Istanbul (IST) – Stuttgart – Alsace
Meet your valued guests at the international departures terminal of Istanbul Airport at least 3 hours before the flight. Following the ticketing, baggage, and passport procedures, depart for Stuttgart at 12:20 on Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight TK 1703. Arrive in Stuttgart at 14:15 local time. After completing the passport and baggage procedures, we leave the airport to begin our city tour. We then set off for Strasbourg. Upon arrival, our panoramic city tour begins. Strasbourg has great historical importance as the place where the French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” was written, and is a city where Alsatian culture blends with French architecture. We visit Strasbourg Cathedral, which held the title of the world’s tallest building until 1874, the Rohan Palace, Kléber Square, and the Petite France district, adorned with traditional Alsatian houses. Following the tour, transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel. (Depending on regional availability, accommodation may be provided in surrounding cities, such as Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Basel, Belfort, or Karlsruhe.)
ALSACE – EGUISHEIM – COLMAR – RIQUEWIHR – ALSACE
After breakfast at the hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional Eguisheim, Colmar & Riquewihr tour (€100). Our first stop will be Eguisheim, one of the charming villages of Alsace. As you wander through its narrow, picturesque streets, surrounded by houses with beautiful colorful geraniums hanging from their wooden windows and balconies, you will begin to lose yourself in stories from the past. A member of the “Most Beautiful Villages in France” association since 2003, Eguisheim was also chosen as “France’s Favorite Village” in 2013.
Following our tour of Eguisheim, we will head to our second stop, Colmar. With its colorful houses, flower-decorated streets, and captivating beauty, Colmar is one of the region’s most enchanting towns and is of great importance as the starting point of the Alsace Wine Route. The canals add even more charm to Colmar. The colorful historic buildings lining the waterways, dating back as far as the 1200s, are the city’s most distinctive and remarkable feature. During our tour of Colmar, we will stroll through its carnival-like streets and visit Saint Martin’s Cathedral, with its enormous stork nests, Rue Marchand (Merchant Street), and the “Petite Venise” area, meaning “Little Venice.”
Our final stop on the tour will be Riquewihr, known as the most famous village in Alsace. This charming town, home to 1,200 residents, attracts 2 million visitors each year with its harmonious half-timbered Alsatian houses, featuring different colors and architectural styles. You will never tire of taking photographs in this wonderful town, where history, culture, and nature blend together. Following the tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
(Depending on the regional occupancy, accommodation may be provided in surrounding cities, such as Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Basel, Belfort, or Karlsruhe.)
Alsace – Heidelberg – Baden-Baden – Alsace
After breakfast at the hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join the Heidelberg & Baden-Baden tour, to be organized as an optional excursion by our guide. (85 Euros)
No, not all German cities look alike. If you want to see a truly German city, Heidelberg—a serene, elegant, refined and profound city where Hegel wandered thoughtfully and which Goethe called the ideal city—will welcome you with the harmony of its architecture and natural surroundings. Upon arrival, the sights included in our tour will be Hauptstrasse, Marktplatz Square, the Old Bridge and Heidelberg Castle (viewed from the outside).
Following our tour, we will depart for our second stop, Baden-Baden. Located near the German-French border, Baden-Baden is an elegant, aesthetically pleasing and peaceful German city surrounded by nature. It offers countless attractions, from thermal baths and cultural and art museums to opera and theater performances, as well as the opportunity to visit one of Europe’s most famous casinos. The famous Russian writer Dostoevsky’s novel The Gambler, which also includes episodes from his own life, is set in this city. For this reason, Baden-Baden may also appeal to literature enthusiasts.
Following our tour, we will transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
(Depending on regional availability, accommodation may take place in nearby cities such as Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Basel, Belfort or Karlsruhe.)
ALSACE – SCHAFFHAUSEN RHINE FALLS – ZURICH – LUCERNE – ALSACE
After breakfast at the hotel, free time. Guests who wish may join the optional Schaffhausen Rhine Falls & Zurich & Lucerne tour, organized by our guide, for an additional fee of €110.
Our first stop is the Rhine Falls. Following our walk around Europe’s largest waterfall, which is 150 meters wide and 23 meters high, accompanied by the enchanting sound of the water, we depart for Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city. Located on the shores of Lake Zurich and at the foothills of the Alps, Zurich welcomes millions of tourists throughout the year with both its historical heritage and culture. The city’s history dates back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, while its name derives from “Turus.” The city, which was under Roman occupation in the 2nd century AD, was named Turicum. When translated into Swiss German, this name is pronounced “Zuri.” According to the latest data, Zurich is the most livable city in Europe and is also known as the cultural capital of Switzerland.
Upon arrival, we see the Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches, as well as St. Peter’s Church, home to the largest clock tower in Europe. We then tour Bahnhofstrasse, considered the city’s shopping district. After our tour, we depart for Lucerne. In this enchanting city, we see the Lion Monument, built in memory of the 800 Swiss soldiers who died while protecting King Louis XVI and his family, the Chapel Bridge, and the magnificent view of Lake Lucerne. We then conclude our tour and transfer to our hotel. Overnight at the hotel.
(Depending on regional availability, accommodation may take place in surrounding cities, such as Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasbourg, Basel, Belfort, or Karlsruhe.)
ALSACE – FRANKFURT–ISTANBUL (IST)
After breakfast at our hotel in the morning, check out of your rooms. Enjoy free time until the time specified by your guide. Afterwards, transfer to the airport. Following baggage and ticket procedures, depart for Istanbul at 19:00 on Turkish Airlines’ scheduled flight TK1594. Arrive at Istanbul Airport at 23:00 local time, marking the end of our tour.