This four-day journey links two neighbouring provinces on Turkey's southern Mediterranean coast, taking you from the plains of Adana to the old port city of Mersin through castles, caravanserais and some of the oldest settlements in Anatolia. Arrival, hotel transfers, guiding and every transfer between sites are organised for you, so the days are about discovery rather than logistics. It suits curious travellers who want history, architecture and regional food in an unhurried, fully guided format, far from the busiest tourist routes.
After a free evening in Adana, you travel out to the hilltop fortress of Yilankale and the fortified rock of Toprakkale, then explore the Payas complex of Sokollu Mehmet Pasha, a compact Ottoman ensemble of caravanserai, hammam, madrasa, mosque and covered bazaar. The road then continues west to Mersin, where you stay for two nights. Lunch is included on both touring days, so you can taste regional cooking without searching for restaurants.
Day three belongs to Tarsus, the birthplace of Saint Paul. You walk through the Gozlukule Mound, one of the earliest settlement layers of the area, visit the St. Paul Church Museum and the Tarsus Grand Mosque, step onto the Roman ancient road, pause for tea by the Tarsus Waterfall and admire restored historic houses near St. Paul's Well. The afternoon brings the red earth and sinkhole of the Kanlidivane (Kantelis) ancient city, followed by a lunch of tantuni, Mersin's best-loved street-food speciality. On the last morning you are driven back to Adana Airport.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 Days 3 Nights |
| Price | From β¬707 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 10 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
Your guide welcomes you at Adana Airport and accompanies you to your hotel in Adana for check-in. No sightseeing is scheduled for the rest of the day, so you are free to settle in, rest after your journey and wander through the city at your own pace, perhaps sampling the local flavours of southern Turkey on your own. Take a stroll along the riverside, look for a spot for dinner, and prepare for an early start the next morning. You spend the night in a hotel in Adana.
After breakfast your driver and guide collect you from the hotel in Adana for a day among the fortresses of the Cilician plain. The first stop is Yilankale, the Snake Castle, whose ruined walls crown a rocky ridge and give broad views over the surrounding farmland. From there the route continues to Toprakkale, a stronghold on a dark basalt outcrop that once watched over the passes towards Syria. Lunch is served during the day. In the afternoon you reach Payas and its Sokollu Mehmet Pasha Complex, a 16th-century Ottoman complex where a caravanserai, mosque, madrasa, bathhouse and arcaded market were planned as one ensemble. Late in the day you drive on to Mersin and check in for an overnight stay in a hotel in Mersin.
Today is devoted to Mersin and its historic neighbour Tarsus. The morning begins at the Gozlukule Mound, the oldest inhabited spot in Tarsus, where layers of ancient dwellings and lodging places reveal thousands of years of habitation. You then visit the St. Paul Church Museum, the Tarsus Grand Mosque and a preserved stretch of the Tarsus Roman ancient road. A tea break by the Tarsus Waterfall is followed by a walk past the old houses of Tarsus, among them homes restored around St. Paul's Well, with plenty of time to chat with friendly local people. Next comes Kanlidivane (Kantelis), an ancient city set around a huge, red-earthed sinkhole that, according to legend, was used in Roman times to cast out convicted criminals. Lunch features tantuni, a Mersin speciality of finely chopped, spiced meat wrapped in flatbread. You spend the night in Mersin.
After a relaxed breakfast you check out of the hotel in Mersin and meet your driver for the transfer back to Adana Airport, in time for your onward flight home. The ride east along the coast gives you a last look at the Mediterranean landscape you have been exploring. With this drive the programme comes to an end, and you leave with memories of Cilician castles, Ottoman architecture, early Christian heritage and the food and hospitality of the south.
Adana β Yilankale, Toprakkale, Payas, Mersin β Mersin, Tarsus, Kanlidivane β Mersin, Adana Airport
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
π₯ 55 Seats
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π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
π₯ 35 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Adana, Yilankale, Toprakkale, Payas, Mersin, Mersin, Tarsus, Kanlidivane, Mersin, Adana Airport.
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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 β 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!