TURKEY AND ISRAEL CLASSICALS TOUR
Day 1: Istanbul
Arrive in Istanbul Ataturk Airport. After visa and luggage claim, you will meet your driver and private car, will be ready to transfer you to the hotel. A welcome package with your tour vouchers, a tourist map, and any other touristic information that you may find useful will be waiting for you upon your arrival at your hotel. There is no plan for this day unless you are interested in experience the traditional Turkish bath nearby your hotel.
Meals: No Meals
Day 2: Full Day Tour of Two Continents in Bosphorus
In the morning a visit to the Spice Market, where locals still shop for herbs and spices coming from all over the world. Then, embark on a cruise by boat on Bosphorus, the unique winding strait separating two continents. After lunch, you will cross the Bosphorus by driving through the Bogazici Bridge to go over the Asian side of Istanbul. Also take a visit to Beylerbeyi Palace, the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans used in the 19th century.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 3: Full Day Tour of Byzantine & Ottoman Highlights
Today you will have a full day tour of visiting St Sophia Museum, the pride of the Byzantine architecture, Byzantine Hippodrome, where once chariot races were held; the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue Iznik tiles; and enjoy shopping in the world’s largest covered bazaar with 4000 shops, is known as Grand Bazaar. After lunch, you will visit Topkapi Palace, the famous residence of the Sultans (The Harem section is not included in the tour) and see the Treasury, royal gardens, Sultan’s kitchen and Sacred Relics.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Day 4: Istanbul
Enjoy your free day by exploring landmarks of the city on your own. Our you can join our optional tour to Cappadocia.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5: Istanbul - Tel Aviv
You will be transferred to the airport with your private car and driver. After arriving at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6: Tel Aviv
Free day at leisure time. You can explore the beauties of the city on your own.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7: Haifa
Depart Tel Aviv and visit the Diaspora Museum. Proceed along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. See the excavations of the Crusader city and the Roman port, aqueduct and the amphitheatre that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. Continue via the Druze villages to Haifa. Overnight in Haifa. (Breakfast)
Day 8: Galilee
The tour of Haifa begins at the summit of Mount Carmel for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Haifa Bay and Western Galilee. Continue to the golden domed Bahai Shrine to visit the exotic Persian Gardens. Proceed to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism, where you will visit the ancient synagogues and the artists’ colony. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Dinner and overnight at the Lavi Kibbutz Hotel.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9: Sea of Galilee - Nazareth
Start the day with a visit to Tiberias. Drive to Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal Church of St. Peter. Proceed to Nazareth, where you will visit the Church of the Annunciation. Tour the new Jewish town and visit the Arab market. Continue via Beit Shean to Beit Alpha to see the remains of the mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 10: Jerusalem
Visit the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion and the room of the last supper. Enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Quarter and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Proceed to Mount Scopus and then to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old City. Continue to Bethlehem** stopping at Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of Nativity. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 11: Jerusalem
Drive to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall stained glass windows and continue to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Explore the Israel Museum and its Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Visit the Miniature model of Jerusalem as it was 2,000 years ago. We will then see the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, and the Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 12: Qumeran - Massada - Dead Sea
Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at almost 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Massada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Time and weather permitting, an opportunity will be provided to float on the Dead Sea.Overnight in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 13: Jerusalem
Enjoy your day at leisure in Jerusalem.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 14: Tel Aviv
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and the end of our services.
We do not have an online booking system because most of our services are personalized and different conditions may apply for specific requests. You can call us, send an email, or complete a tour request form so that our Turkey travel specialists can help you to select the best tour for your travel needs. When you submit our tour contact form, one of our specialists will contact you within 24 hours to confirm availability.
What do you need from me to begin a proposal for a customized Turkey tour?
Fill out a customized tour request form that provides us with useful insight on how to design a trip that will suit your travel needs. If you are interested in customizing one of our tour packages, you can email us the name of the tour package and estimated date you have chosen to start the tour.
Can TSC design a customized trip for our group’s interests?
We will gladly work with you to offer a Turkey tour package tailored to your group’s interests. For this, you need to provide us your group details, interests, and travel needs.
Is airfare included in programs? Can I book my international flight through you?
Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point. You can purchase your airfare tickets through the internet or a wholesaler. By booking your own flight, you have more flexibility and control of your choices - in real time.
What type of accommodation do we use?
TSC Travel use hotels situated at excellent locations and close to all amenities. Room types range from double rooms to junior suites, depending on the package of choice. Amenities and facilities may differ from those in South America, North America, Australia or Malaysia.
What type of transportation is used on tours?
TSC Travel utilize a variety of transportation methods including public and private minivans, cars, coaches, trains, flights, ferries, boats, etc. We use whichever method provides travellers with the safest and most efficient transportation option.
Do you cooperate with travel agents?
If you are a registered travel agency with a wish to co-operate in business, please fill out our contact form.
Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We require a deposit payment at time of booking to secure your reservation. The deposit payment is payable by credit card or bank transfer.
Credit Card: For your protection, we need you to sign the credit card payment form upon receipt and return it with verification of legal identification (e.g. copy of your passport or driver’s license) after your credit card has been charged. We will inform you in advance of purchase of any credit card fees that may apply.
Bank transfer: Payment can be sent to our company bank accounts. Our representative will send you detailed information for the booking process including bank transfer details. Please note our rates do not include the transfer costs of your bank or their agents. Please be sure that all costs paid additionally!
What is your cancellation policy?
All cancellations must be made in writing directly to TSC Travel. No responsibility is taken for cancellations of airfare, hotel bookings, or any other extra services which have been made directly by the client.The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for all land packages, tours and programs;
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: non-refundable deposit 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-0 days: 100% of selling price
* Special conditions apply for canceling of tailor-made tour programs.
The following scale of charges will apply when cancellation is notified for tours that include a Cruise program:
Prior to arrival:
Charge 60 days or more: 10% of selling price (Administrative Fee)
59-46 days: 35% of selling price
45-21 days: 50% of selling price
20-8 days: 75% of selling price.
7-0 days: 100% of selling price.
* Special conditions apply for cancellation.
If you have to withdraw from a tour after it has begun for reasons such as illness, be sure to obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We are unable to make refunds for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or entrance tickets.
Flight/ferry/train/bus tickets are not included in the above cancellation policy. Once your program is confirmed and the tickets are purchased, any changes to the dates of the program will incur a change fee or in case of cancellation, (this is additional to the service fee), 100% cancellation fee for the tickets will be incurred regardless of the above cancellation policy. For further information, please read our Terms and Conditions page.
When and How I will receive my tour documents?
Travel documents and electronic flight tickets are usually sent 21 days prior to departure. However, you will receive tour vouchers, maps, ferry, bus or train tickets and other required information upon arrival in Turkey. This will be included in a welcome package waiting for you upon arrival at your hotel.