History of Byzantium Tour with Robin Pierson & Serif Yenen (August-September 2023)

History of Byzantium Tour with Robin Pierson & Serif Yenen (August 25 – September 3, 2023) Fully Booked!

Istanbul, Cappadocia & Ephesus (10 Days)

Tour Date: August 25 – September 3, 2023

Robin Pierson is the author of ‘The History of Byzantium Podcast.’ He tells the story of the Roman Empire from 476 to 1453 AD. He says that “Byzantine history is fascinating, world changing and largely forgotten. Listen and discover who they were.” Robin is from London in the UK. His web site is the History of Byzantium ↗.

It has been Robin and Serif’s great idea to put this tour together, and they have made this tour a few times with great success. Now new ones are coming up.

History of Byzantium Tour

While the Roman capital Rome was shrinking to a cow town, Constantinople was on the rise with a population of half a million. After seeing resplendent metropolis with its harbor full of vessels, with its markets filled with silks, spices, furs, precious stones, perfumed woods, carved ivory, gold and silver and enameled jewelry, the Crusader Villehardouin was in shock and said: “One could not believe there was so rich a city in all the world.”

History of Byzantium Tour with Robin Pierson & Serif Yenen 2

Byzantium was a buffer shielding medieval Europe from the empire-building Persians, Arabs, and Turks. It was a bridge between East and West. Byzantines were law makers, developed religious, political, and social practices vibrant to this day. They were masters of mosaics. They pictured Christ enthroned as the Pantocrator, Creator of Universe in the domes of many of their churches.

While Charlemagne, King of the Franks, could barely write his name, many Byzantine emperors were scholars. While men in the West for centuries tested guilt or innocence by subjecting the accused to severe pain, Justinian set scholars to compiling his famous Corpus Juris Civilis (Body of Civil Law), the foundation of Roman Law in continental Europe today. Via the Code Napoléon, Byzantine precepts were transmitted to Latin America, Québec Province, and Louisiana, where they still hold sway.

Today, as we go back and investigate more, and in the course of recent construction projects, new discoveries are being made constantly, and long-lost traces of previous occupants of the city are being uncovered. History is being re-written.

In the company of Robin Pierson and Serif Yenen, you can discover many Byzantine monuments and artefacts, which have been standing in Istanbul for thousands of years.

History of Byzantium Tour

Come join us to discover the Roman and Byzantine monuments in the Old City of Istanbul (Constantinople), which is now called as the Historic Peninsula. Then we continue with the Ottoman Culture. We extend the tour to Cappadocia and Ephesus as well.

Cappadocia is the name of a large region covering many big cities in Central Anatolia. It is such a unique place with very interesting natural formations, underground cities, rock-cut churches. It does not look like a place on earth. Definitely, Cappadocia is a must-see place in the world.

Ephesus, one of the most important ancient cities in the world, is located on the Aegean coast. Excavations in Ephesus have been continuing for more than 100 years. The hightlights in the Ephesus area are the Celsus Library, Great Theater of Ephesus, Hadrian’s Temple, Virgin Mary’s House, Basilica of St. John, Artemis Temple and Ephesus Museum.

Rather than driving long-distances, we fly between Istanbul-Cappadocia, Cappadocia-Ephesus and Ephesus-Istanbul.

August 25, Friday

• Arrivals & Airport pick-ups
• Private hotel transfers

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August 26, Saturday (Walking Tour)

• Breakfast at the hotel
• An orientation briefing by Serif Yenen
• Column of Constantine
• Mese, Processional Road
• Milion Monument
• Hagia Sophia
• Magnaura Palace
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Hippodrome
• Nakkas Cistern with the exhibition on Hippodrome
• Free time to rest
• Welcome dinner

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August 27, Sunday

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Church of St Sergius and Bacchus
• Zeyrek Mosque (Monastery of Christ Pantokrator)
• Patriarchal Church of St George
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Tekfur Palace
• Walk along the walls from the Tekfur Palace down to the Golden Horn

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August 28, Monday

• Breakfast at the hotel
• We meet David Hendix, and he accompanies the tour on this day
• Walk along the Land Walls from Silivrikapı to Porte Aurea and the Marmara Sea
• Lunch at a local restaurant
• Bukoleon Palace (From outside)
• Great Palace Mosaics Museum
• Hagia Eirene
• The Archaeological Museums of Istanbul

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August 29, Tuesday

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Binbirdirek Cistern (Cistern of Philoxenos)
• Topkapi Palace
• Lunch
• Bosphorus Cruise
• Back to the hotel by public tram

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August 30, Wednesday

• • Breakfast at the hotel
  • Check-out from hotel
  • Load bags on the bus
  • Drive to Forum of Theodosius
  • Kalenderhane Mosque (Theotokos Kiriotissa)
  • Suleymaniye Mosque
  • Lunch at a local restaurant
  • Drive to the airport
  • Afternoon flight to Cappadocia
  • An orientation drive in Cappadocia
  • Overnight in Cappadocia

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August 31, Thursday

• • • Hot-air Balloon flight (optional & weather-permitting)
    • Breakfast at the hotel
    • Full-day sightseeing in Cappadocia (Valleys, underground cities, churches, museums with a lunch break at a local restaurant)
    • Whirling Dervish Ritual
    • Overnight in Cappadocia

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September 1, Friday

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Continue sightseeing in Cappadocia (Valleys, underground cities, churches, museums with lunch at a local restaurant)
• Drive to the airport
• Evening or late afternoon flight to Izmir
• Drive to Kusadasi (one hour)
• Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus

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September 2, Saturday

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Sightseeing in the ancient city of Ephesus with the Terrace Houses
• Basilica of St. John
• Ephesus Museum in Selçuk
• Virgin Mary’s House
• Artemis Temple (One of the Seven Wonders of the World)
• Farewell Dinner in Kusadasi
• Overnight in Kusadasi/Ephesus

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September 3, Sunday (Departures)

• Breakfast at the hotel
• Drive to the Izmir Airport
• Flight to Istanbul to catch your international flights from Istanbul

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Price

• $3250.00 USD per person (accommodation in double room)
• $3700.00 USD per person (accommodation in single room)

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What is included in History of Byzantium Tour price:

• Private airport transfers from and to the airports in Istanbul, Cappadocia and Izmir.
• Accommodation at the Recital Hotel ↗ in Istanbul for 5 nights
• Accommodation at the Uçhisar Kaya Hotel ↗ or a similar hotel in Cappadocia for 2 nights
• Accommodation at the Korumar Hotel Kusadasi ↗ or a similar hotel in Kusadasi for 2 nights
• All breakfasts at the hotels
• All lunches in Istanbul (at local casual restaurants with good traditional food)
• Guiding services by Serif Yenen as an official guide
• All public transportation costs in Istanbul
• Private transportation in a private van/bus for two days in Istanbul, and all other days in Cappadocia and Ephesus
• All museum entrance fees and costs as mentioned in the itinerary
• Complimentary copies of Serif Yenen’s maps and books
• Headsets (Whispers) will be provided to hear your guide at each site
• Welcome dinner in Istanbul with limited drinks included
• Whirling Dervish Ritual
• Dinners at hotels in Cappadocia and Kusadasi
• Three domestic flights (Istanbul-Cappadocia, Cappadocia-Izmir and Izmir-Istanbul flights)

What is NOT included in this price:

• International flights
• Four dinners in Istanbul
• Lunches in Cappadocia and Ephesus area
• Drinks during included meals
• Hot-air balloon flights in Cappadocia
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Gratuities

History of Byzantium Tour Capacity

• Minimum 12, maximum 24 guests.

Physical requirements for History of Byzantium Tour

• Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids.
• This tour involves a lot of walking! Obviously the Theodosian Land walls and the landscape of Cappadocia demand long walks. But even in Istanbul we will often be without transport and climbing both up (walls and restaurant staircases) and down (into cisterns and other substructures). Please bring sensible footwear that are supportive and comfortable.

COVID-19

On the History of Byzantium Tour

We can only welcome those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. This is designed to keep everyone safe and will not necessarily be a requirement on future tours. We also need you to take out comprehensive travel insurance in case of disruption or delay.

We will be spending a lot of time together in close proximity. We will have masks and sanitizer available but recommend you bring your own. You will not be required to wear a mask at all times. If someone exhibits symptoms of Covid-19 we will ask them to separate from the group and get tested immediately. We will assist with testing, distancing and liaising with local authorities if required.

Proof of Vaccination

If you’re fully vaccinated, you can enter Turkey without needing to test or quarantine. At least 14 days must have passed since your second dose of the vaccine and the vaccine must be approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health or World Health Organization. You must present proof that you have been fully vaccinated to enter Turkey. Proof of your vaccination status must include your name (matching your passport) and the date on which your final vaccine was administered. Please check your government’s vaccination information to obtain your proof.

Travel Insurance

You must take out comprehensive travel insurance before you travel. Your insurance protection must include cover for cancellation, medical and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death, and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability insurance. Evidence of such insurances must be produced to us on request.

Make sure your insurer covers you for Covid-19 disruption. This should include

– Coronavirus medical and repatriation cover. This will cover you if you’re infected when you’re away.
– Coronavirus cancellation cover. You’ll need this if you want to be able to claim on insurance for refunds if Covid stops you travelling for any reason.

Travelling to Turkey

Airlines, hotels and other travel service providers will need to comply with national and local guidance and requirements relating to COVID-19 and will have implemented certain measures as a result. This will likely include specific requirements regarding personal protective equipment, such as use of face-masks by customers and staff. We recommend you carry your own masks and hand sanitizer when travelling.

Travel requirements are subject to change without notice, so we recommend you update yourself in relation to the relevant airline and government policies for your transit and final destination at each of (i) the time of booking, (ii) as you approach your travel date, and (iii) immediately before travel. Your government’s foreign travel website is the most reliable source of information.

Our Liability

You acknowledge that you are choosing to travel at a time where you may be exposed to COVID-19. It is your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all relevant travel information, including applicable health risks. You acknowledge that your decision to travel is made based on your own consideration of this information, and you acknowledge and agree that you are aware of, and assume responsibility for, the risks associated with travelling at this time. We will have no liability for any refunds, compensation, costs, expenses or other losses of any kind incurred by you (including, where applicable, the cost of medical treatment), in the following circumstances: 1. you fail any tests, checks or other measures imposed by a travel service providers or government body or fail to submit for testing or assessment when requested to do so, and as such you are denied entry to board the flight, entry to the destination, access to the services or you are otherwise unable to proceed with the trip, or that portion of the trip; or 2. if you, or anyone in your group, test positive for COVID-19 and have to quarantine for a period of time, or are notified or otherwise become aware that you have, or suspect you may have, come into close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 (or where they otherwise suspect they may have COVID-19) and have to quarantine for a period of time. If this happens within 14 days of your departure date, you must contact us as you may no longer be able to travel. If any of the above occur whilst you are on your trip, please notify us without delay and we will provide such reasonable assistance as we can in the circumstances. However, we will not be responsible for covering the cost of any curtailment of your tour, missed transport arrangements, additional accommodation required, or other associated costs incurred by you. You must ensure you have adequate travel insurance with specific COVID-19 coverage which covers these costs for you.

Terms & Conditions and Cancellation Policy

This tour is operated by A-group Travel Agency “Serif Yenen Travel” licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Tourism (Licence number: 8860)