12 Days Black Sea & Eastern Turkey Tour: Sinop, Trabzon, Kars & Mount Ararat

You are picked up from your hotel at around 07:00 and drive towards the Black Sea, crossing the Bosphorus from Europe into Asia. Safranbolu, once a stop on the Europe–Orient trade route, is famous for its Çarşı district of preserved red-roofed Ottoman houses. You visit the 17th-century Cinci Han caravanserai and the restored Cinci Hamam, and — time permitting — the Yemeniciler bazaar, Kaymakamlar house and İzzet Paşa Mosque. Overnight in Safranbolu.

Today you drive to the coast to visit the charming town of Amasra (ancient Amastris) with its citadel, the Kemere Roman bridge and harbours — ideal for photographs. You browse the handmade wooden crafts of the Çekiciler bazaar and, time permitting, drive along the coast to Çakraz beach and Kurucaşile, or explore villages around Safranbolu. Overnight in Safranbolu.

You stop in Kastamonu to see the Nasrullah Mosque or the Şeyh Şaban-ı Veli complex and the bazaar, then continue to Sinop to visit the Hamsilos cove (fjord), the fortress and the historic prison museum, and — time permitting — the Pervane Medresesi and Alaaddin Mosque. Overnight in Sinop.

Passing through coastal towns, you stop in Samsun to see the Amazon Statue, then Cape Jason with its old church and lighthouse. You continue along the scenic old coastal road to Ordu, where a cable car climbs Boztepe Hill for a breathtaking view of the city and sea. Overnight in Ordu.

You visit Giresun Castle, then head up to the high-plateau yayla of Kümbet Village for photos and a chance to meet local people. Returning to the coast through Tirebolu with its historic castle, you continue to Görele. Overnight in Görele.

Today you visit Kuşköy, the "bird village", where locals communicate across the valleys in a famous whistled language known by only a few. Depending on time you may see other villages in the area or the Görele market. Overnight in Görele.

You visit Hagia Sophia (now a mosque) and part of Trabzon before driving to the Sumela Monastery, which clings to the cliffs of the Altındere National Park at 1,200 m. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary and founded in 386 AD, it offers dramatic views. You stop in the small coastal town of Sürmene, then continue along the coast to the tea-growing region of Rize. Overnight in Rize.

After visiting a local tea producer you head inland to the Fırtına Valley to see Zilkale, a medieval castle over the Fırtına River in the Kaçkar Mountains, along with Palovit waterfalls, Çamlıhemşin, the Cinciva villages and their old bridges. Lovely wooden houses and scenery line the route, and there is even the option to zipline over the river. Overnight in Hopa.

You drive to Borçka Black Lake, where a walking path winds through lush green forest, then continue with picturesque views near the Armenian border. You visit Kars with its citadel (time permitting), old bridges and the Church of the Twelve Apostles (now a mosque). Overnight in Kars.

You visit the ancient ruined city of Ani with its churches, overlooking the Arpaçay river that forms the Armenian border, and — time permitting — Kars Citadel and the local market. Continuing on, you catch your first view of Mount Ararat before arriving in Doğubeyazıt with its dramatic mountain backdrop. Overnight in the region.

You drive to Üzengili Village to see the rock formation believed to resemble Noah's Ark, and — if he is home — visit Hasan Bey, former curator of the Noah's Ark centre. You also see the İshak Paşa Palace, a 17th–18th-century blend of Ottoman, Persian and Armenian styles, and view Doğubeyazıt Castle, before visiting a local carpet centre with fine examples of regional weaving. Overnight in the region.

After breakfast you are transferred to Ağrı Airport for your flight back to Istanbul, marking the end of the tour.