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This journey takes you to the centuries-old cultural treasures of Northeast Turkey: Byzantine monasteries and Ottoman palaces, Georgian churches and Seljuk madrasas. You will visit the Sumela Monastery spectacularly clinging to a rock face, the vast ruins of Ani, the Ishak Pasha Palace majestically overlooking a wide plateau, and the idyllic monastic island of Akdamar in the turquoise-blue Lake Van. In Erzurum and Kars, you will admire historic buildings and traditional bazaars. In a tea garden by the Black Sea you will be introduced to the secrets of Turkish çay, enjoy a picnic in the Pontic Mountains, and taste tangy regional specialties in 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 old towns of Kars and Erzurum.
*The discount cannot be combined with other promotions or reductions and is valid only for bookings made directly with us in our travel agency between 22/09 and 29/09/2025.
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 in a restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Novotel Trabzon****(*) in Trabzon (D)
Sumela Monastery, Old Town of Trabzon
Visit to Sumela Monastery in the Altindere Valley
Stroll through Trabzon’s Old Town
Visit to Hagia Sophia and the ruins of ancient Trapezunt
Dinner at the hotel restaurant
Overnight at Hotel Novotel Trabzon****(*) (B, D)
Tea Cultivation in Rize, Zilkale Castle in the Romantic Firtina Valley
Drive to the tea-growing region of Rize
Visit of a tea plantation with tasting
Continue into the Kaçkar Mountains (by minibus) to medieval Zilkale Castle
Walk through the Firtina Valley to the Palovit waterfall
Local specialties at the hotel restaurant
Overnight at Boutique Hotel Dudi Konağı*** in Çamlıhemşin (B, T, D)
Through the Pontic Mountains
Drive through the Pontic Mountains and the “Georgian Athos”
Exterior view of the Church of Ishan
Picnic with fresh regional products
Overnight at Hotel Ramada**** in Erzurum (B, P, D)
Erzurum
City tour of Erzurum
Visit to Çifte Minareli Medrese
Stroll through the bazaar
Continue to Kars
Overnight at Boutique Hotel Celtikov***(*) in Kars (B)
Multicultural Kars, Historic Capital Ani, and the Cheese Museum in Bogatepe
City tour of Kars
Visit to the ruins of Ani (UNESCO World Heritage)
Cheese tasting in the village of Bogatepe
Overnight at Boutique Hotel Celtikov***(*) (B, T, D)
Panoramic Drive to Lake Van
Drive to Van
En route panoramic view of Mount Ararat (weather permitting)
Visit to Ishak Pasha Palace
Visit to Tuspa Fortress
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at Hotel Ramada by Wyndham**** in Van (B, D)
Van and Akhtamar Monastery
Visit to a carpet workshop (influences of various cultures in local weaving)
Boat trip on Lake Van
Visit to the former Monastery of Akhtamar
Seljuk cemetery of Gevaş
Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at Hotel Ramada by Wyndham**** in Van (B, D)
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) (B)
B = Breakfast, T = Tasting, D = Dinner, P = Picnic.
Program and flight times subject to change.
Not included: seat reservations, optional activities and excursions, meals not mentioned, drinks, tips, personal expenses.
For entry into Turkey, Luxembourg nationals require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the return date (as of 08/2025). The passport must be in good condition and have at least two blank pages. For direct entry from Luxembourg, no mandatory vaccinations are required (as of 08/2025). It is generally recommended to keep standard vaccinations up to date and consult a doctor before long-haul travel. Further information will be provided with your booking confirmation/invoice.
Prices are generally based on special and operator fares of the selected airline. Seat availability is limited; surcharges may apply for bookings within three months of departure.
Most accommodations offer Wi-Fi, though coverage is not always reliable. Hotels are non-smoking. If a booked hotel is unexpectedly unavailable, a comparable alternative will be provided.
Further details about the trip and the destination will be provided with your travel documents.
Travel insurance is not included. We strongly recommend purchasing both cancellation insurance (including Covid-19) and travel health insurance covering Covid-19 treatments (including quarantine). Currently, no Covid-19 restrictions apply (as of 08/2025), but this may change.
This trip is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or back problems. Please inform us before booking if this applies, so we can check whether your needs can be met.
Planet B is a brand of Bollig Tours. Therefore, Bollig Tours Sàrl is listed as the tour operator.
(+352) 72 97 22-1 - info@bollig-tours.lu
121, route de Luxembourg L-6562 Echternach
Mon - Fri 10.00 - 18.00 / Sat 09.00 - 13.00
