Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival in Ankara
You'll arrive in Ankara, Turkey's capital since 1923. After checking into your hotel, if your flight gets in early enough, dinner will be on the itinerary for the evening.
- Meals
- Dinner
- Day 2
Hattusha and Corum
Travel to Hattusha to walk through the ancient Hittite Empire capital from 3,500 years ago. The day takes you through the Lion Gate, King's Gate, and Sphinx Gate ruins, then to Yazilikaya rock sanctuary where you'll see remarkable god reliefs carved into the stone. You'll end up in Corum for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Hattusha world cultural heritage site with Lion Gate, King's Gate, and Sphinx Gate
- Explore Yazilikaya rock sanctuary with god reliefs
Landmarks/POIs Hattusha Lion Gate King's Gate Sphinx Gate Yazilikaya - Day 3
Alacahöyük and Cappadocia
Head south to Alacahöyük and check out royal tombs dating back to the third millennium BC. From there, you'll drive toward Cappadocia through Yozgat and Kayseri, stopping to see the Hunat Hatun Mosque and the round Döner Kümbel tomb of Princess Chian Hatun, a notable example of Seljuk architecture. The drive ends in Ürgüp in the heart of Cappadocia.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit royal tombs of Alacahöyük
- Visit Hunat Hatun Mosque in Kayseri
- See Döner Kümbet (tomb of Princess Chian Hatun)
Landmarks/POIs Alacahöyük Hunat Hatun Mosque Döner Kümbet 
- Day 4
Cappadocia Highlights
Start the morning at Uchisar castle rock for views across Cappadocia's unusual tufa landscape. You'll walk through the surreal terrain and grab lunch at a women-run cooperative serving local dishes. After that, head to Göreme to see cliff dwellings and fourth-century frescoes painted on the rock walls. Later, you'll descend into the underground city of Derinkuyu with its maze-like corridors spreading eight storeys down into the earth.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Local dishes at women's cooperative restaurant in Uchisar), Dinner
Included Activities
- View from Uchisar castle rock
- Lunch in Uchisar at women's cooperative restaurant with local dishes
- Visit Göreme cliff dwellings and churches
- Explore underground city of Derinkuyu
Landmarks/POIs Uchisar Castle Göreme Derinkuyu Underground City 
- Day 5
Carpet Weaving, Red Valley, and Avanos
You'll start by learning traditional carpet weaving at a local manufactory, getting insight into centuries-old patterns and the craft's significance to the community. After that, hike through the Red Valley to see monks' hermitages built into the fairy chimneys. By afternoon, you'll visit Avanos, a pottery-famous town split by the Kizilirmak river, and walk through its winding streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit carpet weaving manufactory
- Hike through Red Valley
- View monks' hermitages in fairy chimneys of Pasabag
- Stroll through Avanos
Landmarks/POIs Red Valley Pasabag Avanos Kizilirmak River - Day 6
Ihlara Gorge, Sultanhani, and Konya
Hike through Ihlara Gorge, following the Melendiz River through a 14-kilometre canyon that drops up to 100 metres deep, with dwellings and churches carved into the cliff faces. You'll stop for tea and cookies at Sultanhani, the best-kept caravanserai along the Silk Road. Later, drive to Konya to visit the Mevlana Monastery and its museum on the Dancing Dervishes. By evening, you'll watch a performance where dervishes spin in their white skirts as prayer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through Ihlara Gorge
- Visit Sultanhani caravanserai
- Visit Mevlana Monastery and museum
- Attend Dancing Dervishes performance
Landmarks/POIs Ihlara Gorge Melendiz River Sultanhani Caravanserai Mevlana Monastery - Day 7
Ankara and Cultural Highlights
Drive back across the Central Anatolian plateau to Ankara. Visit the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to review Hittite history through artifacts spanning from the Stone Age through the Roman period. Then pay respects at Kemal Atatürk's mausoleum on a central hill. Finish with a bus tour of Ankara to see the contrast between the historic citadel and old town against the modern planned western and southern districts.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Visit Kemal Atatürk's mausoleum
- City tour of Ankara by bus
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Anatolian Civilizations Kemal Atatürk's Mausoleum - Day 8
Departure from Ankara
You'll fly out of Ankara and head back home.
- Meals
- Breakfast
