The longest of our Kocaeli programmes, this six-day, five-night journey shows two faces of the province: the historic city on the Gulf of Izmit and the green countryside of lakes, forests and waterfalls that surrounds it. Each day has a different theme, from Ottoman monuments and naval history to regional cooking, a relaxing hamam and a scenic excursion, with airport transfers at Kocaeli-Cengiz Topel Airport bookending the trip.
The city tour introduces Kasr-i Humayun, the pavilion that hosted Sultan Abdulaziz on his hunts, and the Clock Tower that marks Sultan Abdulhamid II's silver jubilee. You will explore the Gayret Ship Museum aboard a retired warship, the Kocaeli Museum housed in the old railway station, and the sixteenth-century Coban Mustafa Pasa Mosque in Gebze. A day later you cook with a restaurant chef, learning Kocaeli dishes, salads and desserts that become your lunch, then shop in the centre for pismaniye, the region's floss-like sweet. Day four offers a traditional Turkish bath followed by free time to enjoy the city on your own.
Day five heads out of town to the natural side of the region. You will see Sapanca Lake, framed by wooded hills, the leafy resort area of Masukiye with its streams and waterfalls, and the Darica Bird Paradise and Theme Park on the Marmara shore. Five nights of hotel accommodation, five breakfasts, two lunches, a professional English-speaking guide, comfortable air-conditioned transport, all listed entrance fees and hotel, tour and transfer taxes are included, while flights, city tax, visa, insurance, drinks and tips remain at your own expense.
| Tour type | Shared small group · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days 5 Nights |
| Price | From €904 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | English-speaking licensed guide |
| Stops | 9 |
| 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.
You are met at Kocaeli-Cengiz Topel Airport and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. After checking in, the day is yours to relax and recover from your journey. Overnight in Kocaeli.
Following breakfast your guide takes you through the highlights of Kocaeli. See Kasr-i Humayun, the hunting pavilion of Sultan Abdulaziz, and the Clock Tower built in honour of Sultan Abdulhamid II's jubilee. Go aboard the Gayret Ship Museum, visit the Kocaeli Museum in the historic station building and admire the Coban Mustafa Pasa Mosque. Lunch is included today. Return to your hotel for the night.
After breakfast you are driven to a local restaurant where the chef runs a hands-on class, with your guide explaining each stage. You prepare a lunch of Kocaeli specialities with salads and desserts and enjoy it together. Then spend free time in the city centre, perhaps choosing pismaniye, the delicate pulled-sugar sweet that Kocaeli is renowned for. Overnight in Kocaeli.
Today you are collected from the hotel and taken to a hamam for a traditional Turkish bath, scheduled around your wishes and the bath's opening hours. Afterwards, enjoy free time and shopping in the centre, and keep the rest of the day for yourself. Overnight in Kocaeli.
After breakfast, set off to discover the natural scenery that surrounds the city, a land of waterfalls, rivers, springs and dense forest. Visit the shores of Sapanca Lake, continue to Masukiye, a green retreat popular for its streams and woodland, and stop at the Darica Bird Paradise and Theme Park. Return to your hotel afterwards. Overnight in Kocaeli.
After a final breakfast and check-out, a private car brings you back to Kocaeli-Cengiz Topel Airport, where the trip ends.
Kocaeli → Sapanca Lake, Masukiye, Darica → Kocaeli
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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👥 46 Seats
👥 37+2 Seats
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👥 35 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route — Kocaeli, Sapanca Lake, Masukiye, Darica.
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Other private and group tours that visit the same destination.
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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!