Fatih Trip Overview
The ultimate adventure, East to West, 17 Days is a sweeping tour of all Turkey has to offer. From Istanbul, start your off-the-beaten-path journey in the East and experience the region’s unique cultures and visit less-frequented sites, including Kars, the Ani Ruins, Lake Van, and Urfa. As you travel west, take in the more well-known sites of Cappadocia, Konya, and Antalya. Relax and enjoy the scenic Mediterranean before heading up the Aegean coast to see the natural beauty of Pamukkale and the wonderment of Ephesus. Continuing northward, we stop to pay homage to more history, visiting Troy and Gallipoli, before making our way back to bustling Istanbul.
Additional Info
Duration: 17 days
Starts: Fatih, Turkey
Trip Category: Multi-day & Extended Tours >> Multi-day Tours
Explore Fatih Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Fatih, İstanbul, Turkey
The ultimate adventure, East to West, 17 Days is a sweeping tour of all Turkey has to offer. From Istanbul, start your off-the-beaten-path journey in the East and experience the region’s unique cultures and visit less-frequented sites, including Kars, the Ani Ruins, Lake Van, and Urfa. As you travel west, take in the more well-known sites of Cappadocia, Konya, and Antalya. Relax and enjoy the scenic Mediterranean before heading up the Aegean coast to see the natural beauty of Pamukkale and the wonderment of Ephesus. Continuing northward, we stop to pay homage to more history, visiting Troy and Gallipoli, before making our way back to bustling Istanbul.
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul! Our representative will meet you at your hotel lobby In the evening at 18.30. This will give you a chance to meet with your fellow travelers and ask your questions to your guide about upcoming days.
Overnight in Istanbul
Duration: 1 day
No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Centrum Hotel Sirkeci Or similar
Day 2: Early Flight to Kars, And Ruins
Stop At: Ani Antik Kenti, Kars Turkey
Today we move onwards to Kars, a city dotted with Russian, Ottoman, and Selcuk monuments. After check-in at our hotel, we will drive a short distance to visit the ruins of Ani, the medieval capital of Armenia.
Overnight Kars
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Panagia Suite hotel or similar
Day 3: Van- Doğu Beyazıt
Stop At: Ishak Pasha Palace, Dogubeyazit Yolu 5., Dogubeyazit 04400 Turkey
Today we drive to Van. On the way, we visit Ishak Pasha Palace, a rare example of a mixture of Ottoman and Middle-Eastern architectural styles. After check-in at our hotel, we take a boat out onto Lake Van, visiting Akdamar Island and its 10th-century Armenian Holy Cross Church.
Overnight Van
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Double Tree by Hilton or similar
Day 4: Mardin
Stop At: Hasankeyf, Hasankeyf, Batman Province
As we make our way to Mardin, we visit Hasankeyf, an ancient settlement and current natural conservation area with rich archeological sites dating from the 12th century AD.
Overnight Mardin
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Yay Grand Otel Or smilar
Day 5: Mardin
Stop At: Mor Gabriel Monastery, Idil Yolu Midyat Merkez, Midyat(Estel), Midyat Turkey
Today we explore the ancient town on Mardin, known for its intricate and fascinating limestone architecture. Sites include the Mor Hananyo Monastery, as well as a couple of small churches and mosques.
Overnight Mardin
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Yay Grand hotel or similar
Day 6: Adıyaman
Stop At: Mount Nemrut, Adiyaman 50100 Turkey
We drive to Kahta today. On the way, we stop to visit Urfa, known as the Prophets’ City due to the legend telling that it was Abraham’s hometown.
Overnight Kahta
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Hilton Garden Inn or similar
Day 7: Cappadocia
Stop At: Mount Nemrut, Adiyaman 50100 Turkey
This morning you have the opportunity to watch the sunrise from the tomb sanctuary at Mount Nemrut. After the breakfast, we drive to Cappadocia. In the evening, there is the option to watch a Whirling Dervish ritual.
Overnight Cappadocia
Duration: 24 minutes
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Sofa Hotel Or smilar
Day 8: Cappadocia
Stop At: Goreme National Park, Goreme 50180 Turkey
Early this morning, you have the opportunity to take a hot air balloon ride. After breakfast, we visit the Göreme Open Air Museum, Uçhisar Castle, Pasabag (the Valley of the Monks), and trek through this magical landscape.
Overnight Cappadocia
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Sofa Hotel Or smilar
Day 9: Konya / Guneysinir Village Stay
Stop At: Konya, Konya
Today we head to a local village just outside of Konya where we will spend the night with a family. On the way, we stop at the Kaymakli Underground City and Sultan Han (Sultanhani Caravanserai), the largest caravanserai in Anatolia. Upon arrival in Konya, we tour the mausoleum and accompanying museum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. As part of our homestay, we enjoy the famous Turkish hospitality and some of the most delicious home-cooked food. There is a chance to explore the surrounding areas, perhaps visiting the cooperative that sells hand-made items or sitting and relaxing in the tea garden to watch village life pass.
Overnight Guneysınır (homestay)
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Home stay
Day 10: Antalya
Stop At: Antalya, Antalya, Turkish Mediterranean Coast
Today we head towards Antalya, stopping along the way at Aspendos, whose Roman theatre is one of the preserved in the world. Upon arrival in Antalya, we have a walking tour of the Old City, notable for its Castle Gate, Grooved Minaret, and Ottoman-style buildings.
Overnight Antalya
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Eski Masal hotel or similar
Day 11: Kas
Stop At: Castle of Simena, Demre (Kale) Turkey
On our way to Kaş, we make a short stop in Kekova. By boat, we tour the Island of Kekova where you see the remains of a sunken ancient town. We explore the archeological site of Simena Castle and the surrounding Lycian tombs on this beautiful windswept stretch of the Turkish Mediterranean coast.
Overnight Kaş
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Linda Hotel or similar
Day 12: Pamukkale
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
Continuing our coastal drive, we head to Pamukkale today. In the afternoon, we head to hierapolis, one of the most beautiful white calcium terraces in the world.
Overnight Pamukkale.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Tripolis hotel or similar
Day 13: Selcuk
Stop At: Pamukkale, Pamukkale
Today we continue to Pamukkale, first visiting the ancient city of Hierapolis, whose impressive sites include the Frontinus and North Byzantine Gates, the Theatre, the Temple of Apollo, and the Necropolis. Nearby are the magnificent white calcium terraces (travertines) of Pamukkale. In the afternoon, we continue to Selçuk.
Overnight Selçuk
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Cenka Hotel Or smilar
Day 14: Selcuk
Stop At: Ancient City of Ephesus, Selcuk 35920 Turkey
More history awaits, with a guided tour of Ephesus and a visit to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Traversing the marble streets of Ephesus, notable sites we will see include the Baths of Scholastica, the Library of Celsus, the Temple of Hadrian, and the 25,000-seat amphitheatre. Afterwards, we drive to the house of the Virgin Mary. We will stop at Sirince Village for lunch. After exploring this village, we will head to the St. John Basilica.
Overnight Selçuk
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Cenka Hotel Or smilar
Day 15: Çanakkale
Stop At: Troy (Truva), Tevfikiye Koyu, Intepe, Canakkale Turkey
Today we drive to Çanakkale, stopping in Pergamon and Troy on the way. In Pergamon, we will tour of the magnificent Acropolis, whose impressive temples and library made it a renowned cultural and political center of its time. Afterwards, we will visit the ancient walls of Troy.
Overnight Çanakkale
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Büyük Truva hotel or similar
Day 16: Istanbul
Stop At: Gallipoli, Gallipoli, Canakkale Province, Turkish Aegean Coast
Today we travel to one of the most emotionally-touching places in Turkey—Gallipoli—where we will tour the WWI battlefields. Sites include the Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair Memorials, ANZAC Cove, Johnston’s Jolly Cemetery, the original trenches and tunnels, as well as the Nek. In the afternoon, we will make our way back to Istanbul.
Overnight Istanbul
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Centrum Hotel Or Smilar
Day 17: Departure Day
Stop At: Istanbul, Istanbul
After breakfast, our tour concludes, and we say goodbye to our new friends. You will be transferred to the airport for your onward flight.
Duration: 1 day
Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Departure Day
