Take your time to savour western and north-eastern Turkey on this leisurely nineteen-day package that pairs ten nights in imperial Istanbul with the green mountains, plateaus and lakes of the Black Sea, arranged in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator since 2007 with English-speaking guides. With guided tours balanced by plenty of free days, it is an unhurried way to experience Istanbul, Bursa, Sapanca, Trabzon, Rize's highlands and the famous lake of Uzungöl.
Ten nights in Istanbul give you time to tour the old city — the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and Topkapı Palace — to cruise the Bosphorus and ride the Pierre Loti cable car over the Golden Horn, and to take day trips to Bursa, the first Ottoman capital reached by ferry across the Marmara, and to the forests and lake of Sapanca and Maşukiye, with free days to relax and explore at your own pace.
A domestic flight then carries you to the Black Sea and Trabzon, base for an excursion to the dramatic Fırtına Valley and the alpine plateau of Ayder, with the waterfalls and stone bridges of the Kaçkar Mountains, and a panoramic stop in the tea country of Rize. You continue to the celebrated mountain lake of Uzungöl for several relaxed nights amid emerald forests, before returning via Trabzon to Istanbul for your final days. With comfortable hotels, daily breakfasts and guiding included, it is a generous, easy-paced grand tour of two very different sides of Turkey. Prices are per person and fall as your group grows.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
A guided tour of the old city: the Blue Mosque with its 17th-century İznik tiles, the ancient Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and Topkapı Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans. Overnight in Istanbul.
A Bosphorus boat cruise along the strait that divides Europe and Asia, followed by the Pierre Loti Hill above the Golden Horn, reached by cable car, for a lovely view of the city. Overnight in Istanbul.
A free day to relax and explore Istanbul at your own pace. Overnight in Istanbul.
A full day to Bursa, crossing the Marmara by car ferry via Yalova. You ride the Uludağ cable car, enjoy a barbecue lunch and free time on the mountain, see the 600-year-old plane tree and visit the Green Mosque and the silk bazaar before returning to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
You drive to the green village of Maşukiye, famous for its trout restaurants, then Kartepe for panoramic views, and finish by Sapanca Lake with a walk and Turkish tea by the water before returning to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
A free day to relax and enjoy the city at your own pace. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you transfer to the airport for your flight to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast, and are met and taken to your hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.
A free day to relax and explore the historic city of Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.
A scenic day with a stop in Rize for views from the Botanic Garden, then the Fırtına (Storm) Valley past Çamlıhemşin, Şenyuva Bridge and Zil Kale to the Ayder Plateau, with a gentle trek to the Göksu Fall amid waterfalls, stone bridges and green forests beneath the Kaçkar Mountains. Overnight in Trabzon.
Another free day to enjoy Trabzon and its surroundings at leisure. Overnight in Trabzon.
You drive to the celebrated mountain lake of Uzungöl, framed by forested peaks, with the rest of the day free. Overnight in Uzungöl.
A free day to walk, photograph and relax amid the lake and highland scenery. Overnight in Uzungöl.
Another free day to enjoy the tranquil lake, forests and mountain villages. Overnight in Uzungöl.
A further free day in the Uzungöl highlands at your own pace. Overnight in Uzungöl.
After breakfast you transfer to Trabzon Airport for your flight back to Istanbul and are met and taken to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
A free day at leisure in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
Another free day to shop, explore or relax in Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast and check-out you are transferred to Istanbul Airport for your onward flight, ending your nineteen-day Istanbul and Black Sea package.
Handpicked 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels along your route. Choose your category — the price adapts.
Exact hotels are confirmed on booking based on availability and your chosen category; equivalent alternatives may be offered.
Istanbul → Bursa → Sapanca, Maşukiye → Istanbul → Trabzon → Ayder, Rize → Trabzon → Uzungöl → Istanbul
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, Bursa, Sapanca, Maşukiye, Trabzon, Ayder, Rize, Uzungöl.
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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!