8-day eastern Turkey explorer tour
Explore eastern Turkey across eight days packed full of ancient and local moments, centered around a visit to the summit of sacred Mount Nemrut. On this trip you'll wander around a 300-year-old bazaar, dine with a local family in a small rural village, watch the sunrise over the giant stone heads scattered around the mountaintop tomb of King Antiochus I, stroll the lively streets of Istanbul with your local guide, and try the best Islak burger in town! This trip idea is designed so that even if you’re short on time, you can explore the backroads of Turkey at their best.
Services
Included:
- Seven nights accommodation in double rooms in four or five-star hotels
- Seven breakfasts, four lunches, four dinners
- Domestic flights as per the itinerary
- Airport transfers on first & last days
- Private transfers in an air-conditioned car with private driver
- Activities & admission fees to sites as per the itinerary
- English-speaking guide throughout the trip
Excluded:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Any meals & drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Tips & gratuities
- International airport departure tax
- Late check-out at hotels
Optional:
- Hot air ballooning ($150 USD per person)
- Hot air ballooning ($200 USD per person)
- Turkish night in Cappadocia ($50 USD per person)
- Whirling dervish ceremony in Cappadocia ($50 USD per person)
Itinerary at a Glance
Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul!
Istanbul - Göreme
Explore Cappadocia, "Land of Beautiful Horses"
Göreme
From Uchisar Castle to the depths of Özkonak
Göreme - Adiyaman
Take a city tour of Adiyaman
Adiyaman
Watch the sunrise from the ruins of Arsameia
Adiyaman - Mardin
Mardin & the ancient city of Dara
Adiyaman - Istanbul
Return to Istanbul
Istanbul
Farewell, Istanbul!
Detailed Itinerary
Istanbul
Day 1: Welcome to Istanbul!
Welcome to Istanbul! Upon arrival at the airport, you'll be picked up and taken to your accommodation. Your tour guide will be waiting for you in the hotel lobby for a welcome meeting.
Afterward, head out for a guided walking tour of Istanbul. You'll start from Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, located in the Hippodrome of Istanbul. Then, continue to the Grand Bazaar, the biggest covered marketplace in history. Spend a while amidst the charms of Suleymaniye Mosque before ending up at the Spice Market, an immersive treat to the senses.
Spend the rest of the day as you wish, perhaps visiting other unique and iconic sites such as Rustem Pasha Mosque.
Istanbul - Göreme
Day 2: Explore Cappadocia, "Land of Beautiful Horses"
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel before heading to Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul to catch a flight to Cappadocia, the so-called Land of Beautiful Horses.
You'll arrive into Cappadocia around midday and meet your tour guide for a hike in the iconic and otherworldly valleys.
In the evening, you're invited for dinner at a restaurant in the heart of Cappadocia, where you'll get to try a local specialty: pottery kebap (also known as testi kebabı).
Göreme
Day 3: From Uchisar Castle to the depths of Özkonak
Start today's tour at Uchisar Castle, one of the highest points in the region. Next, you'll head to the Pasabag Valley to enjoy a close view of the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
Afterward, visit the Zelve Open Air Museum to explore the rock-cut cave churches from early Christian times. Stop for lunch in the whimsical Devrent Valley, another panoramic spot, then journey to the underground city of Özkonak, whose various parts descend as far down as 11 stories under the ground!
Göreme - Adiyaman
Day 4: Take a city tour of Adiyaman
Today, get ready for a long bus journey (around 6.5 hours) to Adiyaman (Adıyaman), the closest city to Mount Nemrut.
Upon your arrival, your tour guide will take you for an orientation walk in Adiyaman. Then, for dinner you'll join a Turkish night (sıra gecesi) to try local specialties and enjoy a live jam session performed by locals!
Adiyaman
Day 5: Watch the sunrise from the ruins of Arsameia
In the morning you'll travel to the village of Kahta, to make the journey up Mount Nemrut.
Visit the ruins of Arsameia, a holy burial area built by King Antiochus I in memory of his father almost 2,500 years ago. At the top of the mountain, Antiochus I also constructed a tomb sanctuary for himself and surrounded it with statues of various gods and ancestors.
After watching the sunrise from one of the best summits in the world, head back to your hotel. After lunch, your tour leader will take you for another tour around Adiyaman.
First you'll visit the Karakus Tumulus, a monumental tomb that King Mithridates II of the Commagene civilization built for his mother. A handful of colossal columns mark the burial place; the Romans dismantled it with limestone blocks used to construct the nearby Cendere Bridge. Then, for dinner, sit down for a culinary feast hosted by a local family.
Adiyaman - Mardin
Day 6: Mardin & the ancient city of Dara
Today, you'll travel four hours southeast to Mardin. Arrive at your hotel and drop your bags, then your tour guide will take you for a visit of Mardin and nearby municipality, Midyat.
Visit the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, residence of the Metropolitan of Mardin. For 630 years, prayers echoed in the language of Jesus on the walls of this ancient monastery.
Next you'll tour the ancient city of Dara, visiting the dungeon, necropolis, cisterns, agora, bridge, and ramparts. Did you know that Dara is a silent witness from the time of Alexander The Great in southeast Anatolia?
After lunch, visit the Deyrulumur Monastery (Mor Gabriel), which has a history of 1,600 years. In the evening, head to a winery to try some locally-produced wine, then enjoy dinner at one of the restaurants in Midyat.
Adiyaman - Istanbul
Day 7: Return to Istanbul
Today, enjoy breakfast at your hotel and relax before heading to the airport to fly back to Istanbul. Upon arrival at your hotel in the city, choose to relax or explore the area at your own pace. It's your last full day in Turkey, so make the most of it!
Istanbul
Day 8: Farewell, Istanbul!
This morning, enjoy one last breakfast before departing to Istanbul Airport to catch your flight home or continue your travels. Farewell and visit again soon!
