Turkey: Across The Anatolian Plateau to Istanbul
Turkey: Across The Anatolian Plateau to Istanbul
11 Days Starting in TRABZON and ending in ISTANBUL
Visiting: Trabzon, Kemaliye, Soumela Monastery, Sivas, Divriği, Cappadocia, Konya, Ankara, Avanos, İstanbul
Tour operator:
Tour code:
BLK
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Wild Frontiers with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
The mountains, high plateaus and steppe lands of Central Turkey have witnessed countless invaders and conquerors from the Hittites and the Byzantines to the Seljuks and Ottomans; all of them leaving their distinctive marks on the land and amongst the people.
On this journey we’ll discover much of this impressive and diverse legacy as we travel from the Black Sea coastal city of Trabzon over the mountains towards the rarely visited but stunning UNESCO Great Mosque in Divrigi taking in the iconic sight of the 4th century cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery en route. In Sivas we’ll admire some of the world’s finest Seljuk architecture before continuing on to the magical landscapes of Cappadocia. Here amongst the carved volcanic tufa yet more UNESCO treasures await in the form of Goreme and there’ll be both time and opportunity to explore this stunning region on foot.
Our final leg of the journey takes us across the plains of Konya by way of the great caravanserai of Sultanhani to visit the tombs of Mevlana and Ataturk and explore the stunning Museum of Anatolian Civilisations in Ankara. We conclude our journey amongst the breath-taking cultural highlights of Istanbul, a city that was undoubtedly once the greatest on earth, laying at the heart of three of the world’s most enduring empires - Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Tour Starts In Trabzon
Location: Trabzon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Usta Park Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Dinner
The tour starts this evening in the Black Sea coastal hub of Trabzon where we’ll enjoy a welcome dinner.
Day 2: Trabzon - Sumela - Kemaliye
Location: Kemaliye, Trabzon, Soumela Monastery
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Yeşil Eğim hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning we'll pay a visit to Trabzon's renowned Haghia Sophia, considered by many to be one of the finest examples of Byzantine architecture anywhere. Heading inland we'll then discover the iconic Sumela Monastery. Perched like an eyrie, high up on the sheer cliffs, this Greek Orthodox retreat can trace its antecedents back to the 4th century and the surrounding views and exquisite frescoes make this one of the finest settings in Turkey. Heading up and over the mountains we'll travel as far as the town of Kemaliye, which is known for its historic architecture, including many Ottoman-era houses.
Day 3: Kemaliye - Divrigi - Sivas
Location: Sivas, Kemaliye, Divriği
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Buruciye Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Kemaliye this morning we first head south to the town of Arapgir, where we’ll visit a 700-year-old 'Cemevi' - a place of worship for Turkey's Alevi community. Our visit will give us an insight into the religious diversity in Turkey and the influence of the large, but almost invisible, Alevi faithful whose beliefs, way of life and forms of worship are very different to the orthodox Sunni majority. We'll continue to Divrigi to visit the UNESCO site of the Great Mosque (currently from the outside only due to restoration work) and hospital before finally we head north-west to the old Seljuk capital of Sivas to spend the night.
Day 4: Sivas - Cappadocia (Avanos)
Location: Cappadocia, Sivas
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sofa Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Sivas once lay along the road to Baghdad, ensuring its development as an important centre for trade and culture. Under the rule of the Seljuks it grew into a mecca for learning and scholarship, and periodically served as the capital of the Seljuk Empire, along with Konya. Many of the city’s more interesting architecture stems from this period and its historic heart is liberally sprinkled with 13th century madrassahs and minarets that are covered in beautiful turquoise and blue tiles. We’ll have the whole morning to enjoy this historical city before driving on to Avanos this afternoon - our base for the next three nights, in the heart of Cappadocia.
Day 5: Cappadocia
Location: Cappadocia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sofa Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We will spend the whole day exploring some of the highlights of the region, beginning at the Göreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here we will walk through the valley and explore the painted churches of this former Byzantine monastery. This afternoon we’ll visit Kaymakli underground city, originally carved out by the Hittites around 3000BC, and then Uchisar Fortress, built by the Romans, from where we’ll be able to enjoy spectacular views of the area. We’ll also take a walk to visit the fairy chimneys known as 'Love Valley' before returning to Avanos for the evening.
Day 6: Cappadocia
Location: Cappadocia
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Sofa Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
A second day to enjoy this stunning area, we’ll head to the lesser known Soganli Valley today to enjoy a two-hour walk and see several of the painted churches. We’ll also visit the unspoiled villages of Cemil, Taskinpasa and Sahin Efendi before returning to Avanos town, set on the banks of the Kizilirmak - the Red River. The red clay of the river provides the raw material for pottery, which has been produced in this area for centuries. There’ll be time to visit some of the family-run potteries for which the town is famous this afternoon.
Day 7: Avanos - Konya - Ankara
Location: Konya, Ankara, Avanos
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Ankara Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Leaving Avanos this morning, we’ll drive across the plain of Konya stopping to visit Sultanhani, one of the largest caravanserais on the Silk Road, dating back to the 13th century. Continuing on to Konya, we will visit the Mevlana Museum, containing the tomb of the great dervish and poet Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi. We’ll also visit the Seljuk period Karatay Madrassa before taking a late afternoon bullet train to Ankara, Turkey’s modern-day capital.
Day 8: Ankara
Location: Ankara
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: The Ankara Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We
start the day with a 2.4 km walk, to absorb the sights and the sounds of this
great capital city, first though Gençlik park, then up through the wide modern
avenues, passing buildings that played an important part in the formation of
modern Turkey, and passing a few remnants of the Roman city too, before
arriving at the old town near the citadel. Today we’ll visit two of the country’s most essential sights. The first is the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, one of the world’s most critically acclaimed museums (and deservedly so) displaying artefacts found within the borders of Turkey between 100,000 BC and 200 AD. The second is the Mausoleum of Ataturk, Turkey’s revered 'father' who almost single-handedly is responsible for Turkey’s continued existence today following its defeat in World War I. This enormous monument is dedicated to Ataturk and the architecture of the mausoleum is based upon the caravanserai staging posts of the Silk Road. We will also have a chance to see Ankara Castle, with its great views over the city.
Day 9: Ankara - Istanbul
Location: Ankara, İstanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Grand Sirkeci Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The last stage of our epic journey takes us by high-speed train towards Turkey’s cultural capital, Istanbul, formerly Constantinople. The train terminates on the Asian side of the city, and we walk the vibrant streets of Kadikoy neighbourhood (1.5km), with colourful shops, trendy restaurants and bars, before we arrive at the magnificent shores of the mythical Bosphorus. As the amazing skyline of Istanbul opens out before us, we get on one of the local ferryboats enabling us to see both sides of Istanbul from the water, before taking our first footstep back on continental Europe, taking in the minarets and domes of one of the world’s greatest cities and a fitting finale to our Anatolian adventure. After settling into the hotel, you will be invited to join a guided tour of the nearby sites of the Hippodrome, the Blue mosque and the Basilica cisterns.
Day 10: Istanbul
Location: İstanbul
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Grand Sirkeci Hotel or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
We’ll spend the morning exploring Sultanhamet, Istanbul’s historic centre. Here we’ll see the iconic Aya Sophia, which was built at the command of Emperor Justinian in the 6th century. In the afternoon you’ll be free to experience the extensive Grand Bazaar, one of the largest in the Middle East and a shopper's mecca since just after the mid-15th century. Tonight we’ll meet up for our final dinner in this truly fascinating city.
Day 11: Tour Ends In Istanbul
Location: İstanbul
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour ends after breakfast at our hotel today.
What's Included
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MEALS
10 x Breakfasts8 x Lunches7 x Dinners
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TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and trains.
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GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
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CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to climate and community projects for all bookings
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EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
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ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
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ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
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FITNESS RATING
Low / Moderate
What's Not Included
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We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tourationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
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ExcludedItem
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras.
As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.
Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour
ationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatory
Tips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documents
International Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UK
Airport Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Turkey.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements.
Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, however please note that in order to fully benefit from all aspects of the trip you should be sufficiently active to be able to walk around the vast open areas of Cappadocia and feel comfortable getting on/off trains with your luggage.
Responsible Travel
With local people, culture and eco-systems in mind, responsible travel and sustainable tourism are at the core of Wild Frontiers. We believe that a successful trip not only delivers a unique and unsurpassable journey for our travellers but also benefits the people and places we visit.
When designing our tours, we actively seek out experiences that have a positive impact on the communities and precious environments we visit - from supporting social enterprises; resting our heads in rural homestays; and eating at locally owned restaurants; to helping fund conservation projects that protect wildlife and their habitats.
Visit the Responsible Travel area of our website to read more, including the work of the Wild Frontiers Foundation through which we fundraise to aid community empowerment and education projects.
Travelling Solo
As a company approximately 70% of our clients are solo travellers, so it’s very unlikely you’ll be alone!
Our prices are typically based on twin-share accommodation but single supplements are not compulsory for any Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to pay a single supplement we’ll pair you with someone else of the same sex for you to share with throughout the trip.
On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a single supplement then please note that it will cover you for all nights of the tour.
Please note that paying a single supplement entitles you to lone occupancy of a single room. In many cases these rooms will be of the same size as a double/twin room, but in some cases they may be smaller.
Insurance
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours. You should be aware that due to some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain of our trips some standard insurance policies may not always provide adequate cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately covers your trip. Please see the Insurance section for more details.
Check out our Q&As
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights
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What is the maximum group size?
12
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Do you require a visa for this holiday?
For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for Turkey.
Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
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Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from travellers on this tour
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Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.