12 Days Eastern Anatolia Tour
4.8
607 reviews
🏆 Travelers' Choice 2026
/ 10
Duration
12 days 7h
Max Group Size
40
Departure Type
Scheduled
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical Level
Relax
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
11 - 99 Ages
Highlights
- ✓Embarking on a journey through Trabzon, Artvin, Erzurum, Kars, Van, Tatvan, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Nemrut, Sanliurfa, Göbeklitepe, and Gaziantep promises a captivating exploration of Turkey's diverse landscapes, cultures, and historical sites
- ✓Trabzon: Explore the historical sites of Trabzon, including the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon, a former Byzantine church converted into a mosque. Visit the Sumela Monastery, perched on a cliffside overlooking a lush valley, known for its stunning frescoes and serene atmosphere. Discover the vibrant bazaars and local cuisine, sampling delicacies such as hamsi (anchovies) and pide (Turkish pizza).
- ✓Artvin: Journey through the scenic landscapes of Artvin, characterized by lush forests, towering mountains, and rushing rivers. Explore traditional villages like Şavşat and Arhavi, where you can experience rural life and hospitality. Hike in the Kackar Mountains National Park, home to diverse flora and fauna, including endemic species.
- ✓Erzurum: Visit historical landmarks such as the Erzurum Castle, dating back to the Byzantine period, and the Çifte Minareli Medrese, an elegant Seljuk-era madrasa. Explore the Yakutiye Medrese, known for its intricate stone carvings and Islamic architecture. Experience Erzurum's winter sports facilities, including ski resorts like Palandöken, which hosted the Winter Universiade in 2011.
- ✓Kars: Discover the medieval Ani Ruins, once a flourishing city on the Silk Road, now an archaeological site with impressive churches, mosques, and fortifications. Visit the Kars Castle, offering panoramic views of the surrounding plains and mountains. Experience Kars' cultural heritage, including its unique cuisine influenced by Armenian and Georgian traditions.
- ✓Van: Explore Van Fortress, a massive stone citadel overlooking Lake Van, dating back to the Urartian period. Visit the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, adorned with intricate stone carvings depicting biblical scenes. Enjoy boat tours on Lake Van, the largest lake in Turkey, known for its stunning scenery and historical significance.
- ✓Tatvan: Experience the natural beauty of Tatvan, situated on the shores of Lake Van, surrounded by mountains and volcanic landscapes. Explore nearby attractions such as Nemrut Crater Lake and Ahlat, an ancient cemetery with medieval tombstones.
- ✓Mardin and Diyarbakir: Discover the ancient city of Mardin, known for its stunning architecture, including stone houses, churches, and mosques. Explore the narrow streets of the old town, adorned with intricate stonework and offering panoramic views of the Mesopotamian plains. Visit the historic city of Diyarbakir, with its well-preserved city walls, mosques, and bazaars, reflecting its rich cultural heritage.
- ✓Nemrut and Sanliurfa: Journey to Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its colossal statues and funerary monuments dating back to the 1st century BC. Explore the ancient city of Sanliurfa, believed to be the birthplace of the prophet Abraham, and visit sacred sites such as the Pool of Sacred Fish (Balıklıgöl) and Abraham's Cave.
- ✓Göbeklitepe: Visit Göbeklitepe, one of the world's oldest known temples and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the ancient stone circles and T-shaped pillars dating back over 11,000 years, offering insights into the early development of human civilization. Gaziantep: Explore the historic city of Gaziantep, known for its rich culinary tradition and well-preserved historical sites. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to one of the world's finest collections of Roman mosaics, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant colors. Indulge in Gaziantep's famous cuisine, sampling local specialties such as baklava, kebabs, and pistachio-based desserts.
Overview
Beginning in Trabzon – the ancient city of Trebizond- taking in such sights as Ani, the palace of Ishak Pasha, Ararat, the soon to be sunken ruins of Hasankeyf, the astounding mountain top monument to man’s folly on Nemrut and finishing up at the ancient home of the patriarch Abraham before returning to Istanbul, the capital of ancient empires past. This really is Eastern Turkey travel at its best.
Route
Starts from
Trabzon
Ends in
Istanbul
Pickup Location
Trabzon International Airport
Dropoff Location
Gaziantep International Airport
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Itinerary
(Lunch and Dinner included)
Arrive Trabzon. Visit to the 14th century Byzantine church of Hagia Sofia overlooking the Black Sea before proceeding to the cliff side monastery of the Virgin Mary at Sumela in the Altindere national park. From Sumela, we drive along the coast of the Black Sea to Hopa on the Georgian border where we will spend the night. Dinner and overnight Artvin.
Arrive Trabzon. Visit to the 14th century Byzantine church of Hagia Sofia overlooking the Black Sea before proceeding to the cliff side monastery of the Virgin Mary at Sumela in the Altindere national park. From Sumela, we drive along the coast of the Black Sea to Hopa on the Georgian border where we will spend the night. Dinner and overnight Artvin.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
We depart Hopa for Erzurum via Artvin after the breakfast, Ishan and the spectacular Georgian Valleys. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
We depart Hopa for Erzurum via Artvin after the breakfast, Ishan and the spectacular Georgian Valleys. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
First the breakfast and then the sightseeing in Erzurum before departing for Kars via the Aras River valley and the First World War battlefield site of Sarakimis. After arriving at Kars, we will continue to visit the ancient Armenian city of Ani on the Arpacay River. Dinner and overnight in Kars.
First the breakfast and then the sightseeing in Erzurum before departing for Kars via the Aras River valley and the First World War battlefield site of Sarakimis. After arriving at Kars, we will continue to visit the ancient Armenian city of Ani on the Arpacay River. Dinner and overnight in Kars.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
On to Dogubeyazit after the breakfast and passed the Biblical mountain of Ararat to visit the Ishak Pasha Palace and then on to the city of Van where we will spend the night. Overnight Van.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Sightseeing in the Van region upon breakfast including a visit to the 17th century fortress of Hosap, sitting astride the ancient Silk Road into Persia and the Orient. In the afternoon, we will visit the island of Akdamar in Lake Van to visit the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross. Dinner and overnight in Van.
Sightseeing in the Van region upon breakfast including a visit to the 17th century fortress of Hosap, sitting astride the ancient Silk Road into Persia and the Orient. In the afternoon, we will visit the island of Akdamar in Lake Van to visit the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross. Dinner and overnight in Van.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After the breakfast, we depart Van along the southern shore of Lake Van for Tatvan and then to visit the great Volcano Crater of Nemrut and the Seljuk monuments of Ahlat. Dinner and overnight in Tatvan.
After the breakfast, we depart Van along the southern shore of Lake Van for Tatvan and then to visit the great Volcano Crater of Nemrut and the Seljuk monuments of Ahlat. Dinner and overnight in Tatvan.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After the breakfast, we continue down the Bitlis Gorge, via the city of Batman, to the town Hasankeyf for lunch. In Hasankeyf (soon to be submerged under the lake of a new dam on the Tigris) we will visit some of the many caves and the ruins of the medieval Byzantine City. On our way west to Mardin, we will stop in Midyat to see the Silver Bazaar. Arrive to Mardin visit Kasimiye Madrasa. Dinner and overnight in Mardin.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we visit Deir-Al-Zafaran (Saffron Monastery). The Saffron Monastery was once the ancient center of the Syriac Christian Patriarchy. This site has been the center of religious worship for many centuries, the monastery itself is built over an ancient temple, built in 1000 BC and dedicated to the worship of the sun and which now provides the foundations to the main part of the monastery buildings – it is a fascinating structure as the roof of the temple to the sun is, essentially, a flat arch! From Mardin, we will travel northwest to Diyarbakir to see the 10 Arches Bridge on the Tigris River. Dinner and overnight Diyarbakir.
After breakfast, we visit Deir-Al-Zafaran (Saffron Monastery). The Saffron Monastery was once the ancient center of the Syriac Christian Patriarchy. This site has been the center of religious worship for many centuries, the monastery itself is built over an ancient temple, built in 1000 BC and dedicated to the worship of the sun and which now provides the foundations to the main part of the monastery buildings – it is a fascinating structure as the roof of the temple to the sun is, essentially, a flat arch! From Mardin, we will travel northwest to Diyarbakir to see the 10 Arches Bridge on the Tigris River. Dinner and overnight Diyarbakir.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
Sightseeing in Diyarbakir after breakfast: the Ulu Cami (Mar Thoma)(Mosque and Church), then visit the Great wall. Leave for Nemrut via the ferry over the Euiphratesry arriving in Narlice Village in Nemrut National Park. We will travel to the top of Mount Nemrut, Tombs of Commagene Kingdom and the Colossal Statues of Gods. Climbing up to Tumulus of Antiochos, the capital of Kommagene, we will watch the sun set from the summit of Nemrut. This ancient funerary monument at the peak of Mt Nemrut was forgotten and lost to memory for nearly 2000 years. Dinner and Overnight near Nemrut in Adiyaman.
Sightseeing in Diyarbakir after breakfast: the Ulu Cami (Mar Thoma)(Mosque and Church), then visit the Great wall. Leave for Nemrut via the ferry over the Euiphratesry arriving in Narlice Village in Nemrut National Park. We will travel to the top of Mount Nemrut, Tombs of Commagene Kingdom and the Colossal Statues of Gods. Climbing up to Tumulus of Antiochos, the capital of Kommagene, we will watch the sun set from the summit of Nemrut. This ancient funerary monument at the peak of Mt Nemrut was forgotten and lost to memory for nearly 2000 years. Dinner and Overnight near Nemrut in Adiyaman.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast, you will see Karakus Tumulus, a burial sanctuary and the Cendere Bridge, erected by the XVI Legion in the honour of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, before proceeding to for Urfa. Via Urfa, we will visit Ataturk dam a part of the giant South East Anatolia Project. Arriving in Urfa, we will visit the Holy Pools of Abraham and the cave where, tradition tells us, the Prophet Abraham was born. Visit the Bazaar. Overnight Sanliurfa.
After breakfast, you will see Karakus Tumulus, a burial sanctuary and the Cendere Bridge, erected by the XVI Legion in the honour of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus, before proceeding to for Urfa. Via Urfa, we will visit Ataturk dam a part of the giant South East Anatolia Project. Arriving in Urfa, we will visit the Holy Pools of Abraham and the cave where, tradition tells us, the Prophet Abraham was born. Visit the Bazaar. Overnight Sanliurfa.
(Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)
After breakfast, we will visit the on-going archaeological dig at GobekliTepe. The most important archaeological dig currently being undertaken anywhere in the world – this site represents a major shift in our understanding of man’s early history. Here lie the remains of the earliest religious structures built by man yet to be discovered. At about 11000-13000 years old and pre-dating pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids! We, then, depart for Gaziantep where we will visit the stunning mosaic museum which houses a priceless collection of mosaics from the now sunken city of Zeugma. We will visit the citadel and the Old Town of Gaziantep. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep.
After breakfast, we will visit the on-going archaeological dig at GobekliTepe. The most important archaeological dig currently being undertaken anywhere in the world – this site represents a major shift in our understanding of man’s early history. Here lie the remains of the earliest religious structures built by man yet to be discovered. At about 11000-13000 years old and pre-dating pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids! We, then, depart for Gaziantep where we will visit the stunning mosaic museum which houses a priceless collection of mosaics from the now sunken city of Zeugma. We will visit the citadel and the Old Town of Gaziantep. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep.
(Breakfast included)
Today, we depart for Gaziantep airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back to home after breakfast. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.
Today, we depart for Gaziantep airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back to home after breakfast. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing TravelShop Booking.
What's included
- ✓Accommodation
- ✓Guide
- ✓Meals
- ✓Transport
- ✓Other included
- ✓Hygiene protocol
Not included
- ✕Flights
- ✕Insurance
- ✕Other not included
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