Istanbul & Black Sea Tour Package

Duration: 08 Days / 07 Nights
Highlights: Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, St Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Rustem Pasha Mosque, Golden Horn, Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus Cruise, Beylerbeyi Palace, Camlica Hill, Trabzon, Sumela Monastery, Rize, Camlihemsin, Ayder, Uzungol
Departure Dates: Everyday / By Flight
Note: All Istanbul tour packages are modular and you can use these itineraries as a starting point and we can help modify this itineraries to accommodate your personal requirements and desires to find your perfect holiday.

Day 01 Arrival in Istanbul
Upon arrival to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, you will be met by our staff and accompanied during the transfer to your hotel. You have the afternoon and evening free to relax and/or check out the city.

Day 02 Istanbul City Tour
Enjoy a full day tour of the Sultanahmet district, the old city of Istanbul, starting with the magnificent Hagia Sofia, Hippodrome and the stadium of ancient Byzantium, where an Egyptian obelisk and a bronze sculpture of three entwined serpents from Delphi still survive. We then continue on to the Blue Mosque which owes its name to the exquisite tiles adorning its interior . Before lunch you will have free time to explore the world famous Grand Bazaar within over 4,000 tiny shops. After lunch we will visit the amazing Topkapi Palace, which was the principle residence of the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to the 19th Century. Bringing the tour end, final stop of the day will be the Rustem Pasha Mosque.

Day 03 Bosphorus Cruise Tour
After breakfast, you will be met by your tour guide and depart on a full day tour to explore both continents of Istanbul. Setting off on a short drive to Eminonu, we will first visit the Egyptian Market (Spice Bazaar) built in 1664, the perfect place to shop for herbal medicine, Turkish Delight (Lokum), spices, teas and many other flavours. After this we will then embark on to the Bosphorus ferry for a cruise on the Bosphorus. During the cruise you will see the city from a different perspective, the old wooden villas, Rumeli Fortress (15th century) which is a military architectural master piece, Ortakoy Mosque, both bridges linking Asia & Europe. After the cruise continue on land to visit Camlica Hill for 360° panoramic views over the city & before driving back to Europe over the Bosphorus Bridge we will visit Beylerbeyi Palace, which was the summer residence Ottoman Sultans. At the end of the tour the guide will take you back to your hotel, evening at leisure.

Day 04 12 Flight to Trabzon / Sumela Monastery Tour
Morning flight from Istanbul to Antalya (2hrs). Arrive in the morning to Trabzon Airport where you will be met by your tour guide to begin the Eastern Black Sea Guided Tour by visiting the 4th century Sumela Monastery and Altindere National Park. Later on drive up to Zigana Mountain, crossing the mountain with spectacular views of mountain villages. We arrive at Gumushanehane City Province to visit Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colours and formations. After the tour, drive to hotel located at the centre of the city.

Day 05 Trabzon City & uzungol Tour
After breakfast at hotel, today we explore the highlights of Trabzon City, the most attractive points being: 13th century Byzantine church St. Sophia Museum, Ataturk's Mansion, Boztebe Hill, Ladies Bazaar, Sera Lake. Lunch at a seaside restaurant serving famous Akcaabat meatball. In the afternoon drive to Uzungol (literally translated meaning "long lake"). It's a hidden paradise in the Pontic Alps. We hike around the lake and village before check-in to wooden hotel in Uzungol.

Day 06 Rize, Camlihemsin, Zilkale and Ayder Tour
Early in the morning we leave from Uzungol and make a short stop in Rize for panoramic views of the city from the Botanic Garden. Then we arrive to Firtina (Storm) Valley which takes us to Ayder Plateau. Before arriving in Ayder we will see Camlihemsin, Konaklar, Senyuva Bridge, Zil Kale. Gentle trekking to Goksu Fall which is the highest and most beautiful in the region. Arrival in Ayder before sundown, check in to wooden hotel.

Day 07 Ayder / Flight to Istanbul
Breakfast and we have time to explore the beautiful Alpine Plateau in Ayder until noon. Traditionally dressed village ladies, thermal spring, waterfalls dropping down from hundreds metres and beautiful plateau houses are going to be of much interest. In the afternoon we drive back to Trabzon with transfer on to the airport for the flight back to Istanbul.

Day 08 Departure Transfer
Option to extend package with additional night(s) in Istanbul or transfer directly on to Istanbul Airport for return international flight