Day 1 Thursday
Arrive in Istanbul, where your tour manager will meet you and ensure you are comfortably transferred to the Point Hotel for 2 nights. The hotel is located within walking distance of bustling Taksim Square and the Nisantasi shopping area with its many cafes and restaurants.
Once you have settled in, there will be an afternoon trip to take part in one of Turkey's favourite pass times; drinking Turkish coffee in one of Istanbul's most famous coffee houses. Turkish coffee is drunk short and very strong and is made by boiling very finely ground coffee with water and as much sugar as you prefer.  You will have a short lecture about traditional Turkish Coffee, its roasting and preparation and then you will have time to enjoy a cup or two whilst getting to know your fellow travellers.

We will continue to our welcome dinner which will tonight be hosted by Kosebasi Restaurant.This restaurant has been established  as one of the finest places in Istanbul to taste the cuisine of South Eastern Anatolia. The restaurant is located in a central spot within the new city side of Istanbul and is a well known address for those who like to enjoy many different kinds of appetisers and Kebabs.

Day 2 Friday
This morning, you will start the day with a traditional Turkish breakfast. No breakfast in Turkey is complete without a range of different cheeses and olives and during your breakfast you will have the chance to listen to a lecture titled ‘ The eating habits of the Turk’s ’ given by the Turkish folk culturist, historian Mr. Alp Kaya.

Following breakfast visit the Topkapi Palace, the official residence of the Ottoman sultans from 1453 until 1856  when Abdulmecid moved to the more Western style Dolmabahce Palace. Visit the palace kitchens with their displays of Turkish and Chinese porcelain and the dormitories of the many servants who looked after the palace's  5800 inhabitants and guests.  You will also have time to see the Royal Treasury, home of the famous Topkapi dagger and the 84 carat Spoonmaker diamond.

Enjoy a late light lunch at  the historical local restaurant, Sultanahmet Köftecisi, in the beautiful Old City

Continue on to the Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii). This is probably Istanbul's best known Mosque complex famous for its stunning interior decoration of Iznik tiles from which it derives its name and built in 1609. After this, a short walk brings you to the Hippodrome Square which was constructed by the Romans as a venue for chariot races. Here you will see the Egyptian Obelisk, the Serpentine and Constantine Column. Final stop of the day will be at the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul .

Tonight you will enjoy one of the hi-lights of your trip with an introduction to; how to prepare Turkish metzes’  at the Beyoglu Fish Market  district where you will enjoy the mediteranian favourites. Those willing may enjoy a nıce stroll through the colourful Istiklal Street back to the hotel.

Day 3 Saturday
Breakfast today is another treat as you will visit the Güllüoğlu Baklavacısı to sample varieties of Borek ( feather light Turkish pastry filled with cheese, spiced minced meat or spinach ) and Baklava, accompanied by Turkish tea. This establishment has used only the finest natural Turkish ingredients to develop its unique flavours since 1871.

We will cross over to the Asian side of Istanbul to pay a visit to the summer palace of the Ottoman Sultans; the Beylerbeyi Palace. Then we have a short drive and experience a walk through one of the most popular food markets of the city, the Kadikoy Carsısı. It will be here where the homemade traditional dishes of southeast Anatolia are going to be served  at the favourite of Istanbul’s citizens, the Çiya Restaurant.

Following lunch we turn back to Europe to visit the Hagia Sophia Church, the mighty example of East Roman architecture, which is one of the most highly visited museums of Istanbul today.

Our farewell dinner is to be in Ottoman Style, on the bank of Europe, overlooking Asia along the Bosphourus , in the Feriye Restaurant created by Mr Vedat Basaran  a well known Ottoman cuisine expert, lecturer and gastronomist. Before dinner an introduction to Ottoman Culinary will be made by our host.

Day 4 Sunday