Adventure 16 Days Max 8 People
Eastern Turkey & Black Sea Coast Tour
16 days through the regions most travellers never reach — Göbekli Tepe, Mardin, Lake Van, Akdamar Island, Ishak Pasha Palace, Ani, the Pontic Alps, and Sumela Monastery. Private guide, maximum 8 people.
Price from: $5,990 per person
Availability: All Year
Route: Istanbul → Istanbul
Max group size: 8 people
Tour Highlights
- Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe — the world's oldest temples, with specialist on-site commentary
- Ani ruins on the Turkish-Armenian border — a lost medieval capital in extraordinary condition
- Ishak Pasha Palace with Mount Ararat's snow-capped peak as backdrop
- Akdamar Island — 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Lake Van
- Sumela Monastery — Byzantine cliff-face monastery carved into the Pontic Alps
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep — one of the finest Roman mosaic collections on earth
- Mardin — a limestone city of Syrian Orthodox monasteries and Ottoman architecture
- Turkey's least-visited but most rewarding regions — private guide, maximum 8 people
This itinerary covers the regions of Turkey that most international visitors have never reached — and that most tour operators have never operated. Sixteen days through the country's historically densest and least-visited territories: the medieval Armenian city of Ani near the Georgian border, Ishak Pasha Palace with Mount Ararat visible on the horizon, the highland villages and lakeside churches above Van, Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe in the Harran Plains, the honey-coloured stone architecture of Mardin, the Sümela Monastery carved into a Black Sea cliff face, and the Ottoman timber towns of Amasya and Safranbolu.
This is a private tour with a licensed specialist guide and a strict maximum of 8 people. Best seasons are April–June and September–October — eastern Turkey's highlands are extreme in high summer (above 40°C) and inaccessible in deep winter. All entrance fees, 15 breakfasts, and 12 dinners are included.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival In Istanbul
- Airport welcome and transfer to your hotel in the heart of Sultanahmet, within walking distance of the Hippodrome.
- Afternoon free to explore at your own pace — the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar waterfront are all nearby.
- Overnight: 5-Star Holiday Inn Istanbul City.
Day 2 Gaziantep Gastronomy & Roman Mosaics
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum: the world's largest Roman mosaic collection — the 2,200-year-old Gypsy Girl mosaic and the Poseidon and Oceanus panels.
- Gaziantep Castle: a Roman-Byzantine-Mamluk fortress above the bazaar district.
- Traditional bazaars and baklava workshops — Gaziantep pistachio baklava holds UNESCO Geographical Indication status.
- Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada by Wyndham Gaziantep.
Day 3 Mount Nemrut & Sacred Sanliurfa
- Mount Nemrut (2,150 m): the 1st-century BCE royal sanctuary of King Antiochus I — colossal 8–9 metre stone statues of gods and kings, now toppled across the summit.
- Cendere Bridge: a Roman bridge built in 200 CE, still carrying vehicles across the river after 1,800 years.
- Arsameia: the summer capital of Commagene — rock reliefs showing Antiochus shaking hands with Hercules and a tunnel toward the royal tomb.
- 290 km to Şanlıurfa | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Elruha Hotel Urfa.
Day 4 Ancient Mysteries Of Gobekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe & Harran
- Göbekli Tepe: a full half-day at the world's oldest known monumental complex — built 12,000 years ago by hunter-gatherers, with carved T-shaped limestone pillars up to 5.5 metres tall.
- Karahan Tepe: 35 km from Göbekli Tepe, excavated since 2019 — a sister site with human busts and phallus-shaped pillars carved directly from bedrock, still in active excavation.
- Harran: the ancient city where Abraham settled before Canaan — traditional beehive mud-brick houses and the site of the first Islamic university.
- Şanlıurfa: the Archaeological Museum (housing the world's oldest life-sized human statue), Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, and Balıklıgöl — the sacred pool associated with Abraham.
- 180 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Elruha Hotel Urfa.
Day 5 Spiritual Heritage Of Mardin
- Deyrulzafaran Monastery: one of the oldest continuously inhabited monasteries in the world, founded in the 4th century CE by Syriac Christians.
- Mardin old city: honey-coloured limestone architecture on a hillside above the Mesopotamian plains — Kasimiye Madrasa, the Great Mosque, and the bazaar district.
- 190 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Mardin.
Day 6 Legends Of The East: Zerzavan Castle To Van
- Zerzevan Castle: a Roman military garrison with an extraordinary underground Temple of Mithras — a mystery cult popular among Roman soldiers.
- Drive through the eastern Anatolian highlands to Lake Van — the largest lake in Turkey, at 1,640 metres altitude and with water too alkaline to drink.
- 420 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada by Wyndham Van.
Day 7 Lake Van'S Jewel: Akdamar Island & Urartian Fortress
- Akdamar Island: ferry crossing to the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross — its exterior bas-reliefs depicting Adam and Eve, Jonah, and David are among the finest medieval stonework in Turkey.
- Çavuştepe Fortress: a magnificently preserved Urartian citadel from the 8th century BCE, overlooking the Van plain.
- 90 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada by Wyndham Van.
Day 8 Van Castles, Museums & Cultural Treasures
- Van Castle: an Urartian fortress built in the 9th century BCE on a 1.5 km long rock above the lake — cuneiform inscriptions of King Sarduri still visible.
- Van Museum: the finest collection of Urartian gold jewellery and bronzework in Turkey.
- Ayanis Castle and the Temple of Haldi, and a traditional kilim weaving workshop.
- 80 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada by Wyndham Van.
Day 9 Palatial Splendor & Majestic Mountains: Dogubayazit To Kars
- Ishak Pasha Palace: a semi-ruined 18th-century Ottoman palace at 1,990 metres altitude — Mount Ararat (5,137 m) visible directly behind it.
- Drive across the eastern Anatolian plateau — volcanic highlands, Kurdish villages, and vast horizons.
- ~360 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: Katerina Palace Hotel, Kars.
Day 10 Ancient Capital Of Ani & Seljuk Splendors Of Erzurum
- Ani: the abandoned medieval Armenian capital on the Turkish-Armenian border — the Cathedral of Ani, the Church of the Redeemer, the Church of St. Gregory, and the remains of palace walls.
- Erzurum: the Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minaret Seminary) built in 1253, the Great Mosque, and the Yakutiye Medrese with its Mongolian-period stonework.
- 200 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada by Wyndham Erzurum.
Day 11 Journey To The Black Sea: Sumela Monastery & Trabzon
- Drive through the Pontic Alps — the narrow mountain road descends from 2,000 metres to the Black Sea coast through dense forest.
- Sümela Monastery: a Greek Orthodox monastery founded in 386 CE, carved into a cliff face at 1,200 metres altitude — abandoned in 1923 and now a museum.
- Trabzon: the Church of St. Sophia (Hagia Sophia of Trabzon) — a 13th-century Byzantine church with well-preserved frescoes, now a museum.
- 300 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Trabzon.
Day 12 Ottoman Aesthetics & Royal Tombs Of Amasya
- Amasya: the rock-cut tombs of the Pontic kings (3rd–1st century BCE) carved high into the cliff above the river — illuminated at night.
- Ottoman mansions (yalıboyu evleri) lining the Yeşilırmak River — some of the finest Ottoman domestic architecture surviving in Turkey.
- 260 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 4-Star Büyük Amasya Oteli.
Day 13 Hittite Heartland: Hattusha & Yazilikaya
- Hattusha: the Hittite imperial capital (UNESCO World Heritage Site) — the Lion Gate, the Royal Gate, the Great Temple, and the Sphinx Gate with its underground passage.
- Yazılıkaya: the Hittite rock sanctuary 2 km from Hattusha — two open-air chambers carved with processions of Hittite gods in relief.
- 260 km to Ankara | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Radisson Blu Hotel Ankara.
Day 14 Capital Heritage & Return To Istanbul
- Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: the finest collection of Hittite, Phrygian, and Bronze Age artefacts in the world — housed in a 15th-century Ottoman bazaar.
- Anıtkabir: the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic — one of the most significant architectural monuments in modern Turkey.
- 460 km to Istanbul | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Holiday Inn Istanbul City.
Day 15 Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace: the seat of Ottoman power for 400 years — the Imperial Harem, the Treasury, and the Sacred Relics.
- Hagia Sophia: 1,500 years of continuous history as Byzantine cathedral, Ottoman mosque, and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The Blue Mosque, the ancient Hippodrome with its Egyptian Obelisk, and the Grand Bazaar with 4,000 shops across 61 covered streets.
- Meals: Breakfast | Overnight: 5-Star Holiday Inn Istanbul City.
Day 16 Istanbul / Departure
- Breakfast and transfer to Istanbul Airport for your international flight.
- Meals: Breakfast.
Discover These Ancient Sites
Want to learn more about the world's oldest known temples before your trip? Explore our dedicated guides:
Optional Activities
| Activity | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Kilim Weaving Workshop (Van) | On request | 2 hours |
| Local Gastronomy Experience in Gaziantep | On request | 3 hours |
2026 Departure Dates
April 3–18
May 8–23
June 5–20
September 4–19
October 2–17
October 30 – November 14
What's Included
- Air fares from Gaziantep to Istanbul
- 15 nights hotel accommodation
- Licensed tour guide
- Entrance fees
- All transportation in destination location
- Meals: 15 breakfasts, and 12 dinner
Price Excludes
- — Beverages with meals
- — Gratuities for guide and driver
- — Any private expenses
Cancellation Policy
60+
Days before
Full Refund
100% returned
30–60
Days before
50% Refund
Half returned
0–30
Days before
Credit Only
No cash refund
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and curtailment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best season for Eastern Turkey?
April–June and September–October are by far the best months. Eastern Turkey summers are extreme — Urfa regularly reaches 40°C+ in July and August, making outdoor sites like Göbekli Tepe and Ani uncomfortable. Spring and autumn offer ideal temperatures, full site access, and dramatically fewer tourists.
Do you recommend a Bosphorus cruise in Istanbul?
Yes — but we recommend a morning or afternoon cruise, not a dinner cruise. The daytime Bosphorus cruise gives you full visibility of both the European and Asian shores, Dolmabahçe Palace, the Ottoman fortresses, and the two suspension bridges. Dinner cruises prioritise entertainment over scenery. The daytime experience is far more rewarding.
Is Eastern Turkey safe to visit?
Yes. The regions covered on this tour — Gaziantep, Urfa, Mardin, Van, Kars, and Trabzon — are all safe and well-frequented by domestic and international tourists. Your guide has 25+ years of experience across every region and will brief you on current conditions before and during the tour.
How much driving is involved?
This is a driving-intensive tour — Eastern Turkey's sites are spread across vast distances. Several days involve 3–5 hours on the road. The vehicle is a late-model, air-conditioned private van. Driving days are balanced with lighter activity days, and the scenery en route — particularly through the Pontic Alps and around Lake Van — is spectacular in itself.
What is the group size?
Maximum 8 people. This is a private tour — you will not share the vehicle or guide with strangers. The group can be as small as 2 people.
Can this tour be shortened or customised?
Yes. The 16-day route can be modified — we can remove regions, add extra nights at specific stops, or combine elements with the Best of Turkey or Treasures of Ancient Turkey tours. Contact us and we'll design the right itinerary for your interests and timeframe.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Full refund if you cancel 60 or more days before departure. 50% refund if you cancel 30–60 days before. Credit only for cancellations under 30 days. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
What Our Travellers Say
"Our guide was brilliant. His knowledge of each site, places to eat, places to stay, and the pacing of the trip made the whole experience feel effortless."
— Susan R
"We enjoyed every minute of our tour with Fazli. The small size of our group was ideal, and everything was scheduled with our comfort and interests in mind."
— jmcintosh2014
Reviews sourced from TripAdvisor. Read all reviews →