This five-day journey through Turkey's Mediterranean south pairs the lively streets of Adana with the ancient heartland of Cilicia around Mersin and Tarsus. You begin in Adana, where the arched stone bridge of Taskopru and the grand Sabanci Merkez Mosque set the scene, and where a drive beside the Seyhan River, 560 km long, shows how the waterway shaped the city.
Food is a thread running through the trip. In Adana you sit down to the city's own kebab, hand-minced from lamb, red bell pepper and tail fat, and in Mersin you try the local tantuni wrap and hear about regional treats such as bumbar and cezerye. The cultural core is the Tarsus day: the Gozlukule Mound, the earliest settlement of the area, the St. Paul Church Museum with Paul's Well among restored old Tarsus houses, the Tarsus Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) and a stretch of the Roman ancient road.
A tea break at the Tarsus Waterfall leads on to the ruins of Kanlidivane (Kantelis), whose name is linked to red soil and a grim sinkhole legend. The final full day is lighter: Aynaligol Cave, whose still pool mirrors the rock, followed by time for a swim. Everything is fully guided in English, with comfortable air-conditioned coach transport and a relaxed pace between Adana and Mersin. Entrance fees named in the itinerary, four breakfasts and three local lunches are already covered, so you can simply enjoy the sights, the warm hospitality of local people and the flavours of the Cilician coast without worrying about logistics.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 Days 4 Nights |
| Price | From β¬1,417 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 11 |
| 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 journey begins on arrival in Adana, the starting point of the tour. After meeting your driver at the airport you are taken to your hotel in the city, where you can rest and settle in after your trip. No sightseeing is scheduled today, so use the free hours to freshen up and stroll nearby streets at your own pace. Tomorrow your guide collects you from the hotel for a full day exploring Adana's landmarks and tasting its famous cuisine before the road leads on to the coast. Overnight in Adana.
After breakfast your guide picks you up from your Adana hotel for a city tour. You see the arched stone bridge of Taskopru and the Sabanci Merkez Mosque, one of the city's most recognisable landmarks. The route then follows the Seyhan River, the longest river in Turkey to reach the Mediterranean at 560 km, giving a sense of the land that feeds the city. For lunch you taste Adana kebab in its hometown, a dish of minced male lamb, red bell pepper and tail fat prepared by hand. In the afternoon you leave for Mersin, where you spend the night.
Today is a full city tour of the Mersin region. After pickup you head to Tarsus to see the Gozlukule Mound, the first settlement of the area, along with historical lodging and dwelling points. Next come the St. Paul Church Museum, the Tarsus Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) and the Tarsus Roman ancient road. You walk among old Tarsus houses under restoration and see Paul's Well, then stop for tea at the Tarsus Waterfall. Later you visit the ancient city of Kanlidivane (Kantelis), whose name means bloody crazy, perhaps for the red soil or a legend of executions into a sinkhole. Lunch is the celebrated Mersin tantuni. Overnight in Mersin.
After breakfast your guide collects you for a more relaxed day in nature. The main visit is Aynaligol Cave, where still water reflects the rock formations. Afterwards a swimming break gives you time to cool off and enjoy the Mediterranean setting at your leisure. Lunch is included during the day. Later you return to your hotel in Mersin, with the evening free to rest or revisit the tastes you enjoyed earlier in the trip, perhaps looking for local sweets such as cezerye. Overnight in Mersin.
After breakfast you check out of your Mersin hotel and are driven to Adana Airport for your onward flight home. This brings the five-day journey through Adana, Tarsus and Mersin to a close, with its bridges, mosques, ancient ruins, kebab, tantuni and a swim in the cave pond. We hope the trip has been a memorable one and that you will join us again on another tour in Turkey. Thank you for travelling with us.
Adana arrival β Adana - Mersin β Mersin - Tarsus - Kanlidivane β Aynaligol Cave - Mersin 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)
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π₯ 37+2 Seats
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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 arrival, Adana - Mersin, Mersin - Tarsus - Kanlidivane, Aynaligol Cave - Mersin, 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!