Boutique Eastern Anatolia Tour

After having breakfast at our hotel in the morning, we set out for a two-hour journey with scenic views of Lake Van. At the end of our trip, we arrive in Tatvan, a district of Bitlis located on the shores of Lake Van, nestled at the northern foothills of the İhtiyar Şahap Mountains, with its highest peak being Mount Artos.

Our first stop is the Nemrut Caldera National Park. Here, you will have the opportunity to photograph Turkey’s largest crater lake and its unique, untouched natural wonders. You may be surprised to see hot and cold lakes side by side. The rich flora, home to endemic species, and the steam vents offer nature enthusiasts a visual feast.

Afterwards, we move on to Ahlat, one of the oldest Turkish settlements in Anatolia. In Ahlat, which is a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage List, we visit the Seljuk Cemetery, one of the most important points of Turkish art. Here, we see many significant structures, including gravestones that can exceed four meters in height and the Emir Bayındır Tomb. Next, we head to our restaurant in Tatvan for lunch. After lunch, we will proceed to Bitlis.

Famous for the folk song “Bitliste 5 Minare Beri Gel Oğlan”, this small but historic city reveals its minarets, İhlasiye Madrasa, and Ethnography Museum during our visit. After the tours, we return to our hotel in Van via Tatvan.

Dinner will be served at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, our first sightseeing stop is Çavuştepe, which was used as a capital by King Sarduri II and continues to shed light on Urartian history with the intriguing discoveries unearthed in recent excavations. Here, we get the chance to explore the ruins of an Urartian capital, accompanied by Mehmet Kuşman—one of only seven people in the world fluent in the Urartian language and accepted as a living cultural heritage.

Following our tour, we head to our dock in Gevaş and board our waiting boat to reach Akdamar Island. After about a 30-minute voyage, we arrive at Akdamar Island. Here, with our guide’s explanations, we explore the “Surp Haç” Church—an architectural and artistic masterpiece of medieval Armenian heritage on the path to UNESCO World Culture status. Commissioned between 915-921 by I. Hacik Gagik Ardzruni and designed by architect Manuel as the center of a monastic complex, the church's walls feature fascinating shadow and light effects that change with the seasons, illustrating relief scenes inspired by stories from the Torah and the Bible. We tour this clover-plan church, then reach our restaurant after a brief boat ride.

After enjoying our lunch of local delicacies, we continue to Van city center. On the way, we make a short stop where Van Kilims woven by women are introduced. Our first visit in the city center is the newly renovated Van Museum. This wonderful museum stands out especially with its Urartian artifacts. After touring the museum, we visit a venue where we see Van Cats and the famous Urartian silver Savat craftsmanship. The Van Cats enchant us with their colorful eyes, and the Savat work, preserved from Urartian women to present day thanks to their unique techniques, is truly magnificent.

Next, we visit Van Castle. At the entrance, reachable through the sacred area known as “Analı-Kız” at the foot of the castle, established in the mid-9th century BC by Urartian King Sarduri I, we view the “Van Castle Tumulus” excavation site before ascending to the castle, which offers extraordinary vistas. Here, we have the opportunity to photograph modern Van city, Lake Van, and Old Van. At the end of our excursions, we depart for Van Airport and bid you farewell until our next adventure.