Central Anatolian Civilizations Cultural Tour - 6 Days/5 Nights

Alsero Tour representatives will meet with you at Ankara Esenboğa Airport. We’ll start our Ankara tour upon your arrival.

First, we’ll visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which is home to dazzling artifacts belonging to Phrygians, Hatti, Hittites, Lydians, Assyrians, Romans, and Byzantines who lived in Anatolia. Then, we’ll visit Ankara Castle and the historical inns around it within walking distance. Later, we will visit the Hacıbayram Mosque and the Temple of Augustus built by the Roman Emperor Augustus. We’ll continue with an shırt visit to the Mausoleum of Atatürk and the Anıtkabir Museum.

Finally, we will go to the ancient city of Gordion (Yassıhöyük) which is 95 km outside of Ankara. Gordion was the capital of Phrygians. After visiting the King Midas Tumulus, the Tomb of the Phrygian king Midas, and the Gordion Museum we’ll return to Ankara.
Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara. (Dinner)

Early departure from Ankara to Alacahöyük at 08:00 am (approx. 200 km - 3 hrs)
Hattusa (Boğazköy) was the capital of the Hittite civilization 3700 years ago and it houses many ruins from the Hatti, Assyrian, Hittite, Phrygian, Galatian, Roman, and Byzantine periods. Here, you’ll learn about the history of Hittites and Phrygians, one of the most mysterious civilizations of Central Anatolia, and see historical artifacts such as statues, jewelry, and household items belonging to civilizations that once lived here.

We will continue on our way to Yazılıkaya, which is thought to be a holy place of worship and an important open-air temple of the ancient world. Here, we’ll see fascinating depictions of gods and goddesses carved on rocks.

Next, we’ll be visiting Hattusa and seeing the Great Temple, and the city ruins including Lions Gate, King’s Gate, The Tunnel, Summer Palace, and Hattusa City Walls. Lastly, we will visit the Hattusa Museum and take a lunch break.

After lunch, we will visit Alacahöyük Ancient City and the Alacahöyük Museum. In Alacahöyük, which occupies an important place in the Hittite history and contains the ruins of the first dam in Anatolia, 14 settlement layers dating from four different cultural phases were identified. The most important finds of Alacahöyük, which provides information about Hittite architecture and art are its  13 royal tombs that belong to the ancient Bronze Age, and the jewelry and items made of gold, silver, bronze, and precious stones.
At the end of our tour, we will drive to Yozgat city (approx. 110 km). Arrival and overnight stay in Yozgat (Breakfast - Dinner)

After breakfast, we will depart early for Cappadocia (approx. 290 km). Our first stop is in Sarıkaya town, the Roman bath. This ancient bath known as Basilica Therma Bath is a public bathroom from the Roman period. Built-in central Anatolia in the 2nd century, this bath is still being used by the local people. 
We’ll have lunch in a local restaurant, and continue on our way to Cappadocia (approx. 130 km -1,5 hrs). We’ll be passing through beautiful mountains, plateaus, villages, and towns of the Central Anatolia region. 
Upon our arrival, we will visit Kaymaklı Underground City, built for protection against foreign attacks. Afterward, we will visit Pigeon Valley and the Uçhisar Castle.  End of the tour. Check-in and overnight stay in Cappadocia hotel. (Breakfast - Dinner )

Optional Events  in Cappadocia    
Hot Air Balloon Tour: Per Person 150 - 350 USD
* Prices are not fixed, they may vary according to the season. (4:30 am to 9:00 am.)
Turkish Night : Per Person 65 USD  
* Upon your request, we can make reservations in the evening for an amazing Turkish Night in a great music hall in a cave with traditional dance shows.
Whirling Dervishes Show :Per Person  30 USD

We’ll start our Cappadocia tour after breakfast. 
First, we’ll visit Göreme Open Air Museum which is home to fantastic monasteries and chapels like Dark Church, Apple Church, Serpentine Church, and Saint Barbara Church. You will see the sceneries and figures from the Old and New Testament on well-preserved frescos from the tenth to the thirteenth century. 
Next, we will see the Paşabağı Valley, located on a vineyard on Zelve road. Some of the mushroom-shaped rock formations here are several meters high. Fairy chimneys shaped by erosion for many years were used as houses by various religious groups, therefore it is also known as the Monks Valley. Afterward, we will visit Devrent Valley, which offers a reddish moon view and is known for its rock formations resembling different animal figures. Most of these formations have distinctive shapes such as large camels, seals, and dolphins. There is even a boulder that resembles the Virgin Mary holding the baby Jesus. Let your imagination roam free and try to liken the formations to other creatures yourself. 
After our visits, we’ll take a lunch break at a local restaurant.  
Then, we’ll go to a pottery shop to see how made beautiful ceramics are made and visit a carpet workshop to learn about this traditional Turkish art and its origins from the silk route. 
We’ll then go to the Göreme city center and visit the fairy chimneys known as the Three Beauties.  End of the tour.
Overnight stay in Cappadocia.  ( Breakfast - Dinner )

After breakfast, we’ll depart for Ankara (approx. 300 km 3,5 hrs).
We’ll make a quick stop on the way to the Salt Lakeshore to take photos. Salt Lake is the second largest lake in Turkey.
Upon arrival, we’ll have a sightseeing tour around the city in neighborhoods like Çankaya, Kavaklıdere, and Kızılay, where Embassies, Consulates, the Parliament Building, and Military Commands are located in Ankara. 
Afterward, we will have lunch at Panora Shopping Center. You’ll have free time for shopping. 
Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara. ( Breakfast - Dinner )

Free time in Ankara until your airport transfer. Our tour concludes with your transfer to Ankara Airport for your departure flight. Hope to see you on another Turkey Holiday. (Breakfast.)

Customized Tours
We can create a tour program on your request and offer an itinerary that suits your personal, educational, cultural, and budgetary requirements. Please contact us with your requests.