1 Day Safranbolu
We will be meeting at our office in Aksaray, Istanbul at 08:00 and we will be setting off for Safranbolu. Safranbolu has been an important accommodation center for caravans on the East-West trade route from the 13th century until the beginning of the 20th century when the railway became widespread. In Safranbolu, we will visit the Mosque, Old Bath, and Süleyman Pasha Madrasah, which were built in 1322. Cinci Hoca Caravanserai, Cinci Hoca Hamam, and the District Governors House Museum will also be on our itinerary. We will be spending the night in Safranbolu.
2 Days Safranbolu – Ankara
After breakfast, we will depart from Safranbolu for Ankara at 09:00 (a 3- to 4-hour journey). We will have lunch in the capital Ankara, followed by a city tour. We will visit the Atatürk Museum and Anıtkabir, and then spend the night at our hotel in Ankara.
Day 3 / Ankara – Amasya
After breakfast, we’ll set out for Amasya. It’s one of our special cities, with natural beauty and historical value. The famous geographer Strabo lived here. Amasya is located on the banks of a green river and has a 3000-year history. Many civilizations have left their mark here, with invaluable remains of their time. We’ll see the remains of a castle built on a rocky face protected by mountain cracks, 2000-year-old water channels, 1000-year-old bridges, a mental hospital, an Ottoman Palace, and a secret underground passage. We’ll spend the night in Amasya.
4.Day Amasya – Trabzon
After breakfast, we will depart for Trabzon at 09:00. Trabzon is a city with a long and rich history dating back to the Roman Empire. When the empire was divided into two at the end of the 4th century, Trabzon remained under the rule of the Eastern Roman Empire, which would later be called the Byzantine Empire. Here you can see traces of the 4th century, making it a fascinating place to explore. We will be staying in Trabzon all night, so you will have plenty of time to explore this historic city.
5. Day Trabzon
We are right in the heart of where multiple civilizations have met and you will have the chance to explore some of their most amazing historical landmarks! We’ll start with the 13th-century church of Hagia Sophia and the extraordinary Byzantine frescoes. Then, we’ll move on to the Gülbahar Hatun Mosque and Atatürk’s Mansion in Ortahisar. After lunch at a coastal restaurant in Akcaabat, we’ll explore the cobbled streets of Trabzon. Finally, we’ll go to Boztepe for some tea and an incredible view of the city.
6.Day Sumela Monastery, Zigana, Karaca Cave, Erzurum
The fourth-century Sumela Monastery, which appears to be clinging to the side of a steep mountain, will amaze you with its incredible beauty. Our lunch and rest break will be right next to the river in the Altındere Valley National Park. Afterwards, we will continue along the Silk Road, with the Zigana Mountains leading us to the Karaca Cave. Karaca Cave is widely considered to be the most beautiful cave in Turkey, due to its stunning colors and layout. From there, we will pass through Bayburt and arrive in Erzurum. After dinner at our hotel, we will retire to our rooms to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
7. Day Erzurum – Kars
We will set off from Erzurum in the early hours of the morning and pass Sarıkamış, the coldest place in our country, for a nice journey towards Kars. When we reach the snow, we will go to the Turkish-Armenian border.
We will visit the medieval city of Ani, which is mostly in ruins, about 45 minutes from here. Here you will encounter the ruins of countless churches, mosques, and caravanserais. It will be a different experience for you to walk among the ruins and imagine that this city was once a rival to Baghdad with its population of one million. This city was home to Urartian, Armenian, Georgian, Mongolian, Russian, and eventually Turkish cultures.
8. Day Dogubeyazit
After a 3.5-hour journey on the Silk Road, we will reach Doğubayazıt. We will visit an area known as the Crater Pit on the Iranian border, where we will have the opportunity to see Mount Ararat from all sides.
This is believed to be the site of Noah’s Ark, but ongoing research has still found nothing to prove its existence. In the afternoon, we will visit the Ishak Pasha Palace. This magnificent building consists of a combination of a mosque, castle, and palace, and it is the building where the first heating system was used.
Below, you can see the ruins of old Beyazıt and the city of Urartu, whose star was shining in the millennium BC. We will spend the night in Doğu Beyazıt.
9. Day Dogubeyazit – Van
After visiting the Iranian border, we will depart from Doğubayazıt in the early hours of the morning and travel for 3 hours to go to Van. The city was founded in the 13th century BC when the Hurrits came here. Later, Hittites, Urartians, Persians, Armenians, Macedonians, Romans, and finally Turks lived here.
From here, we will visit the Holy Cross Church, which is an architectural wonder of Armenians, located on Akdamar Island. We will visit the magnificent Kurdish castle of Hosap, which was very close to the Iranian border, and the Urartian Castle at the time. We will spend the night in Van.
10.Day Van-Ahlat-Batis-Diyarbakır
After visiting the 12th-century Seljuk cemetery in Ahlat in the morning, we will move to Bitlis for lunch. Here we will take a lovely stroll around Batis, a unique medieval town known as the city of Alexander the Great. Then we will go to Diyarbakir to spend the night.
11.Day Mardin- Diyarbakir- Urfa
Mardin is a unique city, with lovely old-style Arab houses. It played an important role in the early development of Christianity. We’ll not only visit the crowded and interesting streets and bazaars of the city but also admire the stonework in the city. Additionally, we’ll visit Deyr-az-Zaferan Monastery, which was founded in 762. This is where the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate (Assyrians) resided for 800 years. This monastery was built on top of the 4000-year-old temple used by sun worshipers. From there, we’ll set out for Urfa to spend the night.
12. Day Urfa City Tour
Welcome to Urfa, the land of prophets!
Urfa, the city where the Prophet Abraham was born, was first acquired by the Babylonians, then the Hurries, Hittites, Assyrians, and Greeks. Today, it is a lively city full of culture and history.
We will also visit the sacred places in Ainzelha, the Fish Lake with its millions of domesticated fish. You will have the opportunity to shop in the lively bazaar of Urfa and you will have the opportunity to take extraordinary photos there.
So come and explore Urfa with us!
13. Day Urfa – Kahta – Nemrut
After a two-hour journey, we will reach Mount Nemrut and climb to the top of the mountain. This extraordinary peak we will reach is 2,438 meters high. This area consists of two flats covered with statues and a false peak made of stone that separates them. The Kings of Antakya built this monument about 2000 years ago for their “Holy Ancestors”. After witnessing the sunset with the magnificent view of Mount Nemrut, we will go to Kahta to spend the night.
Day 14 Kahta – Gaziantep
We’re in Gaziantep, the hometown of baklava! After visiting the archaeological museum, we’ll explore the unique streets of the historic city on foot and spend the night here.
Day 15 Gaziantep – Adana – Tarsus
We will be setting off for Adana in the morning and our program will begin with a visit to the Archeology Museum. Afterwards, we will see the 16th-century Great Mosque and the 19th-century Clock Tower. Afterwards, we will visit the Cleopatra Gate and the Cave of the Seven Sleepers in Tarsus before spending the night there.
16. Day Cappadocia
After an early breakfast in this mysterious place, we will head towards the north of Cappadocia. We will spend the afternoon in our hotel, which consists of natural cave rooms unique to the Cappadocia Region. We recommend that you charge the batteries of the cameras before leaving the hotel, as Cappadocia is a different and fascinating place than any other place you have ever seen in your life.
17. Day Cappadocia
The valley of Göreme is a place where you can see the ongoing process of the formation of the rocks of Cappadocia. A little further on, you will see cone-shaped rock dwellings around Uçhisar. After a break for tea and coffee in a cool cave house, we will go to the Göreme Open Air Museum, where churches and monasteries made of carved rock are located. After a light lunch, we will visit the Fairy Chimneys in Ürgüp. Afterwards, our program will include tasting different flavors of wine at a local winery and going to wish hill. We will take a short walk in Dervent Valley, where there are rocks in different figures. The monk valley will be our next stop, where we will see the monk cells in the multi-headed Fairy Chimneys. You can buy pottery during our visit to Avanos, the land of pottery. After a short walk in the cave city in the Rose Valley, we will go to a quiet, secluded place where you can watch the sunset.
18. Day Cappadocia
At 09:00, we will pick you up from your hotel and head to Ihlara Valley. We will walk for 4 km before the weather gets too hot, and visit the Fresco Churches. We will have lunch, accompanied by the soothing sound of the Melendiz River, which passes through the Ihlara Valley. After dinner, we will visit Selime Cathedral, and return to Derin well underground city. We will not pass without visiting the Nar Kreter Lake on our way. While other tour groups are still in Ihlara Valley, we will be in an underground city with a temperature of 12-13 °C in the middle of the day. After visiting the biggest and most magnificent underground city of Cappadocia, we will go to Güvercinlik Valley to see the pigeon houses built to collect fertilizer.
19.Day Cappadocia – Konya – Antalya
Today we will travel all day and take a break in Konya at noon. We will visit the Mevlana Tomb, which is beautifully decorated with green tiles. Mevlana was the founder of Sufism, a more mystical understanding of Islam that aims to reach divine love and become one with God. Whirling dervishes are also Sufis. After our tour of Konya, we will set off for Antalya. After checking into our hotel, you will have time to explore Antalya.
20.Day Antalya – Aspendos – Perge
Strabona’s Geographer, Akhas, founded Perge after the Trojan War. In 334 BC, Alexander the Great recorded the name of Perge in historical documents while passing through. Perge became part of the Roman Empire during the Pergamon period and was the richest city in the region. St. Paul attempted to spread Christianity in 46, but because the local people loved and respected Artemis so much, Christianity waited another 400 years to enter this region. Perge was settled by the Psychosis during the Byzantine period. Seljuk Turks conquered Perge in the 7th century. We will tour Aspendos and have lunch on the way. Aspendos is an old city located 27 km east of Antalya. The city was the site of a great war between the Persians and the Greeks in 486 BC. The city gained its famous theater in 161.
Day 21 Antalya – Pamukkale
After breakfast, we’ll drive to Pamukkale. We’ll visit the Pamukkale travertines (calcium terraces) and the Hieropolis ruins. Then we’ll spend the night in Pamukkale, where the Pamukkale travertines will give you the pleasure of sleeping in the water flowing from the calcium terraces.
22.Day Pamukkale – Kusadasi
Instead of saying “you don’t have to get up early today,” try saying “you can sleep in today!” and then follow that up with what the reader can do with their extra time. Instead of just saying “explore the city and shop,” try giving some specific recommendations for things to do in the city, like “check out the local shops and markets.” Finally, end with a call to action, like “So what are you waiting for? Get out there and enjoy Kusadasi!”
23. Day Ephesus and Kusadasi
We get up at 08:30 and take a 20-minute journey to Ephesus. Ephesus was once the trade center of the world. The temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the city and the world, was dedicated to the goddess Artemis. Among the ruins of Ephesus, apart from the Temple of Artemis, there are the famous Ephesus Antique Theatre, the People’s Assembly Building, the State Assembly Building, Temples, Fountains, and baths. In addition to these, Celsius’s Library is also among the wonders of Ephesus.
Ephesus, one of the most important centers of the ancient world, BC. It has always played an important role in the fields of civilization, science, culture, and art throughout its history dating back to the 4th millennium. After lunch, we go shopping… Here we will see old Turkish arts such as leather processing and jewelry in the hands of masters. We stay overnight in Kusadasi.
24. Day Bergama – Çanakkale
Today we visit Pergamum, an ancient city with a rich history. We will see the Asclepion, the altar of Zeus, and the Red Court. Pergamum was originally a Greek city but later came under Roman control. The most striking of the works of the strong local government here is the Red Court, dedicated to the Egyptian God Osiris. This place, which was later turned into a church by Christians, is also mentioned in the book of St. John. In the time of Islam, this place was converted into a mosque. After this trip, we will reach Çanakkale and stay there for the night.
25th Day Canakkale – Troy – Gallipoli – Istanbul
After breakfast, we go to explore the legendary city of Troy. In Homer’s Iliad, the legend here spoke of the war. Here again, we do not forget to visit the temple of Athena. We will have lunch in Eceabat. After dinner, we visit Gallipoli, the lands where the Dardanelles war took place. There are many monuments erected in the name of those who lost their lives in the war in Gallipoli. These lands are also the lands where Mustafa Kemal Atatürk first appeared on the world stage and where the foundations of Turkey were laid. We spend the night in Çanakkale.
Day 26 Istanbul – End of Tour
After breakfast, our tour ends. Please be sure to check out from your hotel before noon. We hope we have given you an unforgettable tour and we look forward to seeing you again on another Travel Shop Turkey tour. We wish you a safe journey home and thank you for choosing Travel Shop Turkey.