Istanbul & Black Sea Discovery Tour – 12 Days of Culture and Nature
|12 Days, 4 Destinations |Starts from İstanbul
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Best price guaranteed
No booking fees
Earn €20 in travel credits
Duration

12 days

Max Group Size

30

Departure Type

Scheduled

Guiding Method

Fully guided

Physical level

easy

Operated In

English

Age Requirement

11 - 99 Ages

Tour Overview

Embark on a 12-day journey through the heart of Turkey, blending the timeless charm of Istanbul with the breathtaking landscapes of the Black Sea region. From Bosphorus cruises and ancient palaces to misty highlands, serene lakes, and traditional villages, this tour offers the perfect mix of cultural immersion and natural exploration. Discover iconic landmarks, taste authentic local cuisine, and relax in some of Turkey’s most beautiful and peaceful settings

DiscoveryHistoricalIn-depth CulturalSightseeingSolo TravelExplorerPhotography

Route

Starts from

İstanbul

Ends in

İstanbul

Pickup Location

Istanbul Airport

Dropoff Location

Istanbul Airport

Tour route map

Highlights

Scenic Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with live entertainment and panoramic views Visit Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, and Grand Bazaar Day trip to Prince’s Islands with a horse-drawn carriage experience on Buyukada Peaceful day retreat to Lake Abant, surrounded by alpine forests Explore Trabzon, including Atatürk’s Mansion, Sera Lake, and Boztepe Hill Discover Sumela Monastery, Karaca Caves, and taste local rice pudding in Hamsiköy Relax at Lake Uzungöl and enjoy the lush mountain scenery Travel through the Ayder Highlands and experience local Laz culture Full-day Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour, including Camlica Hill and Beylerbeyi Palace Visit Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, and ride the Uludağ cable car

Itinerary

Welcome to Turkey! Arrive into Istanbul. Transfer from airport & check in to your hotel.

In the evening between 19:30 – 20:00 you will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the boat for Dinner Cruise on the Bosphorus and drop of back to hotel at the end of tour. During the tour you will be able to see historical places like Dolmabahce Palace, Ortakoy Mosque, Maiden’s Tower, Rumeli Fortress, Bosporus Bridge, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, Beylerbeyi Palace etc. After the dinner you can dance the night away to entertaining music provided by professional DJ and traditional show programs or simply relax with a drink and enjoy the view. We combine a delicious meal with unparalleled views of Istanbul and live entertainment to create Istanbul's leading Bosporus Dinner Cruise. End of the entertainment at about midnight 12:00pm, transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Open buffet breakfast 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 Indian 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.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

Enjoy a cruise in the Marmara Sea to Istanbul's famous Prince's Islands. This is your opportunity to see Topkapi Palace, Leander's Tower and Uskudar from the sea. Stop at Buyukada, the popular summer resort with sandy beaches and pinewood scenery, once the pleasure island of Byzantine Princes. During the Summer season, enjoy the magical atmosphere that the Island's beach resort has to offer including many optional water sporting activities. Tour the island with horse-drawn carriages before stopping for an exquisite lunch at a fish restaurant. After your tour, we will transfer you back to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

Escape to nature with a drive to Lake Abant, a peaceful alpine lake surrounded by forests. Ideal for walking, photography, and a lakeside lunch. Return to Istanbul by evening.

Overnight in Istanbul.

(Breakfast Included)

Take a morning flight to Trabzon, a coastal gem on the Black Sea. Stroll its lively streets and soak in local culture.

Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast Included)

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.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

Breakfast at your hotel then we start the day by visiting Hagia Sophia which previously was a museum and was converted into a mosque. Then we visit Ataturk’s Villa where he used to stay on his visits to Trabzon. Later, we go up to the hillside to Boztepe to see the panoramic view of the city. Lunch will be at Lake Sera. In the afternoon we depart for Lake Uzungol. On the way, we will see the local workshops like local textile crafts and visit a tea factory. Then we arrive in Uzungol. Overnight stay in Uzungol.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

After breakfast, we depart for the highland Ayder. On our way, we will have a tea break in Rize Botanical Garden, observe weaving on traditional looms, see the rafting area on the River Fırtına and discover the Laz culture of the Black Sea region. We will arrive at our hotel in Ayder in the afternoon passing through rain forests and magnificent waterfalls. After arriving Ayder free time for walking and discovering the stunning landscape. We will have our dinner accompanied with local violin and pipes. Overnight stay at a local hotel in Ayder

(Open buffet breakfast included)

After the breakfast at your hotel, we leave for a village called Caglayan located in Fındıklı. The village is famous for tea and kiwi groves and traditional Laz houses. You will have an hour break for taking pictures, then we walk a nature trail along the River Caglayan. Then we drive to Cayeli in order to have our lunch with a typical dry beans dish which is famous throughout Turkey. After our meal, we arrive in Trabzon following the Black Sea coastal road. Free time to see the historical bazaar area of Trabzon and to buy some souvenirs from Trabzon. End of the tour we transfer you to airport for a flight to Istanbul or your next destination. Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

Breakfast at your hotel then we pick you up from your hotel and begin with a brief visit to City Walls which are surrounding the whole part of the old city since 5th Century.

Spice  Market, heady aromas of its wonderful variety of spices, herbs and sweets.

Golden Horn, the Bosphorus Straits and a natural harbour of the historical peninsula that separates the old and newer parts of old Istanbul.

During the excursion you will pass the magnificent Dolmabahce Palace, imperial pavillions of Yildiz Palace, Ciragan Palace, and Ortakoy which is a symbol of tolerance with a church, a mosque and a synagogue existing side by side for centuries.

Rumeli  Fortress an amazing fortification built by Mehmet the Conqueror in just three months to help him conquer Istanbul and take control of the Bosphorus.

Bosphorus  Bridge provides a unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia)  in just under  two minutes.

Beylerbeyi Palace was built in 19th century and is one of the the most spectacular palaces in the world.

Camlıca  Hill, the highest point of Istanbul, panoramic view of Istanbul and the Bosphorus.

At the end of the tour we take you back to your hotel and overnight in Istanbul.

Beylerbeyi Palace closed on Monday and Thursday replaced with Chora Museum.

Rumeli Fortress closed on Wednesday.

Spice Bazaar closed on Sunday replaced with Golden Horn.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

Breakfast at your hotel then you will be picked up from your hotel and take the ferry to Bursa. While enjoying the lovely views of the surrounding countryside, we will drive to Bursa, the first capital city of Ottomans where the Ottoman Empire was born. Taste the famous Iskender Kebab, walk through the old markets, climb to the Uludag, the legendary mount of Greek Gods, Olympos, by cable car. Visit Ulu Cami, (Grand Mosque), Green Mosque, Green Tomb, The Old Silk Market.

End of the day drive back to Istanbul, arrival and transfer to your hotel.

(Open buffet breakfast included)

After breakfast, our tour concludes and we say goodbye to our new friends and according to your international flight schedule we transfer you to airport and say ”have a good flight.

Trip includes

Included

6 nights hotel in Istanbul

3 nights hotel in Trabzon

2 nights hotel in Uzungol

2 nights hotel in Ayder

Hotel

Professional English - speaking tour guides

Guiding Method
Fully guided

English

11 open buffet breakfasts
Daily open buffet breakfasts

Vegan Vegetarian Halal Meat

All tour & airport transfer services mentioned inside the itinerary
Transportation in a fully air - conditioned, non - smoking coach
Return airport transfer

Coach / BusMini-coachPrivate Vehicle

Dinner Bosphorus Cruise

Guided Istanbul City Tour

Guided Prince's Island Tour

Guided Lake Abant

Guided Full Day Trabzon Tour

Guided Sumela Monastery and Karaca Cave

Guided Uzungol Tour

Guided Ayder Tour

Guided Trabzon  Tour

Guided Bosphorus & Two Continents Tour

Guided Bursa & Uludag TourLocal taxes

VAT & City Tax

Hotel room taxes

•           Moderate walking is involved – comfortable footwear recommended

•           A headscarf is required for women visiting mosques

•           Domestic flights 15kg check-in luggage and 8kg hand luggage

•           Weather in the Black Sea highlands can be cooler and rainy – bring layers

•           Vegetarian and other special dietary needs can be accommodated upon request

•           Spice Bazaar and some museums are closed on specific days – itinerary adjusts accordingly

•           Horse-drawn carriages on Buyukada are seasonal and may vary

Excluded

International airfare
Domestic flights: Istanbul – Trabzon – Istanbul

Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

Lunches and dinners as specified in the itinerary

Personal expenses and tips

Optional museum entrance fees (Topkapi Palace Museum, Basilica Cistern)

Visa fees (if applicable)

Meals not specified in the itinerary


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