Ottoman Heritage Tour of Turkey: 14 Days from Van to Istanbul
Overview
Ottoman Heritage Tour of Turkey: 14 Days from Van to Istanbul
This 14-day, 13-night journey follows the story of the Seljuks and the Ottomans across Turkey, from the far east of the country to Istanbul. It begins with a direct flight to Van and a traditional breakfast by the lake, then crosses the battlefields of Malazgirt and Caldiran on the way to Ishakpasa Palace and Erzurum.
Over the following days you visit Seljuk tombs, madrasahs and caravanserais in Erzincan, Sivas and Kayseri, including the birthplace of the great architect Sinan, before two days among the valleys of Cappadocia. In Konya you see the Mevlana Rumi Museum, then fly to Istanbul for two days of imperial mosques, bazaars and palaces. A trip to Iznik, Sogut, Bilecik and Bursa follows, and the tour ends with a free day, an Ottoman cooking class and a Bosphorus cruise.
A professional private guide travels with you for the whole journey in an air-conditioned private vehicle. The price covers 13 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels with breakfast (13 in total), round-trip transfers, the domestic flights in the itinerary and admission fees. International flights to Istanbul are not included.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Van, Ahlat, Malazgirt & Ishakpasa Palace to Erzurum
You take a direct flight to Van airport, where we meet you in the arrivals hall and drive to the lakeside for a traditional Van breakfast. The city is well known for its huge, varied breakfast spread.
After the meal, the road takes us to these sites:
- Ahlat Seljuk Tombs, the area where Ertugrul Gazi was born
- the battle field of Malazgirt
- the battle field of Caldiran
- Ishakpasa Palace
A late lunch or early dinner is planned on the road near Erzurum. Overnight in Erzurum.
Day 2 – Seljuk Tombs, Madrasah & Mama Hatun to Sivas
After breakfast we check out, ideally at 10:00 AM, and carry on exploring the legacy of the Seljuks and Ottomans in the Erzincan region.
Today's visits:
- the Triple Tombs of Seljuk
- the double minaret madrasah, built in the Seljuk era
- Mama Hatun Caravanserail
Overnight in Sivas.
Day 3 – Sivas Madrasahs & Sultan Khan to Kayseri
We check out after breakfast, at about 10:00 AM, and spend the day in Sivas. All three main sights date from the Seljuk era:
- Gok (Sky) Madrasah
- Buruciye Madresah, a second Seljuk school
- Sultan Khan Caravanserail, on the old trade road
Overnight in Kayseri.
Day 4 – Kayseri: Hunat Hatun & Birthplace of Sinan
Check-out is at about 10:00 AM, after breakfast. In Kayseri you visit:
- the Hunat Hatun Complex, with its madrasah, tomb and mosque from the Seljuk era
- the house where the Great Sinan was born
- the Castle of Kayseri
- the Great Mosque of Kayseri
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 5 – Cappadocia: Zelve, Pasabag & Love Valley
If you wish, the day can start with an optional hot air balloon flight over the rock landscapes of Cappadocia at dawn.
The guided tour normally begins around 09:00 and ends by 16:00 at the latest.
- Goreme Esentepe panoramic view: a viewpoint between Uçhisar and Göreme, with fairy chimneys and the small town of Esentepe below.
- Zelve Open-Air Museum: once a monastic community and a centre of Christian learning, with monasteries, churches and chapels whose frescoes have lasted well.
- Pasabag (Monks Valley): Paşabağ, or “Pasha's Vineyard”, is known for its three-headed fairy chimneys and some of the most striking rocks in the region.
- Devrent Valley: small pointed chimneys give it a moon-like feel, and many rocks look like animals or mythical creatures.
- Avanos Pottery Workshop: Avanos has made pottery from Red River clay since 3000 BC, and you watch local potters at work in a traditional workshop.
- Love Valley: millions of years of erosion have shaped cone-shaped pillars, pinnacles and fairy chimneys up to 40 meters high here, one of the most photogenic spots in Cappadocia.
Back at your Cave Hotel for the night, with breakfast included.
Day 6 – Cappadocia Valleys & Drive to Konya
After breakfast we check out and set off for Konya, stopping first at the remaining sights of Cappadocia.
Touring usually runs from around 09:00 to 16:00 at the latest.
- Meskendir Valley (4.4 km trek): a 4.4 km walk near Ortahisar to Meskendir Church, known for its red geometric decoration and the large cross carved into the chapel ceiling. You can step inside and enjoy the valley.
- Rose Valley: behind Ürgüp, a quiet valley with churches cut into the rock and paths through vineyards and gardens. Locals sometimes offer fresh grapes, apples or apricots.
- Red Valley: similar in style, with striking rocks and old cave churches, and trails that link remote villages and farmland like a spider's web.
- Cavusin Valley: Çavuşin, one of the oldest settlements in Cappadocia, is a maze of rock-cut homes and the site of the Church of John the Baptist, the largest cave church in the region, from the 5th century.
- Underground City: one of 36 underground cities dug by early Christians fleeing persecution. You visit the largest and best known, with eight levels, and see parts such as wineries, kitchens and living areas.
- Pigeon Valley: near Göreme, named after the dovecotes cut into its cliffs over the centuries, whose droppings farmers once used as fertiliser. It is now a fine viewpoint for photos.
- Uchisar Castle Panorama: Uçhisar is the highest point in Cappadocia. Its rock castle was once a fortress, and the view from the top reaches Erciyes Mountain.
Overnight in Konya.
Day 7 – Konya & Flight to Istanbul
After breakfast we check out and tour the main sights of Konya. In the afternoon a direct flight takes us to Istanbul.
Visits in Konya:
- the Mevlana Rumi Museum
- the Ince (Thin) Minaret Madrasah
- the Sahip Ata Tomb and its complex of buildings
- the Aziziye Mosque
- the Sircali Madrasah, now a tomb museum
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 8 – Istanbul: Ottoman Mosques & Bazaars
After breakfast the day is devoted to the Ottoman legacy of Istanbul. We begin at the Blue Mosque and then reach Hagia Sophia, the mosque and museum, which you can enter as an optional visit.
Next come three great mosques in turn, the Suleymaniye, the Nuruosmaniye and the Semsi Ahmed Pasha, followed by the Fatih Mosque. The day ends among the stalls of the Spice Market and then the Grand Bazaar.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 9 – Istanbul: Ottoman Palaces, Bebek & Rumeli Hisari
After breakfast we turn to the palaces and monuments of the Ottoman court.
- the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts
- Topkapi Palace, as an optional visit
- Dolmabahce Palace, also optional
- the Mecidiye Mosque
- a walk through the Bebek district
- the Rumeli Hisari Fortress on the Bosphorus shore
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 10 – Iznik, Sogut & Bilecik to Bursa
An early start: we check out, ideally at 07:00, and drive to the triangle formed by Iznik, Bilecik and Bursa.
Today's sights:
- the Green Mosque of Iznik
- Iznik Hagia Sophia, known as the Orhan Mosque
- the town of Sogut
- the Old Castle of Bilecik
- the Ertugrul Gazi Tomb
Overnight in Bursa.
Day 11 – Bursa: Ulu Mosque, Green Tomb & Cumalikizik
After breakfast we check out and explore the Ottoman heritage of Bursa.
- the Ulu Mosque
- the Green Tomb and the Green Mosque
- the village of Cumalikizik
- the Irgandı Bridge
- the Koza Han
- the Hunkar Kosk
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 12 – Free Day in Istanbul
After so many days on the road, today is free for you to rest or explore as you like.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 13 – Istanbul Ottoman Cooking Class & Bosphorus Cruise
After breakfast you are taken to a cooking class to learn how Turkish and Ottoman dishes are made.
Once the three-hour course is over, you board a Bosphorus cruise for a panoramic view of Istanbul from the water.
Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 14 – Departure Transfer & Farewell
Transfer to the airport for your flight home, and farewell to Turkey.
Important Notes
Optional add-ons
- Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (GOREME): $310
- Extra night at an Istanbul hotel, before or after the tour: $65
- Upgrade to a private tour: $700
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Breakfast x 13
- ✓13 nights accommodation 4 or 5 Stars
- ✓Professional private guide for the entire journey
- ✓Round-trip transfers
- ✓Air-conditioned private vehicle
- ✓Domestic Flight Fares in the itinerary
- ✓Admission Fees
- ✕International flights to Istanbul
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Travel guides
The Ottoman Heritage Tour, 14 days from Van to Istanbul: the key facts
This is a history tour about the Seljuk and Ottoman past rather than a beach-and-highlights trip. It starts with a flight to Van in the far east. From there you cross Anatolia by road through Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas, Kayseri, Cappadocia and Konya. You visit battlefields, Seljuk tombs, madrasahs and caravanserais on the way. Then you fly to Istanbul for the imperial mosques and palaces, make a two-day trip to Iznik, Söğüt, Bilecik and Bursa, and finish with a free day, a cooking class and a Bosphorus cruise.
It suits travellers who already know the main sights or who travel mainly for Islamic and Ottoman history and architecture. The price is from $4,880 per person. A private upgrade is listed at $700.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 14 days / 13 nights |
| Route | Van – Ahlat – Malazgirt – Çaldıran – Ishak Pasha Palace – Erzurum – Erzincan – Sivas – Kayseri – Cappadocia – Konya – Istanbul – Iznik – Söğüt – Bilecik – Bursa – Istanbul |
| Style | Listed as a group tour, with a private guide and vehicle (see below) |
| Start / end | Van Airport arrivals hall / airport transfer in Istanbul on Day 14 |
| Included | 13 nights in 4 or 5-star hotels, 13 breakfasts, private guide for the whole trip, round-trip transfers, air-conditioned private vehicle, domestic flights in the itinerary, admission fees |
| Extra | International flights to Istanbul, balloon flight ($310), extra Istanbul night ($65) |
Is this a group tour or a private tour?
Ask us to confirm this in writing. The tour info box says "Group Tour", and a "private tour upgrade" is offered at $700. But the inclusions list a "professional private guide for the entire journey" and an "air-conditioned private vehicle", and the overview says the guide travels with you in a private vehicle. The page does not make clear which one applies at the base price. Before you pay, ask whether $4,880 gets you a private guide and car, or a shared group with a private option at $700 extra.
How do we get to Van, and is that flight included?
Day 1 begins with "a direct flight to Van airport", where we meet you in the arrivals hall and take you to breakfast by the lake. The page does not say where the flight leaves from. International flights to Istanbul are excluded, so most guests will need to reach Istanbul first. The 13 nights start in Erzurum on Day 1, so a night in Istanbul before the flight is not included. Ask us whether the flight to Van counts among the domestic flights in the price. Ask too whether you should add a night before it, at $65.
How long is the first day?
Day 1 is long. After the Van breakfast you visit the Seljuk tombs at Ahlat, the Malazgirt battlefield, the Çaldıran battlefield and Ishak Pasha Palace, with a late lunch or early dinner on the road near Erzurum, where you spend the night. The page gives no times or distances for this day. Ask for the timetable. Days 2 to 4 start later, with check-out at about 10:00, and bring you through Erzincan, Sivas and Kayseri. Our Eastern Turkey guide explains the region.
Which meals and tickets are covered?
The price includes 13 breakfasts. The exclusions list only international flights, so the page does not say who pays for lunches, dinners and the meal after the Day 13 cooking class. The inclusions say "admission fees" with no exception. However, Hagia Sophia on Day 8 and Topkapi Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace on Day 9 are marked optional. Ask us for a written list of which tickets are in the price and which meals you pay yourself.
What do we see in Istanbul and Bursa?
Day 8 covers the mosques: the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye, Nuruosmaniye, Şemsi Ahmed Pasha and Fatih, then the Spice Market and the Grand Bazaar. Day 9 covers the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts, the palaces, the Mecidiye Mosque, Bebek and Rumeli Hisarı. Day 10 starts at 07:00 for Iznik, Söğüt and Bilecik, and you spend the night in Bursa. On Day 11 you see the Ulu Mosque, the Green Tomb and Green Mosque, Cumalıkızık and the Koza Han, then return to Istanbul.
Is the balloon possible in Cappadocia?
Yes. The balloon is an extra at $310 per person. You arrive in Cappadocia on the evening of Day 4 and leave for Konya on Day 6, so you have two early mornings. The page places the optional flight at dawn on Day 5, before the 09:00 tour of Zelve, Paşabağ, Devrent, Avanos and Love Valley. If wind cancels Day 5, ask whether you can try on Day 6. On Day 6 you have the 4.4 km Meskendir Valley walk and the underground city before the drive to Konya.
What should we wear, and how much walking is there?
This tour visits many working mosques, so dress for them every day. You take your shoes off at the door. Everyone covers shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Mosques close to visitors at prayer times, so the order of visits on mosque days can shift. Bring comfortable shoes for the Istanbul mosque day and the Cappadocia valley walk. On the eastern days much of the time is spent in the vehicle between sites.
Can we change the plan or add nights?
You can add Istanbul nights at $65 each, before or after the tour. Day 12 in Istanbul is already a free day. If you only want the east, compare the Private Best of Eastern Turkey tour from $3,730. If you are short of time and mainly want Iznik, see the private Iznik day trip from Istanbul from $375 per person. For the Istanbul days alone, our Istanbul mosques tour page has shorter options.
How do I book the Ottoman Heritage Tour?
Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. We check flights and hotels for your dates. Then we send the full plan in writing, covering whether the tour is private or shared, where the Van flight leaves from, the hotel names and which meals and tickets are included. You pay only after you have read the plan and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours, TÜRSAB licence A-15751.
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