Discover the green heart of Turkey's Black Sea coast and the ancient heartland of Anatolia on this eight-day tour, a scenic private circuit from Ankara arranged in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator since 2007 and led by your own English-speaking guide. From the mist-wreathed plateaus and tea gardens of the Black Sea to the Sümela Monastery, Lake Uzungöl and the Hittite capital of Hattusha, it reveals a side of Turkey few visitors ever see.
From Ankara you head north to Kastamonu, a land of deep canyons and lush forest, and the northernmost city of Sinop with its castle and famous historic prison. Travelling the Black Sea coast through Samsun, Ordu and Giresun, you cross the Zigana Pass and the village of Hamsiköy to the spectacular Sümela Monastery, carved into a cliff above the Altındere Valley near Trabzon.
You continue to the celebrated mountain lake of Uzungöl, the tea gardens of Rize and the alpine plateau of Ayder, then the dramatic Fırtına Valley with its stone bridges, waterfalls and highlands. Turning inland the tour takes in the Pontic city of Amasya on the Yeşilırmak, the Hittite capital of Hattuşa and the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya near Çorum, and finishes in Ankara at Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk. With comfortable hotels, daily meals, guiding and private transport included, it is a rich journey through the landscapes and history of northern Turkey. Prices are per person and fall as your group grows.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
You are met at Ankara Airport and drive north to Kastamonu, crossing the scenic Ilgaz Mountains with a lunch stop on the way. A historic city of canyons, forests and old mansions, Kastamonu welcomes you with free time to explore its clock tower and streets. Dinner and overnight in Kastamonu.
You drive to Sinop, Turkey's northernmost city, to see the 8th-century-BC castle and the famous historic prison, the "Alcatraz of Anatolia", then the Akliman Nature Park and Hamsilos fjord, the İnceburun lighthouse and a traditional model-ship workshop, before continuing via the seafood port of Gerze to Samsun. Dinner and overnight in Samsun.
From Samsun's Tobacco Pier, symbol of the War of Independence, you travel the coast to Ordu for a cable-car ride up Boztepe, then Giresun with its island and castle, before crossing the Zigana Pass and Hamsiköy village and descending the Altındere Valley to the cliff-set Sümela Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
You tour Trabzon — the frescoed Hagia Sophia and the Atatürk Pavilion — then drive to the celebrated mountain lake of Uzungöl for lunch and free time, visit a Rize weaving workshop and tea gardens, and continue via Çamlıhemşin to the alpine plateau of Ayder for a walk and tea with the locals. Dinner and overnight in Ayder.
From Ayder you explore the Fırtına (Storm) Valley with Zilkale castle and the village of Çinçiva, where optional rafting, zipline and giant-swing activities are available, plus the Palovit Waterfall and old stone bridges. You visit a tea factory and the Sürmene knife workshops before driving to Tokat. Dinner and overnight in Tokat.
You drive to the broad Perşembe Plateau before visiting Amasya, the "city of princes" on the Yeşilırmak River, with its Şehzadeler Park, the Sultan Bayezid II Complex, bay-windowed Ottoman houses, clock tower and the rock-cut tombs of the kings of Pontus. Dinner and overnight in Tokat.
After a short Tokat city tour you head to Çorum and the Hittite sites: Alacahöyük with its royal tombs and museum, the capital Hattuşa (Boğazköy) with its Lion's Gate and city walls, and the open-air rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, before continuing to Ankara. Dinner and overnight in Ankara.
A sightseeing tour of the capital, including the government district and Anıtkabir, the Mausoleum of Atatürk with its museum, followed by free time before your departure transfer to Ankara Airport, ending the tour.
Kastamonu → Sinop, Samsun → Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon → Uzungöl, Rize, Ayder → Fırtına Valley, Tokat → Amasya, Tokat → Hattuşa, Ankara → Ankara
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 — Kastamonu, Sinop, Samsun, Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Uzungöl, Rize, Ayder, Fırtına Valley, Tokat, Amasya, Tokat, Hattuşa, Ankara, Ankara.
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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!