Begin in the historic Black Sea city of Trabzon, where the 13th-century St. Sophia (Ayasofya) and the medieval Trabzon Castle greet you. A short drive brings you to the cliff-side Sumela Monastery, a Byzantine sanctuary perched above the lush Altindere Valley. Continue south along the ancient Silk Road, crossing the rugged Zigana Pass towards Karaca Cave, before arriving in the highland city of Erzurum. Here you will wander the Seljuk-era Cifte Minareli Madrasa and the Mongol-built Yakutiye Madrasa, and stand in front of the imposing Ulu Mosque and the historic Erzurum Castle.
From Erzurum you cross into the province of Kars, where the legendary medieval city of Ani rises from the earth, its ruined churches and fortified walls echoing a city once said to have rivalled Baghdad in size. The journey continues to Dogubeyazit, the gateway to Mount Ararat, the mountain said to cradle Noah’s Ark. Along the way you will glimpse the volcanic Crater Hole and the grand 17th-century Ishak Pasha Palace, a complex of mosque, fortress and palace that once housed a room for every day of the year. The ancient Urartian city of Eski Bayazit also lies in the shadows of the mountain.
The final leg takes you to Van, a city that has seen Hittite, Urartian, Persian, Armenian and Roman hands. Here the carved 10th-century church on Akdamar Island rises above the turquoise waters of Lake Van, while Hoşap Castle near the Iranian border and the Van citadel add medieval fortresses to the day. A short detour to Ahlat reveals the world’s largest Seljuk cemetery, a sea of stone tombstones that tells the story of Anatolia’s medieval past. A walk through the historic town of Bitlis and a final night in Diyarbakır bring the tour to a close.
| Tour type | Private · multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 Days 7 Nights |
| Price | From €1,632 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 8 |
| 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 Trabzon. Our team assists you on arrival and with check-in; the rest of the day is free to explore the city. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
Visit Hagia Sophia, a 13th-century church with remarkable Byzantine frescoes, then Gülbahar Hatun Mosque, Trabzon Castle, Atatürk's Mansion and Ortahisar Mosque, a former Comnenian cathedral in the old town. Lunch break at a seaside restaurant in Akçaabat, famous for its meatballs, then wander the cobbled streets and enjoy samovar tea with a city view on Boztepe. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.
Visit Sumela Monastery, clinging to a cliff in the forested Altındere Valley, and pause by the mountain stream. After a lunch break, follow the Silk Road over the Zigana Mountains to Karaca Cave, known for its colours and formations (currently closed for maintenance; while closed, more time is spent in Zigana). Continue to Erzurum to see the Çifte Minareli Madrasa with its twin minarets, the Yakutiye Madrasa built in 1308, the Great Mosque and the citadel. Overnight in Erzurum, with dinner at the hotel.
Early departure for Kars, passing Sarıkamış, one of the coldest places in Turkey. Visit the ruins of Ani on the Armenian border: fortified walls enclosing churches, mosques and caravanserais of a medieval city once said to rival Baghdad, shaped by Urartians, Armenians, Georgians, Mongols, Russians and Turks. Dinner and overnight in Kars.
A drive of roughly 3.5 hours on the old caravan route brings you to Doğubeyazıt. Near the Iranian border, see the meteor crater and enjoy views of Mount Ararat, traditionally linked with Noah's Ark. In the afternoon, visit Ishak Pasha Palace, a mosque, fortress and palace in one, with the remains of old Bayazıt and an Urartian settlement below. Dinner and overnight in Doğubeyazıt.
Drive about three hours to Van, a city with roots going back to the Hurrians and Urartians. Take the boat to Akdamar Island to admire its 10th-century Armenian church with carved reliefs, then see Hoşap Castle near the Iranian frontier and the rock citadel of Van. Overnight in Van, with dinner at the hotel.
Visit the Seljuk tombstones of Ahlat, the largest medieval Turkish-Islamic cemetery. Lunch break in Bitlis with a short walk through the historic town, then continue to Diyarbakır. Dinner and overnight in Diyarbakır.
After breakfast and check-out, transfer to Diyarbakır Airport for your onward flight.
Arrival in Trabzon → Trabzon City Tour → Sumela Monastery & Zigana → Erzurum & Kars → Dogubeyazit & Mount Ararat → Van & Akdamar Island → Ahlat, Bitlis & Diyarbakir → Departure from Diyarbakir
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 Trabzon, Trabzon City Tour, Sumela Monastery & Zigana, Erzurum & Kars, Dogubeyazit & Mount Ararat, Van & Akdamar Island, Ahlat, Bitlis & Diyarbakir, Departure from Diyarbakir.
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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!