Day 1 | Trabzon
Morning flight to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. Upon arrival, drive into the lush Pontic Mountains to visit the breathtaking Sumela Monastery, dramatically carved into the cliffs of Mt. Karadağ like an eagle’s nest. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this extraordinary monastery has clung to the mountainside for centuries, surrounded by dense forests and mist-covered valleys.
Day 2 | Trabzon
Explore the rich Byzantine and Ottoman heritage of Trabzon. Visit the beautiful Church of St. Sophia, renowned for its frescoes and elegant architecture, then wander through the narrow alleys of the old city. Stop at Fatih Mosque, formerly the Church of the Golden-Headed Virgin, and experience the vibrant local atmosphere of Trabzon’s bustling vegetable markets and historic quarters.
Day 3 | Ayder
Drive east along the dramatic Black Sea coastline to Rize before turning inland through the lush Fırtına River Valley toward Ayder, nestled deep within emerald-green Pontic forests. Wooden mountain houses scattered across steep hillsides create one of the most picturesque landscapes in Turkey.
After a gentle hike above Ayder’s alpine meadows and waterfalls, enjoy time to relax in the region’s natural thermal springs. There may also be opportunities to meet members of the Laz and Hemşin communities, whose distinctive cultures and traditions continue to thrive in these remote highlands.
Day 4 | Artvin to Kars
Today’s journey reveals the extraordinary diversity of northeastern Anatolia. Travel from the verdant Black Sea mountains through the dramatic highlands surrounding Artvin before arriving in Kars, a frontier city shaped by Armenian, Russian, Ottoman, and Anatolian influences. The landscape gradually transforms from lush green valleys to vast open plains painted in earth tones and endless skies.
Day 5 | Ani & Kars
Depart early for Ani, the hauntingly beautiful medieval Armenian capital situated along the border with Armenia. Once known as the “City of 1,001 Churches,” Ani preserves a remarkable collection of Armenian and Seljuk monuments dating from the 11th–13th centuries. Standing amid windswept ruins overlooking deep river gorges, the site evokes the grandeur and tragedy of a lost civilization.
Return to Kars to explore its distinctive grid-plan streets, elegant Russian-era stone architecture, medieval castle, and the Church of the Twelve Apostles.
Day 6 | Doğubeyazıt & Mt. Ararat
Drive eastward to Doğubeyazıt and visit the magnificent İshak Paşa Palace, one of Eastern Anatolia’s architectural masterpieces. Built in 1784 along the Silk Road, this extraordinary palace-fortress blends Ottoman, Persian, and Seljuk influences against a spectacular mountain backdrop.
Nearby rises the majestic silhouette of Mt. Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak at 16,853 feet, traditionally associated with the resting place of Noah’s Ark.
Day 7 | Lake Van
Continue south through some of the most dramatic landscapes in Turkey. Volcanic peaks, deep river valleys, waterfalls, and remote villages with traditional earth-roofed houses create an unforgettable journey through Eastern Anatolia.
The scenery reaches its climax upon arrival at Lake Van, Turkey’s largest lake, shimmering beneath vast mountain horizons. Cross high passes where snow-capped peaks tower above grazing flocks and narrow valleys before reaching the city of Van.
Day 8 | Van & Urartian Heritage
Today explore the ancient heritage of the Urartian Kingdom, one of the great Iron Age civilizations of the Near East. Visit Hoşap Castle and Çavuştepe, the remains of an 8th-century B.C. fortified palace and administrative center.
Later, visit Van Castle dramatically positioned above the lake shore, offering sweeping panoramic views at sunset. Van was once the capital of the Urartian Kingdom, whose history reaches back to the 9th century B.C., while the surrounding region also preserves traces of the earlier Hurrian civilization.
Day 9 | Akdamar Island
Cruise by boat from Gevaş across the deep blue waters of Lake Van to Akdamar Island. Here stands the extraordinary 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, one of Anatolia’s most beautiful and evocative monuments. Surrounded by almond trees and lake waters framed by distant mountains, the church is famed for its intricate exterior relief carvings and beautifully restored frescoes. Few settings in Turkey rival the serenity and beauty of this remarkable island sanctuary.
Day 10 | Istanbul
Morning flight back to Istanbul. End of the journey.
