Anatolia and the Black Sea, from Ankara to Gaziantep

Your route

1. Day1
   Ankara

   Arrival in Ankara

   Welcome at Ankara Airport and transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, visit Atatürk's Mausoleum, the central monument of the Turkish capital.

2. Day2
   Safranbolu

   Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and Safranbolu

   The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations traces thousands of years of history, from the first Neolithic villages to the Hittites. Then drive to Safranbolu to discover its mosque, its caravanserai and its remarkably well-preserved traditional wooden houses.

3. Day3
   Amasya

   Via Kastamonu to Amasya

   You reach Amasya by way of Kastamonu. Birthplace of the geographer Strabo, Amasya stretches along its river, blending historic heritage with a very green natural setting.

4. Day4
   Sivas

   Tokat and the Seljuk madrasas of Sivas

   Drive via Tokat to Sivas, where you discover the Seljuk madrasas and their finely carved portals. Optional visit to the Great Mosque of Divriği.

5. Day5
   Trabzon

   Trabzon, Hagia Sophia and Sumela Monastery

   You visit Trabzon, ancient Trebizond, and its Hagia Sophia church with Byzantine frescoes. Sumela Monastery, clinging to a cliff above a wooded valley, completes the day.

6. Day6
   Erzurum

   The Seljuk monuments of Erzurum

   In Erzurum, a high-plateau city, you discover the Seljuk monuments, including the Yakutiye Madrasa. You also visit the Ulu Cami, the city's old great mosque.

7. Day7
   Kars

   Kars, its citadel and the site of Ani

   A walk through the old town of Kars, a climb up to the citadel and a visit to the Church of the Holy Apostles. You then head to the UNESCO-listed site of Ani, whose churches dot an isolated plateau on the border.

8. Day8
   Van

   Ararat, the Ishak Pasha Palace and Muradiye

   Drive toward Mount Ararat and visit the Ishak Pasha Palace, perched facing the mountain. Stop at Muradiye Waterfall, then arrive in Van, ancient Tushpa.

9. Day9
   Tatvan

   Urartu, Ahlat and Akdamar Island

   The Urartu Museum and the site of Çavuştepe introduce you to this Iron Age civilization. You then cross by boat to Akdamar Island for the Church of the Holy Cross, and visit the monumental Ahlat cemetery with its carved gravestones.

10. Day10
    Midyat

    Hasankeyf, Anıtlı and Tur Abdin

    You pass through the site of Hasankeyf, on the banks of the Tigris, then continue to the Aramaic village of Anıtlı. Visit the Church of the Virgin, in the heart of Tur Abdin, the homeland of Syriac Christianity.

11. Day11
    Mardin

    Mardin and its Syriac monasteries

    Discover the Kasımiye Madrasa and the old town of Mardin, overlooking the Mesopotamian plain. You also visit the monasteries of Mar Gabriel and Deir el-Zaferan.

12. Day12
    Şanlıurfa

    Harran, Göbeklitepe and Şanlıurfa

    The village of Harran and its beehive houses open the day, followed by the site of Göbeklitepe, the oldest known temple. In Şanlıurfa, you discover the Cave of Abraham, the pool of sacred carp and the old bazaar.

13. Day13
    Adıyaman

    The Euphrates at Halfeti and Mount Nemrut

    A boat trip on the Euphrates at Halfeti, between villages and cliffs. Late in the day, you climb to the funerary sanctuary of Mount Nemrut to watch the sun set behind the colossal statues.

14. Day14
    Gaziantep

    Gaziantep, its market and the Zeugma Museum

    A walk through Gaziantep and its market, renowned for its spices and pistachios. You then visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.

15. Day15
    Gaziantep

    Departure from Gaziantep

    End of the trip. Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

This itinerary can be adjusted: pace, stops, extra nights or hotel category are tailored to your group.