Eastern Turkey Tour: 9 Days from Nemrut to Gobeklitepe & Sumela

In the morning we collect you from your hotel in Istanbul or Izmir and take you to the airport for your flight to Adiyaman. The tour starts as soon as you land at Adiyaman airport.

On the way to Mount Nemrut we stop at the Karakus Tumulusu (Black Bird Burial Mound), the Roman Bridge at Cendere, the old castle of Arsemia and the new castle at Kahta.

Then we drive up to the summit of Mount Nemrut. Before sunset you explore this UNESCO World Heritage site: the tomb of the famous king Antiochus, ringed by dozens of statues, and reliefs that show the oldest known images of people shaking hands. We stay on the summit to watch the sun go down.

After dark, we drive back to Kahta and check in to the hotel.

After breakfast we set off for Sanliurfa.

• Gobekli Tepe: our first stop is the active excavation at Gobekli Tepe, the oldest known temple in the world, built 6000 years before Stonehenge. A guided tour is followed by time for photos.
• Abraham Pool: a deeply sacred place for Christians and Muslims. Tradition says Abraham (Ibrahim) was thrown into a fire here, and God turned the fire into water and the burning logs into fish.
• Birthplace of Abraham: from the pool we go on to the cave believed to be where Abraham was born.

In the evening you check in to your hotel in Sanliurfa.

After breakfast we drive to Mardin, a striking town built on the slope of a hill.

Here you can sit with a cup of coffee and look out over the Mesopotamian Plain, walk the stone-paved streets and feel the town's mystical mood, and see its historic buildings, madrasas, churches and mosques.

Tonight you stay in a hotel built from specially cut stone, so the character of the town continues indoors. In the evening you can browse the local shops and try the famous kebabs.

After breakfast we drive to Midyat, where modest doorways open onto large courtyards framed by finely carved walls, windows and niches.

We then follow the ancient Tigris River as far as the historic Malabadi Bridge, stopping at Hasankeyf on the way.

We reach Ahlat before sunset to see the largest Seljuk tomb in the area; its giant gravestones are a highlight not to miss.

Finally we arrive in Tatvan, a small town on the shore of Lake Van, where we spend the night.

Van is known around the world for its unusual cats, but its history goes back as far as 5,000 BC. Urartian, Armenian, Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman rulers all shaped the city, and their traces are everywhere, from the Urartian Van Fortress to the Armenian Holy Cross Cathedral.

Van also sits beside the largest body of water in Turkey. After a drive of about 2 hours to Van, you take a boat across the lake to Akdamar Island to visit the Holy Cross Cathedral. Built by Armenians in the 10th century, it has faded but impressive frescoes inside, and its outer walls are carved with dramatic scenes from the Bible.

Later, use your free time to walk around town, see the curious Lake Monster statue and perhaps spot a Van cat.

Overnight in Van.

After breakfast the journey continues to Ishak Paşa Sarayı, the Ishak Pasha Palace.

Set on a hill above the historic town of Doğubeyazıt, the palace is a fine example of Ottoman architecture. It was built in the 17th century for Ishak Pasha, a powerful Ottoman governor, and mixes Ottoman, Persian and Seljuk styles with remarkable craftsmanship.

Highlights of the palace:

• The Harem: the private quarters of Ishak Pasha's family, with detailed tilework, decorated fireplaces and private gardens.
• The Mosque: an ornate minaret and a quiet courtyard that show the religious life of the people who lived here.
• The Divan Hall: the grand hall for official meetings and gatherings, known for its acoustics and fine details.
• The Treasury: now a museum, displaying artefacts and relics from the Ottoman era.

Walking through the palace takes you back to a time of wealth, art and power. Its blend of styles and its long history make it a key stop for anyone interested in the Ottoman Empire.

Overnight in Kars.

The day begins at Ani, the ruined capital of the medieval Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. The kingdom's capital was first in Kars, but in the 10th century King Ashot III moved it here to be nearer the main trade routes.

Ani stands on a headland above the valley of the Arpa Cayi River, surrounded by rolling steppe and right on the border with Armenia. This atmospheric ghost town of crumbling ruins is one of the most romantic sights in Turkey.

After exploring the site, including the church of Christ the Redeemer, which has split neatly in two, we drive to Karagol, a lake tucked away in nature, for a late lunch. In the afternoon we continue to Artvin for the night.

There is an old saying about all the tea in China, yet it is Turkey that drinks more tea than any other nation in the world.

Today's trip to Rize, the country's tea capital, shows you why. We travel east along the coast past green tea plantations and taste the local brew in Rize.

Then we turn inland to the foot of the Kackar Mountains, where rolling fields meet rugged peaks topped with frost. In the late afternoon you hike through alpine meadows, past a medieval castle and old stone bridges, before we settle for the night in the village of Camlihemsin.

We set out for the still mysterious Sumela Monastery through the Altındere Valley until we reach the Black Mountain, where the monastery stands. From the edge of the road you can take photos with Sumela in view, and then we leave the vehicle.

A 15-minute walk brings us to the monastery. After a break, we return to our seats and drive on to Zigana, where an hour's stop in the pine forest gives you time for lunch at the restaurants, photos and the clean mountain air.

Next is Karaca Cave. Be prepared for a lower temperature inside; the views are excellent.

On the way back we stop at a factory showroom where you can buy the famous dried fruit pulps. Our third stop is the Torul Glass Terrace, where the height gives you a real rush of adrenaline. Last of all we visit the village of Hamsiköy, known for the best Sutlaç (rice pudding), its natural scenery and its fresh air.

After the tour, we take you to Trabzon airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

Optional extras

• Cappadocia hot air balloon (Göreme): $310
• One extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
• Upgrade to a private tour: $450