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10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS
Specific Tour
Unlimited
Chinese, English
Istanbul | Trabzon | Erzurum | Kars | Doğubeyazıt | Tatvan | Van
The tour starts in Istanbul on the morning of 5 November 2026. Guests arriving on 5 November should schedule their international flight to arrive at Istanbul Airport no later than 07:00 AM in order to join the tour from the beginning.
If a guest’s flight arrives later than this, we recommend arriving in Istanbul one day earlier, on 4 November 2026.
Guests should inform us of their flight details before booking. If required, we can arrange an additional airport transfer and one pre-tour hotel night in Istanbul at an extra cost.
Price in USD — easy payment with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Prices are quoted in US Dollars (USD). You can pay in RMB through Alipay or WeChat Pay; the amount is converted into RMB automatically at the time of payment.
Domestic flights are not included in the tour price and will be quoted separately, as airfares are subject to frequent change.
No compulsory shopping stops.
Shopping opportunities may be offered during the tour, but participation is entirely optional.
Arrival at Istanbul Airport and transfer to the hotel.
Istanbul has always been important on the Silk Road in terms of bringing goods from China to the European continent, and it still holds true today. It is a city that connects two continents, Europe and Asia, and both the historic Silk Road and the modern-day Silk Road use Istanbul as one of their most important corridors. Historically, Istanbul (Byzantium) was on the Via Egnatia, a road par excellence connecting the western and eastern parts of the Roman Empire, built in the 2nd century BC under consul Egnatius.
Drive to the Old City to visit the Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Then visit the Blue Mosque, famous for its blue ceramic tiles. Lunch (not included).
Visit the Egyptian Spice Bazaar, where we will experience the smells of cinnamon, cloves and thyme rising from every store — the same smells that filled the air over 400 years ago. We then embark on a scenic tour of the Bosphorus, the natural waterway between Europe and Asia. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Trabzon.
Trabzon (Trebizond), an important centre since the Greco-Roman era, is the most important city on the Eastern Black Sea. Surrounded by the steep peaks of the Eastern Pontic Mountains and enjoying a mild climate and subtropical vegetation, it is also a major port.
Drive to Uzungöl. Visit a tea factory and a traditional Sürmene knife workshop. Lunch (not included). We proceed to the Hagia Sophia of Trabzon and explore Trabzon city centre. If time permits, visit the Atatürk Mansion. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Visit the breathtaking Sümela Monastery, clinging to a rock 800 feet above the road. Built in the 5th century, restored in 1860 and abandoned in 1923, the monastery has cells for 75 monks, a visitors' house and more.
Continue to Hamsiköy and enjoy the famous Hamsiköy sütlacı, a traditional Black Sea rice pudding known for its rich, creamy texture and unique flavour. Lunch (not included).
Drive through the scenic Zigana Pass, a historic gateway between the Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia. Visit the glass observation terrace in Torul and continue to Karaca Cave.
Arrive in Erzurum and visit Erzurum Castle, the Çifte Minareli Madrasa and the Yakutiye Madrasa. Visit Taşhan, a historic Ottoman caravanserai and trading centre famous for traditional Oltu stone handicrafts and jewellery. Taste the legendary cağ kebabı, Erzurum's most famous culinary speciality. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Drive to Tortum Lake and Waterfall. Continue to Narman to explore the area. Lunch (not included). See the red rock formations of Narman (Narman fairy chimneys). Drive to Kars. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Visit Kars Citadel and explore the historic streets of Kars, famous for their distinctive Russian-era architecture. Visit the Fethiye Mosque, originally built as a Russian Orthodox church.
Then continue to the Ani Archaeological Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important cities of the ancient Silk Road. Ani was the capital of the Armenian Kingdom, and its ruins lie almost on the Armenian border. Dinner and overnight in Kars.
Breakfast. Continue to Doğubeyazıt, a staging post on the Silk Road. Behind the town rises the spectacular Mount Ararat (Ağrı Dağı), Türkiye's highest mountain. According to some legends, Mount Ararat is the landing site of Noah's Ark, and we will visit the Noah's Ark viewpoint. Lunch (not included).
Then visit the İshak Paşa Palace, half fortress and half oriental palace. The world's first central heating system was installed in this palace. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. We will pass Tendürek Mountain (Tendürük Dağı), an elongated shield volcano that rises 1,800 m above the plain of Doğubeyazıt near the Iranian border, south of Mount Ararat. Continue to Muradiye Waterfall. Lunch (not included).
Visit the ruins of Ahlat, where we will see beautifully inscribed memorial tombstones. Continue to Nemrut Crater Lake. Dinner and overnight in Tatvan.
Breakfast. Boat ride to Akdamar Island on Lake Van to admire the frescoes and reliefs of the Church of the Holy Cross, dating back to the 10th century. Lunch (not included).
Continue to Çavuştepe, an important Urartian citadel. Excavated in 1970, it still displays temples, a palace, a sacrificial altar and inscriptions. Then visit Hoşap Castle, a 17th-century fairytale castle whose origins also date back to the Urartians. Dinner and overnight in Van.
Breakfast. Lunch (not included). Continue to the Van Cat House — the famous Van cats love to play with water and enjoy swimming.
Then visit the Citadel of Van, where the Urartians carved 1,001 steps into the rock to lead to the fortress. Enjoy the sunset, then return to the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for the flight to Istanbul.
Visit the spectacular Topkapı Palace (entrance fee not included). Built on one of the seven hills of Istanbul, this huge complex commands views of the Sea of Marmara, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. It was the seat of the Ottoman Empire for many centuries (1453–1852), and we will see the extravagant Treasury and the priceless Chinese porcelain. Lunch (not included).
Shopping opportunities. Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight.
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