fairies. Fromhere we pause at Avanos center of terracotta art which is a popular destination because of its attractive old town with cobbled streets, and views over the river and is its production of earthenwarepottery, it is also the most economic activity in the town. The ceramic trade in this district and its countless pottery factories date right back to the Hittites, and the ceramic clay from the red silt of the Kızılırmak has always been used. A visit to ceramic & tile center to see how the ceramics made byhand. We visit the famous Open Air Museum to see the best examples of Byzantine art inCappadocia. People of Goreme, at the heart of the Cappadocia Region, realized that these soft rocks could be easily carved out to form houses, churches, monasteries. These Christian sanctuaries containmany examples of Byzantine art from the post-iconoclastic period. These frescoes are a unique artistic achievement from this period. You visit a carpet cooperative, where you’ll see how exquisite Turkishcarpets are hand-woven. We complete the tour with a panoramic view of the valleys of Cappadocia .Return to hotel, dinner and overnight.

DAY 09 CAPPADOCIA / ISTANBUL
Early morning Hot Air Balloon tour
Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley through Cavusin and explore the famous rock- cutchurches and hike 2 km. Then visit Cavusin village. Old Cavusin was abandoned several decades ago due to avalanches. The current village of Cavusin is located on the road. Old Cavusin, with its rock-cut dwellings and stone houses, had several hermitages. After lunch drive to the Pigeon Valley. In the afternoon visit Underground City, where early Christians lived in fear and faith. The houses in the village are constructed around the nearly one hundred tunnels of the underground city, which is one of the most interesting underground settlements in Cappadocia. The underground city was originally carved out as eight floors; however four floors are available to visit. In wartime about 5000 people can refuge in. The tunnels are still used today as storage areas, stables, and cellars. After the tour, transfer to Kayseri or Nevsehir Airport for flight to Istanbul. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to your hotel, overnight.

DAY 10 ISTANBUL
Breakfast, transfer to Istanbul International Airport for homebound flight.