Your tour begins at your hotel, where your friendly guide will pick you up and transfer you to the boat in an air-conditioned coach. Then take a trip up the Golden Horn, the horn-shaped estuary that divides the European side Istanbul. One of the best natural harbors in the world, this area was once the commercial and shipping center of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. Today, you can still see entire streets lined with old wooden houses, churches and synagogues dating back to this time. You will then have a chance to give your sea legs a break at the world famous Spice Market, a gigantic indoor hall selling a a wide variety of goods, including locally manufactured sweets, herbs, and spices. After the Spice Market, you will have the chance to truly discover the unique wonders of the Bosphorus. This wonderful stretch of water, which sweeps down from the Black sea to the sea of Marmara, passes straight through Istanbul and marks the border between Asia and Europe. From your boat, take in magnificent views of the Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Mosque, Dolmabahce Palace, and more. On the Asian side, you will be able to spot the twin towers of the Kuleli Military school. Your last stop will be the City Walls, one of Istanbul’s most impressive sights. These land walls, built during the reign of the emperor Theodosius, still stand to a considerable height despite the battering they have received over the years.