This eleven-day journey links two very different faces of Turkey: the misty green highlands of the eastern Black Sea and the imperial monuments of Istanbul. The first four nights are spent in Trabzon, from where guided day trips explore the city, the tea-covered hills of Rize, the Ayder plateau and the mountain lake of Uzungol. On day five you fly to Istanbul for six nights, with a Bosphorus cruise, a day in Sultanahmet, a boat trip to Buyukada and an excursion to Bursa and Mount Uludag, plus a free day for shopping before your departure.
In Trabzon you walk through the Ortahisar quarter, see the historic Kanuni House associated with the youth of Suleiman the Magnificent, visit the Ataturk Mansion among pine trees and the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, renowned for its art and architecture, then enjoy the greenery of Akcaabat, a pause at Sera Lake and the view over the city from Boztepe. The Ayder day includes a Rize workshop introducing traditional Laz weaving, tea gardens along the coast, the Firtina Stream, a rafting school, waterfalls on the plateau and an old Ottoman stone bridge. On the Uzungol day you stop at a knife shop in Surmene and a tea factory to learn how leaves become the cup on your table, before free time at the lake and a break at a wooden bridge on the way back.
In Istanbul the Spice Bazaar precedes a cruise on the Bosphorus past Rumeli Fortress, seen from the water. Sultanahmet brings Hagia Sophia, built in the 6th century under Justinian, the Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles, the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain, and the Grand Bazaar. Buyukada offers Ottoman mansions, Victorian villas and beaches, and the Bursa trip crosses by ferry via Yalova for an Iskender kebab lunch, the cable car to Uludag, the Grand Mosque, Green Mosque and Green Mausoleum, the old Silk Market and tea beneath the 600-year-old Inkaya plane tree. Ten nights of hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, two lunches, guided tours in English, air-conditioned tour transport and listed entrance fees are included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 11 Days 10 Nights |
| Price | From €3,381 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 14 |
| 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.
Welcome to Trabzon, often called the pearl of the Black Sea and admired for its natural scenery. After landing at Trabzon Airport, make your way to the hotel and check in; the rest of the day is free to settle in and take a first look around the city. Please note that airport transfers are not part of the package price. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast the guided tour starts in the Ortahisar neighbourhood and at the historic Kanuni House, linked to the upbringing of Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent. Continue to the Ataturk Mansion, set among pine trees, and the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, a masterpiece of Byzantine art and architecture. Enjoy the green countryside of Akcaabat, take a break by Sera Lake and finish at Boztepe, where the whole of Trabzon spreads out below you. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast drive east along the coast. A stop at a Rize fabric workshop introduces traditional Laz weaving, and the road then follows tea gardens to the Firtina Stream. Continue up to Ayder, visit the rafting school and admire the waterfalls near the top of the plateau. Free time follows for lunch, which is not included, and for exploring Ayder. On the way back pause at the old Ottoman stone bridge over the Firtina Stream before returning to Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.
Following breakfast, the first stop is a well-known knife shop in Surmene, followed by a tea factory where you learn how leaves picked in the gardens are processed by master tea makers. Continue to the Uzungol area to photograph its lake and forested slopes, with free time for lunch at your own expense and a lakeside walk. On the return journey stop at a wooden bridge before heading back to Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast at the hotel, head to Trabzon Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. The flight and airport transfers are not included in the package and are arranged separately. On arrival, continue to your hotel in the city centre and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, begin with a visit to the Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Bazaar, filled with the scents of countless spices. Then board a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus, the strait dividing Europe and Asia, passing Rumeli Fortress, which is viewed from the water without an interior visit. After the tour return to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast explore Sultanahmet, the old centre from which the Byzantine and Ottoman empires were governed. Visit Hagia Sophia, completed in the 6th century under Emperor Justinian, and the Blue Mosque, built in 1609-1616 and famous for its blue Iznik tiles. Walk the ancient Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the German Fountain of Wilhelm II, then lose yourself in the lanes of the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast cross the Sea of Marmara by boat to Buyukada, the largest of the Princes' Islands and a peaceful seaside escape from the city. See its grand Ottoman mansions, old wooden houses and Victorian summer villas, hear about the island's history and enjoy time on the beach, with lunch at a seaside restaurant included. In the afternoon sail back to the mainland and return to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast take the ferry via Yalova, enjoying the countryside, and drive to Bursa, a former Ottoman capital, for a lunch of the famous Iskender kebab. Ride the cable car up Uludag, the ancient Mount Olympus, then visit the Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque and Green Mausoleum and the old Silk Market within Bursa's bazaar district. Finish with Turkish tea under the Inkaya plane tree, more than 600 years old. Return to Istanbul in the late evening. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast the day is yours for shopping and leisure. Revisit a favourite bazaar, stroll along the waterfront or simply relax at your hotel before the journey home. Optional sights such as Topkapi Palace or the Basilica Cistern are not included but can be visited on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
Enjoy a final breakfast before checking out of your hotel and travelling to the airport for your international flight home, bringing to an end eleven days between the Black Sea highlands and the Bosphorus.
Trabzon → Trabzon, Akcaabat, Sera Lake, Boztepe → Rize, Firtina Valley, Ayder → Surmene, Uzungol → Trabzon to Istanbul → Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus → Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar → Buyukada, Princes' Islands → Yalova, Bursa, Uludag → Istanbul at leisure → Istanbul departure
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Trabzon, Trabzon, Akcaabat, Sera Lake, Boztepe, Rize, Firtina Valley, Ayder, Surmene, Uzungol, Trabzon to Istanbul, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus, Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar, Buyukada, Princes' Islands, Yalova, Bursa, Uludag, Istanbul at leisure, Istanbul 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!