This seven-day journey pairs the grand monuments of Istanbul with the forested lakes, Ottoman towns and timber mansions of Turkiye's Western Black Sea region, a corner of the country most visitors never reach. Planned in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator, it carries you from the minarets of the historic peninsula to the glassy waters of Golcuk Lake and Abant, the sea-cliffs of Amasra and the UNESCO-listed streets of Safranbolu. It is a route built for travellers who want the famous sights and the quiet, green heart of Anatolia in a single week.
The tour opens in Istanbul, where the historic peninsula delivers Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome and the covered lanes of the Grand Bazaar, with the option of a Bosphorus cruise and the Basilica Cistern. From the city the road climbs into Bolu province, past the Yildirim Beyazit Mosque and Orta Hamam to the crater lake of Golcuk and the alpine basin of Abant Lake National Park, where nature walks, horseback riding and phaeton rides fill the afternoon beneath beech and fir forest.
The second half turns coastal and historic. In Devrek you watch the town's famous walking-cane craftsmen at work before descending to the Black Sea at Bartin and Amasra, a Genoese-era harbour town of fishing boats, the Amasra Castle, its lighthouse, the Amasra Museum and the Cekiciler craft bazaar. The route then enters Safranbolu, whose preserved Ottoman mansions, Clock Tower, Koprulu Mehmet Pasa Mosque, Arasta Bazaar, Turkish-delight workshops and the Tokatli Canyon terrace form one of Turkiye's finest open-air museums, followed by the traditional Yoruk Village, the province of Karabuk and the time-capsule bazaar and mansions of Mudurnu before the return to Istanbul.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Welcome to Turkiye. On arrival you are met at Istanbul Airport and transferred to your hotel, where you receive your room key. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and begin exploring the city at your own pace, with the optional evening Bosphorus dinner cruise available on request. Overnight in Istanbul.
After an open-buffet breakfast you tour the historic peninsula: the soaring dome of Hagia Sophia, the imperial courtyards of Topkapi Palace, the ancient chariot-racing ground of the Hippodrome Square with its Egyptian obelisk, the tiled interior of the Blue Mosque and the labyrinth of the Grand Bazaar. Entry to the underground Basilica Cistern Museum is available as an option. Lunch is included during the tour. Overnight in Istanbul.
You leave the city for Bolu province, stopping at the Yildirim Beyazit Mosque and the historic Orta Hamam before reaching the crater lake of Golcuk, ringed by forest and wooden walkways. The afternoon is spent at Abant Lake National Park, where you can enjoy nature walks, horseback riding and traditional phaeton rides around the shore. Dinner and overnight in the Bolu area.
This morning you visit a Devrek walking-cane workshop to see the town's signature craft, then head to the Black Sea coast at Bartin and the harbour town of Amasra. Here you explore the Amasra Museum, the Genoese-era Amasra Castle and lighthouse, and the Cekiciler craft bazaar, with views over the twin bays. Lunch is included before you continue inland to Safranbolu, pausing at the Tokatli Canyon viewing terrace. Overnight in Safranbolu.
A full day in UNESCO-listed Safranbolu, wandering its preserved Ottoman mansions, the Government Building, the Clock Tower, the Koprulu Mehmet Pasa Mosque and the Arasta Bazaar, with a stop at a traditional Turkish-delight workshop. In the afternoon you visit the nearby Yoruk Village, a living museum of nomadic Anatolian life. Dinner and overnight in Safranbolu.
Travelling back through the province of Karabuk, you reach the historic town of Mudurnu, famous for its Ottoman timber mansions, old bazaar, the Mudurnu Museum, the Yildirim Beyazit Mosque and a centuries-old Turkish bath. Lunch is included before the drive back to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast and hotel check-out, the tour comes to an end. You are transferred to Istanbul Airport in good time for your onward flight. Farewell to Turkiye.
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 → Golcuk Lake, Bolu, Abant → Devrek, Bartin, Amasra, Safranbolu → Safranbolu, Yoruk Village → Karabuk, Mudurnu, Istanbul → Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul, Golcuk Lake, Bolu, Abant, Devrek, Bartin, Amasra, Safranbolu, Safranbolu, Yoruk Village, Karabuk, Mudurnu, Istanbul.
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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!