Eastern Turkey Group Tour 14 days

Upon arrival in Istanbul, you will be driven to your hotel, where you will spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.

After breakfast in the morning, transfer to Istanbul Airport and take a flight to Trabzon. Once in Trabzon, begin your city tour by visiting the 14th-century Byzantine church of Hagia Sophia, perched majestically overlooking the Black Sea. Then, visit the cliff-side Sumela Monastery at Altindere National Park.
Sumela Monastery (Panagia Soumela Monastery), a Greek Orthodox monastery and church complex built on a mountain slope 1150 m above sea level by carving inside the rocks between 360 and 395 AD. The complex consists of priest chambers, a kitchen, chapels, and aqueducts adorned with frescoes.
After this spiritual journey, we arrive in Arhavi, following the fascinating scenic road that passes through the blue and green moraine of the Black Sea.
Overnight stay in Arhavi. (Breakfast) 

Our journey continues from Hopa as we depart towards Erzurum, traversing through the picturesque landscapes of Artvin. Along this route, nature unveils its breathtaking beauty, offering spectacular vistas and scenic wonders that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on our adventure.
Once we arrive in Erzurum, we'll start with a short city tour and have a lunch break. Some of the main attractions in Erzurum include Nene Hatun Bastion, Double Minaret Madrasa, Ulu Mosque, Three Cupolas (Uc Kumbetler), Yakutiye Madrasa, Erzurum Congress, and National Struggle Museum.
You'll also have some free time to shop at the Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai, also known as TAŞHAN, built by Mimar Sinan in 1561. Workshops and shops selling world-famous Oltu stone sculptures and accessories are here. Additionally, you should try the Famous Çağ kebab, a speciality of Erzurum.
Overnight stay in Erzurum.   (Breakfast) 

We will start the day with a delicious breakfast and some local shopping in Artvin before heading out to the Kars Ani Ruins, located 250 km away. We will take a lunch break in Ardahan before finally arriving at Ani Ruins via Kars. Ani was once the capital of the Armenian Kingdom for 67 years, experiencing its heyday between 953 and 1020. However, the city was captured by the Byzantines in 1045, effectively bringing the Kingdom of Armenia to an end. Later on, in 1064, Seljuk Ruler Alpaslan conquered Eastern Anatolia, taking it from the Byzantines. Today, Ani is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Ani Ruins span a wide area and include notable structures such as the Lion Gate, the Church of the Saviour (Saint Peter's), the Stone Bridge, the Seljuk Palace, the Tigranakert St. Krikor Church, and the Inner Castle. Additionally, we will visit other historical monuments, such as the Mençehr Mosque, Ani Cathedral, Hripsimi Virgin's Monastery, and Kars Cathedral, also known as the Church of the Apostles. After a day of sightseeing, we will return to the centre of Kars.
Overnight stay in Kars.   (Breakfast)  

After breakfast, we depart from Kars for Van. After seeing the villages and towns of Eastern Anatolia, we arrive in Doğubeyazit. You can take beautiful pictures while admiring the magnificent Mount Ararat from Doğubeyazıt.    
After a lunch break at a local restaurant in Doğubeyazit, visit the magnificent  Ishak Pasha Palace.
Ishak Pasha Palace, which combines Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, and Armenian-Iranian architecture in a unique way. After visiting this magnificent palace overlooking Mount Ararat, we will set off towards Van, passing Tendürek Mountain, accompanied by beautiful views. We will arrive in Van province. It is one of the largest cities in Eastern Turkey, located on the shores of Lake Van (3,713 km2), the largest lake in Turkey.
Accommodation in Van.  (Breakfast)   

After breakfast, visit Hoşap Castle, an ancient Urartu fortress. It was actively used during the Persian, Alexander the Great, Roman and Byzantine rule in the region.  We travelled by Ferry on Van Lake to Akdamar Island. Visit Akdamar Church.
Akdamar Church is a magnificent 10th-century church built by an Armenian king. If there is time after the church tour, you can swim in Van Lake, which has a soda water feature.
Overnight stay in Tatvan. (Breakfast)     

Today's tour continues along the shores of Lake Van, via Tatvan, and reaches Mount Nemrut. We'll visit the impressive Nemrut Volcanic Crater, a natural wonder. Afterwards, continue to Ahlat. 
Take a lunch break in a local restaurant and head for Ahlat (180 km away). Here, we’ll see the largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery in the world, founded in 1200 by the Seljuks. It has 8,169 tombstones, some of which are 3,5 meters long. What makes the tombstones more remarkable are the unique inscriptions and decorations on them. After seeing the Grand Vault, the Emir Bayındır Mosque, and the tombstones, we will arrive in Tatvan, located near Van Lake. It is a charming town.   
Overnight stay in Tatvan. (Breakfast)  

Today, we will embark on an enjoyable journey to witness the exquisite views of the changing geography.
Take a lunch break in Batman with delicious dishes. Then, continue to Hasankeyf Dam.
Hasankeyf is one of the world's ancient settlements, and now, some of its parts are submerged under the waters of the dam.
Midyat is famous for its unique architectural structures, stone houses, and handcrafted gold and silver jewellery, known as filigree. After shopping, we will see the beautiful view from the terrace of Midyat Guest House.  Midyat resembles a fairy tale city.
Mardin, our itinerary includes a visit to the Kasimiye Medrese, the old Bazaar, an architectural gem steeped in history that stands as a testament to the region's cultural richness and scholarly heritage.
Overnight stay in Mardin (Breakfast)    

Mardin is an exciting experience rich in history and culture. The narrow 'Abbara' passages connect Mardin's parallel streets and have inspired art.
Visit Kasimiye Madrasah (Mosque Kebir), an architectural marvel that reflects influences from Muslim, Syriac, Turkish, and Arabian cultures. Our visit includes the Ulu Mosque, the Minaret, the Şehidiye Madrasa, and the Old Post Office Building.
Deyrul Zafaran Monastery has served as the patriarchate centre of Assyrians for more than 1,000 years.
Lunch Break in a Local Restaurant. Drive to Diyarbakir.
We will see the Diyarbakir walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Diyarbakir Grand Mosque, considered one of the five Haram-i Sharifs of Islam, the sundial made by the scholar El-Cezeri in the Grand Mosque's garden, and the Historical Hasan Pasha Inn.
Overnight stay in  Diyarbakır (Breakfast) 

After breakfast, we depart for Mt. Nemrut. On the way, we see from faraway the ancient Arsemeia, home to the Karakuş Tumulus, the tomb of the women of the Commagene Royal Family, and the Roman Bridge (Cendere Bridge), built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211). Then, arrive at Mount Nemrut.
After a challenging climb, we reach the giant god statues and King Antiochus Tumulus at the summit of the magnificent Mount Nemrut. On the east and west terraces of the summit, there are Zeus, Apollo, Heracles, Antiochus, Commagene, Eagle, and Lion statues and altars. The tumulus of King Antiochus I of Commagene is at the summit. Watch the impressive and magnificent sunset on the horizon at Mount Nemrut with fascination and make a wish.
Accommodation is at the Nemrut Euphrat Hotel, 8 km away from the god statues on the hill and close to the stars on the slopes of Mount Nemrut (Dutluca Village)
Overnight stay at Nemrut Euphrat Hotel in Mt. Nemrut (Breakfast ) 

After breakfast in Adiyaman, a two-hour journey to Şanlıurfa.
Sanliurfa is known as the city of the prophets. Visit Halil-Ür Rahman Mosque, Ayn-el Zeliha Lake, and the Balıklıgöl, also known as Halil-Ür Rahman Lake, where it is said that Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire. The burning logs transformed into fish, while the fire transformed into water. Visit the cave where Prophet Abraham was born. Visit the old city bazaar in Sanliurfa.
Have a lunch break at a local restaurant. Next, we will visit Göbeklitepe.
Göbeklitepe, situated near Şanlıurfa in southeastern Turkey, is a groundbreaking archaeological site that is rewriting human history. Dating back 11,000 years, Göbeklitepe offers a unique insight into the birth of civilisation.  It is recognised as the world's oldest known temple complex, predating Stonehenge by thousands of years.
The massive T-shaped limestone Megalith pillars, decorated with intricate animal carvings, reveal the spiritual and artistic talents of the first hunter-gatherers.  
Overnight stay in Sanliurfa. (Breakfast)   

After breakfast at our hotel in Şanlıurfa, we visit the Ottoman Bazaar, which preserves the cultural fabric of Mesopotamia. We see the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, which displays artefacts unearthed in Karahantepe, Göbeklitepe, and the region. The world's oldest life-size human statue: "Urfa Man" (Balıklıgöl Statue) (9,000 years old); Göbeklitepe and Nevali Çori temple findings; a rich collection of statues spanning the Palaeolithic to the present.
The Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum houses wonderful mosaics from the Roman period, including the Orpheus Mosaic and the Amazonian Woman Mosaic.
Arrive in Gaziantep and have a lunch break at a local Restaurant. Gaziantep's cuisine and pistachio baklava are famous.
Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the second-largest mosaic museum in the world, spanning 1700 square meters. The museum exhibits mosaics, wall paintings, statues, the bronze statue of Mars, sarcophagi, and architectural pieces of Roman and Late Antique significance.
Overnight stay in Gaziantep.  (Breakfast)  

After breakfast, you transferred to Gaziantep Airport for a Flight to Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel and enjoy free time for shopping.
You can book any of the optional Istanbul tours.
Overnight stay in Istanbul.  ( Breakfast ) 

After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul Airport for your next flight at the end of the tour.
Hope to see you on another holiday in Turkey.   (Breakfast)