Turkish Thrace, the corner of the country that lies in Europe, is often overlooked by travellers heading straight for Istanbul, yet it holds one of the finest Ottoman cities and a wine tradition that reaches back to antiquity. This four-day journey links the two. It begins in Edirne, the Ottoman capital before the conquest of Constantinople, and ends among the vineyards and riverside forests of Kirklareli. Arrival and departure are through Corlu-Tekirdag airport, with one night in Edirne and two nights in the Kirklareli area.
A full guided day in Edirne takes in the Eski Mosque, the Uc Serefeli Mosque with its four individually designed minarets, and the Selimiye Mosque, which the architect Sinan considered his masterpiece and which is listed by UNESCO. Between the monuments you walk past old caravan lodgings and former religious schools, browse the Selimiye Arasta and the Ali Pasa covered bazaar, and visit the Health Museum in the Beyazit Complex, a 15th-century hospital known for treating patients with music and water. Lunch is the city's signature dish, crisp pan-fried lamb's liver, while your guide introduces other local specialities such as Rumeli begendi, liver sarma and Elbasan tava.
The third day is dedicated to the countryside of Kirklareli. At the estate of Arcadia Vineyards you learn how every bottle is made from grapes grown on its own 35 hectares, where nine varieties ranging from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese to the Anatolian Okuzgozu and Narince are cultivated, and you taste wines with notes of melon, blueberry, apple and peach. Afterwards the tour continues to the Longoz forests, a flooded woodland whose mixed trees, eight to fifteen metres tall, stand in water through winter and spring. Breakfast every day, two local lunches, guided tours, entrance fees and all transfers are included.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Days 3 Nights |
| Price | From β¬551 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 10 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
You are met on arrival at Corlu-Tekirdag airport and driven north across the Thracian plain to your hotel in Edirne. After check-in the rest of the day is free. A first stroll through the centre gives you a glimpse of the minarets that dominate the skyline and of the lively streets around the old bazaars, but there are no guided visits or meals planned today. Overnight in Edirne.
After breakfast your guide collects you for a day among Edirne's Ottoman monuments. You pass historic inns and former schools of religious learning, and visit the Eski Mosque, the Uc Serefeli Mosque, crowned by four differently patterned minarets, and Sinan's celebrated Selimiye Mosque. There is time to shop in the Selimiye Arasta or the Ali Pasa covered bazaar and to visit the Health Museum in the Beyazit Complex. At midday you sit down to a lunch of Edirne-style fried liver. In the afternoon you are driven east to Kirklareli. Overnight in Kirklareli.
Following breakfast you head into the vineyards of Kirklareli, a wine-producing region from ancient times until the First World War. At Arcadia Vineyards you hear how the estate grows nine grape varieties on 35 hectares and makes its wines entirely from its own fruit, before tasting a selection of them. Lunch is included during the day. The excursion then continues to the Longoz forests, a mixed woodland that lies under water for much of winter and spring. You are driven back to your hotel afterwards. Overnight in Kirklareli.
After breakfast you check out of the hotel and are transferred to Corlu-Tekirdag airport for your flight home. Our services end here; we hope these days among the mosques of Edirne and the vineyards of Thrace have shown you a side of Turkey that few visitors discover, and we look forward to seeing you again.
Edirne β Edirne, Kirklareli β Kirklareli, Longoz Forests β Kirklareli
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
π₯ 55 Seats
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
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π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 46 Seats
π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
π₯ 35 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Edirne, Edirne, Kirklareli, Kirklareli, Longoz Forests, Kirklareli.
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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 β 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!