Cankiri is a historic town in North-Central Turkey, set at about 800 metres above sea level in a fertile valley watered by the Aci River. Its story reaches back to the Hittites, and over the centuries it was shaped by Romans, Byzantines, Danishmends, Seljuks and Ottomans, each leaving a trace on the hill and in the streets below. This short private programme packs the essentials of the town into one well-paced guided day, with an arrival day to settle in and a relaxed departure morning.
The highlight of the guided city day is the historic salt cave, the largest in Turkey and in use since the Hittite era. Walking its dry galleries, you see rock salt crystals up close together with the salt cart of about a hundred years ago, old lanterns, tools and wagons. Above the town, the castle on Karatekin Hill reveals Roman-period tunnels, the tomb of Emir Karatekin, a commander of the Danishmend dynasty, and a glass viewing terrace looking over Cankiri from Hidirliktepe.
The afternoon is spent in the old centre: Tas Mescit, the Wheat Market Madrasa, the Cankiri House Museum, the Clock Tower and the traditional street texture, with the Great Mosque and the Civitcioglu Madrasa seen from outside during restoration. The day ends at Alpsari Lake, a quiet pond whose villagers worked as boatmen in Istanbul for almost three centuries, from the 1700s until 1990. Along the way there is a lunch stop to try dishes unique to the local Cankiri kitchen.
Practicalities are simple: you fly from Istanbul to Cankiri (Kastamonu) airport, are met on arrival and stay 2 nights in a hotel in Cankiri with breakfast every morning. Airport transfers are arranged as described in the itinerary. A professional English-speaking guide leads every touring day, and all entrance fees for the sites in the itinerary are covered. International and domestic flights, insurance, city tax, visa and tips are not included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Days 2 Nights |
| Price | From €601 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 9 |
| 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.
Welcome to Turkey. After landing at Istanbul International Airport, head straight to the domestic departures hall for your onward flight to Cankiri. On arrival at Cankiri (Kastamonu) airport you are met and driven to your hotel. Once you have your room key, the rest of the day is free to discover Cankiri on your own. Overnight in Cankiri.
After breakfast you are picked up at the hotel and the guided day begins underground, in the historic salt cave of Cankiri, the largest of its kind in Turkey and worked since Hittite times. On foot you follow its wide galleries past rock salt crystal samples and see the salt cart used roughly a century ago, along with lanterns, digging tools, shovels and the old wagons that hauled it. The air inside is almost completely dry. Back in town, the tour climbs to the castle (Kale) and Hidirliktepe on Karatekin Hill, on the northern edge of the city, for a view over Cankiri. Used in turn by Romans, Byzantines, Danishmends, Seljuks and Ottomans and known for its sturdy build, the castle holds Roman-period tunnels, the tomb of the Danishmend commander Emir Karatekin and a glass viewing terrace. A lunch break follows, with the chance to taste dishes unique to Cankiri cuisine. In the afternoon you see the Wheat Market Madrasa, Tas Mescit, the Clock Tower, the Cankiri House Museum and the old street fabric of the town; the Great Mosque and the Civitcioglu Madrasa are viewed from outside while restoration continues. In the evening the route leads to Alpsari Lake, whose village supplied boatmen to Istanbul from the 1700s until 1990. After a short break by the water you return to the hotel. Overnight in Cankiri.
After breakfast you are transferred to Kastamonu airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul, where you connect to your journey home. Thank you for travelling with us; we hope to welcome you again on another tour in Turkey.
Arrival in Cankiri → Cankiri City Tour → Cankiri to Istanbul
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Arrival in Cankiri, Cankiri City Tour, Cankiri to 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!
