Cultural Tour to Discover Central Anatolia
This informative tour's attractive special price is made possible only through our reliable partners supporting us in the field. This participation is planned with the assumption that you are seriously considering organizing your own group travel (not a sales event!). SMYRNATOUR conducts this tour in cooperation with SunExpress.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1Flight to Kayseri and transfer to hotel.
Day 2After breakfast, visit to Seljuk period Hatun Complex, Double Madrasa, and Döner Kümbet tombs. Then free time in the bazaar. Afterwards, visit to Kültepe (Karum Kaneş), the Assyrians' first trade colony in Anatolia 4,000 years ago. Dinner and overnight in Boğazkale.
Daily distance: 20 km
Day 3Morning departure to Boğazkale. Detailed exploration of Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire: Walls, temple and palace ruins, and nearby Yazılıkaya Open Air Temple. Then, transfer to Sapinuva in Ortaköy district by the Çekerek River. This city, established 3,500 years ago, was the Hittites' military and religious center. Dinner and overnight in Çorum.
Daily distance: 190 km
Day 4After breakfast, departure to Amasya. In this ancient city, known as the "Baghdad of Rum" during the Seljuk period, we'll see rock tombs, castles, bridges, and aqueducts. Visit to the royal tombs from the Pontus Kingdom period and the Princes' Museum reflecting Ottoman city architecture. Dinner and overnight in Amasya.
Daily distance: 120 km
Day 5Transfer to Zile (ancient Zela). This region, where Julius Caesar's famous battle against Pontus King Pharnaces (47 BC) took place, is known for the phrase "I came, I saw, I conquered." Then departure to Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Daily distance: 320 km
Day 6Bus and walking tour in Cappadocia's fairy chimneys and valleys. Ascent to Uçhisar Castle and first walk in Pigeon Valley. Exploration of Byzantine monasteries and rock churches with frescoes in Göreme. Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Daily distance: 50 km
Day 7Paşabağ (Monks Valley) and the most beautiful examples of fairy chimneys. Then visit to cave houses in Zelve, an abandoned rock village. Short walk in Devrent Valley. Evening "Mevlana Philosophy" themed Whirling Dervishes show. Overnight in Cappadocia.
Daily distance: 50 km
Day 8Walk to restored St. John Church and Açıksaray ("Open Palace") in Gülşehir. Then, exploration of 10-level underground city Özkonak (with shelter, church, and storage areas). Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia.
Daily distance: 200 km
Day 9After breakfast, transfer to Kayseri Airport.
Daily distance: 70 km