16 Day Turkey Discovery: Trabzon, Uzungöl, Bursa & Istanbul Adventure

Upon our arrival at Istanbul International Airport, your guide will meet, assist and transfer you to the hotel. Istanbul was the capital city of Byzantium & Roman Empires and Ottoman State. It is a most fascinating city, which actually crosses two continents Europe and Asia. It is a city of amalgamation of museums, bazaars, minarets, mosques, churches, palaces, and restaurants catering to every one’s taste, customs and fifteen million people. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)

After breakfast, we have Istanbul City Tour. Our first visit will be HIPPODROME. Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Than we will visit SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE. Across from Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, it was built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Our next visit will be HAGIA SOPHIA GRAND MOSQUE. The Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, previously known as the Church of Divine Wisdom, is simply the best of its kind! Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque is the greatest surviving example of Byzantine Architecture. For 1000 years, it was once the largest church in the world, decorated with stunning 6th century golden mosaics. Today it is a mosque. Lunch break at 13:00 pm. After the lunch, TravelShop Group will take you to the ASIL EFENDI which is a unique atmosphere with reasonable prices for your shopping. Here you will find; Exotic Spices and Herbs, Turkish Baklava, Turkish Delights, Turkish Coffee, nuts and fruits, small souvenirs such as Ceramic Handicrafts, Evil Eyes totems, all naturel olive oil, soaps and many other goods in Souvenir Shops and stores. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel.

Please Note: Please do not forget to carry headscarf with you for the visit of religious places as Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque.

(Open buffet breakfast included)
Pick up at 08:30am from the hotel and depart for the Istanbul Bosphorus Cruise and Shopping Tour. BOSPHORUS BY BOAT a traditional excursion by boat along the waterway separating Europe and Asia. The shore is lined with old wooden villas, palaces of marble, fortresses, and small fishing villages. During the excursion you will see the magnificent sights of the following attractions from your boat. See Dolmabahce Palace, and further along, the parks and imperial pavilions of Yildiz Palace. On the coastal edge of this park, is Ciragan Palace, 300 meters of its marble facade faces the shore. At Ortakoy a great variety of artists gather every Sunday to display their work along the street. Ortakoy is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.
RUMELI FORTRESS Built by Mehmet the Conqueror in 1452 prior to the conquest of Istanbul was completed in only four months to control and protect the infamous Bosphorus passage. It is one of the most beautiful works of military architecture anywhere in the world. BEYLERBEYI PALAS (PALACE) The summer residence of Ottoman sultans exists in its original renovated glory featuring original antique furniture and magnificent gardens with the Harem on the Asian side of Istanbul.
BOSPHORUS BRIDGE enjoy a unique chance to step from one continent (Asia) to another (Europe) 
CAMLICA HILL the highest point in Istanbul. At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and the Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional Turkish Ottoman style. SHOPPING TOUR (after cruise) Experience the traditional silk weaving skills of Turkish women at the carpet weaving courses provided by The Ministry of National Education. You will get the opportunity to see jewellery, handcrafts centre and a modern leatherwear show. Enjoy the experience of shopping whilst gaining the knowledge of the ancient craftsmen, with Murti's Tour's local escort full of knowledge about how to haggle the streets of Istanbul. The rest of the evening is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to Istanbul Airport for your Trabzon flight. After flight, transfer from Trabzon airport to your city center hotel Overnight in Trabzon

(Breakfast Included)
* Visited Sights:  Ortahisar Neighbourhood –  Historical Kanuni House – Ataturk Mansion – Ayasofya Mansion – Akçaabat Village – Sera Lake – Boztepe Park & Hill
After breakfast,  we will start the tour by visiting the Ortahisar neighborhood and the Kanuni House, where the best sultans of the Ottoman Empire have been raised.  Then we visit Atatürk Köşkü (Ataturk Mansion) which is located among the pine trees. After completing our visit, we continue our tour with the Ayasofya Museum, one of the World’s leading monuments in terms of art and architecture. You will find peace and quiet in the nature with the magnificent greenery of the Black Sea, located in the town of Akçaabat in Trabzon. We will then move towards the Sera Lake and take a break there. After visiting the Boztepe which is located right on the city and where you can see all the beauties of Trabzon from a single point of view, we end our tour

(Breakfast Included)
* Visited Sights:  Rize Fabric Shop – Ayder Plateau – Ayder Rafting School – Ottoman Stone Bridge – Fırtına Stream
Breakfast at the hotel. On the way we visit Rize fabric weaving artisanship which introduces Lazie Culture. We arrive to Firtina Stream following tea gardens along Blacksea Coast. After that we will continue our way to Ayder and our next stop will be Rafting School. We will explore unique waterfalls which are at the summit of Ayder highland. Then our visitors will have their free time for lunch and discover Ayder highland. At the end of the day, will return from the same point to Trabzon. We will also have a break near the Old Ottoman Stone Bridge and on the Fırtına Stream during the way to Trabzon. We return to the hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you have free day for relaxing & exploring Trabzon by yourself. Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, transfer to Uzungol Lake known as one of the greenest place in Turkey. Transfer to your hotel near Uzungol. Overnight in Uzungol

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you have free day for relaxing & exploring Uzungol by yourself. Overnight in Uzungol.

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel to Trabzon Airport for your Istanbul flight. After flight, transfer to Bursa by ferry from Istanbul.  Overnight in Bursa

(Breakfast, Lunch Included)
* Visited Sights: Uludag (Mount Olympos) – Grand Mosque – Green Mosque – Green Mausoleum – Silk Market – Inkaya Tree
Pick up from your city center hotel. Departure by ferryboat via Yalova, enjoying the lovely countryside view. Drive to Bursa, former Ottoman Capital and lunch of famous “Kebap of Alexander The Great“.Climb to Uludağ, the legendary Mount Olympos, by Teleferik (cable car), visit to Ulucami (Grand Mosque), the Green Mosque and the Green Mausoleum, the old Silk Market in the Covered Bazaar.The tour includes a visit to Inkaya tree: a huge plane tree of more than 600 years with an openair café sheltering in it´s shadow where we can enjoy a traditional Turkish tea in the shade. After tour back to hotels. Overnight in Bursa.

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your Bursa hotel. Transfer to Istanbul by ferry from Bursa. Transfer from  Istanbul Ferry port to hotel . Overnight in Istanbul

(Breakfast, Lunch Included)
Experience the serenity of the biggest Princes’ Island in Turkey, Büyükada (Big Island). After traversing the Sea of Marmara by boat, arrive on the quaint island Buyukada which is a quiet sea front town and summer holiday escape from the city. Upon arrival to the island, you will see the lavish Ottoman mansions, charming old Ottoman houses and other beautiful Victorian summer villas around the island. Learn the island’s history  and enjoy ample time to lounge on its beautiful beaches with enjoying seaside fish and local restaurants.

(Breakfast, Lunch Included)
* Visited Sights: Masukiye Village – Sapanca Lake – Kartepe (winter time) – Ormania Natural Habitat and Zoor (spring time)
After breakfast,  enjoy a full-day scenic tour to discover Sapanca Lake & Masukiye Village feel the nature. After our lunch, we will visit Ormania Natural Habitat Park and Zoo (Between March – November). Ormania Zoo is replaced with Kartepe Snow Resort during the winter season (between December – February) to enjoy snow games. Masukiye is well known for its nature and green forests. For guest who wishes to join the activities, optional Zipline and optional ATV Ride are available in Masukiye, ATV Rides are the best way to discover the green nature of Masukiye. Our last visit will be Sapanca Lake and we will spend some time in the coast. Return to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast Included)
After breakfast, you have free day for relaxing & exploring Istanbul by yourself. Overnight in Istanbul

(Open buffet breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another TravelShop Booking Tour. Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.