Comprehesive tour incorporating Eastern Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.
Eastern Anatolia
The East Anatolia Region is mountainous, rugged and formed by volcanic activity. There are a number of volcanos (dormant) that dominate the region and which form the regional “back bone.” To the region`s north there are Mt. Ararat (a classic stratovolcano with a permanent ice cap) and the extraordinary landscapes formed by Mt. Tendurek, a shield volcano. To the south there is a ring of dormant volcanos circling Lake Van: Suphan (stratovolcano) Artos and Nemrut, a caldera with hot and cold lakes on the interior floor.
Regional temperatures may drop to – 43 C/ -45 F in winter, and rise to 38 C/100 F in summer.
During the winter one can ski at Palandöken just outside Erzurum, Sarıkamış near Kars and on Artos or Nemrut Caldera around Lake Van, a significant endorheic soda lake at about 2000 m/ 6500 ft in elevation.
Rainfall is 560 mm/22 inches. Agriculturally the region is fairly marginal but does produce wheat, fruit and nuts in a short growing season. The mainstay is pastoral with sheep and goats predominating.
You may not find Noah’s Ark, but from the summit you can see four countries. Mount Ararat is a standard four day trek, although some people manage to climb to the top in three. All measurements are estimates because distance and elevation markers do not exist. We arrange all equipment for the climb including tents, […]
This is a four day (five nights) tour of Armenian churches and monasteries south and east of Lake Van. Explore Lake Van and its surroundings, from Varakavank (The Seven Churches) to St. John’s church on Gduts (Carpanak) island and taking in Garmir Vank and, St. Thomas’ church near the village of Kanzak (Altinsac), before finishing […]
The Grand Tour of Eastern Turkey is a luxury tour that will allow you to experience the best that this extraordinary region has to offer in cultural, geographic and historical terms all in the context of luxury, fully provisioned and equipped coaches and staying in the best hotels that the region can boast. Using our […]
This is an extraordinary 18 day, (also available as a 12 day tour) three nation fully escorted tour that encompasses the lands of Ararat and the mythical land of Colchis; Eastern Turkey, Georgia and Historic Armenia. We start in the eastern Turkish city of Van; explore the eastern Lake District around Van before heading north […]
Of all the tours to Cappadocia available on the market, this tour is without question unique. This tour covers the region of Ancient Cappadocia, starting in Ankara and visiting the Hittite Capital of Hatussa before proceeding to modern day Cappadocia to visit the underground cities, troglodyte dwellings and churches of the UNESCO World Heritage Site […]
There are options to extend the tour to take in the extraordinary castle rock of Van with its 3000 year old Urartian fortifications, Cavustepe and the spectacular fortress of Hosap that protected, and drew income from, the ancient Silk Road or the numerous Armenian religious sites around the Van region .