Enjoy Istanbul shopping and Trabzon’s nature with ENVIP Travel and Tourism.
Istanbul and Trabzon travel programme — 10 days / 9 nights
Designed for lovers of Istanbul’s history and architecture and Trabzon’s nature, this itinerary covers many attractions within a short stay.
On arrival, our team will welcome you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Free time is available for shopping in Taksim and on İstiklal Avenue, home to many international shops and cafés.
For lovers of history, architecture, ornament and Islamic calligraphy, we begin at Sultan Ahmed Mosque, known as the Blue Mosque. Its decorative panels and Quranic inscriptions create a peaceful, uplifting atmosphere.
The mosque stands in Sultanahmet Square, facing Hagia Sophia across gardens and parkland.
At first sight, Hagia Sophia reveals a remarkable meeting of Ottoman and Byzantine architecture through decorated ceilings, columns and walls. Continue to Topkapı Palace, the former residence of the Ottoman sultans and one of the oldest surviving great palaces. Your guide will explain its treasures, Chinese porcelain, weapons and other exhibits.
There will then be ample free time for shopping at the Grand Bazaar, a vast marketplace with around 3,500 varied shops.
Enjoy a Bosphorus cruise along the Asian and European shores, passing waterfront palaces, Ottoman mansions, Dolmabahçe Palace, Çırağan Palace, Rumeli Fortress, the Bosphorus Bridge and wooden houses. Visit the Spice Bazaar, filled with aromas of spices, perfumes and fruit.
Istanbul’s streets have deep historical and cultural roots and have inspired many poets. Discover this on our visit to Çamlıca Hill, where the city unfolds below you like a magnificent painting.
Meet in the morning and sail from Kabataş, enjoying Istanbul’s waterfront and the smaller islands en route to Büyükada, the largest and best-known of the Princes’ Islands.
After a short tour of the centre and an introduction from your guide, enjoy the beaches, old wooden houses, narrow streets and peaceful atmosphere. The original programme includes free time for walking, horse-drawn carriages and bicycles. During the return cruise, view landmarks such as Topkapı Palace and the Maiden’s Tower from the water.
Explore Uzungöl village and its highlands. Begin with Sultan Murat and Uzungöl highlands, enjoying the cool weather and beautiful natural scenery, then descend to the village and its lake. Activities such as paragliding or helicopter tours may be available. You may also choose to have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the lake.
Sümela Monastery was founded in AD 386 and stands at an altitude of 1,200 metres on a steep slope near Maçka, 50 km from Trabzon. It is a site of major historical and cultural importance and a prominent tourist attraction.
Allow plenty of time to explore Sümela Monastery, with its many buildings and maze of historic rooms. The surrounding landscape also invites you to take a walk before reaching the monastery.
• The remarkable setting and ingenious construction make this an ideal place for photographs and lasting memories.
After visiting the monastery, we will take a lunch break. On request, we can stop on the return journey at restaurants known for local dishes.
Our second stop
Zigana Mountains and Hamsiköy: the forests and mountains offer magnificent scenery along a historic Silk Road route leading south.
Zigana is often compared with the European Alps for its climate, scenery and mountains. Hamsiköy is a popular stop, with rich pastures full of flowers and herbs. Its creamy milk is used in the village’s famous rice pudding, sütlaç. Enjoying this local dessert concludes the second part of the tour.
The third stop is Karaca Cave, about 96 km from Trabzon. Inside, spectacular stalactites, stalagmites and rock formations create a striking natural gallery.
Set on a green plateau, Ayder is surrounded by farms, waterfalls, trees, gardens and orchards. Visit its beautiful highlands, tea plantations and a chocolate factory, with the option of rafting if you wish.
Please note:
You may adjust the order of the days to suit your preferences.
You may add free days to explore Istanbul independently.
Accommodation in a 4-star hotel with breakfast
All sightseeing excursions, including entrance tickets
A specialist tour guide on every excursion
Airport arrival and departure transfers and transport during excursions
Return domestic flights
Personal expenses
Tips
International flights
