7-Day Black Sea & Istanbul Tour – Kastamonu, Amasra & Sinop

On arrival at Ankara Esenboga Airport you are welcomed by your guide and board your coach for the journey north to Kastamonu, about 250 kilometres and roughly four hours away. The road gradually leaves the Central Anatolian plateau and climbs into greener, forested country on the edge of the Black Sea region. On arrival you check in to your hotel and have free time to rest after your flight or take a short walk in the city centre. Dinner is served in the evening. Overnight in Kastamonu.

After breakfast you set off on a guided tour of Kastamonu and its surroundings. The province is known for steep, forest-clad canyons rich in wildlife, high plateaus, caves, sandy coves and historic mansions, as well as the ancient city of Pompeiopolis and the Ilgaz ski area. Today's drive crosses the Ilgaz Mountains, rewarding you with wide mountain panoramas, and includes a lunch stop along the way. Back in the city you have free time after returning to the hotel to explore the restored Ottoman mansions, see the Clock Tower that overlooks the town, visit the Kastamonu Archaeology Museum and enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee cooked slowly on embers, a local tradition. Dinner and overnight in Kastamonu.

After breakfast you drive down to the Black Sea coast to the charming town of Amasra, known in antiquity as Amastris. Walk up to the citadel for views over the two harbours, cross the Roman-era Kemere Bridge and take photographs of the colourful fishing boats and houses along the waterfront. In the Cekiciler Bazaar local artisans sell hand-made items carved from regional wood, ideal souvenirs of the trip. Lunch is included during the day. Depending on the time available, you either continue along the scenic coast road to Cakraz Beach and the village of Kurucasile, or visit the traditional villages around Safranbolu. In the evening you return to your hotel for dinner. Overnight in Kastamonu.

Following breakfast you first visit the Nasrullah Mosque or the Seyh Saban-i Veli complex in Kastamonu and stroll through the local bazaar. The road then heads north to Sinop, the northernmost city of Turkey, set on a peninsula in the Black Sea. Here you see Hamsilos Cove, a narrow, fjord-like inlet framed by green hills, the massive walls of Sinop Fortress and the Historical Prison Museum, a former fortress jail that is now one of the city's most atmospheric sights. If time allows you also visit the Pervane Madrasah and the Alaaddin Mosque from the Seljuk period. Lunch is included along the way, and after the visits you drive back to Kastamonu for dinner. Overnight in Kastamonu.

After breakfast you check out and drive back to Ankara Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel. The journey from the Black Sea highlands to the Bosphorus marks a complete change of scenery, from quiet forested valleys to one of the world's great metropolises. The rest of the afternoon is free for your first impressions of the city that spans Europe and Asia – perhaps a walk along the waterfront or through the streets around your hotel. Dinner is served in the evening. Overnight in Istanbul.

After breakfast you begin a guided tour of Istanbul's historic peninsula at the Hippodrome, once the setting for chariot races, with its three monuments: the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Next you visit the Sultanahmet Mosque, better known as the Blue Mosque for the blue Iznik tiles of its interior. You then see from outside Hagia Sophia, for a thousand years the largest church in the world and famous for its 6th-century golden mosaics, Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for centuries and home to the Imperial Treasury, and the Basilica Cistern, the largest covered cistern in the city. Entry to Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern is optional and paid at the door. Lunch is included, and dinner is served at a restaurant in the city. Women should carry a headscarf for mosque visits. Overnight in Istanbul.

Enjoy an open-buffet breakfast at your hotel before checking out. You are then transferred to Istanbul Airport for your flight home, taking with you memories of Black Sea fortresses, Ottoman mansions and Istanbul's great monuments. If your flight leaves later in the day, you may use the free time for a last stroll through the city or a visit to Topkapi Palace or the Basilica Cistern at your own expense. We hope you enjoyed discovering this hidden corner of Turkey with us. End of our services.