YAPI KREDİ PLAZA C BLOK KAT:11 NO: 29/A 34330 LEVENT - İSTANBUL / TURKEY

TEL: 90- 212 324 20 90 (pbx) Ext: 230 / 231 FAX : 90 212 324 20 93

icoming@geminiturkey.com www.geminitourism.com

DISCOVER ISTANBUL AND MORE WITH…

DAILY CITY TOURS

GEMINI TOURISM

1 CLASSIC ISTANBUL

The tour begins at the Sultanahmet district, the heart of old Istanbul, at Saint Sophia*. Built by Emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD, this church is one of the marvels of world architecture. Its massive dome dominates the skyline of old Istanbul. It is famed for its mosaics, including glittering portraits of emperors and empresses. Next we visit the Blue Mosque, which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior. Dating from the 17th century, it is the only imperial mosque with six minarets. Next comes the Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, held 100,000 spectators and featured objects from all corners of the empire. Of these, an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi survive.The Grand Bazaar, was the commercial heart of the old city and its 4,000 shops are full of treasures – including carpets, silks, jewelry, ceramics, icons, and leather goods. Wandering through the Grand Bazaar, indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style. (also available on Tuesday afternoons)

On Mondays, Saint Sophia is closed, instead the Chora Church will be visited, famed for its mosaics and frescoes.*The Grand Bazaar is closed Sundays

Classic Istanbul Tour 30 €

2 OTTOMAN PALACE

The tour begins at Topkapı Palace, which, from the 15th to the 19th century, was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans. We will visit the fabolous Imperial Treasury and the Baghdad Kiosk. Topkapı Palace is now a museum and has unrivalled collections of jewelry, including the Spoonmaker’s Diamond, the 3rd largest in the world, Ottoman court costumes and ceramics, notably one of the world’s finest collection of early Chinese ceramics, much of it gifts from other rulers. Interestingly, some of the ceramics have a special glaze that was said to change color in the presence of poison. We also visit the Imperial Armory, displaying centuries of Ottoman weaponry. But perhaps the loveliest features of Topkapı Palace are its courtyards with their ancient trees, and it is easy to imagine the sultan strolling here far from the cares of state and empire. The delightfull Rustem Pasa Mosque built by master architect Sinan in the 16th century. Its tiled interior, lavishly decorated with the finest tiles, is perhaps one of the finest example in Istanbul.

***Topkapı Palace is closed Tuesday.

Ottoman Palace Tour 30 €

3 MORNING BOSPHORUS CRUISE

The tour begins with visit to the 17 th century Spice Bazaar one of Istanbul’s most colorful and bustling attractions. Next, we take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestıc strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia.From our cruise boat, we view the dramatıc sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and the massive Rumeli Hisarı , a fortress built by Fatih the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultan’s fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges.

*The Spice Bazaar is closed Sundays

4 AFTERNOON BOSPHORUS CRUISE

We cruise the Bosphorus and from the deck of our cruise boat take in the sights and sounds of this legendary waterway, that is lined with historic villages , grand wooden mansions, imposing fortresses, like Anadolu Hisarı and the Baroque palaces of the late Ottoman sultans. After the cruise tour,we visit the Spice Bazaar, a thrilling riot of colors, sounds and the rich smells of exotic spices.

*The Spice Bazaar is closed Sundays

Morning Bosphorus Cruise Tour 30 €

Afternoon Bosphorus Cruise Tour 30 €

5 ASIAN SIDE OF ISTANBUL

We begin the tour with a drive across the first Bosphorus Bridge and proceed for the summit of Çamlıca Hill, which affords a panoramic view of Istanbul, the Sea of Marmara and the Princes’ Islands. From here we will head to the Palace of Beylerbeyi on the shore of the Bosphorus. Perhaps the most elegant of the late Ottoman palaces, Beylerbeyi boasts six sumptuously furnished reception halls.(open every day execpt Monday and Thursday)

**Beylerbeyi Palace is closed Mondays and Thursdays

6 ISTANBUL BY NIGHT

We will visit an exclusive nightclub where we will enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine, including the delicious array of appetizers known as Turkish meze.New wave dances, spesific folklor will take you a different Anatolia Fairtale, the mediteraneans heat and excitemen will take you to the music of the communty in which we live from yesterday to today. And of course no night out in Istanbul would be complete without Turkish belly-dancers. We will be entertained by some of the city’s finest.

Asian Side Of Istanbul Tour 30 €

Istanbul By Night 50 €

7 PRINCES’ ISLANDS

If you feel the need to escape from the bustle of Istanbul for a day, nothing could be easier. You simply join us aboard a ferry bound for the charming Princes’ Islands. Our destination is Buyukada, the largest of the island chain, but we will pass by four other islands on the way. All are famous for their mild climates, lush vegetation and ornate Ottoman houses, and on all of them cars are banned. The preferred means of transportation is the charming horse-drawn carriage known as the phaeton, which we will use on our circular tour of Büyükada, passing elegant mansions draped in brilliant purple bougainvillea. You will feel as though you have stepped back into a more leisured and gracious age, almost expecting grand 19th century ladies and gentlemen to come strolling down to the waterfront on an afternoon promenade. Lunch will be at one of the many excellent traditional fish-restaurants on the waterfront, gazing across the water at the Asian shore of Istanbul, so close though it feels worlds away.

Princes’ Island 60 €

8 SHOPPING TOUR

Shopping Tour 25 €

Rug Store, Jewellery, Leather, Ceramics, Gift Shops

8 TWO DAYS OF CAPPADOCIA WITH FLIGHT

On our way to Cappadocia, we fly to Kayseri or Nevsehir and drive south to Uçhisar in the midst of Cappadocian heartland, where we will be staying at one of Cappadocia’s Hotels. Cappadocia is a region unlike any other. Its extraordinary landscape is composed of soft volcanic stone that wind and rain have sculpted into fantastic clusters of multicolored spires and pinnacles. What is more, the softness of the stone encouraged the medieval Christian inhabitants of the region to carve out of the living rock literally hundreds of churches, monasteries towns and villages. A trip to Cappadocia is a magical experince you will never forget. After check-in the afternoon is at leisure.The tour starts at 09:30 by pick-up from hotel. After 5 minutes drive we will stop in a panoramic view point to take pictures of Goreme and surrounding valleys while our guide is giving the general information about Cappadocia's history and formation. Our second stop will be the largest underground city of Cappadocia: Kaymakli Underground City. When we start heading to our lunch we will stop in Uchisar to taste both red and white Cappadocian Wine. After our lunch in Avanos, we will see one of the oldest arts in the world, pottery. The masters of the workshop will demonstrate the 4000 years old Hittite kick-wheel technique. Then, we will drive to Pasabag (monks valley) where we will see mushroom shaped fairy chimneys and St. Simon church. Our next stops will be Devrent Valley with animal shaped fairy chimneys and "family fairy chimneys" in Urgup. The last part of the tour will be our adventurous hike in Rose Valley where we will slide with rope, walk through cave tunnels, visit an old cave house and climb to a cave chapel. We will finish the 3 kilometers hike around 18:00 and proceed to the airport to return to Istanbul.

Two Days Of Cappadocia With Flight 400 €

9 FULL DAY EPHESUS TOUR WITH FLIGHT

We catch an early flight to the city of Izmir on the Aegean coast, then drive south to the antique city of Ephesus. This is one of the world’s richest and most rewarding archaeological sites with impressive ruins dating from the Classical Greek, Hellenistic, Roman and early Byzantine period. It is also closely associated with the beginnings of the Christian faith. In addition to being the city to which the Letters to the Ephesians were written, St. John and St. Paul both visited the city and the Virgin Mary herself is said to have spent her last days nearby. Among the highlights of our tour of Ephesus will be the antique theatre, the famed Library of Celcius, the brothel, the vast Basilica of St. John, the Mosque of İsabey, the Temple of Artemis ( one of the Seven Wonders of Ancient World ) and a group of recently excavated early Byzantine mansions that feature incredibly well-preserved floor mosaics and frescoes. At Ephesus, the past comes to life in a pageantry of architectural and artistic marvels the like of which can be found almost nowhere else in the world. Finally we will make a short pilgrimage to the House of the Virgin Mary, which stands high on a mountainside overlooking the Aegean Sea the Greek island of Samos and where she spent her last days.

Full Day Ephesus Tour With Flight 345 €

10 FULL DAY TOUR OF GREEN BURSA

We travel by ferry to Bursa, then by luxury vehicle to Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and one of the great treasure houses of Islamic architecture.We will visit the Green Mosque and the neighbouring Green Mausoleum, both world-renowned for their superb tile decoration, as well as the late 14th century Great Mosque and the Koza Han, which for centuries was the center of the silk trade. After enjoying a cable car ride up the slopes of Mount Olympus ( Turkish Uludag ), we drive to the village of Cumalıkızık. This is one of the best preserved Ottoman villages in Turkey with scores of picturesque houses built in the traditional style. Lunch is at one of Bursa’s finest Turkish restaurants, where we will enjoy the finest Ottoman cuisine in a historic setting where Sultan Murat the Second once dined.

( available Monday, Thursday & Saturday )

Full Day Tour Of Green Bursa 80 €