This ten-day private journey crosses northern Anatolia from Istanbul to Trabzon, linking Ottoman towns, the Hittite heartland and the green Black Sea coast. Breakfast and dinner are included every day of touring, hotels range from boutique inns to 4- and 5-star properties, and an English-speaking guide leads the whole route, which ends with a domestic flight back to Istanbul.
Istanbul opens with Topkapı Palace, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Spice Bazaar. The road then leads to Abant Lake, ringed by pine forest, where you can walk part of the 7 km shore path or take a horse cart, followed by a barbecue lunch under the trees. Safranbolu, once a key caravan stop on the east–west trade route, is explored on foot through its old bazaar, the Cinci Hoca Caravanserai and bathhouse and the Kaymakamlar House museum.
In Ankara you visit Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum, and its museum. Next comes Hattusa, capital of the Hittites, with the Lion and King gates, the great temple and the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, plus Alacahöyük. Two nights in Tokat, in a restored caravanserai hotel, allow time for its castle, museums, wooden mansions, historic baths and famous Tokat kebab.
The last days are spent around Trabzon: the frescoed church of Hagia Sophia, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, Atatürk's Mansion, the old town and tea from a samovar on Boztepe hill, then the cliff-hung Sumela Monastery in Altındere Valley and a drive over the Zigana Mountains on the old Silk Road.
It is an unhurried, well-rounded itinerary for travellers who want to see a side of Turkey far from the usual coastal routes, combining history, local cuisine and mountain landscapes.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 10 Days 9 Nights |
| Price | From €2,354 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 10 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
On arrival you are transferred from Istanbul Airport to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Depart at 08:30 for Topkapı Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans, the Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles and the Hippodrome with its ancient monuments. After a lunch break, visit the Spice Bazaar. The evening is free. Please note: entrance fees to Topkapı Palace, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern are paid on site if you wish to go inside; bring a scarf for the mosque visits. Overnight in Istanbul.
Drive to Abant Lake, surrounded by pine forests, for a walk along the shore or a horse-cart ride, and a barbecue lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Continue to Safranbolu and walk through the historic bazaar to the Cinci Hoca Caravanserai and bathhouse and the Kaymakamlar House, now a museum of Ottoman home life. Overnight in Safranbolu with dinner.
Drive about 3–4 hours to Ankara, the capital. After lunch, visit Anıtkabir, Atatürk's mausoleum, and its museum. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.
Visit Yazılıkaya, the Hittite rock sanctuary with carvings of gods and goddesses, then Hattusa with its great temple, city walls and the Lion and King gates, and Alacahöyük. After lunch, drive to Tokat. Dinner and overnight in Tokat at a restored caravanserai hotel.
A full day in Tokat: the castle, the history and ethnography museums, wooden historic houses, old Turkish baths and the clock tower, with time for shopping. At lunchtime, try the famous Tokat kebab. Dinner and overnight in Tokat.
Drive to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, a city that remained part of the Byzantine world for centuries. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
Visit Hagia Sophia, a 13th-century church with remarkable Byzantine frescoes, Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, the castle, Atatürk's Mansion and Ortahisar Mosque in the old town. Lunch break at a seaside restaurant in Akçaabat, then walk the cobbled streets and enjoy samovar tea with a city view on Boztepe. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
Visit Sumela Monastery, clinging to a cliff in the forested Altındere Valley, and relax by the mountain stream in the national park. After lunch, drive along the old Silk Road over the Zigana Mountains to Karaca Cave, known for its colours and formations. (Note: Karaca Cave is currently closed for maintenance; while it remains closed, the day includes a visit to Zigana instead.) Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast, transfer to Trabzon Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul and onward journey.
Istanbul – Arrival → Istanbul City Tour → Istanbul – Abant Lake – Safranbolu → Safranbolu – Ankara → Ankara – Hattusa – Tokat → Tokat Full Day → Tokat – Trabzon → Trabzon – Sumela Monastery & Atatürk Mansion → Karaca Cave & Zigana Mountain → Trabzon – Istanbul (flight) – Departure
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul – Arrival, Istanbul City Tour, Istanbul – Abant Lake – Safranbolu, Safranbolu – Ankara, Ankara – Hattusa – Tokat, Tokat Full Day, Tokat – Trabzon, Trabzon – Sumela Monastery & Atatürk Mansion, Karaca Cave & Zigana Mountain, Trabzon – Istanbul (flight) – Departure.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!