South-Eastern Turkey Tour

After breakfast, we begin our day with Istanbul sightseeing tour with a trip to the Old City of Sultanahmet starting with Topkapi Palace. Afterwards, we walk around the Hippodrome area where chariot races were held during the Roman period. Then it’s time for lunch at a Turkish restaurant. Next, we visit the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. Finally, we visit The Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

Start the day at the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar, followed by a Bosphorus cruise showcasing historical sites. Overnight in Istanbul.

After the hotel check-out, we are transferred to the airport in Istanbul for our flight to Mardin. Upon arrival, we are transferred to the hotel for check-in. We visit Deyr ul-Zafaran Monastery, an important Syriac Orthodox monastery, founded in 493 AD. We end the day with a drive back to the hotel for an overnight stay in Mardin.

After the hotel check-out, our tour of Turkey continues with a drive to the city of Sanliurfa, also known as Urfa. Along the way, we make a stop in Birecik town famous for the nearly extinct Northern Bald Ibis birds. In Urfa, we visit a covered bazaar for some shopping. And after lunch, we visit a cave known to be the birthplace of the prophet Abraham. Finally, we visit the ancient city of Harran, famous for its traditional ‘beehive’ adobe houses, before being transferred to the hotel in Urfa for an overnight stay.

We continue our tour with a drive to Kahta, a small town located about 40 kilometers/20 miles away from Mount Nemrut. This mountain is famous for its summit where a number of large statues are erected around what is assumed to be a royal tomb from the 1st century BC. After the tour, we are transferred to our hotel in Kahta for an overnight stay.

After the hotel check-out, the tour continues with a memorable drive down the mountain and through small villages to the Cappadocia region. Along the way, we make stops to see The Severan Bridge, Karakus, and the huge Ataturk Dam. We make a stop in Kahramanmaras, a city famous for its ice-cream. The day ends with a transfer to our hotel in Cappadocia.

On the 8th day of the tour, we explore the unique landscape of Cappadocia. The day starts with a visit to Devrent Valley to see the fairy chimneys and rock formations. We then move on to the Zelve Open Air Museum to enjoy the rocky scenery and glimpse into the troglodytic lifestyle. After lunch in Avanos, we visit the Goreme Open Air Museum to see the rock-cut churches and well-preserved wall paintings. Finally, we head to Uchisar, the tallest point in the region, to enjoy the panoramic views and visit the natural rock citadel.

The 9th day is a free day to explore Cappadocia at your leisure. Choose from one of these exciting excursions:

1. Hot air balloon ride: Cappadocia is one of the best places to experience a hot air balloon ride, where you can take in the unique moon-like formations from above.
2. Horseback riding: Explore the valleys of the “Land of Beautiful Horses” by horseback riding and sightseeing.

ATV tour: Explore the off-beaten paths of Cappadocia by taking an ATV tour.

On the last day of the tour, after checking out of the hotel, we provide a transfer to Kayseri or Nevşehir Airport for your flight to Istanbul. Overnight stay in Istanbul.

Hotel checkout and transfer to Istanbul airport for departure flight.