17 Days Private Eastern Turkey Tour

Embark on an unforgettable journey through time as you explore the diverse landscapes and rich history of Turkey. This comprehensive tour takes you from the bustling metropolis of Istanbul to the remote beauty of Eastern Anatolia, offering a unique perspective on this fascinating country.

Cappadocia: Begin your adventure in Cappadocia, a region of surreal beauty with otherworldly rock formations, underground cities, and breathtaking hot air balloon rides.

Southeastern Turkey: Delve into the heart of Southeastern Turkey, visiting the ancient city of Sanliurfa, the archaeological site of Göbeklitepe, and the majestic Mount Nemrut.

Eastern Anatolia: Explore the historical sites of Ani and Kars, experiencing the unique culture and landscapes of Eastern Turkey.

Black Sea Coast: Journey to the Black Sea region, visiting the stunning Sumela Monastery perched on a cliffside and enjoying the scenic beauty of the Trabzon coast.

Western Turkey: Explore the ancient cities of Ephesus and Pergamon, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of Istanbul, with its iconic mosques, palaces, and bazaars.

This tour offers a unique opportunity to experience the diverse history and culture of Turkey, from ancient civilizations to the Ottoman Empire. With expert guidance and a focus on historical and cultural immersion, this journey will be an unforgettable adventure.

Itinerary

Day 1 : Arrival in Istanbul – Cappadocia
You will arrive to the New Istanbul Airport. Continue domestic flight for Cappadocia. Arrival and transfer to your authentic hotel. You will stay in Cappadocia for that night.

Meals : Dinner
Hotels : Kemerhan Cave Suites – Acer Cave Hotel – Mustafa Cappadocia Resort

Day 2 : Cappadocia
Cappadocia is an important place among the Turkey tourism destinations. You will start your tour with Kaymaklı Underground City. This underground city is considered as an interesting underground settlement in Cappadocia. From there, you will go to Sahinefendi (Sobesos). Here, you will see Mosaic Art and Archaeological excavation site from the Byzantine Period. The valley villages with mountains around them gives us a spectacular view. Our next stop will be Keslik Monastery near Cemil. The ancient frescos are hidden behind a smoke layer. Here, you will visit Mustafapaşa (Sinasos) which is an old Roman town with its old houses. These houses are the great examples of late Roman settlements and architecture in the region. Our next stop will be the Red Valley. The valley consists of incredible volcanic rock formations. This valley is at the centre of Cappadocia. Still, the valley is not overcrowded by tourists. You will spend the night at Cappadocia.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Kemerhan Cave Suites – Acer Cave Hotel – Mustafa Cappadocia Resort

Day 3 : Cappadocia
After breakfast, you will continue to discover Cappadocia. You will go to Devrent valley to see the rock formations. You will go back in time with troglodyte houses. Then, you will visit Pasabag which has “fairy chimneys”. Here, you can even hear the “songs of fairies” near Zelve. You will take your lunch in Avanos which is the centre of red pottery since 3000 BC. Here, you will witness the traditional pottery craftsmanship. In the afternoon, you will go to Goreme Open Air Museum. The museum is home to incredible examples of the Byzantine art in Cappadocia. There are churches carved in the rocks with frescoes and paintings created betyouen the 10th and the 13th century. Our next stop in your tour will be Uchisar Rock-Castle which gives a panoramic view of the Cappadocian valleys. You will stay in Cappadocia for the night.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Kemerhan Cave Suites – Acer Cave Hotel – Mustafa Cappadocia Resort

Day 4 : Cappadocia – Gaziantep
You will leave your hotel after breakfast to start your private tour. On this day, you will visit Karatay caravansary and stop by at Kahramanmaras to have lunch. Here, you will also taste the famous ice cream. Then, your tour will continue with Gaziantep Mosaic Museum. The museum is home to important mosaics from Zeugma. You will visit the ancient fort, bazaar and taste baklava which is originally from Gaziantep. You will spend the night in Gaziantep.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Park Dedeman Gaziantep – Divan Gaziantep

Day 5 : Gaziantep – Sanliurfa
You will leave your hotel after breakfast to start your private tour. On this day, you will visit Sanliurfa. You will visit Nizip which is a cleaning soap and olive oil district. Also, you will see the antique metropolis of Belkis or Zeugma near Euphrates. This place has been settled since ancient ages and the first bridge on the Euphrates was constructed by Alexander. You will have your lunch in Urfa and visit the covered bazaar. You can discover amazing places in the city centre as you will have free time after your tour. You will spend the night in Urfa.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Âlâ Han Boutique Hotel – Hilton Garden Inn Sanlıurfa

Day 6 : Sanliurfa – Kahta
You tour will start when you meet your private guide after your breakfast. Urfa is known to be the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. There is settlement in Urfa starting from Babylonians and followed by Hurrites, Hittites, Assyrians, Greeks. Then, you will go to Harran to see the beehive houses. Harran is an important place in the Bible as prophet Abraham spent a few years here with his family before going to the Promised Lands. Also, you will see Ainzelha which as thousands of fish. You will visit the cave of prophet Abraham in Urfa. You will travel to Kahta city where you will see Gobekli Tepe which is a hilltop sanctuary 15 km northeast of Urfa. On your way, you will see Ataturk Dam which is the third largest dam around the world. You will spend the night in Kahta.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Ramada by Wyndham Adiyaman – White Star Hotel

Day 7 : Mt. Mount Nemrut – Mardin
On this day, you will visit the summit of the Mt. Nemrut which is one of the most popular UNESCO World cultural heritage sites. Here, you will watch the amazing sunrise, visit the colossal heads and statues of ancient deities from the mythology. Small minibuses will take you to the top of the mountain. Everything you will see is at 8000 ft. There are statues on top of the mountain on two plain areas which are separated by crushed rock. The entire complex was built by Antiouchus about 2000 years ago as a monument to his divine ancestry. You can visit the old Arsemeia castle, cross over the Cendere Bridge also called Septimius Severus bridge that is still in use dating to the 3rd century and Tumulus Tomb of Karakus. You will go back to your hotel to have breakfast. Then, you will start your journey to Mardin where you will have your lunch in Siverek. When you arrive Mardin, you will have the chance to walk on the ancient streets and visit the bazaar. You will admire the stonework in the city. You will spend the night in Mardin.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Kaya Ninova Hotel – Maridin Hotel

Day 8 : Mardin – Tatvan
You tour will start when you have your regional breakfast. Your private tour will start with Mardin. Mardin is an ancient city with its old Arabic style homes. There are detailed carvings in these houses for decoration. Carvings have been a source of income for the people living in this city. You will enjoy the landscape of Mesopotamia. This city played an important role for the early Christianity. Here, we will visit Deyr-az-zaferan monastery located near the city which was built in 762 AD. The monastery has been under Syrian orthodox patriarch for around 800 years. Then, you will drive to Hasankeyf with amazing ruins. Hasankeyf has been home to 9 civilisations and it is rich in the archaeological and spiritual terms. The records show that Hasankeyf dates back 10,000 years ago. This means the region is 3 times older than the Giza pyramids, 10 times older than the Stonehenge. The city and its historical treasures will be submerged when the Ilisu dam project is completed. The historical sites include mosques, Islamic tombs and cave churches. You will have your lunch near Tigris river and start your journey to Tatvan which is a small town near Van Lake. You will spend the night in Tatvan.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Beyaz Kösk Hotel

Day 9 : Van
For this day, you will meet at 08:30am at the reception. Following your breakfast, you will visit the Akdamar Island. There is an Armenian Monastery dating back to the 10th century. The monastery has a lovely architecture and Lake Van view. You will go back and visit Tusba Castle. You will have your lunch in a nearby restaurant and visit Cavustepe. You will spend the night in Van.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : DoubleThree By Hilton Van

Day 10 : Van – Dogubeyazit
Your private tour will start with a 3.5-hour journey to Dogubayazit. We will get closer to the Iranian border to see the famous crater hole. The scenery here is beautiful and rural. Here, you will get the chance to see the splendid Mount Ararat from all sides. There are legends that the Noah’s Arc rested on top of this mountain. But there is no evidence to prove this. Next, you will go to the Ishak Pasa palace. The palace consists of a Mosque, a fortress, and a palace. It is rumoured that the palace has a separate room for each day of the year. Here, you will also visit the Old Bayazit, and Urartian City dating back to 1000 BC. You will spend the night in Dogubeyazit.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Tehran Boutique Hotel

Day 11 : DoguBeyazıt – Sarıkamis
You will start your journey to Kars where you will visit the Ani archeologic area. In your travel Turkey adventure, you will go to Ani which is an old architectural site dating back to the 5th century AD. This place was the Armenian capital in 806. From here, you will go to Sarikamis which was a famous place for Tsars of Russia to rest. You will have your dinner and stay in Sarikamis.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Sehr-i Beyza Hotel

Day 12 : Kars – Erzurum
Leave Kars after Breakfast and drive southwest to Erzurum. When you arrive the city, you will visit Cifte Minare and Yakutiye Medrese. You will spend some free time in Rustem Pasha Bedesten which is an important place for jet stone jewellery. You will stay in Erzurum for the night.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : The Erzurum Hotel

Day 13 : Erzurum – Trabzon
You will leave the hotel after your breakfast. Continue Trabzon via Bayburt. You will pass the silk road via the Zigana mountains to reach Karaca Cave. The cave is one of the best examples in Turkey with its formation. You will spend the night in Trabzon.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Trabzon – Radisson Blu Hotel Trabzon

Day 14 : Trabzon – Istanbul
Here, you will visit the famous Sumela monastery located on a steep hillside inside the rock surrounded by forests of Trabzon. The monastery was built on the 4th century just before the Roman Empire was divided into East and West Roma. The monastery was built by two Athenian clergymen called Barnabas and Sophronius. These two clergymen are believed to painted the extraordinary icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave. After visits, transfer to airport for flight to Istanbul. After arrival Istanbul airport, meet our team and transfer to your hotel. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotels : Barcelo Hotel Istanbul Taksim or similar

This is the last day of your private travel Turkey . You will transfer you to the New Istanbul Airport three hours before your international flight.

Meals : Breakfast