Cuba Tropical Tour, 9 Days from Istanbul

We meet at Istanbul Airport at 11:30. Turkish Airlines' comfortable direct flight departs at 15:50 for a pleasant journey above the clouds, landing in Havana at 21:30 in the evening. After being welcomed we check into the hotel, our first taste of Cuba's tropical warmth. Flight details: TK183, Istanbul 15:50, Havana 21:30. Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri, 4-star or similar.

The day begins with the streets of Old Havana (Habana Vieja), a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After taking in colonial landmarks such as Plaza de Armas, Plaza de la Catedral and San Francisco Square, we move to one of the tour's most iconic moments: a city tour by open-top classic American cars from the 1950s, taking in the Malecón seafront and Revolution Square (Plaza de la Revolución). In the evening there is time for a stop at La Bodeguita del Medio, a favorite haunt of Hemingway's. Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri, 4-star or similar.

After breakfast we head west to Pinar del Río, known for producing some of the world's finest tobacco. In the Viñales Valley we visit tobacco farms to see the stages of making Cuban cigars firsthand. We continue to a boat ride along the underground river inside the Cueva del Indio and visit the vast rock painting known as the Mural de la Prehistoria. Meals: Lunch included, at a local restaurant overlooking the valley. Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri, 4-star or similar.

We leave Havana for Cienfuegos, founded by French settlers and known as the Pearl of the South. After seeing José Martí Square and the Tomás Terry Theatre, we continue to Trinidad, where cobblestone streets and painted windows seem to hold time still. The night is spent in this colonial town, its streets filled with Caribbean music. Sights: Palacio de Valle and Trinidad's Plaza Mayor. Accommodation: Hotel Las Cuevas or a boutique hotel, 3-star or similar.

After breakfast we head to Santa Clara, where the fate of the Cuban revolution was decided. We visit the mausoleum of the legendary Che Guevara and the site of the Armored Train raid. After these meaningful stops we continue to Varadero, home to some of the Caribbean's best-known beaches. Dinner and accommodation are on an all-inclusive basis. Sights: the Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum. Accommodation: Meliá Varadero or Sol Varadero Beach, 4-star or similar.

Today is entirely yours. There is time for the sun on Varadero's white sand, snorkeling in its turquoise waters, or simply making the most of the hotel's amenities, a day to feel the calm of the Caribbean. Accommodation: Varadero, all-inclusive.

After a last few hours by the sea in Varadero, we head back to the capital, Havana, in the afternoon. Free time for dinner offers a final chance to explore Havana's nightlife and jazz bars. Accommodation: Hotel NH Capri, 4-star or similar.

After breakfast there is free time for last-minute shopping. At the time set by the guide we transfer to the airport and depart for Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. The night is spent in the air. Flight details: TK183, Havana 23:10, Istanbul 15:50 the next day. Accommodation: Overnight on the plane.

We land in Istanbul at 15:50 in the afternoon, closing this Cuba journey, from the colonial streets of Havana to the beaches of Varadero. ---