From Istanbul: Island Escape by Speedboat with Hike, Swim and Fortune Reading

Escape Istanbul for a full-day guided island adventure with a ferry ride, hidden-beach hike, swim stops, and a speed boat tour.

Getting started

Meet your local English-speaking tour guide at the designated departure point in Istanbul and get a brief overview of the day's island escape. Board the ferry for a 1-hour ride across the Sea of Marmara, where you can settle in and enjoy the changing city and shoreline views. Keep your swimsuit and essentials handy so you are ready once you arrive.

What to expect

Ferry ride from Istanbul

Leave the bustle of Istanbul behind as you cross to the Princes' Islands on a shared ferry. This leg of the journey gives you time to adjust to a slower island pace and take in the seascape.

Features

• Watch the skyline recede and the islands come into view while you relax on the approximately 1-hour ferry ride across the water.

• Benefit from an organized start to your day trip with ferry travel arranged as part of the tour inclusions.

Guided island exploration

On arrival, your guide leads you through the island, sharing context about local life and the natural surroundings. The focus is on simple outdoor pleasures and easy exploration at a relaxed pace.

Features

• Stroll through island streets and coastal paths as your local English-speaking tour guide points out everyday details and answers questions about the area.

• Enjoy a semi-intimate experience in a group of up to 50 travelers, with your guide coordinating timings and transitions throughout the day.

Hike to a hidden local beach

Leave the more visited areas behind and follow your guide on a walk to a quieter stretch of coastline. The route is designed so you finish at a hidden local beach ideal for swimming and time by the water.

Features

• Walk along island trails toward a tucked-away beach, passing typical coastal scenery and enjoying the fresh sea air on the way.

• Join the guided hike to a hidden local beach, included as part of the tour program, so you do not need to plan your own route.

Swim and relax by the sea

Once at the beach, you have time to enjoy the water or simply sit by the shore. This part of the day is unstructured, letting you choose how active or relaxed you want to be.

Features

• Spend time swimming in the sea or relaxing on the shoreline, with space to enjoy the quieter side of the island.

• Use the flexible break at the beach to make the most of the hike destination, with your guide on hand to manage the schedule.

Turkish tea, coffee, and fortune reading

At a suitable point in the day, you pause for a traditional drink and a light cultural moment. This stop adds a social element to the tour and introduces a local custom.

Features

• Sit down for a short break over Turkish tea or coffee, giving you a chance to unwind and chat with fellow travelers.

• Take part in a fortune reading session included in the tour, offering a playful glimpse into this local tradition.

Speed boat tour to a private island

Weather permitting, the day continues with a change of pace as you board a speed boat. This short ride takes you toward a private island area, offering a different perspective of the coastline from the water.

Features

• Feel the shift from slow ferry travel to a faster speed boat ride as you glide across the water, approaching a private island setting.

• Join the speed boat tour to a private island, which is part of your experience when conditions allow, without needing to arrange separate sea transport.

Wrapping up

After the speed boat segment and final island time, your guide gathers the group and leads you back to the ferry for the return journey to Istanbul. Once you dock back in the city, the organized portion of your day concludes, leaving you free to make your own way to your next stop.