Description / Transportation

Conditions for travel on the 3-night Istanbul program:

• From Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Kazanlak and Stara Zagora for all announced dates.
• Surcharge for departure from Ruse – 18 euros.

Description / additional services

Information about additional excursions:

• Sightseeing tour – BONUS, free of charge (duration about 2 hours). The Blue Mosque, the Church of Hagia Sophia – independent viewing upon request, the Topkapi Palace – from the outside, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Column of Constantine, the Serpentine Column, the Fountain of Wilhelm II are visited.
• Excursion to Dolmabahce Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, the Asian part of Istanbul (duration about 4 hours) – 65 euros per person. The price includes: transportation, service from a local licensed tour guide in Bulgarian, entrance fees to Dolmabahce (excluding harem), road taxes. 
• Dinner on the Orient House Bosphorus ship (duration about 4 hours) – 55 euros per person. The price includes: transfer from the hotel to the ship and back, dinner with a program, a company representative. The menu during the dinner includes: assorted salad, hot appetizer, main course, dessert - seasonal fruits, 2 alcoholic drinks of choice and unlimited soft drinks.
• Boat trip on the Bosphorus (duration about 2.5 hours) – 30 euros per person.. The price includes: transfer from the hotel and back, guided tour, boat trip. An exciting journey, combined with the talk of a professional tour guide, the opportunity to touch the beautiful landscapes and buildings familiar to us from the TV screen.
• Istanbul by night – 25 euros per person. sightseeing tour of the old town, Galata Bridge, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street and Galataport (duration about 3 hours). The price includes: transportation, guided tour.
• Visit to the Sapphire skyscraper – 45 euros per person. (duration about 4 hours). The price includes: transportation, guided tour and entrance fee for the 4D simulator.
• Excursion to the Iron Church of St. Stephen and the old Jewish quarter of Balat (duration about 4 hours) – 15 euros per person. The price includes: transportation, tour guide service.

All additional excursions are conducted by a local licensed tour guide in Bulgarian.
The sequence of the excursions announced in the program is not guaranteed and may be changed depending on the opening hours of the historical sites and traffic in Istanbul.
Additional excursions are requested during the trip and paid on site in Istanbul to the partner company representative.

Basic information and additional services

Information about additional excursions:

• Sightseeing tour – BONUS, free of charge (duration about 2 hours). The Blue Mosque, the Church of Hagia Sophia – independent viewing upon request, the Topkapi Palace – from the outside, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Column of Constantine, the Serpentine Column, the Fountain of Wilhelm II are visited.
• Excursion to Dolmabahce Palace, the Bosphorus Bridge, the Asian part of Istanbul (duration about 4 hours) – 65 euros per person. The price includes: transportation, service from a local licensed tour guide in Bulgarian, entrance fees to Dolmabahce (excluding harem), road taxes. 
• Dinner on the Orient House Bosphorus ship (duration about 4 hours) – 55 euros per person. The price includes: transfer from the hotel to the ship and back, dinner with a program, a company representative. The menu during the dinner includes: assorted salad, hot appetizer, main course, dessert - seasonal fruits, 2 alcoholic drinks of choice and unlimited soft drinks.
• Boat trip on the Bosphorus (duration about 2.5 hours) – 30 euros per person.. The price includes: transfer from the hotel and back, guided tour, boat trip. An exciting journey, combined with the talk of a professional tour guide, the opportunity to touch the beautiful landscapes and buildings familiar to us from the TV screen.
• Istanbul by night – 25 euros per person. sightseeing tour of the old town, Galata Bridge, Taksim Square, Istiklal Street and Galataport (duration about 3 hours). The price includes: transportation, guided tour.
• Visit to the Sapphire skyscraper – 45 euros per person. (duration about 4 hours). The price includes: transportation, guided tour and entrance fee for the 4D simulator.
• Excursion to the Iron Church of St. Stephen and the old Jewish quarter of Balat (duration about 4 hours) – 15 euros per person. The price includes: transportation, tour guide service.

All additional excursions are conducted by a local licensed tour guide in Bulgarian.
The sequence of the excursions announced in the program is not guaranteed and may be changed depending on the opening hours of the historical sites and traffic in Istanbul.
Additional excursions are requested during the trip and paid on site in Istanbul to the partner company representative.

The price includes

Transport by licensed bus
Luggage on the bus up to 25 kg per person, distributed in a maximum of 1 suitcase
3 nights with breakfast in a 3* hotel
Walking tour of the historic center, with a talk in Bulgarian
Visit to the Aqua Florya shopping center„
Service during all additional excursions in Bulgarian
Medical insurance with coverage of 5,000 euros (for persons up to 69.99 years old)
TO representative during the trip

The price does not include

Medical insurance with coverage of 5,000 euros for persons aged 70 to 79 – surcharge of 10 euros
Medical insurance with coverage of 5,000 euros for persons over 80 years old – surcharge of 15 euros
Medical insurance for people over 85 – not available
Trip Cancellation Insurance.
Additional excursions, outside of package prices, visits to tourist sites and entrance fees
Personal expenses and tips

Program

Day 1

Departure from Ruse at 02:15, from Veliko Tarnovo at 04:15, from Gabrovo at 05:00, from Kazanlak at 06:15, from Stara Zagora at 07:00, from Dimitrovgrad at 08:00. After arrival in Istanbul follows walking tour of the historic city center (included in the price) with a visit to the Hippodrome, the Egyptian Obelisk, the Blue Mosque, the Church of St. Sophia, the Topkapi Palace (from the outside). Check-in at the hotel. Free time. To end your evening in a fitting way, we offer you a dinner with show program at Orient House Bosphorus, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the incredible night views of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus, revealing themselves before you during the night cruise (additional charge). Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 2

Breakfast. From 8.30 a.m. excursion to Dolmabahce Palace„ – unsurpassed in its splendor and luxury, decorated with gold ornaments and with walls adorned with paintings by some of the most famous artists of the 19th century. Next, a trip to the Asian part along one of the emblematic bridges over the Bosphorus. Visit to the largest mosque in Turkey – Çamlıca, whose design was inspired by the era of Mimar Sinan. Free time for a photo break in the panoramic park on one of the hills, from which a magnificent panorama of the vast metropolis opens (additional fee). Possibility of day trip by yacht on the Bosphorus, accompanied by a talk by a local guide who will introduce you to the history of the beautiful buildings and palaces located on the Asian and European coasts of Istanbul (additional charge). In the evening, optional – night tour of Istanbul, including the sights of the old part of the city, Galata Port, Taksim Square, Istiklal Avenue (additional charge). Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 3

Breakfast. At 08.30 there is an opportunity for an additional excursion to the iron church of St. Stephen„ – a majestic Bulgarian temple in the heart of Istanbul. With excitement and undisguised pride, we will stand in this shrine, which rises on the very shore of the Sea of Marmara and on which an inscription in Bulgarian is shyly placed. The temple is a three-nave basilica with a cruciform shape and beautiful ornaments. The altar faces the Golden Horn, and a 40-meter bell tower rises above the narthex. Created at the end of the 19th century, after a large-scale restoration, in 2018 the iron church „St. Stephen“ reopened its doors and looks impressive. It is hard to believe, but the entire facade, the bell tower, the side walls, the staircases, the reliefs of the church – all are made of iron elements. The unique idea of the architect Hovsep Aznavouryan was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris, built in the same year as the church. The world's only Orthodox iron church has been attracting the attention of everyone who has come to the shores of the Golden Horn for 124 years with its interesting construction and eclectic architecture.
Balat – the old Jewish quarter of Istanbul. We will also delight our senses with the colors of Istanbul in the old Jewish quarter of Balat. The most emblematic part of the quarter are the colorful, brightly colored houses on the sloping cobblestone streets. The historic wooden houses, some of which are more than 200 years old, are among the most photographed buildings in the city. A walk in the Balat quarter is for those who would like to reach a completely different, non-touristy Istanbul and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the daily life of the locals. Among the sights in the quarter are the Greek Orthodox Lyceum, the Church of St. George and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church of St. Theodosius, the Synagogue of Ajrida, the Steep Street with the stairs on the side, the Bulgarian Church of St. Stephen, the Church of St. Irene, Ferrukh Kethyuda, the ruins of the great palace of the Byzantine emperors "Blachernae". Tourists come to Balat to enjoy the ancient, beautiful and diverse architecture, the colorful houses with neat curtains on the windows and the blue sky above them. For the sweetest culmination of this excursion, we will take you to a Turkish delight tasting.
For lovers of strong sensations we offer visit to the Sapphire skyscraper, which is the tallest residential building in Europe (261 m.), where you will be able to experience the pleasure of the 4D simulator, which will create the illusion that you are flying in a helicopter over the sights of Istanbul (additional charge). Free time. Return to the hotel. Overnight.

Day 4

Breakfast. Visit with free time (about 2 hours) in shopping center "AQUA FLORIYA"„, located on the shores of the Sea of Marmara. Here is the “Istanbul Aquarium“, where you will enjoy a unique marine world, including about 1,500 species of animals and over 15,000 land and sea creatures. (additional fee for aquarium ticket). Departure for Bulgaria. Arrival in Ruse around midnight.