Legendary trade routes, magnificent landscapes and magnificent buildings have lost none of their fascination here. Thousands of years old cultures and unforgettable hospitality invite you to an eventful journey.
Legendary trade routes, magnificent landscapes and magnificent buildings have lost none of their fascination here. Thousands of years old cultures and unforgettable hospitality invite you to an eventful journey.
In Eastern Anatolia, a bus ride can never be boring. The landscapes are untouched and diverse. Sometimes you are in the Swiss Alps and after an hour you are driving on the Asian plateaus without vegetation. Moreover, the sights are either spectacular or unique or both. You feel the genuine hospitality from the locals who have never or rarely seen strangers from distant lands. It is a journey that always leaves lasting impressions on the travelers.
Flight to Sivas via Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.Two nights in Sivas.
The Great Mosque of Divrigi Divrigi(UNESCO World Heritage Site) is worth a visit. It was donated by a regional prince in the 13th century and stands out with its very finely decorated three portals. In the late afternoon we will visit Gökmedrese in Sivas, a 13th century college. 350 km.
We continue our sightseeing in Sivas. Cifte Minareli Medrese from the 13th century and the Great Mosque from the 12th century are further important buildings from the Seljuk period. During a short stay in the city center of Tokat we see the beautiful fortress and have a tea break in Tas Han, a caravanserai from the Ottoman period. We continue to Amasya. Overnight stay in Amasya. 220 km
The city center of Amasya, located in the valley of Yesilirmak River, is charming. On one side of the valley, on the steep rock walls, the Hellenistic rock tombs from the 3rd century B.C. have been carved. On both sides of the river there are buildings that testify the splendor of the city in the Ottoman period. We will visit the mosque complex of Sultan Beyazid II from the 15th century and a college from the Ilhanid period in the 14th century. Afterwards we will pass by the well-preserved Ottoman half-timbered houses. Continue to Ünye for overnight stay. 215 km
Ünyeis a picturesquely situated town on the Black Sea coast. Today we continue our journey towards Trabzon. This road is more often called the hazelnut road, as much of the hazelnut production comes from here. From Trabzon we drive south and reach Sumela Monastery, which is stuck like a beehive on a rock face of the Pontic Mountains. We drive back to Trabzon for overnight stay. 340 km
The core of Trabzon is the citadel city, whose fortification walls are only partially preserved. We visit the Hagia Sophia Church, which is decorated with frescoes. After that we continue eastward. On the way we make a detour for the 14th century Zilkale Fortress. Until Yusufeli, magnificent views from Kackar Mountains to Yusufeli await us. Overnight in a simple hotel in Yusufeli. 380 km
In the surroundings of Yusufeli you can feel the Georgian influence. Here we will visit the Georgian churches Dörtkilise and Ishan in a picturesque location. Continuation to Kars for overnight stay. Late afternoon there is a possibility to discover the beautiful city center of Kars. 210 km.
Early in the morning we drive to the Armenian border along the Arpacay River. Here we visit the city of Ani, which gives an impressive impression with its city walls, churches, cathedrals. We continue our journey towards the south and we are rewarded with the image of Mount Ararat, where according to the Bible Noah’s Ark landed. We continue towards Dogubeyazit , where we will visit striking Ishak Pasha Palace from the 18th century. Continue to Van for overnight stay. 350 km
Tusba or Old Van was the residence of the Urartian kings. Here we visit the remarkable burial chambers, which were carved with great effort into the hard limestone. Then we go to Lake Van and take a boat to Insel Akdamar. Here we visit the Holy Cross Church from the 10th century, which is especially worth seeing because of its reliefs on the outer walls. Afterwards we drive back to our hotel. 10 km
Today we have a long ride to Tur Abdin “Mountain of God’s Servants”, where the Syrian Orthodox Church had its influence area. On the way we will stop at Malabadi Bridge from the 12th century. Two nights in Mardin. 450 km
We discover the old town of Mardin on foot. Old stone houses showing the best examples of Turkish stonemasonry, narrow streets where only bicycles can be ridden and craftsmen in their small parlors embellish our walk. We visit the Great Mosque, the two former colleges Kasimiye Medrese and Zinciriye Medrese from the 14th-15th centuries. In the afternoon we visit the Byzantine town of Darafrom the 6th century. According to legend, the Persian Great King Darius III fell here during the war against Alexander the Great. 70 km
Near Mardin there is the Syrian Orthodox monastery Deyrulzafaran. The monastery was founded in the 5th century and underwent many restorations until today. After visiting the monastery we continue to Diyarbakir. In the afternoon we will visit the important buildings in the old city of Diyarbakir. Ulu Camii Mosque was built by rebuilding a church in the 7th century when the Arabs conquered the city. Tigris Bridge from 11th c. and Hasan Pasha Han from 16th c. are our destinations. The whole old city is surrounded by strong defensive walls (about 6 km), which are in excellent condition. 100 km
Malatya is the capital of apricot cultivation in Turkey. We visit Aslantepe excavations(UNESCO World Heritage Site), which uncovered a fortified settlement from the 3rd millennium BC. Afterwards we visit the Malatya Archaeological Museum with many important finds from Aslantepe excavations. 240 km
Transfer to Malatya airport and return flight.
Flight to Sivas via Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.Two nights in Sivas.
The Great Mosque of Divrigi Divrigi(UNESCO World Heritage Site) is worth a visit. It was donated by a regional prince in the 13th century and stands out with its very finely decorated three portals. In the late afternoon we will visit Gökmedrese in Sivas, a 13th century college. 350 km.
We continue our sightseeing in Sivas. Cifte Minareli Medrese from the 13th century and the Great Mosque from the 12th century are further important buildings from the Seljuk period. During a short stay in the city center of Tokat we see the beautiful fortress and have a tea break in Tas Han, a caravanserai from the Ottoman period. We continue to Amasya. Overnight stay in Amasya. 220 km
The city center of Amasya, located in the valley of Yesilirmak River, is charming. On one side of the valley, on the steep rock walls, the Hellenistic rock tombs from the 3rd century B.C. have been carved. On both sides of the river there are buildings that testify the splendor of the city in the Ottoman period. We will visit the mosque complex of Sultan Beyazid II from the 15th century and a college from the Ilhanid period in the 14th century. Afterwards we will pass by the well-preserved Ottoman half-timbered houses. Continue to Ünye for overnight stay. 215 km
Ünyeis a picturesquely situated town on the Black Sea coast. Today we continue our journey towards Trabzon. This road is more often called the hazelnut road, as much of the hazelnut production comes from here. From Trabzon we drive south and reach Sumela Monastery, which is stuck like a beehive on a rock face of the Pontic Mountains. We drive back to Trabzon for overnight stay. 340 km
The core of Trabzon is the citadel city, whose fortification walls are only partially preserved. We visit the Hagia Sophia Church, which is decorated with frescoes. After that we continue eastward. On the way we make a detour for the 14th century Zilkale Fortress. Until Yusufeli, magnificent views from Kackar Mountains to Yusufeli await us. Overnight in a simple hotel in Yusufeli. 380 km
In the surroundings of Yusufeli you can feel the Georgian influence. Here we will visit the Georgian churches Dörtkilise and Ishan in a picturesque location. Continuation to Kars for overnight stay. Late afternoon there is a possibility to discover the beautiful city center of Kars. 210 km.
Early in the morning we drive to the Armenian border along the Arpacay River. Here we visit the city of Ani, which gives an impressive impression with its city walls, churches, cathedrals. We continue our journey towards the south and we are rewarded with the image of Mount Ararat, where according to the Bible Noah’s Ark landed. We continue towards Dogubeyazit , where we will visit striking Ishak Pasha Palace from the 18th century. Continue to Van for overnight stay. 350 km
Tusba or Old Van was the residence of the Urartian kings. Here we visit the remarkable burial chambers, which were carved with great effort into the hard limestone. Then we go to Lake Van and take a boat to Insel Akdamar. Here we visit the Holy Cross Church from the 10th century, which is especially worth seeing because of its reliefs on the outer walls. Afterwards we drive back to our hotel. 10 km
Today we have a long ride to Tur Abdin “Mountain of God’s Servants”, where the Syrian Orthodox Church had its influence area. On the way we will stop at Malabadi Bridge from the 12th century. Two nights in Mardin. 450 km
We discover the old town of Mardin on foot. Old stone houses showing the best examples of Turkish stonemasonry, narrow streets where only bicycles can be ridden and craftsmen in their small parlors embellish our walk. We visit the Great Mosque, the two former colleges Kasimiye Medrese and Zinciriye Medrese from the 14th-15th centuries. In the afternoon we visit the Byzantine town of Darafrom the 6th century. According to legend, the Persian Great King Darius III fell here during the war against Alexander the Great. 70 km
Near Mardin there is the Syrian Orthodox monastery Deyrulzafaran. The monastery was founded in the 5th century and underwent many restorations until today. After visiting the monastery we continue to Diyarbakir. In the afternoon we will visit the important buildings in the old city of Diyarbakir. Ulu Camii Mosque was built by rebuilding a church in the 7th century when the Arabs conquered the city. Tigris Bridge from 11th c. and Hasan Pasha Han from 16th c. are our destinations. The whole old city is surrounded by strong defensive walls (about 6 km), which are in excellent condition. 100 km
Malatya is the capital of apricot cultivation in Turkey. We visit Aslantepe excavations(UNESCO World Heritage Site), which uncovered a fortified settlement from the 3rd millennium BC. Afterwards we visit the Malatya Archaeological Museum with many important finds from Aslantepe excavations. 240 km
Transfer to Malatya airport and return flight.
Sivas and the surrounding area:
The Great Mosque of Divrigi, Gökmedrese, Cifte Minareli Medrese, the Great Mosque, Tas Han in Tokat.
Amasya:
Hellenistic rock tombs, mosque complex of Sultan Beyazid II, Ottoman wooden houses.
Trabzon and the surrounding area:
Hazelnut Street, Sumela Monastery, Hagia Sophia Church, Zilkale
Kars and its surroundings:
Georgian churches Dörtkilise and Ishan, Ani, Mount Ararat, Ishak Pasha Palace in Dogubeyazit
Van and the surrounding area:
Tusba or Old Van, Akdamar Island with the Holy Cross Church, Malabadi Bridge.
Mardin:
The Great Mosque, the two former colleges Kasimiye Medrese and Zinciriye Medrese, the Byzantine city of Dara, Deyrulzafaran Monastery.
Diyarbakir:
Ulu Camii Mosque,Tigris Bridge, Hasan Pasha Han, fortified walls.
Malatya:
Aslantepe excavations (UNESCO world heritage site), Malatya archaeological museum.
Legendary sites, grandiose landscapes, magnificent buildings and ancient trade routes have lost none of their charm here. Thousands of years old civilizations and an enchanting hospitality invite you to an exciting journey.
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