Set out on a 13-day culinary and historical journey through the rugged landscapes of Eastern Anatolia. This expedition begins in Gaziantep, the gateway to a unique regional kitchen, where you will engage in baklava workshops and masterclasses at the College of Culinary Arts. We delve deep into antiquity at Göbekli Tepe, the world's oldest monumental site, before witnessing the majestic sunset over the colossal statues of King Antiochus at the summit of Mount Nemrut. The journey continues through the ancient basalt-walled city of Diyarbakır and the stone-tiered streets of Mardin, where Syriac heritage and local meze define the cultural experience.
The route follows the historic Silk Road, featuring a scenic boat ride on the Tigris River at Hasankeyf and a visit to the 16th-century El Aman Caravanserai. As we reach the Eastern Anatolian highlands, Lake Van offers breathtaking vistas, including the 10th-century Armenian Church on Akdamar Island. You will participate in authentic village cooking demonstrations, learning the delicate craft of Anatolian flatbread and traditional family recipes, providing an intimate connection to the land and its people. The Urartian citadel in Van stands as a testament to millennia of layered history, from the Persians to the Ottomans.
The final stretch of this expedition takes you past the towering Mount Ararat to the pleasure palace of Ishak Paşa in Doğubayazıt. We conclude in Kars, a city of rich architectural character, where you will explore the medieval ruins of Ani, situated on the dramatic border gorge of the Arpaçay River. This tour is designed for the curious traveler, balancing archaeological discovery with hands-on culinary immersion, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the diverse influences that have shaped the Anatolian landscape over thousands of years.
Food is the thread of the whole trip: savoury soups and spicy meat dishes in Gaziantep, baklava tasting at one of the city's leading producers, a pide session at a mountain pension near Nemrut, liver kebab and kaburga dolması in Diyarbakir, meze and Syriac wine in Mardin, a village breakfast with a flatbread demonstration at Resadiye on Lake Van, a garden feast in Gevas, lunch cooked with the women of a family eatery in Van and finally Piti kebab in Kars. The price includes 12 nights of accommodation in hotels and a village pension, breakfasts and lunches as stated in the itinerary, a professional English-speaking guide, air-conditioned tour transport, the guided tours and cooking sessions, entrance fees in the itinerary and hotel room taxes. Dinners unless mentioned, airport transfers and flights are not included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 13 Days 12 Nights |
| Price | From €4,311 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 16 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours · TÜRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
Arrive in Gaziantep, known locally as Antep, a lively city of Kurdish, Arab and Turkish influences and the gateway to a regional kitchen few visitors get to know. Check in to your hotel and meet your guide and fellow travellers in the evening. Overnight in Gaziantep.
Explore the city center, focusing on regional savory soups and spicy meat dishes. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum to view Roman-era treasures before heading to a premier baklava workshop. Conclude the day with a masterclass at the Mutfak Sanatları Merkezi to learn the secrets of local cuisine. Overnight in Gaziantep.
Cross the Euphrates River to visit the 12,000-year-old sanctuary of Göbekli Tepe. In Urfa, explore the Archaeological Museum and the 16th-century Gümrük Hanı within the covered bazaar. In the evening stroll by the fountains and gardens around the sacred Pools of Abraham. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.
Travel north, stopping for a picnic at the Atatürk Dam. Ascend Mount Nemrut to witness the sunset among the colossal statues of King Antiochus. Back down the mountain, your night is spent at a village pension, where the hosts show you how to make pide, the boat-shaped Turkish flatbread. Overnight in a mountain pension at Nemrut Mountain.
Journey to Diyarbakır, a city enclosed by five-and-a-half kilometers of historic black basalt walls. Tour the Great Mosque and the 16th-century Hasan Paşa Hanı. Taste local wine at the Sülüklühan winery and watch the preparation of kaburga dolması, lamb ribs slow-baked with a spiced rice and almond stuffing, at a well-known restaurant before sitting down to try it. Overnight in Diyarbakır.
After a traditional breakfast featuring roasted eggs and local delicacies, depart for Mardin. Explore the Artuklid architecture, the Great Mosque, and the Kasimiye Medresesi. Visit the Saffron Monastery and the ancient Temple of the Sun then return to town for a spread of traditional meze and a Syriac wine tasting at one of Mardin's best restaurants. Overnight in Mardin.
Cross the Tigris River at Hasankeyf for a boat trip, then continue to Batman for lunch and up the Bitlis Gorge, stopping at the restored 16th-century El Aman Caravanserai, now serving as an arts center. Arrive in Tatvan on the shores of Lake Van. Overnight in Tatvan.
Enjoy a village breakfast in Reşadiye with an Anatolian flatbread cooking demonstration. Proceed to Van to visit the historic Citadel of Van, a fortification with roots dating back to 850 BC. Watch the sunset over the lake from this strategic vantage point. Overnight in Van.
Travel to Gevaş for a garden lunch featuring hands-on food preparation. Take a boat trip to Akdamar Island to visit the exquisite 10th-century Armenian Church. Return to the mainland to complete your local feast. Overnight in Van.
Visit a local family eatery for a hands-on lunch preparation session under expert guidance. Spend the afternoon at Urartu Carpets to see traditional weaving by a women's collective. Enjoy free time or an optional visit to the new Archaeological Museum. Overnight in Van.
Drive along the eastern shore of Lake Van, passing the Tendurek Shield Volcano. In Doğubayazıt, tour the ornate Ishak Paşa Palace overlooking the plains of Ararat. Continue north to the city of Kars. Overnight in Kars.
Visit the medieval Armenian city of Ani, located on the border gorge of the Arpaçay River. Return to Kars for a city tour. In the evening, participate in the preparation of Piti Kebab, a regional specialty. Overnight in Kars.
Enjoy a final breakfast and some free time in Kars before heading to Kars Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul and onward journey home. End of the tour.
Gaziantep → Gobekli Tepe, Sanliurfa → Ataturk Dam, Mount Nemrut → Diyarbakir → Mardin → Hasankeyf, Batman, Tatvan → Resadiye, Van → Gevas, Akdamar Island, Van → Van → Dogubayazit, Kars → Ani, Kars → Kars
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
👥 54 Seats
👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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👥 37+2 Seats
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👥 16+1 Seats
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👥 12+1 Seats
👥 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route — Gaziantep, Gobekli Tepe, Sanliurfa, Ataturk Dam, Mount Nemrut, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Hasankeyf, Batman, Tatvan, Resadiye, Van, Gevas, Akdamar Island, Van, Van, Dogubayazit, Kars, Ani, Kars, Kars.
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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!