Spend five relaxed days in Hakkari, the high frontier province where Turkey meets Iraq and Iran. Rather than rushing, this itinerary combines one day of historic sightseeing, one day of cooking, one day of pampering in a hamam and free time to absorb the atmosphere of a region few visitors ever see. Your base for four nights is a hotel in Yuksekova, close to Hakkari Yuksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport, and a professional English-speaking guide accompanies the guided excursions in an air-conditioned vehicle.
History comes first. At the Semdinli Stone Bridge you admire a single span set on rock at both banks, crossing a steep valley among high mountains on the Derecik-Iraq road, and at Kayme Palace you learn that inscriptions date the building to 1909-1911 and link it to Seyit Muhammed Siddik, son of Seyit Ubeydullah. A panoramic drive through central Yuksekova completes the picture. The next day, in a local restaurant kitchen, you prepare regional dishes such as Gulul yogurt soup with green lentils and dough, spiced aubergine Finger Kebab and refreshing Jajik, while also hearing about Chevirmeli Pilav and Cukurca's tahini dessert, then sit down to the lunch you cooked.
Day four is set aside for a traditional Turkish bath, timed around your wishes and the hamam's opening hours, followed by free time and shopping in the town centre. Included are four nights of hotel accommodation, four breakfasts and one lunch, airport transfers, the guided city tour, the cooking lesson and shopping tour, the Turkish bath excursion, entrance fees and hotel room taxes. Domestic flights to and from Istanbul and other meals are not included.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 5 Days 4 Nights |
| Price | From €878 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 5 |
| 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.
After your flight lands at Hakkari Yuksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport, our team welcomes you and transfers you to your hotel in Yuksekova, the town that will be home for the next four nights. There are no activities planned after check-in, leaving time to unpack, relax and wander nearby if you feel like stretching your legs. Hakkari lies in the eastern part of the Eastern Anatolia Region, a rugged frontier land of high ranges and deep valleys, and this first evening offers a calm introduction before the guided programme starts tomorrow. Overnight in Yuksekova, Hakkari.
Today your guide introduces the heritage of Hakkari, a province whose mosques, castles and palaces reflect centuries of changing rule. The first highlight is the Semdinli Stone Bridge, whose single span crosses a narrow valley beneath high mountains and carries the road between Derecik and the Iraqi border; both ends of the arch are anchored directly on rock. You then explore Kayme Palace, completed in the years 1909 to 1911 as its inscriptions record, and believed to be the work of Seyit Muhammed Siddik. Before heading back to the hotel, a panoramic drive shows you the centre of Yuksekova. Overnight in Yuksekova.
This morning a local restaurant opens its kitchen to you for a hands-on class with a professional cook. You learn the secrets of Gulul, a comforting yogurt soup thickened with green lentils and cut dough; of Finger Kebab, where aubergine sliced into fingers is cooked with plenty of spice in true Yuksekova style; and of Jajik, yogurt mixed with grated cucumber and a touch of garlic. Other regional favourites such as finely chopped cabbage pickle, Chevirmeli Pilav and Cukurca tahini dessert are also part of the local repertoire. After eating the lunch you cooked, you head into the town centre to browse the shops at leisure, then return to the hotel. Overnight in Yuksekova.
After breakfast you are collected from the hotel for a visit to a traditional Turkish bath. Bathing in the hamam is a much-loved custom practised all over the country, and experiencing it here is a relaxing way to slow down after two busy days. The exact timing is arranged according to your preference and the opening hours of the hamam. Afterwards you are dropped in the town centre to shop and explore on your own, and later driven back to the hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Overnight in Yuksekova.
Breakfast at the hotel is followed by check-out and the transfer to Hakkari Yuksekova Selahaddin Eyyubi Airport, where you board your domestic flight to Istanbul and continue home. Thank you for exploring Hakkari with us; from its historic monuments to its kitchens and hamam, we hope the region has left a lasting impression.
Arrival in Yuksekova → Semdinli Stone Bridge, Kayme Palace & Yuksekova → Hakkari cooking class & shopping → Turkish bath & free time → Yuksekova to Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Arrival in Yuksekova, Semdinli Stone Bridge, Kayme Palace & Yuksekova, Hakkari cooking class & shopping, Turkish bath & free time, Yuksekova 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!
