This eight-day private journey links two very different faces of Turkey: the imperial monuments of Istanbul and the green, mist-wrapped highlands of the eastern Black Sea. You spend four nights in Istanbul and three nights in Trabzon, connected by domestic flights, with a professional English-speaking guide on every touring day and air-conditioned non-smoking transport for all excursions. The pace is comfortable, with full days of sightseeing balanced by flight days and free evenings.
In Istanbul the old city tour covers the Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine, then the Blue Mosque, built between 1609 and 1616 and named for its blue Iznik tiles. You also see Hagia Sophia, the 6th-century masterpiece of Byzantine architecture that is now a mosque, along with the exteriors of Topkapi Palace, seat of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, and the Basilica Cistern, the largest covered cistern in the city; entry to the palace and cistern can be paid on site if you wish to go inside. Later in the trip a cruise on the Bosphorus between Europe and Asia passes Rumeli Fortress, preceded by a stroll through the fragrant Spice Bazaar.
From Trabzon, two full-day excursions explore the Black Sea hinterland. The Ayder day visits a Rize fabric weaving workshop that introduces Laz culture, follows the tea gardens and the Firtina Stream to a rafting school and the waterfalls of Ayder Plateau, and stops at an old Ottoman stone bridge on the way back. The Uzungol day includes the historic knife makers of Surmene, a tea factory where you learn how leaves become the national drink, free time beside Uzungol Lake and a pause at a wooden bridge. The package includes daily breakfasts and the lunches noted in the programme.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 Days 7 Nights |
| Price | From €2,648 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 14 |
| 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.
Welcome to Istanbul, a city that has been the capital of empires for centuries. After arriving, transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast the guided tour begins at the Hippodrome, once the stage for chariot races, with its Obelisk of Theodosius, bronze Serpentine Column and Column of Constantine. Next is the Blue Mosque, completed in the early 17th century and famed for its Iznik tiles, followed by Hagia Sophia, the great Byzantine church of the 6th century, now a mosque. You also see Topkapi Palace and the Basilica Cistern from the outside; entrance tickets for these two can be bought on the spot if you wish to visit them. Please bring a scarf for the mosque visits. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you are taken to Istanbul Airport for your domestic flight to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in the city centre and relax for the rest of the day. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast, drive east to a workshop in Rize where traditional fabric weaving reflects Laz culture. Following the coast and its tea gardens you reach the Firtina Stream, continue to the rafting school and climb to Ayder Plateau to admire the waterfalls near the top of the highland, with free time for lunch and a walk. On the return to Trabzon you stop at the old Ottoman stone bridge over the Firtina Stream. Overnight in Trabzon.
Today begins with a visit to a long-established knife shop in Surmene, known for its handmade blades, followed by a tea factory where you hear how leaves travel from the slopes to the teacup. The road then climbs to Uzungol, where you photograph the lake and its forested valley and enjoy free time for lunch at the lakeside. On the way back you pause at a wooden covered bridge before returning to your hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.
After breakfast you are taken to Trabzon Airport for your flight back to Istanbul, then transferred to your hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is free. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you first wander the Spice Bazaar, also called the Egyptian Bazaar, filled with the scents of countless spices. Then board a boat for a cruise along the Bosphorus, the strait that separates Europe from Asia, viewing Rumeli Fortress from the water. After the tour you return to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international flight home.
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 → Trabzon → Rize, Firtina Valley, Ayder → Surmene, Uzungol → Istanbul → Bosphorus, Spice Bazaar → Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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👥 37+2 Seats
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👥 16+1 Seats
👥 16+1 Seats
👥 12+1 Seats
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul, Trabzon, Rize, Firtina Valley, Ayder, Surmene, Uzungol, Bosphorus, Spice Bazaar.
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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!