Turkey: Istanbul to Bursa

Discover Istanbul’s rich history on a panoramic guided tour showcasing the city’s most iconic landmarks and cultural treasures, from its ancient foundations to its vibrant modern spirit.

Visit the Hagia Sophia, a masterpiece that has served as an Eastern Orthodox Cathedral, Roman Catholic Cathedral, Imperial Mosque, and now a museum. Admire its soaring dome, marble details, and vivid frescoes. Recent restorations reveal ancient Christian mosaics displayed alongside Islamic art, reflecting centuries of faith and history.

Explore Topkapi Palace, built by Sultan Mehmet II, who sought a grand residence unlike Istanbul’s Byzantine style. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace dazzles with its courtyards, library, mosque, and ornate harem leading to the Sultan’s private chambers. Inside, discover treasured relics of Islamic history, including the cloak and sword of Prophet Muhammad.

The Archaeological Site of Troy, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reveals over 4,000 years of history and marks one of the earliest connections between Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Believed to be the setting of Homer’s "Iliad," Troy offers a rare look into ancient civilization through excavated walls, homes, artifacts, and layers of nine successive cities.

Explore the ancient city of Pergamon, once a thriving center of Greek and Roman culture. Wander among the remains of Roman baths, marble temples, royal palaces, gymnasiums, and a grand theater. See the Asclepius, considered the world’s first hospital, and the base of the Great Altar of Pergamon, believed to have been dedicated to Zeus atop the Acropolis.

Once the fourth-largest city of the Roman Empire, Ephesus was a bustling port and major trade hub of the ancient world. Today, walk through its remarkably preserved streets to see temples, theaters, and monuments that reveal daily life in one of antiquity’s greatest cities.

Once a thriving center of art and culture, Aphrodisias flourished in ancient times before an earthquake in the 7th century marked its decline. Today, its legacy endures through massive city walls, the grand Tetrapylon Gate, and the remains of the Temple of Aphrodite. Explore one of the best-preserved ancient stadiums and the theater where gladiators once fought before cheering crowds.

Explore the ancient city of Sardis, once the capital of the Lydian Empire and a crossroads of cultures. Visit the grand Gymnasium and the Roman Synagogue, the largest ancient synagogue outside of Palestine, adorned with intricate mosaics. See the Temple of Artemis, begun under Alexander the Great but never completed, and the Church of Revelation, one of the earliest Christian sites in Asia Minor. Together, these ruins reveal the city’s remarkable blend of faiths, architecture, and history.

Explore Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, where history and daily life intertwine. Stroll through streets lined with traditional Ottoman houses and visit the magnificent Green Mosque, famed for its intricate green tilework. Browse the covered bazaar filled with silks, spices, and Turkish shadow puppets, then visit the serene Green Tomb of Sultan Mehmet I, surrounded by cypress trees on a quiet hillside.