10 Nights
Duration
Central Anatolia
Main Region
Moderate
Fitness Level
Get a Taste for your Trip
Tour Summary

An exceptional tour of the Megalithic sites of Turkey. Experience a rich cultural heritage, where you can literally get close to the stones.

Minimum participants 2 people, maximum 12 people.

Urartian fortresses, Çavuştepe, Van Kalesi
Museum of Urartu, Upper Anzaf, Ayanis

 


Departure Dates

2024:

October: 12 (Tour extension optional)

2025:

April: 12 (Tour extension optional)

Oct: 11 (Tour extension optional)

The Trip Planned Out
Your Itinerary
  • 1
    Day 1 - Konya

    Arrive Konya.  Settling in and orientation meeting. 

    D

    Overnight Konya.

  • 2
    Day 2 - Visit Çatalhöyük & Konya

    Konya, the capital of the Selcuk Sultanate of Rum and the home of the Sufi Order of Whirling Dervishes is our jumping off point for Çatalhöyük.  Established in approximately 7,500 B.C. Çatalhöyük is thought to be the oldest genuine urban settlement yet to be identified.

    B.D.

    Overnight Konya.

  • 3
    Day 3 - Ankara (overnight Ankara)

    Travel to Ankara, the capital of the Republic of Turkey.

    B.D.

    Overnight Ankara.

  • 4
    Day 4 - Ankara. Museum of Anatolian Civilisations and Anitkabir

    The Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, one of the World’s premier museums covering the history of Anatolia from Neolithic to Ottoman times.  The museum is adjacent to the City of Ankara which possesses a commanding view of the entire city.  After lunch we will visit Anitkabir, the Mausoleum of Ataturk, this building and its complex is an extraordinary fusion of architectural styles found in Anatolia and is probably as close as you will get to the feel and look of a temple precinct of the 1st Millennium B.C.

    B.D.

    Overnight Ankara.

  • 5
    Day 5 - Boğazkale. Alacahöyük and Yazilikaya

    We depart for the Hittite fortress town of Alacahöyük and then the rock sanctuary of Yazilikaya.

    B.D.

    Overnight Boğazkale.

  • 6
    Day 6 - Hattuşa. Depart Cappadocia

    We will spend the morning exploring the extensive site of Hattuşa, the Hittite capital city.  After lunch we depart for Cappadocia.

    B.D.

    Overnight Cappadocia.

  • 7
    Day 7 - Underground Cities and Rock Churches and Monasteries

    We will explore the underground cities of Derinkuyu and Kaymakli, where local inhabitants would escape to in times of trouble.  We will investigate the rock Churches and Monasteries of the region including Ihlari valley and the 8th Century Selime Monastery carved from the living rock.

    B.D.

    Overnight Cappadocia.

  • 8
    Day 8 - Cappadocia to Gaziantep

    Breathtaking views across the fairy chimneys and unique geological formations of Cappadocia.  A hearty breakfast then we depart for Gaziantep, an important stop on the Silk Road where we will visit the stunning Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

    B.D.

    Overnight Gaziantep.

  • 9
    Day 9 - Şanliurfa and Göbekli Tepe

    We depart Gaziantep for another important Silk Road destination, the ancient city of Urfa, before continuing to visit the extraordinary Neolithic ritual complex at Göbekli Tepe, 10,000 B.C.  From Göbekli Tepe we will visit its sister site currently undergoing excavation, Karahan Tepe.  From Karahan Tepe we return to Urfa for a free evening to relax and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere of the Pools of Abraham.

    B

    Cult room of stone phalluses discovered on Turkish Hillside – Eastern Turkey Tours

    Overnight in Şanliurfa.

     

  • 10
    Day 10 - Nemrut Sanctuary: Mountain of the Gods

    After an early morning start at the amazing Archaeological Museum in Şanlıurfa , we will depart this ancient city and make our way to Adiyaman via the Ataturk Dam and onto Nemrut, Mountain of the Gods.  Enroute we will visit the Karakuş Tumulus where the women of the Kommagene Dynasty were buried.

    B.D.

    Nemrut – Where is it? – Eastern Turkey Tours

    Overnight Adiyaman.

    Main tour ends.

    Optional tour extension continues 880 USD per person.

  • 11
    Day 11 - Across the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers

    Today we will cross the Euphrates River and the northern rim of Mesopotamia, stopping at the ancient city of Diyarbakir on the River Tigris for lunch in the Ottoman Hasan Paşa Hanı, before heading onto Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van.

    B.D.

    Overnight Van.

  • 12
    Day 12 - Urartu

    When we leave Van we will skirt the southern shore of Lake Van before heading to the Urartian Fortress of Çavuştepe. From Çavuştepe we will visit Akdamar Island.

    B

    Overnight Van.

     

  • 13
    Day 13 - Van Citadel

    After a traditional Van breakfast, we will visit the Citadel of Van established in the mid 8th Century B.C. and very possibly the longest continually fortress in the World, having seen military action as recently as 1922. The Citadel has stunning views of Lake Van. From the Citadel we visit the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum adjacent to the Citadel which contains artefacts from the Neolithic to Ottoman times but featuring particularly an incredible collection drawn from the Urartian period.

    B

    Free time Van.

    Overnight in Van.

  • 14
    Day 14 - Departure

    Depart from Van Airport.

     

     

Tour Price $3490 per person
Regions Visited

Central Anatolia, Eastern Anatolia, South Eastern Anatolia

Fitness Level Moderate - Able to walk 2 kms over possibly broken ground with incline.
What is included?

All road transport (tolls etc) English speaking guide All state and local taxes All museum and site entries

What is not included

All meals (Unless otherwise stated) Personal expenses Beverages Insurance (unless otherwise stated)

Terms & Conditions

Please note that there is a 20% surcharge for single room occupancy.
Please note that it is essential that you have purchased travel insurance for all parts of Turkey. It is your responsibility to organise the correct cover but we are happy to advise.

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Some extra reading...

Download the tour brochure
Ancient Cappadocia to Göbekli Tepe image
Ancient Cappadocia to Göbekli Tepe brochure
View Brochure

Did you know...

Gobekli Tepe

The oldest Temple in the world was found by a Kurdish farmer ploughing his field. The Kurdish name for Gobekli Tepe is Gire Navoke.

Did you know...

Hattusa

The oldest copy of a peace treaty was found in the excavations of the royal library of Hattusa, from approximately 1259 B.C. the treaty was signed by the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses The Great and King Hattusili of the Hittite Empire. A copy rests on display at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Did you know...

Mausoleum of Ataturk

Completed in 1953. Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Ataturk, was built to embody the architectural styles of the great civilisations of Anatolia.