A twelve-day expedition across the great landscapes and ancient cultures of eastern Turkiye, from the Black Sea mountains to the plains of Mesopotamia. Planned in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator and guided in English, this tour links the monasteries of Trabzon, the ruined Armenian capital of Ani, the churches of Lake Van, the honey-stone city of Mardin and the world's oldest temple at Gobeklitepe — a region few travellers reach, crossed in comfort with hotels and meals throughout.
The route begins in Trabzon with a drive to the Sumela Monastery, then climbs through Hopa and Artvin to Erzurum. From there it crosses to Kars for the ruins of Ani, turns south past Mount Ararat and the Ishak Pasha Palace to Van, and sails to Akdamar Island. The journey continues along Lake Van's shore through Ahlat and Tatvan, over the Bitlis gorge to Hasankeyf, Midyat and Mardin, then to Diyarbakir and the summit of Mount Nemrut.
The final days reach Sanliurfa — the Sacred Pools of Abraham and his legendary cave — and Gobeklitepe, the oldest known temple complex on earth, before ending in Gaziantep with its citadel, old bazaars and the magnificent Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Comfortable hotels, open-buffet breakfasts, daily lunches and dinners, all entrance fees, a private air-conditioned coach, airport transfers and an English-speaking guide are included throughout.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
You are met at Trabzon airport and visit the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon before driving up to the spectacular Sumela Monastery, clinging to a cliff face above the forested valley. Lunch is included during the day and you continue towards Hopa. Dinner and overnight en route to Artvin.
After breakfast you explore the green valleys of Artvin with their medieval Georgian churches, then drive over the mountains to Erzurum. Lunch en route, dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
You tour Erzurum's Double Minaret Madrasa and Seljuk monuments, then travel along the Aras valley past the Sarikamis battlefields to the ruined medieval Armenian capital of Ani, on the Kars frontier. Lunch during the day, dinner and overnight in Kars.
Driving south you reach Dogubeyazit beneath Mount Ararat to visit the magnificent Ishak Pasha Palace, then continue to Van on the shore of Turkiye's largest lake. Lunch en route, dinner and overnight in Van.
A full day around Van: the dramatic Hosap Fortress and a boat trip to Akdamar Island to see the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross with its carved stone reliefs. Lunch during the day, dinner and overnight in Van.
Following the southern shore of Lake Van you visit the Nemrut crater lake and the Seljuk tombs and cemetery of Ahlat, continuing to Tatvan. Lunch, dinner and overnight in Tatvan.
Through the Bitlis gorge you reach the ancient Tigris cave city of Hasankeyf, then the silversmiths' town of Midyat and the honey-coloured hill city of Mardin with its Kasimiye Madrasa overlooking the Mesopotamian plain. Lunch during the day, dinner and overnight in Mardin.
You visit the Deyrulzafaran (Saffron) Monastery and the Ten-Arched Bridge on the Tigris, then tour Diyarbakir with its great black basalt city walls and the Ulu Cami. Lunch, dinner and overnight in Diyarbakir.
Crossing the Euphrates you drive into the Nemrut National Park and climb to the summit of Mount Nemrut to see the colossal statues and the tumulus of King Antiochos. Lunch en route, dinner and overnight near Adiyaman.
Via the Karakus Tumulus, the Roman Cendere Bridge and the Ataturk Dam you reach Sanliurfa to visit the Sacred Pools of Abraham, the Cave of Abraham and the old bazaar. Lunch during the day, dinner and overnight in Sanliurfa.
You visit Gobeklitepe, the oldest known temple complex on earth, then continue to Gaziantep for its citadel, old town and the world-famous Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Lunch, dinner and overnight in Gaziantep.
After breakfast you transfer to Gaziantep airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul and onward connection. End of our services.
Trabzon, Sumela, Hopa → Artvin, Erzurum → Erzurum, Ani, Kars → Dogubeyazit, Van → Van, Akdamar → Ahlat, Tatvan → Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mardin → Diyarbakir → Nemrut, Adiyaman → Sanliurfa → Gobeklitepe, Gaziantep → Gaziantep, Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Trabzon, Sumela, Hopa, Artvin, Erzurum, Erzurum, Ani, Kars, Dogubeyazit, Van, Van, Akdamar, Ahlat, Tatvan, Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mardin, Diyarbakir, Nemrut, Adiyaman, Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe, Gaziantep, Gaziantep, Istanbul.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!