13-Day Eastern Turkey Heritage & Nature Tour: Göbeklitepe, Nemrut, Mardin, Van, Kars & Black Sea

, surrounded by historic mosques, gardens and bazaars. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.

You visit Göbeklitepe, the world's oldest known temple complex, more than twelve thousand years old, with its T-shaped pillars and carvings, then the ancient city of Harran with its distinctive beehive houses and the remains of one of the world's earliest universities. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.

You drive through the dramatic landscapes of Southeast Anatolia to Mount Nemrut National Park, ascending to the summit where the colossal stone heads of the Commagene kingdom stand, and watch an unforgettable sunset light the ancient statues before continuing to Adıyaman. Overnight in Adıyaman.

You travel to Mardin, rising above the Mesopotamian plains, and explore its open-air museum of honey-coloured stone houses, narrow cobbled streets, monasteries, madrasas and ancient churches. Overnight in Mardin.

You visit Hasankeyf on the banks of the Tigris, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with its rock-carved dwellings and cliffside caves, then drive to Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van, ringed by volcanic mountains. Overnight in Tatvan.

You explore the Nemrut Crater Lake, one of the largest crater lakes in the world, then board a boat on Lake Van to Akdamar Island to visit the tenth-century Armenian Holy Cross Church, famous for its carved biblical reliefs. Overnight in Van.

After seeing Van Castle you travel through volcanic scenery to Doğubayazıt and the magnificent İshak Pasha Palace below Mount Ararat, then continue to Kars, a city of mixed Russian, Ottoman and Armenian heritage. Overnight in Kars.

A full-day excursion to Ani, the UNESCO-listed "City of 1,001 Churches" on the Armenian border, a once-great Silk Road metropolis whose cathedrals, walls, palaces and bridges stand across a windswept plateau. Overnight in Kars.

You journey toward the Black Sea, stopping at the powerful Tortum Waterfall before continuing through mountain valleys and gorges into the green, biodiverse province of Artvin. Overnight in Artvin.

You drive along the Black Sea coast to Rize, heart of Turkey's tea country, visiting the hillside plantations and a traditional tea factory, then continue to the historic city of Trabzon. Overnight in Trabzon.

You head into Altındere National Park to visit the spectacular Sümela Monastery, built into a sheer cliff face, then return for a Trabzon city tour taking in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Atatürk Mansion and the old bazaars. Overnight in Trabzon.

A free day to explore at your own pace, with optional excursions to the mountain lake of Uzungöl, the Hıdırnebi highland or the Boztepe cable car, or simply to shop and sample Black Sea cuisine. Overnight in Trabzon.

After breakfast you are transferred to Trabzon Airport for your flight to Istanbul, bringing your journey through the heritage and landscapes of eastern Turkey to a close.