A Private Turkey Journey Through Black Sea Landscapes, Imperial Cities & Mountain Retreats
From the emerald highlands of the Black Sea to the legendary skyline of Istanbul and the tranquil mountain landscapes of Bursa, this carefully arranged 11-day Turkey tour package introduces you to three destinations with remarkably different personalities — nature, imperial history and Ottoman heritage — all connected by private transportation and a dedicated driver from start to finish.
Begin in Trabzon, where lush mountains, peaceful lakes, highland plateaus and centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history create an extraordinary introduction to northeastern Türkiye. Continue to Istanbul, the spectacular city spanning two continents, before concluding in Bursa, the historic first Ottoman capital, surrounded by green landscapes and the dramatic slopes of Uludağ.
Black Sea Nature
Hıdırnebi Plateau, Çal Cave, Kayabaşı Highlands, Sera Lake and the legendary Uzungöl.
Imperial Istanbul
Bosphorus panoramas, Ortaköy, the Golden Horn, Pierre Loti Hill and Eyüp Sultan Mosque.
Ottoman Bursa
The Green Mosque, the 650-year-old Inkaya Plane Tree and the peaks of Uludağ.
This is a beautifully varied private Turkey holiday combining nature, culture, history, local experiences, scenic landscapes and comfortable private transportation. Every day is thoughtfully paced so you can absorb each destination's character rather than rushing between checklist stops — mornings in the mountains, afternoons among monuments, and evenings free to explore at your own rhythm.
Whether you are a nature lover chasing misty Black Sea panoramas, a history enthusiast tracing the footsteps of Byzantine emperors and Ottoman sultans, or a couple seeking a scenic, unhurried honeymoon itinerary, this 11-day journey is built to deliver a rich, authentic and comfortable experience of Türkiye's northeastern and northwestern regions.
Why This Itinerary Works
- Logical geography: Trabzon → Istanbul → Bursa follows a natural west-bound route with a short domestic flight bridging the Black Sea coast and Istanbul.
- Balanced pacing: Nature-heavy days in Trabzon are followed by culture-dense days in Istanbul, then a relaxed, craft-focused finish in Bursa.
- Private throughout: One dedicated driver and vehicle for the entire 11 days means no repeated check-ins with new guides or transfer companies.
Tour Highlights
- Discover the spectacular Black Sea landscapes around Trabzon
- Explore Hıdırnebi Plateau and Kayabaşı Highlands
- Venture into the impressive Çal Cave
- Stroll around iconic Uzungöl Lake
- Visit the 13th-century Hagia Sophia Mosque in Trabzon
- Enjoy panoramic Istanbul views from Ulus Park and Pierre Loti Hill
- Experience Ortaköy beside the Bosphorus
- Visit Bursa's Green Mosque, Green Tomb and Inkaya Plane Tree
- Ride the Uludağ cable car (optional)
- Travel with a private vehicle and dedicated driver throughout
Your 11-Day Trabzon, Istanbul & Bursa Itinerary
Every day below is drawn from our confirmed private itinerary. Tap any day to expand the full details, including overnight city and included meals.
Your Turkish adventure begins in Trabzon, one of the most atmospheric destinations on Türkiye's Black Sea coast. After your arrival at Trabzon Airport, your private representative welcomes you and assists with your transfer, meeting you with a name sign before accompanying you by private vehicle to your hotel.
The first evening is intentionally relaxed, allowing you to settle into your hotel and prepare for the landscapes and cultural discoveries ahead.
Overnight: Trabzon · Meals: Breakfast at hotel
Today introduces you to the extraordinary natural scenery surrounding Trabzon.
- Hıdırnebi Plateau — travel into the highlands to discover this plateau, also locally known as Hıdır Nabi. Surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery and fresh highland air, it offers a glimpse into the traditional landscape of Trabzon's Black Sea hinterland.
- Çal Cave — enter a fascinating underground environment where rock formations create a completely different experience from the open mountain landscapes outside.
- Kayabaşı Highlands — mountain scenery, greenery and peaceful rural landscapes provide wonderful opportunities for photography and relaxation.
- Sera Lake — complete the day at this tranquil natural setting surrounded by greenery and hills, with the option of a pedal-boat ride on the lake.
Overnight: Trabzon · Meals: Breakfast
Today is dedicated to Trabzon's cultural and historical identity.
- Hagia Sophia Mosque — one of Trabzon's most significant historic landmarks, dating back to the early-to-mid 13th century, reflecting the city's long and layered Byzantine and Ottoman history.
- Atatürk Mansion — one of Trabzon's best-known landmarks, set within an attractive garden environment.
- Trabzon Botanical Garden — landscaped greenery providing a peaceful counterpoint to the city's historical monuments.
- Historic house associated with Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent — connecting the Trabzon experience with the broader story of Ottoman history.
- Boztepe Tea Garden — end the sightseeing day with panoramic views over Trabzon while relaxing over Turkish tea.
Overnight: Trabzon · Meals: Breakfast
Few landscapes represent the visual character of Türkiye's Black Sea region as strongly as Uzungöl. Today you travel from Trabzon toward this famous mountain lake, surrounded by lush slopes and an atmosphere of peaceful natural beauty.
Enjoy a leisurely walk around Uzungöl Lake, absorb the mountain scenery and photograph the distinctive landscape. The route also offers the opportunity to taste local dishes along the way, turning the excursion into a combination of landscape, culture and regional cuisine — ideal for travelers seeking a slower, more scenic side of Türkiye.
Overnight: Trabzon · Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, your Trabzon chapter comes to an end. A private vehicle transfers you from your hotel to Trabzon Airport for your included domestic flight to Istanbul.
After arriving at Istanbul Airport, a representative welcomes you and provides your private transfer to your Istanbul hotel — the start of the Istanbul chapter of your journey. Take the evening at your own pace, relaxing at the hotel or beginning to discover Istanbul independently.
Overnight: Istanbul · Meals: Breakfast
Today introduces you to the contemporary and scenic side of Istanbul.
- Ulus Park — one of the city's attractive elevated viewpoints, with impressive views toward the Bosphorus where Europe and Asia meet.
- Sapphire Tower & Shopping Mall — one of Istanbul's prominent high-rise landmarks, with the option of visiting the observation deck.
- Ortaköy — one of Istanbul's most atmospheric waterfront neighborhoods, celebrated for its lively character and famous kumpir street food.
- Istiklal Street & Taksim Square — among Istanbul's most recognizable urban destinations, with cafés, shops and energetic city life (Cevahir Mall is an alternative depending on preference).
Overnight: Istanbul · Meals: Breakfast
Today explores the fascinating Golden Horn area.
- Pierre Loti Hill — famous for panoramic views over the Golden Horn, an excellent location for photography.
- Eyüp Sultan Mosque — one of Istanbul's most important spiritual landmarks, offering a contemplative dimension to your journey.
- Miniatürk — an open-air museum displaying miniature models of famous Turkish landmarks from across the country.
- Isfanbul Theme Park or Venice Shopping Mall — a flexible choice depending on your preference and schedule.
Overnight: Istanbul · Meals: Breakfast
Leave Istanbul behind and continue toward Bursa, a city surrounded by green landscapes and mountain scenery. A private transfer takes you from Istanbul to Bursa, where your team assists with hotel check-in before the Bursa sightseeing experiences begin.
Bursa offers a wonderfully different atmosphere from Istanbul: greener, quieter and closely connected with the mountains, traditional craftsmanship and Ottoman heritage.
Overnight: Bursa · Meals: Breakfast
Discover Bursa's rich cultural character today.
- Traditional Turkish Delight Factory — learn about one of Türkiye's best-known confectionery traditions and select edible souvenirs.
- Inkaya Plane Tree — a beautiful encounter with Bursa's living natural heritage, described as being more than 650 years old.
- Green Mosque — one of Bursa's celebrated architectural landmarks, with elegant Ottoman character and distinctive decorative traditions.
- Green Tomb — another important monument within Bursa's historic landscape.
- Silk House & Historic Turkish Bath — traditional craftsmanship and Ottoman-era social culture.
Overnight: Bursa · Meals: Breakfast
Your final full sightseeing day takes you into the spectacular mountain environment of Uludağ.
- Uludağ Cable Car (optional, additional cost) — a memorable perspective over Bursa and the surrounding mountain landscape.
- Optional Safari (additional cost) — for travelers seeking a little more adventure.
- Natural Honey House — discover a mountain-side aspect of regional food culture.
- Mountain-Top Mixed Grill Lunch — a fitting culinary highlight for your final full day in Türkiye.
Overnight: Bursa · Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast and hotel check-out, your private vehicle transfers you to the airport for your departure flight — the final service of your 11-day journey.
Your journey concludes with memories of Black Sea mountains, Istanbul's legendary urban landscape, Bursa's Ottoman heritage and the natural beauty of Uludağ.
Departure Day · Meals: Breakfast
Discover the Destinations Along Your Journey
Beyond the day-by-day itinerary, here is a closer look at some of the most significant historical, cultural and natural sites you'll experience on this Turkey nature, culture and history tour.
Black Sea Nature
Uzungöl — The Long Lake of the Black Sea
Uzungöl, meaning "Long Lake" in Turkish, is arguably the single most photographed natural landmark in the Trabzon region. Formed by an ancient landslide that dammed the Haldizen Stream, the lake sits within a dramatic bowl of pine-covered mountains roughly 95 km southeast of Trabzon's city center. Its shoreline village has grown into a beloved retreat for travelers seeking mist-wrapped mornings, wooden lakeside cafés and gentle lakeside walking paths.
On this tour, you'll spend a dedicated day exploring Uzungöl's shoreline at a relaxed pace, tasting regional Black Sea dishes along the scenic mountain route and photographing one of Türkiye's most distinctive natural landscapes.
Byzantine Heritage
Hagia Sophia Mosque — A 13th-Century Byzantine Treasure
Built between 1238 and 1263 during the reign of Manuel I of Trebizond, Trabzon's Hagia Sophia is considered one of the finest surviving examples of late Byzantine architecture, characterized by a high central dome and cross-in-square floor plan. Once the katholikon of a monastery overlooking the Black Sea, the building was later converted into a mosque, then a museum, and today serves once again as an active mosque.
Its exterior stone carvings, echoing traditions found in Armenia and Georgia, and its bell tower — built in 1427 — make it an essential stop for travelers interested in the layered history of the Empire of Trebizond and the wider Byzantine world.
Istanbul Waterfront
Ortaköy & the Bosphorus — Where Europe Meets Asia
Few neighborhoods capture Istanbul's cosmopolitan waterfront spirit like Ortaköy. Framed by the Bosphorus Bridge and the elegant Baroque-style Ortaköy Mosque, this lively district blends historic architecture, art galleries, weekend craft stalls and one of the city's most beloved street foods — kumpir, a loaded baked potato piled with dozens of toppings.
A stroll here offers uninterrupted views across the strait separating Europe and Asia, making it one of the most photographed spots on any private Istanbul sightseeing tour.
Panoramic Viewpoint
Pierre Loti Hill — Istanbul's Most Romantic Viewpoint
Named after the 19th-century French novelist who was captivated by the view, Pierre Loti Hill overlooks the Golden Horn, the historic waterway separating Istanbul's old and new districts. A cable car or a gentle walk through the Eyüp cemetery brings you to the hilltop teahouses where generations of Istanbulites have paused to admire the same panorama that inspired Loti more than a century ago.
Paired on this tour with a visit to the nearby Eyüp Sultan Mosque, one of Islam's most revered pilgrimage sites in Istanbul, this stop combines spiritual significance with one of the city's most photogenic panoramas.
Ottoman Architecture
Bursa's Green Mosque & the Inkaya Plane Tree
Commissioned in the early 15th century, Bursa's Green Mosque (Yeşil Cami) is celebrated for its İznik tilework and elegant proportions — a defining monument of early Ottoman architecture, built while Bursa still served as the empire's capital before Edirne and later Istanbul. The adjoining Green Tomb, resting place of Sultan Mehmed I, completes one of Türkiye's most significant Ottoman-era ensembles.
Nearby, the Inkaya Plane Tree — more than 650 years old according to local tradition — offers a living link to Bursa's Ottoman past, its enormous canopy shading generations of visitors.
Mountain Escape
Uludağ Mountain — Your Final Scenic Summit
Known in antiquity as Mysian Olympus, Uludağ rises above Bursa as one of Türkiye's most storied mountains, historically home to Byzantine monasteries and today a popular cable-car excursion and winter-sports destination. On a clear day, the summit offers sweeping views across Bursa, the Sea of Marmara and, in the distance, the outline of Istanbul.
Your final full day pairs the mountain ascent with a visit to a natural honey house and a mountain-top mixed-grill lunch — a memorable culinary send-off before your departure from Türkiye.
Services Included & Excluded
What's Included
- 10 nights' hotel accommodation (4 nights Trabzon, 3 nights Istanbul, 3 nights Bursa)
- Daily hotel breakfast
- Private airport arrival transfer
- Private airport departure transfer
- Private intercity transportation (Trabzon · Istanbul · Bursa)
- Dedicated private driver for the full itinerary
- Daily private sightseeing tours as listed in the itinerary
- Domestic flight between Trabzon and Istanbul
- Hotel transfer assistance throughout
Not Included / Additional Cost
- Uludağ cable-car experience
- Optional Uludağ safari
- Professional honeymoon photography (available on request)
- International flights to/from Türkiye
- Lunches and dinners (unless specifically noted)
- Museum and site entrance fees not listed above
- Personal expenses, shopping and gratuities
- Travel insurance
Our published itinerary confirms the inclusions above; some additional-cost items (such as lunches, entrance fees beyond those listed and gratuities) are common industry-standard exclusions on private Turkey tours and can be pre-arranged with our team on request.
Special Offer for Two or More Travelers
Pricing is per person, based on double occupancy, with a minimum booking of two travelers. Solo travelers are welcome to join with an additional single-room supplement.
- 10 nights' hotel + daily breakfast
- Domestic flight included
- Shared sightseeing tours & transfers
- Private vehicle & dedicated driver
- Flexible daily pacing
- No other travelers in your group
- Private room for the full 10 nights
- Same itinerary & inclusions
- Subject to hotel availability
AI-Powered Travel Recommendations
Based on this itinerary's mix of nature, history, photography and culinary experiences, here's how different types of travelers can get the most out of this 11-day Turkey tour.
Best for Nature Lovers
Give extra attention to Hıdırnebi Plateau, Kayabaşı Highlands, Sera Lake, Uzungöl and Uludağ — the natural heart of this itinerary.
Best for History Lovers
Prioritize Trabzon's Hagia Sophia Mosque, Atatürk Mansion, the Suleiman-associated house, Eyüp Sultan Mosque, and Bursa's Green Mosque and Green Tomb.
Best for Photography
The strongest visual moments come from Uzungöl, Boztepe, Ulus Park, Ortaköy, Pierre Loti Hill and Uludağ — pack a wide-angle lens.
Best for Food Experiences
Look for Black Sea regional cuisine, Uzungöl specialties, Ortaköy kumpir, Turkish delight and Bursa's traditional culinary culture.
Best for Couples
Consider adding the optional professional honeymoon photography service for a beautifully documented private journey.
Best for Families
This itinerary balances nature, sightseeing and optional entertainment through Miniatürk, Isfanbul and Venice Shopping Mall.
Allow flexibility for Black Sea weather. Trabzon and its surrounding highlands are famous for lush landscapes partly because of their humid Black Sea climate — carry a lightweight waterproof jacket and comfortable walking shoes.
Keep your camera ready. Particularly memorable photography opportunities include Hıdırnebi Plateau, Çal Cave, Sera Lake, Uzungöl, Boztepe, Ulus Park, Ortaköy, Pierre Loti Hill, Bursa, the Inkaya Plane Tree and Uludağ.
Choose comfortable footwear. The itinerary combines urban walking, natural landscapes, historical attractions and mountain environments.
Experience Turkish tea culture. The Boztepe Tea Garden provides an excellent opportunity to pause, enjoy Turkish tea and appreciate Trabzon's panoramic scenery.
Taste regional specialties. Don't miss the local dishes around Uzungöl, Ortaköy's famous kumpir and the mountain-top mixed-grill lunch in Uludağ.
Keep some personal time free. Although the itinerary is comprehensive, Istanbul and Bursa offer many opportunities for spontaneous exploration, cafés and shopping.
Why Choose This 11-Day Turkey Tour
Private Driver Throughout
One dedicated vehicle and driver for all 11 days — no repeated transfers between different operators.
Handpicked Central Hotels
Selected for convenient locations, good service standards and easy access to attractions and restaurants.
Domestic Flight Included
The Trabzon–Istanbul domestic flight is already booked and included — one less thing to arrange yourself.
Licensed Local Guiding
Daily private sightseeing tours led with genuine local knowledge of each destination's history and culture.
Free Cancellation
Cancel up to 48 hours before your tour date at no charge — full details in our booking section below.
Real-Time WhatsApp Support
Reach our reservations team directly by WhatsApp before, during and after your trip.
Book Your 11-Day Trabzon, Istanbul & Bursa Tour
- Domestic flight included (Trabzon–Istanbul)
- Licensed English-speaking guide
- 10 nights' hotel + daily breakfast
- Private airport & city transfers
- Secure payment options
- Free cancellation (48 hrs prior)
0090 536 560 10 38
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Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour date. Cancellations within 48 hours are non-refundable. Date changes are accommodated subject to availability.
Payment Options
What Our Guests Say
Uzungöl in the morning mist was worth the whole trip on its own. Our driver was punctual every single day across all 11 days, and the pacing between Trabzon, Istanbul and Bursa felt just right — never rushed.
The Trabzon highlands were a complete surprise — nobody talks about Hıdırnebi Plateau and Çal Cave the way they deserve. Combining that with classic Istanbul sights and Bursa's Green Mosque made for an unusually well-rounded itinerary.
Booked as a couple for our anniversary. The Pierre Loti Hill sunset and the mountain-top lunch on Uludağ were both unforgettable. Communication with the reservations team by WhatsApp was fast and reassuring throughout.