This six-day tour pairs Istanbul's great monuments with the mountains and tea valleys of Turkey's north-east. Three nights in Istanbul cover the old city and the Bosphorus; a short flight then brings you to Trabzon, base for two days among highland villages, waterfalls and one of the country's most dramatic monasteries.
In Istanbul you visit Topkapı Palace, residence of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, the Blue Mosque with its Iznik tiles, the Hippodrome with its ancient obelisk and columns, and the fragrant Spice Bazaar. The next day a boat follows the Bosphorus past Dolmabahçe, Çırağan and Beylerbeyi palaces, Ortaköy and the Rumeli Fortress, followed by visits to a carpet-weaving course, a jewellery and handicraft centre and a leather fashion show.
From Trabzon Airport you drive straight east to Ayder, a plateau village at about 1,300 m in a waterfall-laced valley at the edge of Kaçkar Mountains National Park, stopping at the Eskitoğlu Waterfall, Rize Castle and Rize city centre on the way. The next morning you call at a tea factory and the tiled Hapsiyas Bridge en route to Uzungöl, the forest-ringed lake seen on countless postcards, and ends at Sumela Monastery, built into a cliff 300 m above the Altındere Valley.
Hotels, daily breakfast, guided tours, transport and airport transfers are included. The domestic flights between Istanbul and Trabzon, and the Topkapı Palace entrance, are paid separately.
| Tour type | Shared small group · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days 5 Nights |
| Price | From €922 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | English-speaking licensed guide |
| Stops | 6 |
| 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 team meets you at Istanbul Airport and transfers you to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Depart at 08:30 to visit Topkapı Palace, seat of Ottoman rule for some 400 years with its treasury, porcelain collection and sacred relics, the Blue Mosque with its blue Iznik tiles, and the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Column of Constantine. After a lunch break, explore the Spice Bazaar, filled with spices, Turkish delight, coffee and souvenirs. When Topkapı is closed (Tuesdays) the Basilica Cistern is visited instead. Please bring a headscarf for the mosque. The evening is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
Pick-up around 08:00 for a boat trip along the strait between Europe and Asia, passing wooden mansions, Dolmabahçe and Çırağan palaces, Yıldız, Ortaköy, the Rumeli Fortress and Beylerbeyi Palace. After a lunch break at a Turkish restaurant, see silk and carpet weaving at a training centre, then visit a jewellery and handicraft centre and a leather fashion show. The evening is free; your guide can advise on optional museums such as the Basilica Cistern or the Archaeology Museum. Overnight in Istanbul.
Transfer early to the airport for your flight to Trabzon. From Trabzon drive east to Ayder, a plateau at about 1,300 m in a green valley ribboned with waterfalls near Kaçkar Mountains National Park. Along the way see the Eskitoğlu Waterfall, Rize Castle and Rize city centre, then continue to Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.
Drive to Uzungöl, with stops at the tiled Hapsiyas Bridge and at a tea plant where you follow the whole production process. Enjoy free time by the forest-ringed lake for lunch and photos. Then continue to Sumela Monastery, known locally as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary, set into a cliff face at 1,150 m in the Altındere Valley near Maçka. Drive back to your Trabzon hotel for the night.
After breakfast, transfer to Trabzon Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul.
Istanbul – Arrival → Istanbul – Old City Tour → Istanbul – Bosphorus Cruise & Crafts → Rize – Ayder Plateau → Trabzon – Uzungöl & Sumela → Trabzon – Departure
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
👥 55 Seats
👥 54 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 50 Seats
👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
👥 37 Seats
👥 35 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul – Arrival, Istanbul – Old City Tour, Istanbul – Bosphorus Cruise & Crafts, Rize – Ayder Plateau, Trabzon – Uzungöl & Sumela, Trabzon – Departure.
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Daily
Fill in your details and we confirm your private departure within 24 hours.
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!