Explore Cuba: 9-Day Tour from Istanbul

On DAY 1, the THY flight from Istanbul to Havana is scheduled for 15:50 - 21:30. We meet at 11:50 at the tour office in the International Departures terminal at Istanbul Airport. After completing ticket and passport formalities, we depart for Havana on a TÜRK HAVA YOLLARI flight. We will spend the day on board. We arrive in Havana, the capital of Cuba, at 21:30. After being met at the airport, we transfer to our hotel to rest. We will stay at the 5-star Melia Cohiba or a similar hotel.

In the morning, we begin our guided Havana City Tour with lunch included. Havana suffered very little damage during the world wars and retains much of its original appearance. American cars from the 50s and 60s and examples of Spanish architecture are a common sight. Founded by the Spanish, the city takes its name from San Cristobal de la Habana. We start our tour in modern Havana, passing through the Vedado district, where Art Deco and modern architecture stand side by side, before continuing to Revolution Square. Old Havana, 15 minutes from modern Havana, has colonial-style squares and buildings. After stopping at the Capitol building, we continue to the historic centre. We explore the old streets on foot, walking through Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral, Plaza Vieja and Plaza de San Francisco. We wave to elderly residents smoking cigars and watching the street from weathered balconies hung with laundry. During the walk, you can photograph the streets and daily life, capturing the historic surroundings in black and white. La Bodeguita del Medio and Floridita Bar are among the stops associated with Ernest Hemingway.

After breakfast, you can enjoy free time for the day. For guests who wish to join, a full-day Pinar del Rio-Vinales Valley tour with lunch will be arranged. We will first visit tobacco fields, learn how tobacco is grown and visit a local cigar farm in Vinales. After taking in the view of Vinales Valley from Los Jazmines Hill, we will have lunch at El Palenque Restaurant. We will explore Cueva del Indio Cave by rowing boat along the river inside. Then, at Mural de la Prehistoria, we will see the oil painting created by Leovigildo in its natural surroundings. Finally, we will make a surprise visit to a local family and return to Havana. We will stay at the 5-star Melia Cohiba or a similar hotel.

After breakfast, we will travel by vehicle to CIENFUEGOS, a UNESCO World Heritage city, and visit the square and the old theatre. After lunch at a local restaurant, we will continue to Trinidad. At the end of the tour, we will return to our hotel in Trinidad. Our hotel will be the 3-star Brisas Del Mar or similar.

After breakfast at the hotel, we will take a city tour of Trinidad. We will walk through the historic streets and visit Plaza Mayor. We will taste a local cocktail at Canchánchara Bar. During the day, we will also go to Ancon Beach, where we will have the opportunity to swim. We will spend the night at our hotel.

After an early breakfast, we depart for Santa Clara at 08:30. We visit Plaza Ernesto Che Guevara and the CHE Museum, which receive hundreds of visitors every day. We then explore the old railway tracks and the armoured train monument in central Santa Clara. After the tour, we have lunch at a local restaurant. We then set off for Varadero. While passing through the Matanzas region, we stop near Cuba's highest highway bridge to take in the view. After a journey of approximately 4 hours, we reach the Varadero coastal area and check in at our all-inclusive hotel. There will be an opportunity to swim during the rest of the day. We stay overnight at an all-inclusive hotel in Varadero. Our hotel is the 5-star Gran Aston Hotel or similar. This tour provides 2 nights of accommodation with breakfast, 1 night of all-inclusive accommodation and 2 lunches. Entrance fees for tours and visits, along with guide services, are included.

After breakfast, we depart for Havana. Our journey will take approximately 2,5 hours. Upon arrival in Havana, you will have free time. We stay overnight in Havana at the 5-star Melia Cohiba hotel or a similar hotel.

Today we leave our hotel in Havana and depart for the airport at 19:15. Our return journey begins at 23:15 on a scheduled TURKISH AIRLINES flight. We spend the night on board. On the return flight from Havana to Istanbul, the aircraft stops in Caracas to refuel. Passengers remain on board during this stop.

We land in Istanbul at 17:55.