Konya Private Day Tour from Istanbul by Plane: Rumi & Mevlana
Overview
Konya Private Day Tour from Istanbul by Plane: Rumi & Mevlana
This private day tour of Konya takes you to one of Turkey's great spiritual centres, a city with a long religious and cultural past.
Rumi and the Mevlana Museum
Konya was home to Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, the famous mystic and poet. Your private guide explains the city's religious history as you go. At the Mevlana Museum, where Rumi is buried, you can take in the calm of the place and learn about Sufism.
The day also includes mosques, tombs and madrasas that show the depth of Konya's spiritual heritage.
Tour Info
Itinerary
Day 1 – Flight to Konya, Mevlana Museum and Madrasas
The day begins with a private van picking you up at your hotel in Istanbul for the drive to Istanbul Airport and your flight to Konya. Our representative meets you on arrival, holding a sign with your name.
Your guide joins you in the centre of Konya and explains the city's spiritual history before you start sightseeing. You will see:
- Mevlana Museum, the former Whirling Dervish lodge
- Karatay Madrasa, now the Tile Museum
- The tomb and mosque of Shams-i Tabrizi
- The Alaeddin Hill
- The Sircali Madrasa
- The Aziziye Mosque
- The Konya Archaeological Museum
- The Alaeddin Mosque and Palace
After the last visit you are driven to Konya Airport for the return flight to Istanbul. On landing at Istanbul Airport, our representative is there with a name sign and takes you back to your hotel in a private van. You spend the night in Istanbul.
This is where our services finish. Thank you for choosing Get Turkey Tours, and we hope you will travel with us again.
Inclusions & Exclusions
- ✓Private Tour
- ✓Licensed Tour Guide
- ✓Domestic Flights (Economy Class)
- ✓Transportation by Private Van
- ✓Airport Transfers (Mentioned)
- ✓Museum Tickets & Attraction Fees
- ✕Meals & Drinks
- ✕Gratuity (Suggested)
Cancellation Policy
Cancel at no charge until 7 days before your tour and you receive a full refund. If you cancel within the final 7 days before the tour, no refund is given. All times shown are local.
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Travel guides
Private day trip to Konya from Istanbul: the essentials
On this private day trip you fly from Istanbul to Konya, Turkey's spiritual centre and home of the poet and mystic Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. A licensed private guide takes you to the Mevlana Museum with Rumi's tomb, the tomb and mosque of Shams of Tabriz, the Karatay and Sircali madrasas, Alaaddin Hill and its mosque, the Aziziye Mosque and the Konya Archaeological Museum. Included are economy-class domestic flights, airport transfers, a private van and museum tickets. Because the price depends on your date and group size, we quote it on request.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Length | 1 day, from hotel back to hotel |
| Cost | Quote on request, based on your date and group |
| Format | Private, led by a licensed guide |
| Flights | Economy class, Istanbul to Konya and return |
| Covered | Airport transfers, a private van and guide, museum tickets and attraction fees |
| Excluded | Meals and drinks, tips |
Who was Rumi, and why go to Konya?
Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi lived in the 13th century as a poet, scholar and Sufi mystic, and people all over the world still read his lines about love and the soul. He taught in Konya, which was then the capital of the Seljuk Sultanate of Rum. After he died, his followers set up the Mevlevi order, famous for the Sema ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes. His tomb under a turquoise dome now houses the Mevlana Museum, one of Turkey's most visited sites.
What sites are included?
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| Mevlana Museum | Tomb of Rumi and the old Mevlevi lodge |
| Tomb and Mosque of Shams of Tabriz | In honour of Rumi's spiritual companion |
| Karatay Madrasa | Seljuk school known for its tiled dome, today a tile museum |
| Sircali Madrasa | A second Seljuk madrasa decorated with glazed tiles |
| Alaaddin Hill and Mosque | The centre of Seljuk Konya |
| Aziziye Mosque | Ottoman mosque in the middle of the city |
| Konya Archaeological Museum | Objects from the area's long past |
Can you watch the Whirling Dervishes in Konya?
Konya does host Sema ceremonies, above all around the yearly commemoration of Rumi's death in December, but the timings change. If the ceremony is important to you, mention it when booking; otherwise our Istanbul Whirling Dervish ceremony, from $60, takes place regularly.
How does it compare with other spiritual and heritage tours?
| Tour | Theme | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| This tour | Rumi, Sufism and the Seljuk madrasas | On request |
| Cappadocia Whirling Dervish ceremony | The Sema inside a historic hall | $60 |
| Istanbul, Cappadocia, Saint Paul and the Seven Churches | Takes in Iconium (Konya) on the route of Saint Paul | $2,750 per person |
| Private day trip to Iznik | Ancient Nicaea | $375 |
When should you visit Konya?
Spring and autumn are the most pleasant. Konya sits on the high Anatolian plateau, which makes summers hot and dry and winters cold. December is the busiest month, because of the Rumi commemoration.
What to bring
Modest clothes for the mosques and Rumi's tomb (women need a scarf, and everyone should cover shoulders and knees), comfortable shoes, and a passport or ID for the flights.
How to book
Tell us your preferred date and how many people are travelling, using the form on this page or WhatsApp. We check flight times and confirm the price and plan in writing; payment is due only after that. Looking for more? Browse our Konya tours and Turkey tour packages.
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