The Silk Road ended along the southern shores of the Black Sea, enriching the coast with the diverse cultural influences traders bring. In the north, Russia and the post-revolutionary USSR have dominated the landscape. So while the six countries that encircle the Black Sea all share the same shoreline, they are distinctly unique. Come and see how time and circumstance have molded each, taking a particularly in-depth look at Istanbul at the heart of it all. Snack on hot pretzels in Constanta and kebabs fresh from the grill in Sinop. Discover a miniature Dubrovnik in medieval Nessebar and shades of Las Vegas in Batumi. Devote four full days to exploring Istanbul, and see the Blue Mosque, visit the Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia) Mosque, The Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market.  On this cruise tour you’ll see a city that four empires appropriated as their own when they could find none better.

What’s Included

• •Three nights’ accommodation at Pera Palace Hotel in a Deluxe Golden Horn Room
• •Daily breakfast at Hotel
• •Lunch at Hamdi Restaurant
• •All arrival and departure transfers
• •Two full days and one half day sightseeing in a luxury air conditioned vehicle with a professional driver.
• •Licensed professional tour guide in English language
• •2-hour Bosphorus cruise on a private motor boat
• •Entrance fees to Byzantine Hippodrome, Topkapi Palace, the Harem Section, •Underground Cistern, Suleymaniye Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, Ayasofya (formerly Hagia Sophia), Rustem Pasa Mosque
• •9-day cruise round trip Istanbul

 
Please note:  Bring your hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, and comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with mobility issues. Order of sites visited may vary based on availability and dates.
 

Upon arrival in Istanbul, meet your guide holding a Windstar sign outside of the terminal at the Istanbul Grand Airport and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Wander around the neighborhoods close to the hotel. Dinner on your own is suggested at Agatha Restaurant or Orient Terrace in your hotel.
 
(Includes overnight at Pera Palace Hotel)
 
Please note: Optional tours available. VIP Arrival service can be arranged upon request.

After breakfast, meet your professional guide at the lobby for your private full day sightseeing. A scenic drive will take you across the Galata Bridge into the heart of Istanbul, where the historic area of Istanbul is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, one of the largest chariot race grounds of the Byzantine Empire. See the Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column, and Constantine Column then on to the Blue Mosque, with its six elegant minarets and exceptional Iznik tile work inside. Next, visit one of the greatest buildings in the world: St Sophia Mosque, built in AD 537 and remained the greatest church in Christendom until 1453. Visit the Underground Cistern measuring roughly 210 feet wide and 420 feet long, with a capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of water. The 336 beautiful columns that support the cistern were salvaged from pagan temples destroyed during the Roman Empire’s conversion to Christianity.  Have lunch on your own at Seasons Restaurant located at the Four Seasons Sultanahmet Hotel. Enter the magnificent Topkapi Palace Museum, located on the promontory between the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Steps away, visit the Harem section which offers a revealing look into how the sultans of the Ottoman Empire lived in private.  At the end of the day, return to the hotel. Dinner is suggested at Mikla Restaurant (in walking distance).
 
Includes breakfast and overnight at Pera Palace Hotel)
 
Please note: Modest attire is required; when visiting the Ayasofya Mosque, knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered and women must cover their head with a scarf, provided at the Mosque. Shoes must be removed and shoe bags will be provided. There is ongoing restoration of the Topkapi Palace, which may result in some exhibits being closed. There are approximately 50 steps to negotiate at the entrance to the underground cistern and a further 50 steps to exit. Professional photography and flash are not allowed. All tours in the old town require considerable walking, as it is closed to traffic. 

After breakfast, meet your professional guide at the lobby for your private half day of sightseeing starting with Suleymaniye Mosque situated atop one of the city’s seven hills. Among its innovative construction features were the use of Juniper trees to absorb the shock of earthquakes; 255 pots suspended from the central dome to provide better acoustics and thermal insulation. Continue to the famous Grand Bazaar, where you will explore some of its 64 streets. A variety of Turkish handicrafts, oriental carpets, rare jewels and inexpensive souvenirs are all sold in its small shops. You may also enjoy an optional private carpet weaving session in a collectioner’s gallery. Return to hotel then in late afternoon meet your guide in the lobby for a short drive to the Kabatas pier to embark your motor yacht for a relaxing 2-hour motor yacht cruise along the Bosphorus waterway, from where there are excellent views of the Asiatic and European shores. Magnificent 19^th century palaces are dotted along both banks and, as you cruise along, enjoy views of the Dolmabahce Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, and the few remaining towers of the Anadolu Fortress. Passing underneath the Sultan Mehmet Bridge see the Rumeli Fortress. Istanbul has one of the loveliest skylines in the world and is without doubt a city built to be appreciated from the water. A refreshment of coffee, tea or local soft drink and local wine will be served during your cruise.  At the end of the cruise,
dinner is suggested at Sunset Restaurant.
 
(Includes breakfast and  overnight at Pera Palace Hotel)
 
Please note: Modest attire is required; when visiting the Suleymaniye Mosque, knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered and women must cover their head with a scarf, provided at the mosque. Professional photography and flash are not allowed. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a shawl, or a light jacket. Not suitable for guests using a wheelchair.

After breakfast, check-out and meet your professional guide at the lobby for your private half day of sightseeing. Visit the beautiful Dolmabahce Palace. Stretching over 1,960 feet on the shore of the Bosphorus Strait, the palace stands as a symbol of glamour and decadence of the Ottoman Empire of the 19^th century. Your knowledgeable guide will lead you through the Palace, explaining the many sumptuous and magnificent details, boasting 43 large salons, a 4.5 ton Bohemian crystal chandelier and a glass façade that measures over 3,000 feet long.  Take a short drive to visit the Rustem Pasa Mosque, where most of the interior is covered with Iznik tiles of the highest quality. Visit the Spice Bazaar, an exotic trading house for dried herbs, spices and exotic condiments, colorful local produce, fresh cheeses, pickles and other Turkish specialties such as sucuk (chorizo-like sausages) and pastirma (cured beef). There will be ample time to stock up on saffron, Turkish apricots and freshly made Turkish delight.  Lunch will be served at Hamdi Restaurant with traditional Turkish cuisine in a lovely atmosphere and then transfer to the port to embark the yacht.
 
Please note: Modest attire is required; when visiting the Rustem Pasha Mosque, knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered and women must cover their head with a scarf, provided at the mosque. Professional photography and flash are not allowed.
 
(Includes breakfast and lunch)

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 

The terracotta rooftops come into sight as we approach Nessebar. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is easy to cover by foot, tidily contained on a 24-acre island connected by a narrow isthmus to the mainland. Take a walk and you’ll see medieval churches everywhere you look, along with19th century wooden houses with drying fish strung from their roofs. Further inland, glimpse the quickly vanishing lifestyle of Bulgaria’s rural villages, and sample warm Bulgarian hospitality.

You’ll have time to explore this fascinating country as we extend our stay into the evening hours. The resort town of Constanta offers beaches, history, and fine wine. Head inland to the beautiful city of Bucharest, once known as “Little Paris,” where you may visit the vast and famous home of both houses of the Romanian Parliament, widely known as the Palace of the People. Don’t miss the chance to watch the locals playing chess in beautiful Cismigiu Gardens.

You can credit Catherine the Great with this sparkling city, designed by the finest European architects in the late 18th century. With its eclectic architectural styles and immigrants from diverse cultures, Odessa has a unique vibe. Walk the Potemkin Steps, said to bring good luck to those who go up and down them in bare feet, and stroll the beautiful tree-lined paths in the heart of the city.

The port that was host of the 2014 Winter Olympics is also notable for its 20^th century neoclassical buildings including the Winter Theatre. Things to do in Sochi include the 19^th century Arboretum and Sochinskiy National Park for endangered species.

This popular port and resort town on the Black Sea is full of quirky architecture and sculptures. Walk along the beach promenade and the piazza for some entertaining street art and murals and find the freshest produce and home-made products at the local market. Go up to the top of the 427-foot (130 meter)-high Alphabetic Tower with a seaside observation deck.

One of the prettiest towns on the Black Sea coast, the walled city of Sinop perches on a promontory overlooking the harbor. It’s one of the oldest cities in the region, and thanks to its strategic location, it’s changed hands many times since the 7th century B.C. Sinop Castle, for instance, was built by the Greeks in the 7th century B.C. then later used by the Romans, Byzantines, and Seljukians. Catch up on local history at the Ethnography and Archaeological Museums. Or get a sense of daily life at the market and shop for a hand-carved meerschaum pipe, traditional nautical wood carvings, or a Turkish puzzle ring.

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight). 

Ah, Constantinople, Queen of Cities and the Door to Happiness. Istanbul is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia—and its appeal is truly universal. The Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans all ruled their empires from here, leaving behind some of their finest monuments and a fascinating blend of cultures. Visit the harem at Topkapi Palace, where the clatter of silver soles once warned concubines of the approaching sultan. Admire the Iznik tiles and stained glass windows of the Blue Mosque, and the mystical light bathing the nave of Hagia Sofia. Shop the Grand Bazaar for a coffee cezve, magic lamp, embroidered slippers, or hand-woven kilim. Temper a tiny cup of potent Turkish coffee with bites of sweet lokum (Turkish delight).