8 Day Turkey City & Coast Explorer: Istanbul, Ayder, Uzungöl & Bosphorus

Welcome to Istanbul – cradle of the civilizatons!  Transfer from airport to the hotel. 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 see 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. You can see it from outside.  After that see TOPKAPI PALACE, the great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. You can see it from outside.    The Basilica Cistern Museum is one of the most important cultural assets where we can trace the traces of glorious Istanbul history. With its 80,000-ton water storage capacity, Yerebatan Cistern is the largest covered cistern in the city and stands out with more reclaimed supporting elements compared to other covered cisterns. Covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, this colossal structure has a rectangular shape with a length of 140 meters and a width of 70 meters. You can see it from outside.  After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Dinner at  restaurant and Overnight in Istanbul.

If you would like to visit with entrance below sites;

Topkapi Palace Museum Entrance Fee. You pay the door price.

The Basilica Cistern Museum Entrance You pay the door price.

Please Note: Please do not forget to carry Scarf with you because of visiting to Blue Mosque & Haghia Sophia Mosque

(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 and Lunch 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 and Lunch included)

* Visited Sights:  Historic Sürmene Knife Shop – Blacksea Tea Factory – Uzungol region – Uzungol Lake

After breakfast,  first stop will be famous Sürmene Knife Shop which is located in Sürmene. Then we will visit Tea Factory which is on our way.  We listen the adventure of tea collected from tea gardens and coming to our tables from the masters. After visit we will go on our journey and reach to Uzungol region and photograph the natural beauties. Then we will have free time for lunch and sightseeing in our premises right next to the lake.  After free time, we go back to Trabzon. We take a break on the Wooden Tiled Bridge then wewill move to Trabzon. We return to the hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.

Breakfast Included)

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

(Breakfast and Lunch included)

* Visited Sights:  Bosphorus Region – Rumeli Fortress – Spice Bazaar

After breakfast, enjoy a full-day tour of Bosphorus Cruise on Gurtour Travel’s boat, through the waterway separating the two continents, Europe and Asia. You can also see Rumeli Fortress (from the boat – no interior visit. ) Before the Bosphorus Tour have a visit to famous Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar), mystical smells of different aromas of various spices. After tour transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast Included)

After breakfast, transfer to airport for your international departure. Hope your trip will be a memorable one!