Day 01
Arrival Day
- Welcome to Istanbul.
- Arrival day.
- joining the old city located hotel.
- Free afternoon to explore Istanbul's old city on your own leisure.
- Overnight, Istanbul
Turkey · Archaeology
17 Days, East & West Turkey Private Tour From Istanbul
The journey
Trip highlights
- 01 Travel across Turkey from Istanbul through the east, Mediterranean coast, Aegean, and Gallipoli
- 02 Visit major archaeological and UNESCO sites including Ani, Göbekli Tepe, Mount Nemrut, Pamukkale, and Ephesus
- 03 Take a boat trip on Lake Van to Akdamar Island and the Holy Cross Church
- 04 Explore Cappadocia’s underground city, open-air museum, Çavuşin Castle, and Göreme
- 05 See the Mevlâna Museum in Konya and the old towns of Mardin, Antalya, and Kaş
- 06 Discover Priene, Miletus, Didyma, Pergamon, Troy, and the Gallipoli battlefields
- 07 Enjoy private transport with driver, professional guiding, domestic flights, and airport transfers
Discover Turkey from east to west on a 17-day private journey that combines iconic landmarks with lesser-visited cultural and archaeological treasures. Beginning in Istanbul and heading into eastern Turkey, the tour explores Kars, Ani, Mount Ararat, Lake Van, Mardin, Göbekli Tepe, Şanlıurfa, and Mount Nemrut before continuing through Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Kaş, Pamukkale, Ephesus, Pergamon, Troy, and Gallipoli.
Along the way, enjoy a rich mix of ancient ruins, UNESCO World Heritage sites, dramatic landscapes, spiritual heritage, coastal scenery, and historic cities. With private transport, guiding, domestic flights, airport transfers, and accommodation with breakfast included, this itinerary offers a comprehensive way to experience the depth and diversity of Turkey.
Discover Turkey from east to west on a 17-day private journey that combines iconic landmarks with lesser-visited cultural and archaeological treasures.
From the itinerary
At a glance
What this trip includes
Duration
17 Days
Tour type
Private
Activity level
Easy
Accommodation
Included
Transport
Included
Wheelchair access
Not applicable
Cities
Adiyaman, Dogubeyazit, Antalya, Canakkale, Istanbul, Kars, Konya, Mardin, Cappadocia, Van, Mount Ararat, Gallipoli (Battlefield), Ephesus, Troy, Pergamon, Pamukkale, Şanlıurfa, Priene, Kaş, Mount Nemrut, Ani
Languages
English
Day by day
The itinerary
Day 02
Ani Ruins
- Early airport transfer from your hotel and flight from Istanbul to Kars, a city dotted with Russian, Ottoman, and Selcuk monuments.
- After meeting with your guide at the Kars airport, drive a short distance to visit the ruins, the medieval capital of Armenia.
- Overnight, Kars
Day 03
Mt. Ararat & Ishak Pasha Palace
- Enjoy 6 hours scenic drive around Mt. Ararat from Kars to city Van through Dogubayazıt.
- On the way, visit of Ishak Pasha Palace, a rare example of a mixture of Ottoman and Middle-Eastern architectural styles in the border town of doğubayazıt.
- Overnight, Van
Day 04
Akdamar Armenian Church.
- Take a scenic boat trip out onto Lake Van
- Visit Akdamar Island and its 10th-century Armenian Holy Cross Church before starting another 6 hours scenic drive to Mardin, around the lake.
- Upon arrival, take an afternoon walk at the streets of old city, Mardin.
- Overnight, Mardin
Day 05
Dara Ruins & Dayrulzaferan Monastery
- Morning Visit of Dayrulzaferan Monastery and Dara ruins.
- Vine tasting at the monastry.
- Explore the old town of Mardin, known for its intricate and fascinating limestone architecture.
- Overnight, Mardin
Day 06
Gobeklitepe
- 3Hrs drive to Göbekli Tepe, located in southeastern Turkey, is an archaeological site dating back to the 10th millennium BCE. Considered the world's oldest temple, it features massive carved stones and pillars arranged in circular and rectangular formations, signifying early human religious practices and social organization long before settled civilization.
- Hotel Check in.
- Free Afternoon to explore Abraham's cave, Local Markets & Cusine.
- Overnight, Şanlıurfa
Day 07
Mt. Nemrut
- 4 hours drive to Mt. Nemrut, a high mountain in southeastern Turkey, is famed for its summit where a tomb-sanctuary complex built by King Antiochus I of Commagene in the 1st century BCE lies. This UNESCO World Heritage site is renowned for its colossal statues of gods and animals, showcasing a blend of Greco-Persian culture.
- Sun set at the top of Mt. Nemrut.
- Visit of Cendere bridge & Karakus tumulus on the way to mountain.
- Overnight Adıyaman.
Day 08
Cappadoccia
- Drive to Cappadocia.
- Hotel Check İn.
- Afternoon panorama tour of cappadocia region.
- Overnight, Ürgüp
Day 09
Cappadocia
- Full Day Cappadocia region tour.
- Things to see : Underground city, Open air museum, Çavuşin castle, Göreme town.
- Overnight, Ürgüp
Day 10
Rumi museum & Antalya
- 7Hrs scynıc drive to Antalya through Taurus mountain chain.
- Mevlana Museum visit on the way.
- Hotel Check İn.
- Guided night walking at the old city, Antalya
- Overnight, Antalya
Day 11
Kaş
- 4 hours scenic drive to coastal town Kaş.
- Hotel check in
- Free afternoon to explore Kaş by walking.
- Overnight, Kaş
Day 12
Pamukkale white cliffs & Hierapolis.
- 4hrs Drive to Pamukkale
- Hotel Check İn.
- Hierapolis & White cliffs afternoon tour
- Overnight, Pamukkale
Day 13
Ephesus & Temple of Artemis
- 3Hrs drive to town selçuk
- Hotel check in
- Ephesus, Temple of Artemis and st.John basilica afternoon visit
- Overnight, Selçuk
Day 14
Priene, Miletus and Didyma
- Full day Priene, Miletus and Didyma ( Temple of Apollon) tour
- Overnight, Selçuk
Day 15
Troy & Pergamon.
- 4Hrs drive to Çanakkale
- Guided tour of Pergamon & Troy on the way.
- Overnight by the historical army checkpoint of the continents, Dardanelles.
- Overnight, Çanakkale
Day 16
Istanbul
- Guided tour of Gallipoli, war cemeteries.
- 5Hrs drive to Istanbul
- Overnight Istanbul old city.
Day 17
Departure Day
- Tour ends at the Istanbul old city hotel after breakfast.
The route
Where you'll travel
The fine print
Trip details
What's Included
- Breakfast
- Double Share accommodation
- Professional Guiding
- Private Ac. car / van with driver
- Domestic flights
- Airport Transfers
- Taxes, Gas & Parkings
What's Not Included
- Lunches and Dinners
- Admission fees
- Tips
Logistics
Meeting & route
Meeting point
İstanbul, TR
Tour start
İstanbul, TR
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey
Your 17 days finish where they began, in İstanbul.
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