This fortnight combines the monuments of Istanbul with the tea hills of the Black Sea and the Ottoman heartland around Bursa. After two guided days in Istanbul, you see the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia, then take a Bosphorus cruise past palaces and fortresses, and a shopping visit to local workshops.
A short flight carries you to Trabzon, your base for four nights. Day trips cover the city itself with Kanuni House, the Ataturk Mansion, Sera Lake and Boztepe, the rafting valley and highland of Ayder along the Firtina Stream, and Uzungol Lake with a knife-maker in Surmene and a tea factory on the way. You then fly back to Istanbul and continue by ferry to Bursa for the Uludag cable car, the Grand Mosque, the Green Mosque and the Inkaya plane tree.
The last part of the holiday returns to Istanbul for a day on Buyukada in the Princes’ Islands, a nature day at Masukiye and Sapanca Lake, and a free day for shopping. Accommodation is in 5-star Istanbul and hotels in Trabzon and Bursa, with daily breakfast, several lunches and the domestic flights included.
The tour is fully guided in English and uses comfortable coaches. Wear sturdy shoes for the plateau paths, carry some Turkish lira for small villages where cash machines are scarce, and pack a scarf for mosque visits.
Because the flights and ferries are built into the price, there is little to organise yourself: the Trabzon leg and the Bursa leg each have a guided full-day tour, and the two free-time slots in Istanbul and the plateaus let you set your own pace. Good value for travellers who want classic sights and green landscapes in a single trip rather than two separate holidays.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 14 Days 13 Nights |
| Price | From €4,604 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.
Our staff greet you at Istanbul Airport and take you to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free to settle in. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you start at the Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races, then see the Blue Mosque with its Iznik-tiled interior and the great Byzantine monument of Hagia Sophia. Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern are viewed from outside; entering them is optional and paid at the door. Bring a scarf for the mosque visits. Dinner at a restaurant and overnight in Istanbul.
You are collected at 08:30 for a boat trip between Europe and Asia, passing Dolmabahce Palace, Yildiz Park, Ciragan Palace and the village of Ortakoy, with Rumeli Fortress, Beylerbeyi Palace and the Bosphorus Bridge along the way. The tour ends with a stop at Camlica Hill for the city panorama, followed by a shopping visit to a carpet-weaving centre, jewellery and handicraft workshops and a leather showroom. The evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you are driven to Istanbul Airport for the domestic flight to Trabzon, then transferred to your city-centre hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.
Your guide leads you through the Ortahisar quarter and the historic Kanuni House, then to the Ataturk Mansion among the pines and the Ayasofya Museum. After a green stop in the Akcaabat area you continue to Sera Lake for a break and finish at Boztepe Hill, where all of Trabzon spreads out below. Overnight in Trabzon.
On the road east you visit a Rize weaving workshop that introduces Laz culture, then follow the tea gardens of the Black Sea coast to the Firtina Stream. At Ayder you see the rafting school and the waterfalls of the highland, with free time for lunch and a walk. On the return you stop by the old Ottoman stone bridge and the stream. Overnight in Trabzon.
The first stop is a traditional knife workshop in Surmene, followed by a Black Sea tea factory where you hear how tea gets from garden to cup. You then reach the Uzungol area for photos and free time for lunch by the lake. On the way back a break is made at the wooden-tiled bridge. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast you transfer to Trabzon Airport for the flight to Istanbul, then continue by ferry to Bursa and on to your hotel. Overnight in Bursa.
A day of Ottoman sights: lunch of Bursa kebab, a cable car ride up Uludag, Ulucami, the Green Mosque, plus the Green Mausoleum, and the Silk Market inside the Covered Bazaar. The route also stops at the Inkaya plane tree, more than 600 years old, for tea in its shade. Overnight in Bursa.
After breakfast you cross by ferry back to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
A boat crosses the Sea of Marmara to Buyukada, the biggest of the Princes’ Islands, a car-free seaside town of Ottoman mansions and Victorian summer villas. There is time for the beach and a fish lunch at a seaside restaurant. Overnight in Istanbul.
A full-day nature trip to Masukiye village and Sapanca Lake. From March to November the afternoon includes Ormania Natural Habitat Park; in winter it is replaced by the Kartepe snow resort. Zipline and ATV rides in Masukiye are optional extras. Return to Istanbul for the night.
A free day to shop and explore Istanbul on your own. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for your international flight.
Istanbul (Arrival) → Istanbul Old City → Bosphorus Cruise & Shopping → Istanbul to Trabzon (Flight) → Trabzon, Sera Lake & Boztepe → Ayder Plateau & Firtina Stream → Uzungol Lake → Trabzon to Istanbul & Bursa → Bursa & Uludag → Bursa to Istanbul → Princes Islands → Sapanca & Masukiye → Istanbul Free Day → Istanbul (Departure)
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul (Arrival), Istanbul Old City, Bosphorus Cruise & Shopping, Istanbul to Trabzon (Flight), Trabzon, Sera Lake & Boztepe, Ayder Plateau & Firtina Stream, Uzungol Lake, Trabzon to Istanbul & Bursa, Bursa & Uludag, Bursa to Istanbul, Princes Islands, Sapanca & Masukiye, Istanbul Free Day, 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!