Dear guests, welcome to the itctur family!
We are embarking on a pleasant journey together, starting from Istanbul and bringing us together with the beautiful cities of the Eastern Mediterranean. Ahead of us awaits a beautiful 3-night, 4-day program filled with Mersin’s unique nature, Tarsus’s millennia-old history, and Hatay’s cultural richness.
During this tour, we will not only visit city by city; while exploring the azure coasts, ancient cities, caves, waterfalls, and historical structures of the Mediterranean, we will also have the opportunity to experience the region’s unique flavors.
On our first day, Kız Kalesi (Ladies' Castle), Kanytelis Ancient City, Cennet and Cehennem Sinkholes, Astım Cave, and Göksu Delta await us. Afterwards, we will move to our hotel in Mersin to rest and recover from the day's fatigue.
The route for the second day is Tarsus… We will explore this beautiful city that has hosted various civilizations throughout history, from the Seven Sleepers Cave to Tarsus Waterfall, from historic Tarsus houses to St. Paul’s Well, from the Kırk Kaşık Bedesten to the Nusrat Mine Ship.
On our final day, we will reach Hatay via Belen Pass and Amik Plain; we will see special spots such as Titus Tunnel, Beşikli Cave, Harbiye Waterfalls, and St. Pierre Church. And of course, we will not complete this journey without tasting the exquisite flavors of Hatay cuisine.
In short, ahead of us lies a busy yet highly enjoyable trip filled with history, nature, culture, scenery, and flavors.
Our request to you is to pay attention to the times and meeting points provided by our guide throughout the trip, keep your personal belongings under control, and most importantly, take plenty of photos and enjoy this beautiful journey.
We are ready, and if you are too…
Our journey to Mersin, Tarsus, and Hatay begins!
I wish you all a pleasant, wonderful, and memory-filled tour in advance. Welcome to the itctur family! 🌿🚌
Vehicle Departure Points and Times
19:00 Incirli Metrobus Stop - In front of Nevada Cafe
19:45 Mecidiyekoy Square - In front of Nevada Cafe
20:15 Kadikoy Civil Registration Office Front
20:20 Bostanci Bridge Underpass
20:30 Kartal Bridge Underpass
20:40 Pendik Bridge Underpass
20:50 Cayirova McDonald's Front
21:00 Gebze Center Front
21:20 Izmit Halkevi Stop (Opposite Asia Hotel)
21:40 Sakarya Alpet Front (Next to Bus Terminal)
23:45 Bolu Bus Terminal Side
02:00 Ankara Sogutozu Ulusoy Facilities (Opposite Armada Mall)
07:30 Adana Airport
After picking up our valued guests at the specified points, we begin our night journey for the Mersin Tarsus Hatay Tour with itctur.com.
After our night journey, we start the day with a breakfast break provided by itctur for the Mersin Tarsus Hatay Tour. After breakfast, we set off towards Silifke. We follow the flamingo route, listen to the story of Kiz Kalesi (Maiden's Castle), and take photos. In Erdemli, Mersin, we visit the ancient city of Cytium (Kanlıdivane), an important city of ancient Cilicia, which features an obruk (sinkhole) with a 100-meter diameter in its center, accompanied by our guide. Afterwards, we visit the Cennet and Cehennem caves. After seeing and photographing these natural beauties, we are given free time for lunch. We visit the Silifke Asthma Cave located in Narlıkuyu, Silifke, Mersin, known for its stalactites and stalagmites and also used for natural asthma treatment. After our free time, after receiving information about the Silifke Göksu Delta, we begin our return journey to Mersin. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.
Breakfast: Will be taken in Mersin. Not included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken in Silifke. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hotels in the Mersin Region
On the 3rd day of the Mersin Tarsus Hatay Tour with İtc Tur, after having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we board our bus and start our journey to Tarsus. In Tarsus, we first visit the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, which holds great importance in both Islam and Christianity.
We visit the cave where it is believed that seven people, along with their dog, took refuge from the persecution of idolaters and slept for three centuries, as mentioned in the Surah Al-Kahf of the Quran. Afterward, we proceed to the Tarsus Waterfall, known for its natural beauty. We complete our therapy with the sound of the waterfall formed by the high drop of the Berdan (Kydnos) River and then get back on our bus.
In Tarsus, one of the important cities surrounded by strong walls during the Roman era, we see the Cleopatra Gate, one of the city entrance gates that has survived intact, and receive information. Then we visit the shrine and mosque of Prophet Daniel, who liberated the Jews from Babylonian captivity. Next, we tour the Kırk Kaşık Bedesten, formerly known as the White Bazaar. During the Ramazanoğulları period, this bedesten was built, and we are given free time for shopping. Afterward, we see the well of St. Paul of Tarsus, one of the most important saints in Christianity. We view the remaining parts of the house declared as a pilgrimage center for Christianity, receive information from our guide, and then take a walk through the Old Tarsus streets and houses. After being given free time to taste and shop for local products, we head to the famous Tantuni restaurant for lunch. After the meal, we set off for the Nusrat Mine Ship, which changed the fate of the Gallipoli naval battles.
The Nusrat Ship, which earned the title "the world's most famous mine ship" because it changed the course of the war on March 18, 1915, was sold to a private company in 1962 and sank near Mersin in 1990. The ship, salvaged in 1999, was brought to Tarsus in three pieces and opened to visitors in 2003. After visiting the Nusrat Mine Ship Museum, we board our bus and move to our hotel in Iskenderun.
Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken in Tarsus. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Accommodation: Hatay Kent Iskenderun Hotel or similar.
On the 4th day of the Mersin Tarsus Hatay Tour with Itc Tur, after having breakfast at the hotel in the morning, we board our bus and begin our journey towards Antakya, passing through Belen Pass and viewing the Amik Plain. After learning about the Amik Plain, known as the site where the great apocalyptic battle called "Armageddon," referred to as the "Last War" that will bring about the end of the world in the Old and New Testaments, we pass through Samandağ district of Hatay and reach the Titus Tunnel via a journey along the Mediterranean coast. The tunnel, built by Roman Emperor Vespasian to change the direction of water during sudden flash floods, was completed during the reign of his son Titus. We listen to the story of this fascinating tunnel, entirely made by human hands, and travel back 2000 years. Near the Titus Tunnel, we visit the necropolis area also known as Beşikli Mağara (Cradle Cave), which contains 12 tombs carved into limestone rock. Then we head to Daphne, known as the region of waterfalls in Hatay. Waters emerging from the valley form waterfalls and flow into the Asi River. Harbiye Waterfalls have been an important resort destination since ancient times. It is accepted as the place where the legend of Daphne in Greek mythology takes place and is also the site where world-famous mosaics were discovered. After the free time given here, we have our lunch to enjoy famous Hatay dishes known for their cuisine. After lunch, we see old and newly reconstructed Hatay and visit St. Pierre Church, the first cave church in history. After learning about the structure where the term "Christian" originated, we view the relief of Kharon, the Hell Ferryman from Greek mythology, and bid farewell to Antakya. We stop in Adana, famous for its cuisine, for dinner. After the unforgettable meal, we begin our return journey to Istanbul. Having completed the Mersin Tarsus Hatay Tour with Itc Tur, we drop off our valued guests at the points where we picked them up and say goodbye until we meet again at another Itc Tur organization.
Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel. Included in the tour price.
Lunch: Will be taken in Hatay. (Extra)
Dinner: Will be taken in Adana. (Extra)
Dear guests, I would like to share a few important pieces of information with you regarding our tour.
First of all, we have a pleasant and quite packed 3-night, 4-day program waiting for us, starting from Istanbul and covering the Mersin, Tarsus, and Hatay route. During our tour, we will have the opportunity to explore both natural beauties and historical sites, as well as the region’s unique culture and cuisine.
Due to the intensive nature of our schedule, we kindly request that you punctually adhere to the meeting times. Please make sure to pay close attention to the departure time of our bus at the end of the free time provided at each sightseeing stop. Being on time is crucial for the smooth progress of our tour.
We recommend wearing comfortable shoes during our excursions. Since there will be walking involved during visits to ancient cities, caves, sinkholes (obruk), and waterfalls, using comfortable clothing and footwear will be highly beneficial.
Weather conditions may vary from one area to another, so it would be wise to carry a light jacket or spare clothes suitable for the season. Additionally, please do not forget to bring your personal necessities, regularly used medications, and any other items you might need throughout the day.
Throughout the tour, we will visit significant historical and natural sites in Mersin, Tarsus, and Hatay. Our itinerary includes Kiz Kalesi (Maiden's Castle), Cennet-Cehennem Sinkholes, Astım Cave, historical spots in Tarsus, Titus Tunnel, Beşikli Cave, Harbiye, and important cultural stops in Hatay.
Another enjoyable aspect of this tour is, of course, exploring the local cuisine. You can make use of your free time to experience the regional flavors of Mersin and Hatay.
During our stays, we ask that you pay attention to hotel check-in and check-out times, room rules, and any briefings provided by our guide.
Another important point concerns your personal belongings. We advise you not to leave valuable items in the bus when disembarking and to especially check for items such as your phone, wallet, ID, and similar valuables.
If you have any needs or questions during the tour, please feel free to reach out to us. Our goal is to ensure that you enjoy a relaxed, pleasant trip filled with beautiful memories, without disrupting the program.
In short; we are bringing our comfortable shoes, good energy, and desire to explore.
We’ll handle the rest. 😊
Wishing us all a wonderful journey together through Mersin–Tarsus–Hatay, I wish everyone pleasant travels in advance!
CONTRACT PRICE INCREASE
In the event of a price increase in the contract amount, the difference will not be charged to the consumer, nor will any discounts referred to as "actions" by the facility be refunded to the consumer. However, in outbound packaged tours where the contract amount is determined in foreign currency, if there is an abnormal increase in the exchange rate, changes in taxes, fees, duties, and similar legal obligations collected at places such as ports and airports, or extraordinary increases in transportation costs including fuel expenses (a price increase of more than 2% will be considered an abnormal increase), the Consumer acknowledges that itctur.com has the right to make changes to prices and conditions, provided that the change does not exceed 5% of the contract amount.
DEPOSIT SYSTEM
Deposit or earnest money, or by another name, security deposit, is the general term for the advance payment made to reserve a transaction for the person providing the deposit, which serves as temporary proof of intent to purchase goods or services, movable or immovable property, for the required monetary value. In other words, when purchasing a good or service, if you wish for this good or service to be reserved under your name for a specific period, a certain percentage fee is paid under the name of deposit. Subsequently, until the sale transaction is completed, the good or service is reserved for you. The deposit given during purchase, sale, or rental transactions is accepted as an indicator of the buyer's seriousness. Deposit is a method applied not only in our country but also everywhere in the world.
The refund of the deposit is only possible if the seller decides to withdraw from the said sale or if the service cannot be rendered. The buyer does not have any right to refund of any deposit or full payment in case of inability to join the tour or exceeding the cancellation-refund or postponement period stipulated by the packaged tour contract.
In cancellations made less than 15 days before the start of the service by the Consumer, the Consumer declares, accepts, and undertakes to pay the full reservation amount to itctur.com. If the Consumer, after exceeding the cancellation-refund or postponement period, makes a deposit payment without notifying the agency of force majeure and without the agency approving the Consumer's cancellation-refund or postponement process, and then fails to join the tour for which the reservation was made, the Consumer declares, accepts, and undertakes to pay the entire remaining payment after deducting the deposit amount to itctur.com.
TRANSFER OF SERVICE
If it becomes impossible for the Consumer to continue with the purchased tour/accommodation/service, they may transfer their reservation to a third party who meets all valid conditions regarding the contract, by notifying itctur.com at least 7 days before the departure date for day trips, and at least 15 days before the departure date for overnight tours. In this case, both the transferring and receiving parties are jointly and severally liable to itctur.com for the balance amount and all additional expenses arising from said transfer. For tours involving air travel, this situation is evaluated according to the cancellation and change conditions of the carrier airline company. Specifically, for outbound tours, visa fees for Consumers whose visa processes have been completed will not be refunded. For Consumers taking over the packaged tour, visa responsibilities will lie with them. In cases where Consumers do not have visas, or despite having applied, fail to obtain visas from the relevant institution by the tour start date, itctur.com accepts no responsibility and collects the full tour cost from both the transferring and receiving parties (jointly and severally). If the person taking over the service does not have the same status as the transferring party, the transfer does not occur, or special discounts are removed and the transfer process is completed.
RIGHTS TO CHANGE
Significant changes made to the contract content due to reasons not attributable to the Consumer before the start of the packaged tour/service, as well as other price changes besides those specified in Article 5 of the sales contract, are accepted as fundamental contract changes. Fundamental contract changes and their impact on price are immediately notified to the Consumer/participant by itctur.com in writing and/or via a permanent data storage medium. Following notification, the Consumer/Participant may either accept the notified change in writing or via permanent data storage medium, or notify itctur.com in writing or via permanent data storage medium that they do not accept the change, thereby exercising one of the following rights:
a. Joining another packaged tour offered by itctur.com of equal or higher value without paying an additional fee,
b. Joining a packaged tour of lower value subject to the refund of the price difference,
c. Withdrawal from the contract without paying any compensation.
In case the Consumer/Participant withdraws from the contract, the amount paid by the Participant/Consumer will be refunded to the Consumer/Participant without deduction within 15 days at the latest from the date the withdrawal notification reaches itctur.com. If the Participant/Consumer, despite being notified of fundamental contract changes and their impact on price through the aforementioned methods, does not provide any response and/or does not notify itctur.com of which right they exercised through the aforementioned methods, they shall be deemed to have accepted these new conditions, which constitute an additional contract containing fundamental changes to the packaged tour contract including notified price increases, and in case they do not join the tour without any notification, they cannot request refund or reduction of fees on the grounds that they did not receive the service, acknowledging that the fees paid serve as cancellation compensation.
If itctur.com cancels the tour/contract before the start of the tour/service for reasons not attributable to the Consumer/Participant, the Consumer/Participant may exercise the rights granted to them as listed in clauses a), b), and c) above.
SITUATION WHERE SERVICE DOES NOT START OR CANNOT CONTINUE
Despite itctur.com exercising all necessary care, if the tour/service cannot begin or its continuation becomes impossible due to the reasons specified below, and/or if the breach of contract stems from the reasons specified below, itctur.com cannot be held responsible for the non-performance or improper performance of the contract;
a. Fault of the Consumer.
b. Unexpected and unavoidable behavior of a third party not involved in the fulfillment of the contract.
c. Existence of force majeure.
d. Occurrence of an unforeseeable and unpreventable event despite the packaged tour organizer, intermediary, or independent service provider exercising all necessary care,
e. Cancellation due to failure to meet the minimum participation required for organizing the packaged tour, and notification of the cancellation to the Consumer in writing or via permanent data storage medium at least twenty days before the start of the packaged tour as foreseen in the contract (If the reason for postponement and/or cancellation arises less than 20 days before the start of the tour, itctur.com cannot be held responsible.)
In the event that the reasons specified above arise before the tour starts, itctur.com has the right to cancel and/or postpone the tour/service or propose an alternative tour by informing the Consumer in writing or via Permanent Data Storage Medium. If the tour cannot begin due to the reasons specified above and the Consumer does not agree to the postponement of the tour or joining an alternative tour, itctur.com will cancel the Consumer's tour. In this case, if the Consumer does not accept itctur.com's request for postponement or proposal of an alternative tour, or if postponement of the tour is practically impossible, itctur.com will refund the payments made by the Consumer up to that date, excluding official payments made for the Consumer (taxes, duties, etc.). If force majeure arises after the tour has started, during the execution of the service, itctur.com's responsibility is limited to returning the Consumer to the starting point of the tour, and no other responsibility (refund, compensation, etc.) can be imposed on itctur.com.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND CONDITIONS
In cancellations made without stating a reason up to 30 days before the start of the service by the Consumer, the amount paid by the Consumer is refunded, excluding expenses arising from mandatory taxes, duties, and similar legal obligations, and amounts paid to third parties that can be documented and are non-refundable. In cancellations made between 29 and 15 days before the start of the service by the Consumer, the Consumer declares, accepts, and undertakes to pay 35% of the reservation amount. In cancellations made less than 14 days before the start of the service, the Consumer declares, accepts, and undertakes to pay the full reservation amount to itctur.com. In cancellations made up to 60 days before the start of the service for special products, the full amount paid by the Consumer up to that point is refunded. If the Consumer cancels the contract 59-31 days before the start of the service, they declare, accept, and undertake to pay 25% of the reservation amount; if they cancel the contract 30-15 days before, 50% of the tour cost; if they cancel the contract 14-07 days before, 75% of the trip cost; and if less than 7 days remain, the full amount to itctur.com. The aforementioned clauses of the contract do not apply if the purchased service is part of special periods like New Year's, school breaks, holidays, or other campaigns. In this case, the Consumer has no right to cancellation or refund. Consumers who purchase early booking cancellation insurance for domestic accommodations or Early Reservation Guarantee Package for cultural tours can use their unconditional right to cancel up to 72 hours before the start of the service. The Consumer's early booking cancellation insurance or early reservation guarantee package does not cover air travel costs. In cancellations made for outbound travels, if a visa has been obtained, the visa fee is non-refundable. For tours involving air travel, in case of the Consumer's cancellation request, this situation is evaluated according to the cancellation and change conditions of the carrier airline company. In case the Consumer requests a change to the service, subject to itctur.com's approval, if there is a price difference between the previously received service and the newly requested service, the Consumer must immediately pay the difference to itctur.com upon acceptance of the change request. However, if the price of the new service is lower than the previous service price, itctur.com will refund the difference to the Consumer.
You have an unconditional right to refund or postponement for our day trips up to 7 days before the tour, and for our overnight tours up to 14 days before the tour. In case of exceeding the specified periods, you have a right to refund for health reasons or death of a first-degree relative. You must document such situations with a report from a state hospital. You have a right to refund or postponement for tours postponed or cancelled by the agency.
FORCE MAJEURE
If the Consumer notifies of a situation or force majeure that they could not foresee or prevent, less than 30 days before the start of the tour/service despite exercising all necessary care, the amount paid by the Consumer is refunded to them, excluding expenses arising from mandatory taxes, duties, etc., and amounts paid to third parties that can be documented and are non-refundable. If such a situation arises during the continuation of the tour, relevant information and documents must be submitted to itctur.com immediately along with documentation after the Consumer leaves the tour. If the Consumer does not notify in writing that they will participate in the tour/accommodation/service they missed the start of; itctur.com has the right to cancel all reservations and services made on behalf of the Consumer after 24 hours. In such cancellations, no fee refund is made to the Consumer.
If an unforeseeable situation or force majeure arises during the continuation of the tour, relevant information and documents must be submitted to itctur.com immediately along with documentation after the Consumer leaves the tour. If the Consumer does not notify in writing that they will participate in the tour/accommodation/service they missed the start of; itctur.com has the right to cancel all reservations and services made on behalf of the Consumer after 24 hours. In such cancellations, no fee refund is made to the Consumer.
Within the scope of the Law on Protection of Personal Data No. 6698 ("KVKK"), personal data such as guests' names, surnames, Turkish Republic Identity Number (where necessary), date of birth, phone number, email address, payment information, reservation information, and similar data may be processed in compliance with current legislation for the purpose of conducting reservation, sales, operations, transportation, accommodation, accounting, customer relations, and tour service processes.
Collected personal data may be used for the purpose of fully delivering the service, completing reservation processes, conducting tour organization, fulfilling legal obligations, sharing with relevant official institutions when necessary, and managing customer satisfaction processes.
Photographs and videos may be taken by us during tour organizations, and if participants appear in the captured visuals, such content may constitute personal data.
In this context, the guest gives explicit consent to the use, publication, and sharing of photographs and videos taken during the tour;
Guests who do not wish to appear in photographs and video content must notify authorized personnel in writing or verbally before the start of the tour. In the absence of notification, it is accepted that consent for the use of group photos and videos taken in public areas has been given.
The guest may submit their requests regarding their personal data and the use of visual content to the agency in writing at any time. Necessary procedures will be carried out after evaluation within the scope of legislation.
This sales contract, additional terms, and information texts are communicated to the guest prior to and/or during the completion of the reservation process via internet site links, short messages, emails, WhatsApp, or similar electronic communication channels.
It is essential that the guest carefully reads and examines the contract and information texts communicated to them, becomes informed about all conditions, and completes the reservation process accordingly.
In case the reservation is created, pre-payment or total payment is made, the tour service is purchased, or participation in the tour is ensured, the guest is deemed to have read, understood, and accepted the provisions of this contract and information texts.
Dear guests, we would like to share with you some important items that we recommend bringing with you during our tour.
Comfortable shoes: Our program includes walking and outdoor tours. Therefore, we especially recommend choosing comfortable shoes with non-slip soles.
Season-appropriate clothing: Since daytime and evening temperatures may vary, it will be helpful to bring a light jacket, cardigan, or sweater with you.
Small backpack: Instead of carrying your suitcase during daily tours, a small backpack for water, phone, charger, personal items, and other necessities will be very practical.
ID card: Please make sure to carry your Turkish ID card or valid identification document at all times.
Your personal medications: If you regularly take any medication, please remember to bring enough supply for the duration of the tour.
Sunglasses and sunscreen: We recommend bringing these as you may need them in open areas and during long excursions.
Phone and charging equipment: You can bring a power bank and charging cable to keep your phone charged throughout the day.
Water bottle: It will be beneficial to have water with you, especially during walking and outdoor tours.
Personal care products: Do not forget to bring your personal care items and address any special needs you might have at the hotel.
Camera or phone: Because on this tour, we will encounter beautiful landscapes and historical sites where you will take plenty of photos.
Cash and cards: For personal expenses, local delicacies, and shopping during free time, it may be useful to have both cards and some cash.
About luggage: Since we are staying at hotels, we recommend packing your daily-use items in an easily accessible manner. For items you might need on the bus, it is more practical to keep them in a separate small bag.
In short: With our IDs, comfortable shoes, season-appropriate clothes, personal medications, phone and charging equipment, and good energy ready, we are ready to hit the road!
We wish you all a pleasant and memorable tour in advance.
2 nights accommodation at hotels
2 breakfasts at the hotel (buffet)
2 dinners at the hotel (buffet or set menu)
Transportation with luxury vehicles (vehicles are assigned according to the number of participants)
Sightseeing tours as specified in the program
Professional guide services
Bottled water in the vehicle
Itc Tour Guarantee
Mandatory Travel Insurance according to Tourism Law No. 1618
Breakfast on the first day specified in the program
Dinner on the last day specified in the program
Beverages included with all meals
Lunches
Night Tours
All additional events specified
All personal expenses
Museum and archaeological site entrance fees (applicable for municipal and private operators)
Museum Card (valid for museums affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism)