The Lost Kingdoms of Eastern Anatolia
Fourteen days from Trabzon to Gaziantep, through monasteries, Urartian citadels, Armenian sites and Mesopotamia, as a private tailor-made tour.
This tour is for travellers curious about eastern Turkey, far from the classic itineraries. From Sumela Monastery to the Armenian capital of Ani, from Lake Van to the sculptures of Mount Nemrut, you cross ancient kingdoms and high-altitude landscapes. Mardin, Diyarbakır, Göbekli Tepe, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep then open Mesopotamia, with its Syriac monasteries and bazaars. An easy-level programme, rich in encounters, which above all asks for road time and a sincere taste for discovery.
CODE AA-ANA-01
14 days · Level 1/5
Price depends on group size and season: a detailed, no-obligation quote on request.
- Sumela Monastery and the citadel of Erzurum
- Ani, the Armenian city of the Silk Road
- Lake Van, Akdamar and the Urartian fortresses
- Hasankeyf, Mardin and the Syriac monasteries of Tur Abdin
- Mount Nemrut, Göbekli Tepe and the Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Day-by-day itinerary
Trabzon – arrival
Welcome at Trabzon airport and transfer to your city-centre hotel. Dinner is included that day; the evening gives you time to rest before the road east. Overnight in Trabzon.
Trabzon – Erzurum via Sumela Monastery
You visit Sumela Monastery, a Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to the cliff above the Altındere valley. The road then crosses Bayburt before reaching Erzurum. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included; overnight in Erzurum.
Erzurum – Kars
In Erzurum you visit the Twin Minaret Madrasa, a late Seljuk monument, then the city centre and the Rüstem Pasha Caravanserai, now an Oltu-stone bazaar, and the citadel. The road then leads to Kars; depending on arrival time, visits to the castle, the Church of the Holy Apostles and the Russian houses are possible. Full board; overnight in Kars.
Ani and the Ararat region
A morning at Ani, the medieval Armenian capital and Silk Road city, where many churches stand. You continue to Doğubeyazıt, at the foot of Mount Ararat, and spend time in Topçatan village, meeting a Kurdish family and their semi-nomadic daily life. Full board; overnight in Doğubeyazıt.
Ishak Pasha, Muradiye and Van
Visit of Ishak Pasha Palace, an 18th-century Ottoman complex, then a stop at the Muradiye waterfalls. You then reach Van to visit the fortress founded by the Urartian king Sardur and the rock tomb of Argishti I. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included; overnight in Van.
Hoşap, Çavuştepe and Akdamar Island
You visit Hoşap Castle and the Urartian fortress of Çavuştepe. From Gevaş, a boat (not included) takes you to Akdamar Island and the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross. You then continue to Tatvan. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included; overnight in Tatvan.
Nemrut Crater Lake and Ahlat
You discover Nemrut Crater Lake, a volcanic caldera on the shore of Lake Van. At Ahlat you visit the Seljuk mausoleums, Çifte Kümbet, Emir Bayındır and Ulu Kümbet, and the vast historic cemetery. Return to Tatvan in the late afternoon. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Hasankeyf, Mor Gabriel and Mardin
A visit to Hasankeyf, an ancient settlement on the Tigris, a site largely submerged since 2020: you see the relocated monuments and the museum of the new Hasankeyf. Then the Syriac Orthodox Monastery of Mor Gabriel. You arrive in Mardin in the early evening to spend the night. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Deyrulzafaran and Diyarbakır
A visit to Deyrulzafaran, a Syriac Orthodox monastery of the Tur Abdin, then the road to Diyarbakır. You explore the old city and its basalt walls with four gates, the Great Mosque, the Virgin Mary Church, the Chaldean church and the coppersmiths' bazaar. Full board; overnight in Diyarbakır.
The Sculptures of Mount Nemrut
You head for Karadut village via Siverek, crossing the Euphrates at the new Nissibi Bridge. A visit to the sculptures of Mount Nemrut, built under King Antiochus I and listed by UNESCO, and to their summit terraces; along the way, the Karakuş tumulus and the Roman Cendere Bridge. Full board; overnight in Karadut or Kâhta.
Göbekli Tepe and Şanlıurfa
The road leads to Şanlıurfa. You visit Göbekli Tepe, a site of circular and oval stone structures about 12,000 years old, perhaps used for ritual purposes. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included; overnight in Şanlıurfa.
Şanlıurfa, Harran and Gaziantep
You explore the old town of Şanlıurfa, its courtyard houses, markets and the sacred Balıklıgöl pool. Then Harran, known for its beehive houses and mentioned in the Old Testament. Finally the road to Gaziantep, where you spend two nights. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
Gaziantep and the Zeugma Mosaic Museum
You explore Gaziantep's historic centre and citadel, then the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which houses large Roman and Byzantine mosaics, including the famous Gypsy Girl. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included; second night in Gaziantep.
Gaziantep – departure
Transfer to Gaziantep airport, where the tour ends. Only breakfast is included that day. We can adjust the end of the trip or link it to another region of Turkey if you wish.
Included / Not included
What’s included
- Transfers and transport by private vehicle to the sites in the programme
- Arrival transfer from Trabzon airport to the city-centre hotel
- Departure transfer from the hotel to Gaziantep airport
- French-speaking or English-speaking guide depending on availability, to be confirmed on request
- Hotel accommodation, standard double or twin room
- Board as per the programme (13 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 13 dinners)
What’s not included
- Entrance fees to sites and museums (budget to plan for, detailed in the quotation)
- Day 6: boat crossing to Akdamar and entrance to the church
- International and domestic flights (plan flights via Istanbul, can be booked on request)
- Travel insurance
- Additional transport and transfers not in the programme, including extra arrival or departure transfers
- Optional activities
- Meals not mentioned in the programme
- Drinks (soft drinks, alcohol, bottled water, tea and coffee)
- Personal expenses
- Extra nights, single-room supplements and accommodation upgrades
- Personal equipment
- Tips