Bursa Tour

Pickup on Istanbul's Asian Side

The Bursa Tour begins with a collection from hotels across Istanbul's Asian districts, where the day's coach or minivan gathers guests before the roughly one-hour drive toward the ferry port. This early start, timed around eight in the morning, gives the group a full day to reach Uludag mountain, the Green Mosque and everything between them without feeling rushed. Guides confirm names and seating as passengers board, and bags are stowed for the crossing ahead. Families travelling with children find this opening stretch relaxed, a chance to settle in before the ferry ride that carries everyone from Istanbul toward Yalova and on to Bursa.

The Ferry Crossing Toward Yalova

From the port on Istanbul's Asian side, the group boards a ferry bound for Yalova, trading city traffic for open water and a first glimpse of the Marmara coastline. Onboard, guests can step onto the deck for photographs or simply rest before the road journey resumes on the far shore. This maritime leg is part of what makes the Bursa Tour distinct from a straightforward road trip, breaking the day into a sea crossing followed by a scenic mountain drive. Once docked in Yalova, the coach continues directly toward the forest roads that lead up to Uludag, with Bursa still ahead.

An Optional Stop in Yalova's Forest

Before climbing toward the mountain, groups have the option to stop at a forest area in Yalova where safari-style rides operate among the trees. This stop is optional and suits travellers who want an extra dose of nature and light adventure worked into an otherwise sightseeing-focused day. Families with older children in particular enjoy the chance to stretch their legs and explore the woodland before returning to the coach. Guests who prefer to head straight on toward Uludag and the Inkaya tree can skip this stop, and the guide will keep the group's overall pace on track either way.

A Sweet Stop at the Munira Shop

On the way up toward Uludag, the tour pauses at the well-known Munira delight shop and factory, a Bursa institution where Turkish confectionery is made and sold. Guests can browse the counters, watch how the sweets are prepared, and pick up a few boxes to take home or share later in the day. It is a short, practical stop rather than a meal, timed to fit naturally into the drive between the ferry port and the mountain road. For many travellers on the Bursa Tour, this is their first real taste of the region's food culture before lunch is served further up the mountain.

The Drive Up Uludag Mountain

From the Munira stop, the vehicle climbs steadily toward Uludag, Bursa's best-known mountain and a destination in its own right for its forests, viewpoints and cooler air. The road winds upward through changing scenery, and the temperature drop is often noticeable as the coach gains altitude. This stretch of the Bursa Tour gives guests a sense of the region beyond the city itself, away from Bursa's streets and closer to the pine-covered slopes that lead toward the mountain's summit area. It is also where the group stops next to see one of the tour's most distinctive natural landmarks.

The 620-Year-Old Inkaya Tree

Partway up the mountain, the Bursa Tour stops at the Inkaya tree, a plane tree said to be around six hundred and twenty years old and one of the most photographed natural landmarks on the route to Uludag. Its trunk and canopy are large enough that guests typically spend a few minutes walking around it and taking photographs before continuing the ascent. The stop is brief but memorable, offering a sense of scale and history that complements the mosque and tomb visited later in Bursa itself. Guides are usually happy to point out details about the tree while the group pauses here.

Lunch on the Road to the Summit

As the drive continues toward the top of Uludag, the group stops for lunch at a restaurant along the mountain road, timed to refuel everyone before the free time and cable car descent that follow. The meal is included in the Bursa Tour and served in a setting with mountain views, giving guests a proper break partway through a long day that runs from morning until late evening. This lunch stop also marks the transition between the scenic drive up and the more relaxed stretch of free time that awaits once the coach reaches the hotel area near the summit.

Free Time Near the Uludag Summit

Once lunch is finished, the coach continues to the hotel area near the top of Uludag, where guests are given roughly an hour and a half of free time. This stretch of the Bursa Tour is unstructured by design, letting travellers wander the summit area, take in the mountain air, or simply sit and enjoy the view before the descent begins. Children who slept through the ferry crossing tend to wake up fully here, keen to explore the summit's viewpoints under their own steam before the teleferik carries the group back down toward Bursa.

Descending to Bursa City by Cable Car

From the summit area, the group boards Uludag's large cable car, known locally as the teleferik, for the descent into Bursa city itself, a ride included in the Bursa Tour rather than an extra activity. The cabin carries passengers down the mountainside with views over the forested slopes and the city spreading out below. This descent replaces a long road journey down and gives the day a distinctive rhythm, moving from ferry to mountain road to cable car within a single itinerary. It also sets up the final sightseeing stretch in Bursa's historic centre, where the Green Mosque and Green Tomb await.

Green Mosque, Green Tomb and the Return to Istanbul

Back in Bursa city, the group visits the Green Mosque and the adjoining Green Tomb, two Ottoman-era monuments that give the tour its historical close after a day centred mostly on nature and mountain scenery. This makes the Bursa Tour suit travellers who want both landscape and heritage in one outing, particularly families exploring Turkey together for the first time. From here the coach begins the drive back toward Istanbul, with return to hotels expected around ten or eleven in the evening. Because it is a long day, Haqqi Tours confirms pickup points and timing with each guest before booking.