Edirne – Çanakkale – Bursa – Eskişehir
The Ottoman heartland, from Thrace to Anatolia
5 Days / 4 Nights
Five days through the cradle of the Ottoman Empire: Sinan's masterpiece in Edirne, the battlefields of Gallipoli, legendary Troy, silken Bursa and the gondolas of Eskişehir.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Istanbul → Edirne
Departure from Istanbul Airport to Edirne (approx. 227 km). Lunch stop for the city's famous speciality, ciğer (fried liver). Guided tour of the Edirne highlights: the Selimiye Mosque, the Old Mosque, the Beyazıt II Complex and the Meriç Bridge. Dinner and overnight in Edirne.
Day 2 — Edirne → Çanakkale
Breakfast. Drive to Çanakkale (223 km) and a visit to the Gallipoli battlefields, where more than a quarter of a million soldiers lost their lives during the First World War. Crossing of the Dardanelles Strait and continuation to the legendary city of Troy, in the homeland of Homer. Dinner and overnight in Çanakkale.
Day 3 — Çanakkale → Bursa
Breakfast. Journey to Bursa (275 km), the city of silk and İskender kebab. Sightseeing: the Grand Mosque (Ulu Camii), the Koza Han silk bazaar, the Covered Market and a panoramic viewpoint. Dinner and overnight in Bursa.
Day 4 — Bursa → Eskişehir
Breakfast. En route, a stop in Söğüt at the tomb of Ertuğrul Gazi, father of Osman I, founder of the Ottoman Empire. Continuation to Eskişehir, one of Central Anatolia's most charming cities: the Odunpazarı old quarter, the Kurşunlu Mosque and the Porsuk River with its gondolas. Dinner and overnight in Eskişehir.
Day 5 — Eskişehir → Istanbul
Breakfast. Drive back to Istanbul (332 km). Arrival and end of programme.
