Walking Tours Istanbul – A relaxing day on Princes’ Islands
Walking Tours Istanbul and Turkey tour guides – In the morning we will leave Kabatas with the boat. Our journey will last about 2 hours during which time we will enjoy the great view of Istanbul. The continent of Europe greets you from your right while Asia waves at you from your left. It is a chance for you to escape the modern life and enjoy the serenity and tranquillity of Buyukada island. It is in the sea of Marmara and is the biggest in the Princes’ Islands group. ‘These Isles of the Princes lie in sight of Stamboul and its splendours, and of the mountains of Asia, dominated by the Mysean Olympus. They are glorious in physical loveliness…’, Samuel Sullivan Cox – an American Congressman who was Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in 1885.
Phaeton
Make sure you get some simit (it is a circular bread with sesame seeds) so you can feed the seagulls while on the boat. (also, try to always have a guide with you so you can get the best, possible, tour; please, read about Sofia tour guides in Bulgaria) Depending on how hungry they are, they can even try to get it from your hand. Just like on the other islands there is no car traffic on Buyukada. To prevent the islands from becoming polluted, the only motorized vehicles allowed are the ones of service (fire, rubbish, police, ambulance). Transportation is in fact, traditional horse-drawn phaetons. Also, the design of the roads on the island is suitable for walking and cycling.
On the other side of the island we will have a long break that we can walk up to the hill to visit St. Yorgi Church, which lies on the island’s highest peak. Every year on 23 April thousands of pilgrims of all faiths journey from Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and even Russia. (visit Bulgaria) Please, make sure that you wear comfortable shoes for that walk.
After the visit we will go back to the centre with the Phaeton. Before we leave the island, we will have our lunch and free time. Again on the way back we will travel with the great scenery of Istanbul .
Update…
Unfortunately, for us and the tourists, but not for the horses, all the traditional horse-drawn phaetons have been banned with the order of the municipality of Istanbul on 14 June 2020. After a deadly illness among the horses, all of them have been bought by the municipality and retired. Phaetons have been replaced with electric cars.
Contact us and we can discuss the details.
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