Themed tour
Hittite and Neolithic Anatolia in 9 days: Hattusa, Gordion and Çatalhöyük
From the Istanbul Archaeology Museum to the Zeugma mosaics by way of Gordion, Hattusa, Cappadocia and Çatalhöyük: nine days through the sites of central and south-eastern Anatolia with a licensed English-speaking guide.
Key facts
- Duration 9 days / 8 nights
- Route Istanbul → Gaziantep 10 destinations
- Quotation Quotation within 72 business hours
- Recommended months April–June, September, October
- Type Private
Heads of the Commagene statues on the summit of Mount Nemrut, the penultimate stage of the route
Overview
A 9-day, 8-night themed programme for agencies and groups who travel for archaeology: it covers the great sites of central and south-eastern Anatolia, from the Neolithic to the Roman Empire. It starts in Istanbul, at the Archaeology Museum, with the Kadesh treaty tablet and the Alexander Sarcophagus; flies to Ankara to visit Gordion, the Phrygian capital with the tumulus attributed to Midas, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations; and continues to Hattusa, the Hittite capital, and the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya. From Cappadocia, with the underground city of Kaymaklı and the rock churches of Göreme, it goes down to Çatalhöyük, one of the oldest known Neolithic settlements, and to Konya; crosses the Cilician Gates to Adana and ends at Mount Nemrut, with the Commagene statues, and at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum.
It is operated privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide throughout, with entrance tickets included and the domestic flights Istanbul–Ankara and Gaziantep–Istanbul in the base. It is the Hittite and Neolithic route of the catalogue; the southeast from Şanlıurfa, with Göbeklitepe and Harran, is covered by the 7-day programme.
It is operated privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide throughout, with entrance tickets included and the domestic flights Istanbul–Ankara and Gaziantep–Istanbul in the base. It is the Hittite and Neolithic route of the catalogue; the southeast from Şanlıurfa, with Göbeklitepe and Harran, is covered by the 7-day programme.
Route: IstanbulAnkaraGordionHattusaCappadociaÇatalhöyükKonyaAdanaMount NemrutGaziantep
- Physical level: Moderate
- Languages of the guided visits: Spanish, English
Highlights
- Istanbul Archaeology Museum: the Kadesh treaty tablet and the Alexander Sarcophagus, before setting out into Anatolia.
- Gordion, the Phrygian capital with the great tumulus attributed to Midas, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.
- Hattusa, capital of the Hittite Empire, with the Lion Gate, the Yerkapı tunnel and the sanctuary of Yazılıkaya.
- Cappadocia with the underground city of Kaymaklı, the Göreme Open-Air Museum and the Paşabağ valley.
- Çatalhöyük, a Neolithic settlement some nine thousand years old, and the Mevlana Museum in Konya.
- Mount Nemrut with the Commagene statues and the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, with a licensed English-speaking guide and domestic flights included.
What is included and what is not
Included
- 8 nights’ accommodation in total: 2 nights in Istanbul, 1 night in Ankara, 2 nights in Cappadocia, 1 night in Konya, 1 night in Adana and 1 night in Adıyaman/Kâhta (or similar distribution, subject to availability).
- Daily breakfast at the hotels.
- Airport–hotel–airport transfers in Istanbul.
- Required hotel–airport–hotel/next-city transfers in Ankara and Gaziantep.
- Domestic flights according to the itinerary, in economy class (e.g. Istanbul–Ankara and Gaziantep–Istanbul; exact combination to be specified in the offer).
- Transportation by air-conditioned tourist vehicle for all mentioned transfers and sightseeing.
- Services of a licensed English-speaking guide throughout the circuit (other languages on request and subject to availability).
- Entrance fees to the monuments, museums and sites listed in the itinerary.
Not included
- International flights (home country – Istanbul – home country).
- Lunches and dinners (unless specifically stated as included).
- Optional activities: hot-air balloon flight in Cappadocia, Turkish night in a cave restaurant and sema ceremony in Konya.
- Personal expenses (shopping, minibar, drinks not mentioned, laundry, room service, etc.).
- Tips for guide, driver, porters, restaurants and hotel staff.
- Visa fees and visa handling services, if required.
- Travel insurance (recommended).
- Any services not explicitly mentioned as included.
Day by day itinerary
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Day 1
Arrival in Istanbul
Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW), meet-and-greet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest or take a first walk around the hotel, depending on the arrival time of the flight. The guide confirms the next day’s starting time at the hotel.Notes for the day: Transfers are operated from both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW); the arrival airport should be stated when requesting the quotation.
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Day 2
Istanbul: the Archaeology Museum and the old city
The day starts at the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, in the gardens of Topkapı: the cuneiform tablet of the Kadesh treaty between Hittites and Egyptians, the Alexander Sarcophagus from Sidon and the Ancient Orient collections. Then the old city: the Hippodrome, with the Obelisk of Theodosius and the Serpent Column, Hagia Sophia and the Basilica Cistern. Free afternoon at the Grand Bazaar. Return to the hotel.Notes for the day: A walking day on cobbled streets. The halls of the Archaeology Museum open and close in phases of renovation; if a piece is not on display on the date of the visit, the guide says so. Working mosques close to visitors during prayer times.
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Day 3
Flight to Ankara, Gordion and the Museum of Civilizations
Morning domestic flight to Ankara and departure west to Gordion, at Yassıhöyük: the Phrygian capital, inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2023, with the great tumulus attributed to King Midas, entered through a tunnel to the wooden chamber, and the site museum. Return to Ankara for the afternoon at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, whose home is a fifteenth-century Ottoman bedesten: the Neolithic halls from Çatalhöyük, the Alacahöyük standards, the Hittite reliefs and the Phrygian and Urartian collections. Overnight in Ankara.Notes for the day: Domestic flight from Istanbul to Ankara first thing; the order of Gordion and the museum depends on the confirmed schedule. Gordion is about 90 kilometres from Ankara.
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Day 4
Hattusa, Yazılıkaya and Cappadocia
Departure east, about 200 kilometres, to Boğazkale. Hattusa, the capital of the Hittite Empire, is toured by vehicle between its points, with stops on foot: the Great Temple and the lower city, the reconstructed wall, the Lion Gate, the King’s Gate and the Yerkapı tunnel under the Sphinx Gate. Two kilometres away, the rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, with the processions of gods carved in its two chambers. A stop for lunch in Boğazkale, at the traveller’s expense, and the drive on to Cappadocia, about 230 kilometres. Overnight in Cappadocia.Notes for the day: Hattusa covers a hillside several kilometres across and is toured by vehicle; the stretches on foot are short but sloping and unshaded. About 430 kilometres of driving in total over the day.
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Day 5
Cappadocia: Kaymaklı, Göreme and Paşabağ
Those who wish can start the day with the sunrise balloon flight (optional, weather permitting). After breakfast, the underground city of Kaymaklı, dug on several levels with stables, cellars and rolling stone doors; the Göreme Open-Air Museum, with the rock churches and their frescoes; the Paşabağ valley, with its multi-headed fairy chimneys, and a pottery workshop in Avanos, on the banks of the Kızılırmak. Return to the hotel.Optional activities
- Sunrise hot-air balloon flight over the valleys of Cappadocia
- Turkish night in a cave restaurant
Notes for the day: Kaymaklı has low, narrow passages and is not advisable for people with claustrophobia; it is possible to wait outside with the driver. The balloon flight depends on clearance from the aviation authority each morning.
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Day 6
Çatalhöyük and Konya
Departure south across the Konya plain, about 230 kilometres. Çatalhöyük, near Çumra, is one of the largest and oldest known Neolithic settlements: the excavations are visited under the protective shelters, with the terraced houses entered through the roof, and the reconstructed experimental house. The drive continues to Konya, 50 kilometres, to visit the Mevlana Museum, the mausoleum of the founder of the whirling dervish order, and the Karatay madrasa, with its collection of Seljuk ceramics. Overnight in Konya.Optional activities
- Sema ceremony in Konya (subject to the calendar)
Notes for the day: At Çatalhöyük the visit runs along walkways under the shelters; the site is open-air and very hot at midday in summer.
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Day 7
Konya – Adana through the Cilician Gates
A road stage towards the Mediterranean, about 350 kilometres: the Taurus mountains are crossed through the Cilician Gates, the historic pass between the plateau and the plain. In the afternoon, Adana: the Archaeology Museum, with the region’s sarcophagi and mosaics, the Roman bridge of Taşköprü over the Seyhan river and the Kazancılar bazaar. Overnight in Adana.Notes for the day: About four hours of driving with stops. Dinner is free: the occasion to try Adana kebab in its home city.
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Day 8
Adana – Kâhta and Mount Nemrut
Early departure east, about 350 kilometres, to the Kâhta area in ancient Commagene. In the afternoon, the Karakuş tumulus, the Roman bridge of Cendere and Arsameia, with the relief of Mithridates and Heracles. Ascent of Mount Nemrut: the final stretch is on foot up to the terraces with the colossal statues of Antiochus I and the gods, and sunset is awaited on the west terrace. Descent and overnight in Kâhta or Adıyaman.Notes for the day: The final ascent of Mount Nemrut is on foot along a stony, sloping path at a moderate walking level. The summit is considerably colder and windier than the valley, even in summer. The order of the afternoon stops is adjusted to the time of sunset.
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Day 9
Zeugma and flight back to Istanbul
Road to Gaziantep, about 170 kilometres, to visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, with the Roman mosaics rescued from the city before the Birecik reservoir covered it, among them the portrait known as the Gypsy Girl. Time for the coppersmiths’ bazaar and lunch at leisure in the city, whose gastronomy is recognised by UNESCO. In the afternoon, transfer to the airport and domestic flight to Istanbul to connect with the international flight; if the outbound flight leaves the next day, a night in Istanbul can be added in the quotation.Notes for the day: Domestic flight from Gaziantep to Istanbul. Time at the museum and the bazaar depends on the confirmed flight schedule; a generous margin for the international connection is advisable.
How the rate is calculated
Rate tailored to the season, the hotel category and the number of travellers. Request a quotation.
Departures
Tailor-made departures: any date
The programme is operated privately for your group: you choose the starting day and the itinerary is built around that date. There is no fixed departure calendar and no outside group to join.
Route map
Istanbul → Ankara → Gordion → Hattusa → Cappadocia → Çatalhöyük → Konya → Adana → Mount Nemrut → Gaziantep
Operational notes
- The order of the visits may change according to opening hours, traffic and the day’s operation. The content of the programme stays the same.
- Domestic flights are issued in economy class and the checked and cabin baggage allowance depends on the airline and the fare issued; the exact allowance is shown on the ticket. Schedules may be rearranged and the day’s programme follows the confirmed flight.
- On the last day, the domestic flight back to Istanbul connects with the international flight. A generous margin between the two is advisable; if the outbound flight leaves the next day, a night in Istanbul can be added in the quotation.
- Hattusa covers a hillside several kilometres across: it is toured by vehicle between its points, with short but sloping and unshaded stops on foot. The Yerkapı tunnel is walked through, stooping in places.
- Çatalhöyük is visited along walkways under the protective shelters over the excavations; the route is limited to the marked areas and the context is explained by the guide.
- The final approach to the summit of Mount Nemrut is on foot along a stony, sloping path at a moderate walking level. On the summit, above 2,000 metres, temperatures are noticeably lower and the wind stronger than in the valley, even in summer.
- Access to the summit of Mount Nemrut may be closed by snow or ice between late autumn and spring. Accessibility is checked for each departure date before the programme is confirmed.
- The underground cities of Cappadocia have low, narrow passages with uneven steps; they are not advisable for people with claustrophobia or reduced mobility, who can wait outside with the driver.
- The balloon flight in Cappadocia is an optional activity quoted with the programme and subject each morning to clearance from the civil aviation authority. When the flight window is closed by wind or fog, the activity is cancelled and the amount paid is refunded or moved, according to the balloon operator’s terms.
- The halls of the Istanbul Archaeology Museum and of other museums on the route open and close in phases of renovation, and a particular piece may not be on display on the date of the visit. The guide says so and the content of the programme stays the same.
- Museums and archaeological sites may have a weekly closing day and different summer and winter opening hours. The final itinerary is adjusted to the opening calendar in force on the travel dates.
- Mosques require shoes to be removed and shoulders and knees covered; women are required to cover their hair. Bringing your own scarf is advisable, although the busiest mosques usually lend one at the entrance.
- Working mosques close to visitors during the five daily prayers and, in particular, around the Friday midday prayer. When a visit coincides, the commentary is given outside or the day is reordered.
- Hagia Sophia is a working mosque. Foreign visitors follow a separate tourist route through the upper galleries, while the ground floor is reserved for prayer. That route closes during the five daily prayers and, at Friday midday, for a longer period. The visiting arrangement and opening hours depend on current regulations and may change without notice; if access is restricted on the date of the visit, the monument is explained from outside.
- During the religious holidays (Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı, whose dates move with the lunar calendar) museum and shop hours change, monuments are busier, and domestic flights and roads fill up.
- Between June and September the midday heat is intense at open-air sites. Visits are concentrated early and late in the day, and water, a hat and sun protection are advisable.
- A valid passport, the visa or electronic authorisation and compliance with entry requirements are the traveller’s responsibility. They depend on nationality and should be checked well in advance.
Best time to travel
Recommended months: April, May, June, September, October
The route crosses the central plateau and drops down to the southeast, and its season is set by two extremes: the summer heat on the Konya plain, in Adana and in Commagene, with open-air visits concentrated early and late in the day between June and September, and the winter snow at Hattusa and on the summit of Mount Nemrut, whose access may be closed between late autumn and spring. From April to June and from September to October temperatures allow the sites to be visited in comfort and the days are long for sunset on Nemrut. Access to the summit is checked for each date before the programme is confirmed.
Gallery
Frequently asked questions
How is the tour operated?
It is designed to be run privately, with a vehicle and a licensed English-speaking guide for your party, on the date you request. The hotel category, the included services and the exact conditions are set out in the quotation.
Who guides the circuit?
A licensed English-speaking guide accompanies the group throughout and explains the context of each site. If your group has a specialised interest — a university, an association, an accompanying lecturer — say so when requesting the quotation.
Why does the programme not include Göbeklitepe?
Göbeklitepe and Harran are in the 7-day Southeast Anatolia programme, which starts from Şanlıurfa. This circuit follows the Hittite and Neolithic thread from Ankara and ends in Commagene and Zeugma; the two routes can be linked in a single quotation.
How much driving is there each day?
There are three long stages: Ankara–Hattusa–Cappadocia (about 430 kilometres), Konya–Adana (about 350) and Adana–Kâhta (about 350). The other days range between 100 and 280 kilometres. All legs are driven in a private vehicle, with stops.
How demanding is it?
Moderate. Hattusa is toured by vehicle between short, sloping stops; Kaymaklı has low passages that can be avoided; the final stretch of Mount Nemrut is a stony path of about twenty minutes on foot. No stretch is compulsory.
When is the best time?
From April to June and from September to October. In summer the southeast and the Konya plain are very hot at midday; between late autumn and spring access to the summit of Mount Nemrut may be closed by snow, and it is checked for each date before the programme is confirmed.
Are the domestic flights included?
Yes: Istanbul–Ankara on day 3 and Gaziantep–Istanbul on day 9 are part of the base. The exact combination and the schedules are detailed in the offer.
Is a visa needed to enter Turkey?
It depends on your nationality. The visa or electronic authorisation and passport validity are the traveller’s responsibility; current requirements should be checked before travelling.
Booking conditions
- Deposit
- 30% of the total when the booking is confirmed. For bookings made 30 days or less before departure, the full amount at confirmation.
- Balance
- The remaining 70%, no later than 31 days before departure.
- Payment methods
- Bank transfer or credit card. Card payments carry a 3% surcharge; charges applied by the issuing bank are borne by the client.
- Cancellations
- More than 90 days before departure: handling fee only, plus penalties on services already issued · 89–61 days: 25% · 60–31 days: 50% · 30 days or less and no-show: 100%. Reductions in places follow the same scale. Refunds within 10–14 business days of written cancellation.
Credentials
- Legal name
- Colorido Tours Turkey Turizm Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
- TÜRSAB licence
- A-12116
- Office
- Istanbul
- Operating scope
- Turkey only. Egypt, Jordan and the Greek islands only as extensions of a Turkey itinerary.
- Guides
- Licensed guides in Spanish and English
- 24/7 emergency line during the trip
- +90 544 533 53 55
- Who handles your request
- Your request is handled by our reservations team, and the same person follows the file from quotation through to operation on the ground.
