Small group tour of Northern Turkey

Arrival in Ankara and transfer to the hotel

Evening meal and overnight in Ankara.

Ankara is Turkey’s capital and second-largest city, located in the country’s central Anatolia region. A modern metropolis built around an ancient citadel, Ankara became the republic’s capital in 1923 under Atatürk. The city blends government institutions, universities, and contemporary development with historical sites, including Atatürk’s monumental mausoleum, Anıtkabir, and the historic Ankara Castle.

We begin with a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations: Turkey’s premier archaeological museum, housed in a restored Ottoman bazaar complex. This exceptional institution showcases artifacts spanning from the Paleolithic era through classical antiquity, featuring unparalleled Hittite collections, Neolithic treasures from Çatalhöyük, and Bronze Age masterpieces, offering a comprehensive journey through Anatolia’s rich ancient heritage.

In the afternoon we visit Anitkabir – the Mausoeum of Ataturk – and the castle area of the city.

Evening meal and overnight in Ankara.

We depart Ankara in the morning for a 3 hour journey to Safranbolu – a remarkably preserved Ottoman town in northern Turkey’s Karabük Province, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. Named after the saffron crocus once cultivated here, this enchanting town showcases traditional Turkish architecture through its hundreds of Ottoman-era houses, mosques, and bathhouses. The distinctive white-walled homes with timber frames and red-tiled roofs cascade down hillsides, creating a picturesque skyline. Once a vital caravan stop on major trade routes, Safranbolu flourished between the 13th and 20th centuries.

En route, we stop off at Tokatli Canyon and the İncekaya Byzantine aquaducts

Evening meal and overnight in Safranbolu.

This morning, we wander the cobblestone streets, explore artisan workshops, and experience authentic Turkish hospitality in converted historic houses, making it a living museum of Ottoman urban life.

In the afternoon we pay a visit to Yörük köyü, the more remote, miniature cousin of Safranbolu.

Evening meal and overnight in Safranbolu.

This morning we depart Safranbolu for the drive to Amasya. we punctuate the five hour drive with a stop at Kastamonu and visit to the Nasrullah Mosque.

Evening meal and overnight in Amasya

Today we dedicate the whole days to exploring Amasya: a stunning historical city nestled in a dramatic narrow valley where traditional Ottoman houses line the Yeşilırmak River beneath towering cliffs. Known as the “City of Princes,” Amasya served as a training ground for Ottoman heirs and boasts a rich history spanning Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman periods. The city’s most striking features include ancient Pontic rock tombs carved into sheer cliff faces, a hilltop citadel offering panoramic views, and beautifully preserved Ottoman mansions reflected in the river waters. Famous for its apples and as the birthplace of the geographer Strabo, Amasya combines natural beauty with architectural heritage, creating an unforgettable atmosphere of timeless tranquility.

In addition, the water-course around Ferhat Dağı is said to be the inspiration of Nazim Hikmet’s play Ferhat and Şirin. You can read an article by Damian Croft about this legend on our blog.

Evening meal and overnight in Amasya

Today we have another long drive from Amasya to Trabzon via Tokat.

Evening meal and overnight in Trabzon

Sümela Monastery is a breathtaking Greek Orthodox monastery clinging to a sheer cliff face in the Pontic Mountains near Trabzon, Turkey. Founded in the 4th century and perched at 1,200 meters altitude, this spectacular complex features frescoed chapels, rock-carved chambers, and stunning views over the Altındere Valley, representing centuries of Byzantine monastic tradition.

Evening meal and overnight in the Trabzon

Mornign drive to Ayder Yayla to arrive in time for lunch.

Ayder Yayla is a breathtaking highland plateau in Turkey’s Rize Province, nestled in the verdant Kaçkar Mountains. Situated at approximately 1,350 meters altitude, this picturesque yayla (summer pasture) is renowned for its dramatic natural beauty, featuring cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and mist-shrouded peaks. The area offers natural hot springs believed to have therapeutic properties, traditional wooden chalets, and serves as a gateway for trekking into the rugged Kaçkar range. With its cool mountain climate, alpine meadows dotted with grazing cattle, and authentic highland culture, Ayder provides a refreshing escape from coastal humidity, attracting nature lovers, hikers, and those seeking tranquility amid spectacular scenery.

Evening meal and overnight in the Ayder Yayla

Full day exploring the Ayder Plateau and a visit to Zil Kale in a neightbouring valley.

Evening meal and overnight in Ayder

Morning drive to Artvin.

After lunch we visit the the medieval Georgian Orthodox monastery of Dolishana – a remnant of the historic kingdom of Tao-Klarjeti.

Evening meal and overnight in Artvin

Today allows us further exploration of some of the Georgian and Armenian churches of this corner of Turkey. Işhan, Öşkvank, Haho:

Işhan (whose name derives from the Armenian word for “prince” իշխան – ishkhan) was one of the important spiritual centers in medieval Tao-Klarjeti. The first church was built by the Armenian Catholicos Nerses III (641-661), a native of the village

Öşkvank is a Georgian Eastern Orthodox monastery built between 963 and 973, with its main church dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Sponsored by Georgian King Bagrat II and David III of Tao, it was a major center of Georgian literature and enlightenment during the Middle Ages and is considered one of the largest and architecturally most complex buildings in the Eastern Christian world. The church features a cruciform plan combining a basilica with a centralized dome, delicately hued yellow stone facades, blind arches, ornate sculptures including a recurring eagle clutching prey, and decayed frescoes.

Haho was founded in the second half of the 10th century by King David III Kurapalates between 976-1001 and became an important center of Georgian literature and culture. Now called Bağlar Başı, it’s one of the best preserved churches in the region.

(You can read more on these Georgian and Armenian monasteries on our blog post here).

Onward drive to Erzurum. Evening meal and overnight in Erzurum

Perched on a high plateau at 1,900 meters elevation, Erzurum is one of the country’s highest major cities. Founded as Theodosiopolis by the Byzantines, Erzurum has served as a strategic crossroads for centuries, evidenced by its impressive Seljuk and Ottoman monuments. The city is renowned for its distinctive architecture, including the twin-minaret: Çifte Minareli Medrese, the ancient Erzurum Castle, and beautifully decorated mosques.

Evening meal and overnight in Erzurum