Princes' Islands Boat Tour: 3 Islands

Overview

Full-day boat tour of three Princes' Islands from Istanbul: Kinaliada, Heybeliada and Buyukada, with lunch on board and a swimming stop in the Sea of Marmara.

Instead of the crowded public ferry, this tour visits three of the Princes' Islands on our own boat. After hotel pick-up the boat leaves Kabatas at 10:00 and first calls at Kinaliada, the smallest island, named after its reddish soil. Next is Heybeliada, the second-largest, home to the Turkish Naval Academy and the Aya Triada Monastery on its hilltop.

Lunch is served on board as you cruise on to Buyukada, the largest island, with its wooden mansions and pine-covered hills, followed by a swimming stop in a quiet bay. Bring swimwear, a towel and water shoes; life jackets and shade are available on deck. The tour runs from May to October, and at the end of the programme the boat returns to Kabatas.