Black Sea and Eastern Anatolia Day Expedition The Crossroads of Empires
Day 1: Istanbul – The Arrival
Morning/Afternoon: Arrival in Istanbul. You are met and seamlessly transferred to your hotel.
Evening: Settle into the city that sits astride two continents, resting before our deep dive into its historical layers tomorrow.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Day 2: Istanbul – The Underground Threshold
Activity: Begin the historical immersion by exploring the quiet, hidden layers of the city, such as the Cistern of Theodosius. Predating the more famous underground waterworks, its beautifully restored brick domes and arches provide an atmospheric introduction to the multi-layered history of the region. The rest of the day is spent uncovering the classic highlights of the old city.
Overnight: Istanbul.
Day 3: Istanbul to Trabzon – The Land of the Amazons
Morning: Domestic flight from Istanbul to Trabzon.
Historical Context: Arrival in Trabzon, historically recognized as the legendary homeland of the Amazon warrior women. The region’s misty mountains and dramatic coastlines still echo the fierce spirit of these ancient matriarchal societies.
Afternoon: Ascend through the dense, damp pine forests of the Altındere Valley to explore the Sümela Monastery. Clinging to a sheer rock cliff, this Greek Orthodox monastery is a masterpiece of early engineering and devotion.
Overnight: Trabzon.
Day 4: Trabzon (Full Day) – Highland Valleys & Byzantine Echoes
Morning: Travel high into the Pontic Mountains for an authentic “valley brunch.” Enjoy a sprawling spread of regional specialties perched above the clouds, surrounded by untouched peaks.
Afternoon: Venture off the standard path to discover hidden, unrestored monastic ruins deep in the valleys, offering a raw archaeological perspective. Return to the city center to visit the Girls Monastery on the slopes of Boztepe for a quiet look into late Byzantine monastic life.
Overnight: Trabzon.
Day 5: Trabzon to Rize – Rivers, Fortresses, and The Harvest
Morning: Depart Trabzon and drive east into the deeply green Fırtına Valley in Rize.
Local Experience: Depending on the season, join local farmers in the valley for a hands-on agricultural experience—either hand-picking fresh tea leaves from the terraced hillsides or participating in the traditional hazelnut harvest. This activity directly connects you with the backbone of the Black Sea’s rural economy.
Afternoon: Follow the rushing glacial rivers to visit the historic stone Şenyuva Bridge. Continue the ascent to Zilkale, a dramatic medieval fortress built on the edge of a cliff that once guarded the crucial trade routes.
Overnight: Rize.
Day 6: Rize to Artvin – The Deep Green Frontier
Morning: Depart Rize, driving further east along the spectacular coastline toward Artvin.
Afternoon: Arrive in Hopa, nestled between the Black Sea and the towering Kaçkar Mountains. Explore the lush, unspoiled nature of the Artvin region, known for its steep valleys and rich biosphere, taking in the dramatic shift in scenery as we approach the northeastern border.
Overnight: Artvin.
Day 7: Artvin to Erzurum & The Eastern Express to Kars
Morning: We begin our journey southward to Erzurum. Upon arrival, we observe from the outside the Double Minaret Madrasa, built by Hundi Hatun (daughter of Alaeddin Keykubad) or Padişah Hatun of the Ilkhanid dynasty. We then visit the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), constructed in 1179 during the reign of Saltukid Melik Nasirüddin Muhammed Bey.
Afternoon: We take a break at Taş Han, built in 1561 by Rüstem Pasha, the grand vizier and son-in-law of Suleiman the Magnificent. Here, guests can shop for the famous Oltu Stone, known to alleviate rheumatism and significantly strengthen the nervous system, followed by a lunch break (Extra). After lunch, we visit the building where the historic Erzurum Congress was held.
Late Afternoon (The Train Journey): We transfer to the Erzurum train station. At 16:06, we embark on the famous Eastern Express (Doğu Ekspresi) in our reserved Pullman seats for a scenic rail journey to Kars.
Evening: Arrive in Kars at 20:00. Our vehicle will be waiting at the station to transfer us to our hotel.
Meals: Breakfast: Erzurum (Extra) | Lunch: Erzurum (Extra) | Dinner: Included at the hotel (set menu or open buffet).
Overnight: Kars.
NOTE: Train times are official TCDD (Turkish State Railways) schedules. Our agency is not responsible for any delays experienced.
Day 8: Kars (Full Day) – The Silent Metropolis of Ani & Lake Çıldır
Morning: After breakfast, we depart for Ani, the former capital of the Armenian Dynasty, conquered by Sultan Alparslan in 1064 after a 25-day siege. We explore the Painted Church (built in 1215 by the merchant Tigran Honents), the Great Cathedral (foundations laid in 990 AD by Bagratid King Sembat II and finished in 1001 by Queen Katranide), and the Menuçehr Mosque (built in 1072 by Ebû’l Menuçehr Bey, the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia).
Midday: After a final photo of this easternmost historical city, we drive along the Arpaçay River—the 186 km natural border between Turkey and Armenia—until we reach its source, Lake Çıldır. Following a lunch break (Extra), guests can enjoy the magnificent nature. In winter months when the lake freezes over, optional horse-drawn sleigh rides on the ice are available.
Afternoon: Return to Kars center, welcomed by the stone buildings of the Russian occupation era. We discover the streets of Kars, viewing Kars Castle, the Kümbet Mosque (Church of the 12 Apostles), the Stone Bridge, and the former home of renowned poet Namık Kemal. We visit the Fethiye Mosque, one of the finest examples of Russian Baltic architecture, before enjoying some free time.
Evening: Return to the hotel. After dinner, guests who wish to join can attend an entertaining Kars Caucasian Night (Extra).
Meals: Breakfast: Included at hotel | Lunch: Regional restaurant at Lake Çıldır (Extra) | Dinner: Included at hotel.
Caucasian Night: Extra (100 TL).
Overnight: Kars.
Day 9: Kars to Doğubayazıt to Van – The Palace of the Sun
Morning: Depart Kars and head toward Doğubayazıt. Along the way, we pass by the imposing Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak at 5,137m, and view the Tuzluca Salt Mines.
Afternoon: Arrive in the historically vital customs hub of Doğubayazıt. After lunch and shopping (Extra), we visit the breathtaking Ishak Pasha Palace. Started in 1685 by Çolak Abdi Pasha and completed 99 years later by Küçük İshak Pasha in 1784, this 366-room complex is the world’s first structure to feature a central wall-heating system. We explore the “milk fountain” (legend says milk flowed from one tap, water from the other), the courtyards, dungeons, and harem/selamlık.
Late Afternoon: Drive toward Van, stopping for photos at the Muradiye Waterfall on the Bend-i Mahi River, named after Sultan Murad IV during his Baghdad campaign, where water plunges from a height of nearly 50 meters. Arrive at our hotel in Van by the end of the day.
Meals: Breakfast: Included at hotel | Lunch: Doğubayazıt (Extra) | Dinner: Included at hotel.
Overnight: Van.
Day 10: Van to Istanbul – The Urartian Kingdom & The Holy Cross
Morning: Learn about the delicate art of Savat—derived from the Arabic word “Esvad” (black)—an intricate silverwork alloy of copper, lead, and sulfur. Afterward, we visit the rare and beautiful Van Cats. We then proceed to Van Castle, built between 840-825 BC by Urartian King Sarduri I. Measuring 1800m long, 120m wide, and 80m high, it overlooks the ancient capital of Tushpa. We view the Sardur Bastion, the Analı-Kız Open Air Temple (with its historical blood channels), and the rock tombs of Kings Argishti I, Menua, and Sarduri II from above.
Midday: Leaving Van (situated at the foothills of the 3,250m Mount Erek), we head to Gevaş, located at the base of the extinct 3,550m Mount Artos. Following a lunch break, we board our boat (Extra 40 TL) for a 30-minute journey across Lake Van. At 1,646m altitude and spanning 3,755 km², it is Turkey’s largest lake, known for its salty and soda-rich waters.
Afternoon: Arrive at Akdamar Island to visit the Gagik Church (Cathedral of the Holy Cross), built between 915-921 by Vaspurakan King Gagik I, dedicated by Monk Manuel. We sail back to Gevaş and return to the center of Van, a city legendarily founded in 1800 BC by the Assyrian Queen Semiramis. After some free time in the city center, transfer to Van Ferit Melen Airport for your departure flight back to Istanbul.
