10 nights & 11 days Black Sea driver/guide tour(Istanbul-Trabzon-Uzungol-Surmene-Sinop-Samsun-Safranbolu)

Have a beautiful and relaxing trip on the coastline of Black Sea region with your English-speaking professional driver/guide licensed by the Ministry of Tourism. This is a private tour program, travelling with a Sedan type (SUV type available) vehicle driving through the green forests of Black Sea region, famous with its all-year-round rains, relaxing scenery and source of oxygen. You will start by visiting Istanbul, then driving as east as Trabzon on the coastline, through Safranbolu, Amasra, Kastamonu, Sinop and Samsun.

Day 1: Arrival to Istanbul: Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be greeted by one of our colleagues with a sign of Efendi Travel. He/she will accompany you to our vehicle and you will be transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul.

Day 2: Istanbul Old City Tour: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 09:00 for the Full-Day Walking Tour. You will visit: Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern (Underground Water Palace) and Roman Hippodrome. You may also visit the Harem in the palace which is optional for 15 TL per person extra. Lunch break. The afternoon part starts at around 13:00. You will see: St. Sophia Museum, Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Mosque), Million Stone, Tomb of Sultan Mahmud and ancient Ottoman cemetery and Cemberlitas (Burnt Column). The tour ends at around 16:30 with free time in Grand Bazaar. You will be advised by your guide to return to your hotel on your own. Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 3: Bosphorus and Two Continents Tour : Pick up time is about 08.30 from the hotel. You will visit : Golden Horn ( from the bus ), Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) and then have a boat cruise on Bosphorus. You will also view Imperial gardens of Royal Yildiz Palace, Çiragan Palace Hotel Kempinski and Beylerbeyi Palace during the tour. After lunch, you will drive to the Asian Side of Istanbul, and you will have a unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asian) side in 2 minutes using the Bosphorus Bridge. The first stop is Beylerbeyi Palace which is the summer residence of Ottoman Sultans with its original furniture and magnificent gardens with Harem.  The next stop is Camlica Hill which is the highest natural point in Istanbul.  At the top of it you can rest and admire the magnificent panorama of Istanbul and Bosphorus from the beautiful gardens, landscaped in traditional style. After the tour, your guide will drop you off at your hotel at around 18:00. Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour) 

Day 4: Safranbolu Trip: You will be picked up from your hotel at around 07:00 and start driving for Safranbolu, which takes around 4 hours’ journey, stopping on the way for breakfast and when needed. You will arrive at around 11:30, and you will have a half-day tour around the town of Safranbolu, which gets its name from the saffron flowers cultivated here (only cultivation area in Turkey), an important trading center and caravanserai in the old east-west trade route and famous for its Ottoman houses still standing to date. You will go up to Hidirlik Hill to get a good view of the town. Then you will go down and visit Kaymakamlar Museum, in which you can get information about the history of the town and the structure and architecture of the Ottoman Houses of Safranbolu. Then you will walk through the town, seeing the Clock Tower, Old Ottoman Prison, Grand Mosque, handicraft bazaars of the town, and visit Cinci Han Caravanserai (serves as events venue, hotel and café today) and the Cinci Turkish Bath, where you can have the Turkish Bath experience if you would like (use of the bath is at your own expense). After the tour, you will check into your hotel. Accommodation in Safranbolu. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 5: Amasra Trip: After breakfast, you will depart from your hotel and drive to Amasra, named after a Persian princess Amastris in 12th century B.C., one of the most beautiful towns on Black Sea coast. Before arriving to Amasra you will visit Kuskayasi (Bird Rock) monument and see the beautiful Amasra from the Bakacak Hill. This is one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. In the course of history, the town passed through Pontic, Roman and Genoese hands. Then Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror seized it in 1460. The largest church was converted into a mosque, and Amasra became one of the most beautiful Ottoman towns. Upon arrival to Amasra, walk from Kucuk Liman to Boztepe Island. En route see Direkli kaya, Kemere bridge and Sormagir (Amasra) castle. In Boztepe, you will visit Fatih Mosque and see Rabbit Island. We will take photo break before checking into your hotel. Accommodation in Amasra. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 6: Kastamonu Trip: After breakfast, you will depart for Kastamonu, which takes around 3,5 hours’ drive. The city gets its name from the castle (Kastra) built around 10th cent AD for Byzantine ruler Komnenos. Then Kastra Komnenos evolved into Kastamonu in time. The traces of first settlements here date back to 50000 BC. Upon arrival, you will visit the city Kastamonu Castle, the Clock Tower, see province building, Mahmut Bey Mosque and have a walk through Ilgaz National Park in the mountains. After your visit, you will return back to city center and check in at your hotel. Accommodation in Kastamonu. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 7: Sinop Tour: In the morning, you will depart for Sinop and drive for about 2,5 hours. Sinop is the most northern city of Turkey and it has the only natural harbor of the country. The city gets its name from a woman called Sinope, who is not clear where she was from (either Greek or Ancient Anatolian). As it was located on a sea and land trade route, the city was prominent in Ancient history. Upon arrival at the city, you will visit Pasha Bastions, Ethnographical &Archeological Museums, Suleiman Pervane Madrasah, Alaeddin Mosque, Sinop Castle and Sinop Prison (Turkish Alcatraz). After your visits, you will check into your hotel. Accommodation in Sinop. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 8: Samsun Tour: After breakfast, you will depart from your hotel and drive for Samsun for about 2,5 hours. Its name comes from its former Greek name, Amisos. It has changed many times through history, controlled by Greeks, Pontus, Trebizond Kingdom, Romans, Seljuks and Ottomans. The first settlements date back to Paleolithic period (around 60000 BC). Samsun is also considered as the starting point of Turkish Independence War. Upon arrival at Samsun, you will visit Archeology and Ethnography Museums, Gazi Museum, Mater Dolorosa Church and The Republic Square. After the tour, you will check into your hotel and stay overnight. Accommodation in Samsun. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 9: Trabzon Trip: You will depart from your hotel in the morning and start driving for Trabzon, through a journey of 5,5 hours. Upon arrival you will view Sumela Monastery (from outside – currently under renovation), clings to a sheer cliff facing a deep forest, relax beside a fast flowing stream at Altindere Valley National Park, return to city center and visit Ayasofya Church, a 13th century church and study extraordinary collection of byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Ataturk's Mansion (a picturesque hillside retreat) visit Ortahisar Mosque (a Comneni cathedral in the old town) drive to Boztepe, enjoy your tea with the panoramic view of the city. After the tour, you will be get to your hotel and stay overnight. Accommodation in Trabzon. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 10: Surmene & Uzungol Tour, Flight to Istanbul: You will depart from your hotel and start driving for Uzungol through Surmene – a pretty village which is popular with its good quality knives and we also visit the historical mansion of Memisaga Konagi. There will be a short visit to one of the local tea producer factories en route and we taste delicious and traditional Turkish tea. Around 13:00, we arrive at Uzungol where you will have free time for your lunch, pastoral walks and photograph opportunities. Uzungol – which is located in the middle of mountains, was formed by a landslide having blocked the stream bed is known as Uzungol and the town around was named after the lake. The houses of the village called ‘Åžerah’, which are harmonious with the environment, complete the beauty of the nature. At around 17:00, you will get on the vehicle and start driving back to Trabzon, stopping for a short photo stop at Kiremitli Bridge. Then you will arrive at Trabzon Airport and take an evening flight to Istanbul. Upon your arrival, you will be greeted and transferred to your hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul. (breakfast at hotel, lunch on the tour)

Day 11: Departure from Istanbul: You will be picked up from your hotel depending on your flight time and will be transferred directly to the airport. End of services.

The price is 6500  Eur for per person, including:

- 4 nights’ BB accommodation in double room at Dosso Dossi Old City in Istanbul (www.dossodossioldcity.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Havuzlu Asmazlar Konagi in Safranbolu (www.havuzluasmazlar.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Buyuk Liman Hotel in Amasra (www.buyuklimanhotel.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at UÄŸurlu Konakları in Kastamonu (www.kastamonukonaklari.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Vira Hotel in Sinop (www.viraotel.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Yafeya Hotel in Samsun (www.yafeyaotel.com)
- 1 night’s BB accommodation in double room at Usta Park Hotel in Trabzon (www.ustaparkhotel.com)
- 9 days’ driver/guidance service in English w/ professional licensed guide
- Transportation w/ Ford Focus or similar type A/C vehicle
- Trabzon-Istanbul flight tickets
- 3 airport transfers in Istanbul (for Sabiha Gokcen Airport, there will be a 30 Eur extra charge for each way)
- Entrance fees to the sites visited
- Breakfast at hotel (or on the way where not possible)
- Lunch on the tours (except drinks)

Excluding Services

- Dinner
- Personal expenses
- Tips (optional)