Islamic Halal Turkey Guided Tour

On your arrival in Istanbul, we will meet you and transfer you to your hotel after you have checked in the rest of the day is yours, you may just want to rest after a long journey or you may want to see a little of this amazing city, either way, the time is yours and we will see you in the morning.

Overnight accommodation in Istanbul.

Today you will really get to see the heart of this bi-continental city by visiting some of the most important treasures that Istanbul possesses.

Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque is one of the most outstanding mosques in the world. With its six minarets standing proud, to an amazing architectural series of domes and semi-domes and a large courtyard.

Hippodrome and Obelisks
In front of the Blue Mosque, you will visit the ancient Hippodrome, this was the centre of Byzantine civic life, home to the chariot races

Hagia Sophia and Museum
Built between 532 and 537 the Hagia Sophia was the largest building in the world at that time. It has been a Greek Orthodox Christian Cathedral, an Ottoman imperial mosque and is now a museum.

Topkapi Palace
The administrative centre, for nearly 400 years, for the Ottoman Empire the Topkapi Palace, built in 1465 it is the most important historical site to be visited in Istanbul. It is also the busiest museum in Europe with more than 2.5 million visitors per year.

Grand Bazaar
The Grand Bazaar is the largest and oldest covered market in the world. Built at the command of Fatih Mehmet. It contains 4399 shops, 2195 workshops, 497 stalls, and 18 fountains. At the end of the day's tour, you will be returned to your hotel with enough time to freshen up and get ready to see The Whirling Dervish Ceremony.

Important Notes:
Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays
Blue Mosque due to prayers on Fridays we are unable to enter
Hagia Sophia is closed on Mondays
Topkapi Palace is closed on Tuesdays

Sahaba means Companion of Prophet Muhammad in Arabic (lunch is included in today's tour) Companions of Prophet Mohammad Tour.

Today's tour is a beautiful and spiritual part of this 8-day tour and you will be able to visit the tombs of the companions of the Prophet Mohammad,

The first part of the day you will visit the Tomb and the Mosque of Ayyub Al Ansari. He supported Muhammad after the hijra to Medina in 622 and was a very close companion. You will then take the cable car to Pierre Lotti Hill with panoramic views over the city (lunch included)

After lunch, we will continue the tour Visiting Tombs of:

Abu Derda a soldier and companion to the prophet.
Ka’b bin Zaid bin An-Najjar a soldier and survivor at the battle of Bir Maona.
Jabir ibn Abd Allah a commander during the Istanbul Seige who rode alongside the prophet.
Abu Zer Ghifari was an early convert to Islam and a close companion to the prophet.
Abd Allah Al Hudri despite his advanced years he set off to conquer Istanbul and died beside the city walls.
Al-Mughira bin Shuba was one of the more prominent companions of Muhammad and in his old age, he became the governor of Kufa.
Amr ibn al-As was a commander who led the Muslim conquest and was assigned important roles in the Muslim community by the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Sufyan ibn Uyaynah was a prominent eighth-century Islamic religious scholar from Mecca.

Overnight accommodation in Istanbul

This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the Port for the Ferry to Bursa, you will be met at the port in Bursa where you will continue the tour.

Karagoz &Hacivat Monument, famous throughout the ottoman empire was the art of shadow puppetry and these two men were the main and most well known of all the characters these plays were first performed at the Ottoman palaces in the late 14th century. Ulumay Museum of Ottoman Folk Costumes and Jewellery. The Sair Ahmet Pasa building built in the 15th century is home to a much-prized collection strong Turkish folklore theme.

After the museum, you will have lunch and then carry on to:

Bursa Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts.
Housed here are paintings, statues, textiles, manuscripts, embroideries, ceramics, woodcarvings and even weaponry all dating from the Ottoman period.
There is also a traditional Turkish bath and coffee house.
Bursa City Museum.
The Marmara area has for centuries been well known for its craftsmanship ranging from wood carvings and hand-woven Turkish rugs rich Turkish history of the Marmara area Muradiye Mosque
On a hill northeast of the city that overlooks the palace grounds is the Muradiye Mosque built by Murad II in 1435 (839 A.H)

At the end of today's tour, you will be taken back to the ferry port in Bursa and returned to your hotel in Istanbul

Overnight accommodation in Istanbul

Sufi Shrines of Istanbul Tour
The morning is yours to relax. Today’s Half Day Tour will start at 13:30 p.m and last approximately 4 hours. You will visit some of the most important Sufi shrines, the highlights of today will be Mevleviye, Nakshibendiye, Cerrahiye, Celvetitye Dargahs.

Today’s tour will focus on Sufism, each order has a different day and time for dhikr (Islamic devotional act) Therefor the places we will visit are subject to change.

Domestic Flight to Cappadocia
This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport where you will catch a domestic flight to Cappadocia to begin your North Cappadocia tour.

Cappadocia is a UNESCO world heritage site its unique and beautiful landscape will touch your soul, today you will travel with an expert guide who will give you an insight into the history and culture of this region as you see places such as GoremeEsentepe this elevated point is the most famous in Cappadocia as it has a 360’ view over the valleys. Goreme Open Air Museum where you will be guided through some 15th-century churches and monasteries. Monks Valley and Devrent Valley where this unusual landscape really comes alive here you will see up close the formations that have stood for millennia. Avanos, dating back over 3000 years this town is known mostly for its red pottery with the clay being taken straight out of the river that glides through the middle of town, you will be able to visit the workshops and see first hand how this skill has been passed down through generations and still lives on today.

Overnight accommodation in Cappadocia.

OPTIONAL TOUR: CAPPADOCIA HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT

This morning you will have the amazing opportunity to see Cappadocia from a completely different perspective the landscape is unique but from the sky, it is breathtaking if you would like to take this early morning optional tour we recommend pre-booking, this extra activity is not included in the price of your tour.

South Cappadocia Tour
Today's full-day tour will take you to the southern region of Cappadocia with stunning scenery, history and a memory never to be forgotten you will visit Meskendir Valley here you will visit a beautiful and unusual church carved out of the rocks with frescos that have stood the test of time. Rose Valley and Red Valley are places of yesterday as much as today as you will see the ancient rock-carved villages that link together and are still inhabited. You will also visit Cavusin Village one of the oldest settlements here. Then it is on to the Underground City carved out of the rocks by fleeing persecuted Christians in the 14th century some parts dated back further and you will be amazed at the levels and the extent of life underground from schoolhouses to churches, homes and stables. This tour is fully guided.

At the end of your South Cappadocia Tour you will be transferred to the local bus station for an overnight journey starting at approximately 19:00 pm to Konya, On Arrival, you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel.

Overnight accommodation in Konya.

The city of Konya is the spiritual home of the Mevlana. Today’s tour will take you on a journey like no other you will visit The Tomb of Mevlana & Museum housed in the former lodge of the dervish order, one of Turkeys most well-known buildings with its the fluted dome covered with turquoise tiles.

Here lies the tomb of Celaleddin Rumi who lived in the 13th century. Within Sufism, Celaleddin Rumi is a pivotal much loved and respected figure. Whos ideas and poetry transcend beyond distance and time.

Konyanuma Panorama
This museum gives us the opportunity to see 3-dimensional models of the Mevlevi Lodges of Turkey and other countries. It also shows the childhood and life events of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi incorporating oil paintings and small wax sculptures.

ShamsTabrizi’s Tomb
As a spiritual guide, inspiration and companion of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi, The tomb of SemsiTebrizi is one of the most important places to visit.

Alaaddin Mosque
One of the oldest mosques in Turkey constructed between 1116-1220 during the reign of Sultan Kilicarslan II (1156-1192). Alaaddin Mosque has very interesting architectural features, with columns of different sizes, some dating from earlier periods.

Sadreddun-iKonevi’s Tomb
SadreddunKonevi who lived in the 13th century was a close friend of the Mevlana, stepson of Muhyiddin-i Arabi, he was a great scholar and well respected so much so that at his funeral the prayer was offered by Sadreddin-iKonevi.

Tavus Baba’s Tomb
The Sufi Tavus came all the way to Konya from India just to see the Mevlana.

Ates Baz- I Veli’s Tomb
Mevlana Celaleddin’s cook was Atesbaz-i Veli. Within the Mevlevi order, he represents one of the most important authorities.

Overnight accommodation in Konya.

Farewell
Today we will transfer you to the airport for a domestic flight to Istanbul, here your MUSLIM HALAL PACKAGE TOUR comes to an end.