In the morning, you will be picked up from your hotel in Istanbul and transferred to the airport for your flight to Van.

Upon arrival in Van, the tour will begin right away. Our first stop will be Van Citadel, a 2800-year-old fortress built by the ancient Armenian kingdom of Urartu. The fortress sits atop a 100-metre high bluff and offers spectacular panoramic views over Lake Van, which is the largest lake in Turkey.

From here we will drive to Cavustepe to visit the ruined citadel there. The caretaker speaks the ancient language of the Urartu Kingdom and can translate the stone tablets.

The next stop is another, more modern castle, Hosap. Hosap sits high above the surrounding landscape and was used to control and tax the road to Persia. Enjoy the stunning scenery!

After Hosap we will head to Gevas, on the coastline of Lake Van, where we will have lunch before taking a boat to the most famous location in the Lake Van District, Akhtamar Island. Akhtamar is home to the Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross, a beautifully preserved example of the architecture of 10th Century Armenian architecture. Decorating the exterior walls of the cathedral are an extensive array of carved Biblical reliefs, depicting scenes such as David and Goliath, and the Virgin Mary.

After Akhtamar Island, we will return to Gevas by boat and will head back to Van, where you will check into your hotel.

Overnight Van.

In the morning, you will be transferred from your hotel to Van airport for your flight back to Istanbul.

The tour ends in Istanbul. If you have any enquiries about further tours or travel within Turkey, we're happy to help!