Welcome to Mecca
Muslims often describe the moment they step inside Mecca's Grand Mosque as an overwhelmingly emotional experience. For those living outside Saudi Arabia, a visit to Mecca – generally spelt 'Makkah' by Muslims and in Saudi Arabia – is a lifelong dream as they prepare for the hajj pilgrimage, an obligation that all Muslims must perform if they are financially and physical able to do so.
Top experiences in Mecca
Amazing hotels and hostels
We've pre-picked the best hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts to make your stay as enjoyable as possible.
Mecca activities
Historic Areas of Istanbul
ItineraryThis is a typical itinerary for this productStop At: Hippodrome (At Meydani)The hippodrome-the center of sports activities in Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine empire, today named Sultanahmet Meydani, with its four monuments; The German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column (Spiral column), Column of ConstantineDuration: 30 minutes
Half Day Byzantian Relics Tour: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar
Hippodrome-The center of sport activites in Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine empire, today named Sultanahmet Meydani, with its four monuments;The German Fountain of Wilhelm II, Egyptian Obelisk, Serpentine Column (Spiral Column).Blue Mosque (Sultanahmet Mosque)-Built by the architect Mimar Sedefkar Mehmet aga. Until 19th century was the traditional point for the pilgrimage to Mecca(on Friday visit is not allowed because of Friday prayers).Hagia Sophia Museum-The best known Christian church in Turkey, one of the greatest marvels of architecture, which was constructed as a basilica in the 6th century by Emperor Justinian (St.Sophia is closed on Monday).Grand Covered Bazaar-The most attractive shopping centre in the world, with nearly 4000 shops, selling antique, jewellery, gold, carpets, leather wear and souvenirs (Grand Bazaar is closed on Sunday).CLOSEDHagia Sophia closed on Monday (From on October 1. to on March 31.) Replaced with Underground CisternBlue Mosque closed on Friday because of Friday prayers / No replacementGrand Covered Bazaar closed on Sunday / Replaced with the Handicraft Store
Private Guided Istanbul Old City Sultanahmet Tour - Full Day
You will meet your guide in your hotel in Istanbul around 9AM in the morning de for this unforgettable journey. The tour will start with Hagia Sophia; after decades in which scaffolding cluttered the interior of Emperor Justinian’s sixth-century Byzantine masterpiece, the thrill of being able to experience the extraordinary spaciousness of this famous church-turned-mosque-turned museum is hard to overstate. Then Blue Mosque; Sultan Ahmet I’s grand architectural gift to his capital was this beautiful mosque, commonly known as the Blue Mosque today. Built between 1609 and 1616, the mosque caused a furore throughout the Muslim world when it was finished as it had six minarets (the same number as the Great Mosque of Mecca). A seventh minaret was eventually gifted to Mecca to stem the dissent. After that Hippodrome and Obelisks which was the center of Byzantine public life and the scene of splendid games and chariot races but also factional conflicts. Today, there isn’t much of the Hippodrome left to see, except for a small section of the gallery walls on the southern side, but the At Meydanı (park) that now stands on the site is home to a variety of monuments. We will continue with Topkapi Palace, the subject of more colourful stories than most of the world’s museums put together. Libidinous sultans, ambitious courtiers, beautiful concubines and scheming eunuchs lived and worked here between the 15th and 19th centuries when it was the court of the Ottoman empire. A visit to the palace’s opulent pavilions, jewel-filled Treasury and sprawling Harem gives a fascinating glimpse into their lives. Finally Grand Bazaar is our last destination. The colourful and chaotic Grand Bazaar is the heart of İstanbul’s Old City and has been so for centuries. Starting as a small vaulted bedesten (warehouse) built by order of Mehmet the Conqueror in 1461, it grew to cover a vast area as lanes between the bedesten, neighbouring shops and hans (caravanserais) were roofed and the market assumed the sprawling, labyrinthine form that it retains today.
Jerusalem Old City and Church of the Holy Sepulchre from Jerusalem
The tour begins by giving you an overview of the city; looking down on Jerusalem you can see beyond the Old City Walls to the Tempe Mount and the ancient roof tops with steeples, minarets and domes. It is a perfect place to get a shot of the iconic golden Dome of the Rock and the Old City. The tour continues through the Kidron Valley passed the Mount of Olives where you can get a view of the Church of All Nations, ancient Jewish tombs and the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox Church. Stopping at Mount Zion the tour takes you to the Room of the Last Supper. Here it is believed that Jesus dined with his disciples on the eve of his arrest. It is also thought that Jesus appeared here to his disciples after his ascension to heaven.You can still see signs of the room’s time as a mosque during the Ottoman era when a mihrab (prayer alcove indicating the direction of Mecca) and stained glass windows with Arabic inscriptions were added. The Room of the Last Supper is also called the Upper Room as it is on an upper floor above the Tomb of David. King David’s burial tomb is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians. The tomb is mentioned in Acts 2:29 and historic documentation of David’s Tomb on Mount Zion was first made in the 9th century. At the Tomb of David you will see the large cenotaph covered with a cloth bearing embroider symbols related to David including his harp, crown and the words “King David of Israel Lives Forever.” Directly outside David’s Tomb you will pass by the Dormination Abbey and a statue depicting King David playing his harp. From here the tour takes you through Zion Gate and the Armenian Quarter; passed the Byzantine Cardo and Jewish Quarter where you will see the 2,000 year old Western Wall. The Western Wall was once part of the outer walls surrounding the Holy Jewish Tempe on Temple Mount and today is the holies Jewish site in the word. Following the Via Dolorosa we reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Holy Sepulchre was constructed in 330AD to mark the site of the last four Stations of the Cross where Jesus was nailed to the cross, crucified, taken down from the cross and laid to rest in a tomb where he was later resurrected. The tour takes you into this cavernous and ornate church where you can climb a stairway to Calvary, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. You will also see the Stone of Anointing where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial. Here there is a Byzantine-style mosaic depicting the events of Jesus’ passion. A highlight of the tour is entering the Chapel of the Angel and burial chamber. You will see the many small chapels lit by burning candles, smell the aroma of incense in the air and see priests from different denominations in traditional religious garb. Visit the Syrian Orthodox Chapel; burial tombs and the Church of St.
Jerusalem Old City and Church of the Holy Sepulchre from Tel Aviv
The tour begins by giving you an overview of the city; looking down on Jerusalem you can see beyond the Old City Walls to the Tempe Mount and the ancient roof tops with steeples, minarets and domes. It is a perfect place to get a shot of the iconic golden Dome of the Rock and the Old City. The tour continues through the Kidron Valley passed the Mount of Olives where you can get a view of the Church of All Nations, ancient Jewish tombs and the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox Church. Stopping at Mount Zion the tour takes you to the Room of the Last Supper. Here it is believed that Jesus dined with his disciples on the eve of his arrest. It is also thought that Jesus appeared here to his disciples after his ascension to heaven.You can still see signs of the room’s time as a mosque during the Ottoman era when a mihrab (prayer alcove indicating the direction of Mecca) and stained glass windows with Arabic inscriptions were added. The Room of the Last Supper is also called the Upper Room as it is on an upper floor above the Tomb of David. King David’s burial tomb is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians. The tomb is mentioned in Acts 2:29 and historic documentation of David’s Tomb on Mount Zion was first made in the 9th century. At the Tomb of David you will see the large cenotaph covered with a cloth bearing embroider symbols related to David including his harp, crown and the words “King David of Israel Lives Forever.” Directly outside David’s Tomb you will pass by the Dormination Abbey and a statue depicting King David playing his harp. From here the tour takes you through Zion Gate and the Armenian Quarter; passed the Byzantine Cardo and Jewish Quarter where you will see the 2,000 year old Western Wall. The Western Wall was once part of the outer walls surrounding the Holy Jewish Tempe on Temple Mount and today is the holies Jewish site in the word. Following the Via Dolorosa we reach the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The Holy Sepulchre was constructed in 330AD to mark the site of the last four Stations of the Cross where Jesus was nailed to the cross, crucified, taken down from the cross and laid to rest in a tomb where he was later resurrected. The tour takes you into this cavernous and ornate church where you can climb a stairway to Calvary, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion. You will also see the Stone of Anointing where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial. Here there is a Byzantine-style mosaic depicting the events of Jesus’ passion. A highlight of the tour is entering the Chapel of the Angel and burial chamber. You will see the many small chapels lit by burning candles, smell the aroma of incense in the air and see priests from different denominations in traditional religious garb. Visit the Syrian Orthodox Chapel; burial tombs and the Church of St.