Itinerary
- Day 1
Istanbul
You'll arrive in Istanbul and head to your hotel in the old city. The afternoon is yours to wander around the historic area at your own pace, getting a feel for the narrow streets and local atmosphere.
Optional Activities
- Explore Istanbul's old city
- Day 2
Istanbul to Kars
An early airport transfer gets you to the terminal for your flight to Kars. Once there, your guide meets you and drives a short distance to see the ruins of the medieval Armenian capital. This gives you a solid introduction to the region's historical layers.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Armenian ruins
Landmarks/POIs Armenian Medieval Ruins - Day 3
Kars to Van
Today's a long one with a 6-hour drive from Kars to Van, skirting around Mt. Ararat and passing through Dogubayazit. Along the way, you'll stop at Ishak Pasha Palace to see its mix of Ottoman and Middle-Eastern architectural details in this border town setting.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ishak Pasha Palace
Landmarks/POIs Ishak Pasha Palace Mt. Ararat - Day 4
Van
You'll take a boat out onto Lake Van to reach Akdamar Island and visit the 10th-century Armenian Holy Cross Church. After that, it's roughly 6 hours of driving around the lake to Mardin. By evening, you'll walk through the old city streets to get oriented.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic boat trip on Lake Van
- Visit Akdamar Island and Holy Cross Church
- Afternoon walk in old city Mardin
Landmarks/POIs Lake Van Akdamar Island Holy Cross Church - Day 5
Mardin
Start the morning at Dayrulzaferan Monastery and Dara ruins, where you can try wine at the monastery. Then move through Mardin's old town to see the intricate limestone architecture that makes the city distinctive.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Dayrulzaferan Monastery
- Visit Dara ruins
- Wine tasting at the monastery
- Explore old town Mardin
Landmarks/POIs Dayrulzaferan Monastery Dara Ruins - Day 6
Mardin to Göbekli Tepe
A 3-hour drive brings you to Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site from the 10th millennium BCE and considered the world's oldest temple. After checking in, the afternoon is open for exploring Abraham's cave, checking out local markets, and trying regional food.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Göbekli Tepe
Optional Activities
- Explore Abraham's cave
- Visit local markets
- Try local cuisine
Landmarks/POIs Göbekli Tepe Abraham's Cave - Day 7
Göbekli Tepe to Adiyaman
You'll drive 4 hours to Mt. Nemrut, stopping at Cendere bridge and Karakus tumulus on the way. The mountain holds the 1st-century BCE tomb-sanctuary complex built by King Antiochus I of Commagene. You'll watch the sunset from the summit, then overnight in Adiyaman.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mt. Nemrut
- Visit Cendere bridge
- Visit Karakus tumulus
- Sunset at Mt. Nemrut
Landmarks/POIs Mt. Nemrut Cendere Bridge Karakus Tumulus - Day 8
Adiyaman to Cappadocia
A 6-hour drive takes you to Cappadocia. After settling into your hotel, you'll do an afternoon panorama tour that shows off the region's distinctive rock formations and surreal landscape.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Afternoon panorama tour of Cappadocia
Landmarks/POIs Cappadocia Region - Day 9
Cappadocia
This full day covers the Cappadocia region with stops at an underground city, the open-air museum, Çavuşin castle, and Göreme town. You'll see the region's unique rock formations and various historical sites throughout.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit underground city
- Visit open-air museum
- Visit Çavuşin castle
- Visit Göreme town
Landmarks/POIs Underground City Goreme Open Air Museum Çavuşin Castle Göreme Town - Day 10
Cappadocia to Antalya
A 7-hour scenic drive through the Taurus mountain chain gets you to Antalya, with a stop at the Mevlana Museum along the way. You'll check in and take a guided walk through Antalya's old city as evening settles in.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Mevlana Museum
- Guided night walk in old city Antalya
Landmarks/POIs Mevlana Museum - Day 11
Antalya to Kaş
After a 4-hour drive, you'll arrive in the coastal town of Kaş. Once you've checked in, the afternoon is free to walk around town and get a sense of the place on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Explore Kaş on foot
- Day 12
Kaş to Pamukkale
A 4-hour drive brings you to Pamukkale. After checking in, you'll have an afternoon tour showing Hierapolis and the famous white cliffs that give this area its distinctive look.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Afternoon tour of Hierapolis
- Afternoon tour of white cliffs
Landmarks/POIs Hierapolis Pamukkale White Cliffs - Day 13
Pamukkale to Selçuk
You'll drive 3 hours to Selçuk and check in. The afternoon includes visits to Ephesus, the Temple of Artemis, and St. John Basilica, giving you a solid look at major classical ruins in one outing.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Ephesus
- Visit Temple of Artemis
- Visit St. John Basilica
Landmarks/POIs Ephesus Temple of Artemis St. John Basilica - Day 14
Selçuk
A full day is set aside for exploring Priene, Miletus, and Didyma. You'll see the Temple of Apollon and other classical Greek and Roman archaeological sites across these three locations.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Priene
- Visit Miletus
- Visit Didyma
- Visit Temple of Apollon
Landmarks/POIs Priene Miletus Didyma Temple of Apollon - Day 15
Selçuk to Çanakkale
You'll drive 4 hours to Çanakkale with guided tours of Pergamon and Troy on the way. You'll overnight by the historical Dardanelles checkpoint, which marks the border between continents.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Pergamon
- Guided tour of Troy
Landmarks/POIs Pergamon Troy Dardanelles - Day 16
Çanakkale to Istanbul
Today includes a guided tour of Gallipoli and its war cemeteries. Then it's a 5-hour drive back to Istanbul and an overnight in the old city, finishing up your journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Gallipoli
- Guided tour of war cemeteries
Landmarks/POIs Gallipoli - Day 17
Istanbul
Your tour wraps up after breakfast at the Istanbul old city hotel, and you'll head out from there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
