Legends of Anatolia & the Black Sea 9 Day Heritage & Nature Journey
|9 Days, 11 Destinations |Starts from Ankara
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Best price guaranteed
No booking fees
Earn €20 in travel credits
Duration

9 days

Max Group Size

30

Departure Type

Scheduled

Guiding Method

Fully guided

Physical level

easy

Operated In

English

Age Requirement

11 - 99 Ages

Tour Overview

Embark on a captivating 9-day journey through the heart of Anatolia and along the dramatic Black Sea coast. From the ancient capital of Ankara to the serene highlands of Ayder, this immersive tour combines Turkey’s rich history, natural beauty, and cultural treasures. Discover Hittite ruins, Ottoman heritage, vibrant tea plantations, and enchanting lakes and forests. Perfect for travelers seeking a blend of archaeology, history, and breathtaking landscapes.

FamilyHistoricalIn-depth CulturalMuseumDiscoveryExplorerSightseeingSolo TravelPhotography

Route

Starts from

Ankara

Ends in

Trabzon

Pickup Location

Ankara Esenboga Airport

Dropoff Location

Trabzon International Airport

Tour route map

Highlights

Explore Ankara's Anatolian Civilizations Museum and Atatürk’s Mausoleum Walk among ancient Hittite temples in Hattuşa, a UNESCO World Heritage Site See the dramatic Pontic Tombs and Ottoman mansions in Amasya Trace Atatürk’s first step of independence in Samsun Ride cable cars over Ordu’s Boztepe Hill with views of the Black Sea Discover the clifftop Sumela Monastery in the lush Altındere Valley Stroll around Uzungöl Lake and the alpine beauty of Ayder Plateau Witness the untouched nature of Karagöl in Borçka Natural Park Visit local tea factories and taste the flavors of the Black Sea region

Itinerary

Pick up from Ankara Esenboga Airport  and visit Ankara. Today we visit : Ankara Anatolian Civilisations Museum  is housing artifacts from many civilizations and  archeological sites of Turkey from the The stone age all the way till  Roman Age in chronological order.
Ankara Castle and old houses of Ankara : The castle built at Altindag Distirct at a high point and offers a great view of Ankara. It was built first by Galatians in 2 nd C BC. The Wooden Old Ankara Houses from 18 th and 20 th C  are located in the castle .Anitkabir  is  Mausoleum of Ataturk The founder of Turkish Republic after tour, transfer to Hotel Overnight in Ankara

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
Departure from Ankara at 08:00am and drive to Hattusas,
* Hattusas was  the capital of the Hittite Empire in between 16 C BC and 12 C BC . Here we see the ruins of The temples, Royal houses, the city walls and Yazilikaya where  the Hittites  Gods Reliefs  carved onto the rocks. Transfer to Hotel in Amasya . Overnight in Amasya

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
Departure at 08:00am and  Amasya City Tour .
*Rock Tombs of Royal Family of Pontus Kingdom -The Tombs carved into the cliff and facing to the Green River.
*Beyazit Mosque and its  complex -This copmplex built in 15 th C AD after Beyazit The Second was crowned as a sultan. The Complex consist of Mosque , Madrasah , Imarethane(soup kitchen for poors and Turbe ( tomb of  the sultan's son)
*Hazeranlar Konak- A large traditonal of Amasya  house which was built in 19 C and it  is used Etnography Musuem.
*Green River District - We walk along the Green River and see the old wooden houses built on its bank. We see also the statues of the famous people who were from Amasya such as Strabon, the famous Geoghrapher
*Amasya Musuem - here we see the finding from archeological sites of Amasya including the mummies of a royal family
*Ferhat and Sirin Musuem - The famous love story of Ferhat and Sirin is displayed in the musuem as well as Leyla and Mejnun , Asli and Kerem , Romeo and Julliet afternoon at 1300 pm departure to Samsun . Upon arrival we visit :
*Amazon Village-This  small musuem of Amazonas tells us about the life of Amazones who lived in this city around 14 C BC.
We see the huge statue of Penthesilea the brave queen of the Amazones who fought Achilles in Troy .
* Amisos Hill - we take a short cable car from Amazon village to Amisos Hill and  we see the tumulus type tombs of Pontus Kings.
* Ilk Adim Monument ( First Step) - Mustafa Kemal Ataturk disembarked from 3 days ship journey  here in 19 th may 1919 which is the begining of the independence war of the Turks.  We see models of Ataturk and his friends marching from the sea to the city.
*Bandirma Ship - This is the excat model of Bandirma Ship which carried Mustafa Kemal  Ataturk and his friends from Istanbul to Samsun.
End of the tour transfer to Hotel in Samsun . Overnight in Samsun.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
We depart from Samsun to Trabzon and on the way we see :
* Yasun promontory (A promontory which is  12 km extending into the Black Sea and it was named after the Greek Mythological Hero Jason who was searching for the Golden Fleece . There is a church from chirstian era on the tip of the promontory named Jason Church
*Ordu Boztepe -We ride on cable car and go 2700 meters from the sea  up to Boztepehill .Boztepe  Hill is 570 meters high and offers a speactacular view of Black Sea Coasts and Ordu City.
* Chocolate outlet store -Black Sea region is famous for its hazel nut and there are chocolate factories . We stop at outlet store for chocolate taste and shopping

*Giresun museum -The Musuem building is a Greek church and today is used a musuem to exhibit the neighborhood archeological findings
* Giresun Children Library - A Catholic church of 19 C was converted to libabry in recent years
* Zeytinlik Houses and Giresun Castle - We see the Greek houses in zeytinlik and view coasts of Black Sea from Giresun Castle.

*Tirebolu Castle or Saint John Castle -it was  built around 10 C BC  and renovated in later centuries.Located on little hill on the Black Sea Coasts and in Byzantine Era a church was built in the castle which was  dedicated to Saint John .arrival to Trabzon and check in hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
A full day dedicated to Trobzon and its neighbourhood.
Departure at 08.00am to Sumela Monastery
* Sumela Monastery is a Greek Orthodox monastery dedicated to the Virgin Mary at Melas  Mountain's cliff viewing Altindere Valley. it was built firsty in 3 C Ad. And enlarged in later centuries .  The rock-cut  churches of the monastery  designed with frescoes in Byzantine Era.
*Hagi Sophia Church&Mosque -A 13th CenturyGreek  Church .Nowadays still in use as a Mosque. its fresoces are magnificent .
*Ataturk's House  - Essentially a rich Greek Business Man Mansion from 20 C AD. Later it was used by Ataturk as a summer house and therefore it is called Ataturk House
* Fatih Mosque - A greek church which was called Panagia Hiroskaflos ( The Golden Head Mary) After the Turks conquered Trabzon it was converted to mosque and re-named Fatih Mosque after the Sultan who conquered the city.

* Boztepe (Panoramic view of Black sea and Trabzon)
End of the tour transfer to Hotel in Trabzon . Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
Departure at 08:00am and  drive between The Balck Sea and and the mountain slope which is planted with tea , in another word between blue and Green . On the way we stop to see

*Surmene Memisaga Konak : A 19 Century Mansion was built in local traditional archithecture . Local stone and wood are blended in this building.

*Tea Factory: The tea is grown in Black Sea region in Turkey. Here we visit one of the factories  and see the processing of the leaves and tea shopping opportunity.

Upon arrival we see  Uzungol Lake (This lake is surrounded by mountains and forest  and it is famous for its unique land scape.

Free afternoon to enjoy the nice walk around the lake.
End of the tour transfer to Hotel in Uzungol . Overnight in Uzungol .

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
Today's drive is the most scenic drive of the tour.
On the way we stop to see  :
*Rize Botanic and Tea Garden - Botanic and tea Garden is located  atop of little hill here we have a tea break and see the tea agrden and view Rize city and Rize Castle from here.

*Ayder Plateu and the waters falls - we see  the waterfalls in Ayder and the wooden houses built on the slope of the forest.

*Zilkale Castle which dominates the fantastic valley of Firtinaderesi River which is flowing in the bottom of a deep valley
*Cinciva ( Senyuva  ) Village : A very small village established just beside Firtinaderesi River and acrhed bridge . There are small cafeterias beside the river with a fantastic view of the forest background. We have a tea nd cofee break at this small village
*Palovit waterfall: located ina remote valley about 40 minutes drive after Zilkale. 
End of the tour transfer to Hotel in Ayder  . Overnight in 
 Ayder.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)
Departure at 08:00am and drive to Borcka.
We pass trough green forest mountains and arrive to Borçka.
Here we get on small minibuses and drive up to Karagol lake. the scenery on the way to Karagol Lake is just fantastic.
Karagol Lake is located in Karcal Mountain at  1500 meters hight  . Karagol Lake  is a picturesque small lake . it is in Borcka Natural Park.
We drive back to Borcka and have several photo stops to view the waterfalls and the mountains.
We see Muratli Dam Lake .Muratli Village remained  in the reservoir and the minaret of the village is still in the water as if floating.
Afternoon departure to Trabzon
Arrival and check in hotel. 
Overnight in  Trabzon.

After breakfast check out from your hotel and transfer to Airport for your flight back home.
We hope you have enjoyed our  9 day Ankara - Amasya- Samsun- Ordu-Giresun – Trabzon –Uzungol- Ayder Tour. We hope this was a memorable tour for you and looking forward to see you again on another tour of ours. Thank you for joining us.

Trip includes

Included

1 nights hotel in Ankara - 4 Stars Hotel  Radisson Blu 
1 nights hotel in Samsun - 4 Stars Hotel  North Point Hotel 
1 night hotel in Amasya - 4 Stars Hotel or Boutique hotel beside the Green River 
3 night hotel in Trabzon - 4 Stars Hotel Usta Hotel 
1 night hotel in Uzungol - Special Class Tree Hotel  Hasimoglu hotel 
1 night hotel in Ayder - Hotel Special Class Tree Hotel Kardesler Hotel

PS: If This hotel list not available at the time of your booking then we will arrange smilar other hotel for your group. If you prefer a Different category hotel, there might be an additional cost

Hotel

Professional English speaking tour guide during the tour

Guiding Method
Fully guided

English

Meal plan as mentioned in the itinerary

Vegetarian Halal Meat

All Tour Transportation
Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach

Coach / BusMini-coachPrivate Vehicle

All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Guided Hattusas Tour
Guided Amasya - Samsun Tour
Guided Ordu Tour
Guided Sumela Monastery
Guided Uzungol Tour
Guided Rize- Ayder Tour
Guided Borcka Tour
Guided Trabzon Tour
All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
Hotel Room Taxes

Physical activity: Moderate; includes walking on uneven terrain

Best travel time: April to October for ideal weather and scenery

Packing tips: Comfortable shoes, layered clothing for variable climates

Photography: Karagöl, Ayder, and Sumela offer incredible photo opportunities

Cultural notes: Some religious sites require modest attire (headscarf for women)

Excluded

International flight tickets
All airport transfers and domestic flight 

Travel insurance (highly recommended)

Personal expenses (souvenirs, drinks, etc.)
Dinner meals (unless mentioned)
Tips for guide and driver

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