Pricing Notes
5 Day/4nights $1,655.00 per person based on double occupancy (ppdo)*
Single supplement $360.00
Extra nights - $120 ppdo/per night
Accommodations at the Central Palace Hotel or similar
Upgraded hotel accommodations at the Pera Palas Hotel
$2,195.00 per person based on double occupancy
Single supplement $795.00
Extra nights - $255.00 ppdo/per night
Not Included:
International and domestic
airfares; excess baggage charges;
airport arrival and departure
taxes; travel insurance; meals,
wines, or sightseeing not included
in itinerary; personal expenses
such as laundry and
communication charges;
gratuities, email/fax/telephone
charges, and hotel minibar.
Read our Terms & Conditions
Tasting Istanbul
Istanbul is a fascinating cosmopolitan city rich in history, resplendent with magnificent architecture and the epicenter of one of the world's great cuisines. Straddling two continents - Europe and Asia - the exotic former Constantinople artfully melds ancient traditions, pre-dating the Ottoman Empire, with the exciting new aspects of a modern Turkey. Visitors marvel at its mosques, museums, and palaces and of course the six-century-old Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market. A visit to Istanbul equates to a veritable pilgrimage for foodies. It boasts a vibrant street food culture and stalls and vendors offer simits, boreks, doners, stuffed mussels - and for the adventurous, kokorec -
a crusty sandwich of seasoned grilled lamb intestines. Quiet tea houses, lively cafes, fish dinners at waterfront hideaways and meze enjoyed with the country's signature anise flavored drink raki, in the raucously fun meyhane, are just some of the dining options. There are elegant old-world restaurants housed in historic buildings and former Ottoman-era mansions serving dishes that the Sultans once feasted on; and there are trendy eateries where chefs experiment with the new Anatolian cooking by skillfully adding ethnic influences.
Our Taste of Istanbul package delivers luxury accommodations in Beyoglu, the heart of Istanbul; guided access to the city's iconic sites; a cruise on the Bosphorus; culinary walking & tasting tours in Istanbul's historic neighborhoods; market visits; a hands-on cooking lesson combined with a home-hosted dinner; memorable dining experiences and much more. A personalized itinerary and an "insider's" list of restaurants will allow you free time to explore on your own and can be customized to suit your "taste."
Inclusions
Meal Descriptions
* 4 breakfasts Three breakfasts will be a full buffet at your hotel consisting of fresh fruits, eggs and traditional Turkish breakfast items of chesses, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, breads...You will also enjoy a special breakfast in Istanbul's Cihangir neighborhood. At this Kahvaltõ Salonu (breakfast salon) you will feast on organic cheeses brought in from Turkey's eastern provinces, the heavenly clotted-cream-like kaymak, tangy thick yogurt spread and sample murtu_a porridge and the region's famous honey. Your private guide will be with you to explain all the dishes.
** 2 lunches
*** 2 dinners
Culinary Walks
(1) Beyoglu - Your private guide will introduce you to this fascinating neighborhood filled with cafes and bars - and 19th Century history and charm. Ancient markets now house stalls featuring some of Istanbul's best street foods like midye tava (fried mussels on a skewer), kumpir (oven-baked potatoes with savory fillings) and mercimek kofte (mashed red lentil balls wrapped in a lettuce leaf.) You'll sample specialties like Anatolian cheeses, Chechen pastries and of course, Turkish Delight as you stroll the colorful streets. The tour will conclude with dinner at one of the area's acclaimed restaurants where you will enjoy a selection of meze (appetizers) and the national drink, raki before your main course and finish with fine Turkish coffee and sweets.
(2) The Old City - this morning's walk weaves through the Old City's backstreets in pursuit of some historical culinary experiences - sip boza in an Ottoman-era shop and visit a confectionary where Turkish delight has been made for four generations. With your private guide you will explore off-the-beaten-track neighborhoods (tasting along the way), visit markets and conclude with a special lunch in a family-owned restaurant.
***** Private Excursion to Kadikoy, the heart of Istanbul's Asian side where the Turkey's largest market displays organic produce, dozens of species of fresh fish and artisanal products like olive oil soap. There will be time for browsing and lunch on your own. We recommend the renowned restaurant Ciya Sofrasi, adjacent to the market and owned by the world-famous chef Musa Dagdeviren.
For those who don't have a Turkish grandfather to cook traditional dishes, there's Musa Dagdeviren, the Turkish-Kurdish proprietor of Ciya Sofrasi. A culinary Indiana Jones, he gathers gustatory secrets from remote provinces and serves a menu that may include ezo gelin (lentil soup with oregano and red pepper), diyarbakir guvec (a savory stew of lamb, tomatoes and soft eggplants) and kuru sebze domalsi (eggplant stuffed with rice and lamb). He is also a Midas of fruits, transforming them into golden juices (tamarind, anyone?) and desserts like candied pumpkin slices...NY Times
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