Cultural treasures between the Black Sea coast and Lake Van

23 May - 31 May 2026

This journey takes you to the centuries-old cultural treasures of northeastern Türkiye: Byzantine monasteries and Ottoman palaces, Georgian churches, and Seljuk madrasas. You will visit the spectacular Sumela Monastery clinging to a cliff, the vast ruins of Ani, the majestic Ishak Pasha Palace towering over a wide plateau, and the idyllic monastery island of Akdamar in the turquoise waters of Lake Van. In Erzurum and Kars, admire historic buildings and traditional bazaars. At a tea garden on the Black Sea, you will be introduced to the secrets of Turkish çay, enjoy a picnic in the Pontic Mountains, and taste spicy regional cheeses at a small cheese museum.

You will stay in carefully selected hotels: on the shores of the Black Sea and Lake Van, in the Pontic Mountains, and near the historic centers of Kars and Erzurum.

Itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Trabzon

• Flight Luxembourg–Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 10:25–14:50)
• Connecting flight Istanbul–Trabzon (Turkish Airlines, 17:45–19:35)
• Welcome and transfer to the hotel
• Dinner with local specialties at a restaurant

Day 2: Sumela Monastery, Trabzon Old Town

• Visit the Sumela Monastery in the Altindere Valley
• Walk through Trabzon’s Old Town
• Visit Hagia Sophia and the ruins of ancient Trapezus
• Dinner at the hotel restaurant

Day 3: Tea Plantations in Rize, Zilkale Castle in the Romantic Firtina Valley

• Drive to the Rize tea region
• Visit a tea plantation with tasting
• Continue to the Kaçkar Mountains (by minibuses) to the medieval Zilkale Castle
• Walk in the Firtina Valley to Palovit Waterfall
• Dinner at the hotel with local specialties

Day 4: Through the Pontic Mountains

• Drive through the Pontic Mountains and the “Georgian Athos”
• Exterior visit to Ishan Church
• Picnic with fresh regional products

Day 5: Erzurum

• City tour of Erzurum
• Visit the Çifte Minareli Medrese
• Stroll through the bazaar
• Continue to Kars

Day 6: Multicultural Kars, Historic Capital Ani, and the Bogatepe Cheese Museum

• City tour of Kars
• Visit the ruins of Ani (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
• Cheese tasting in the village of Bogatepe

Day 7: Panoramic Drive to Lake Van

• Drive to Van
• Panoramic view of Mount Ararat (weather permitting)
• Visit Ishak Pasha Palace
• Visit Tuspa Castle
• Dinner at the hotel

Day 8: Van and Akhtamar Monastery

• Visit a carpet workshop (showing cultural influences in local weaving)
• Boat trip on Lake Van
• Visit the former Akhtamar Monastery
• Seljuk Cemetery of Gevas
• Dinner at the hotel

Day 9: Return Flight

• Transfer to Van Airport
• Flight Van–Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 10:55–13:25)
• Connecting flight Istanbul–Luxembourg (Turkish Airlines, 15:00–17:55)