Duration: approx. 4 hours

Located on the Bosphorus Strait in the scenic natural harbour called the Golden Horn, the ancient city of Istanbul is the only metropolis worldwide to straddle two continents: Europe and Asia. As beautiful as Istanbul is by day with its magnificent mosques, cosmopolitan flair and fabulous architecture, after sundown the city is transformed into a fairytale world of twinkling lights that cannot fail to delight. This colourful and culinary night-time tour to Istanbul begins with a coach drive to a renowned nightspot for a delicious dinner, accompanied by live entertainment in the form of a typically Turkish folklore show. After dinner, look forward to rejoining your coach and embarking on a sightseeing tour of this exciting Turkish city, the largest in the country with a population of some 13 million in its greater catchment area. You will also cross the famous Bosphorus Bridge to reach the Asian side.

The city of Istanbul is not only Turkey’s largest metropolis, but also home to a rich legacy of Byzantine history. On leaving the pier by coach, you will head for the first of these Byzantine moments with a stop at the fabulous Süleymaniye Mosque, the city’s largest place of Islamic worship. The huge structure was built at the order of Sultan Süleyman – also known as Süleyman the Magnificent – from 1550 to 1558. Apart from the mosque itself, the original complex also featured a hospital, primary school, public baths, caravanserai, several Qur’an schools, a medical college and a public kitchen to feed the poor. In the gardens behind the main building, you will also find two mausoleums with the tombs of Sultans Suleiman I, Suleiman II, Ahmed II and Safiye. A short drive will then take you to see the gorgeous Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, which is regarded as a particularly fine example of Byzantine architecture and is a further highlight on this tour. Most of the current building dates back to the late 11^th century and over time, the church first underwent conversion into a mosque and latterly became a museum. The interior of the church is covered with fine mosaics and frescoes. Your Byzantine experience is rounded off with panoramic views of the city’s Byzantine walls and a chance to watch a typical carpet demonstration and/or to shop in a luxury jewellery or in a leather store. The tour then ends with your return to the port and your ship.

Delve into the world of whirling dervishes and the 13^th-century Sufi mystic known as Mevlãnã (or Rumi) on a fascinating night out in Istanbul. On your way to the venue to watch the "Whirling Dervishes Performance", you will also have a chance to see the outside of the Süleymaniye Mosque complex. Characterised by great architectural beauty, this amazing feat of early structural engineering is one of best-known sights in the whole of Istanbul. As followers of Mevlãnã, these Sufi ascetics of the Mevlevi Order take part in a formal ritual, called Sema, that involves 4 states of whirling. Each of these 4 stages represents a transition from an original state of being God’s unknowing servant to a state of acquired knowledge and perfection. This enlightened state can only be achieved through receiving God's love and truth as well as by allowing oneself to engage in spiritual communion with God. Watching the dervishes elevate themselves into a state of religious ecstasy – revolving at tremendous speed in time with the music, heads bent, eyes closed, arms and legs flailing wildly, colourful skirts swirling – is truly inspirational. Following the Sema ritual, you will make your way to the restaurant section in Süleymaniye Mosque – the former soup kitchen of the larger mosque complex designed by the architect Sinan – for a taste of Turkish specialities. Your return to the pier and your ship marks the end of the tour.