Eastern Türkiye with Hannes Noëth

• We meet at the check-in counters of Turkish Airlines at the OR Tambo International Airport for our flight to Ankara.

• Ankara is the capital city of Türkiye. On arrival in Ankara, we visit the Ancient Civilizations Museum of Türkiye. It has been voted one of the best museums in Europe! This museum houses one of the best and most beautiful collections in the world. There are, for instance, examples of the settlements in chronological order of all the different civilisations that occurred in Anatolia.
• The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to get rid of the jetlag or stroll in the city or its parks.

Highlights:

• Ancient Civilizations Museum of Türkiye visit
• Leisure time in Ankara

• After breakfast we travel to Hattusha. Although the Hittite Empire vanished thousands of years ago, it has by no means been forgotten. Its capital, Hattusha, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• This city was founded on the site of an earlier settlement in about 1900 BC. It soon gained importance because the town had a karum (market) where a colony of Assyrian merchants had settled. During this time, the Hittites had preserved memories of their kings who had ruled from a city called Kussara, which has not been located.
• The remains of five temples have been discovered in the city. Temple 1 is the most impressive and gives us an idea of the religious life of the Hittites.
• The older part of the city stretches across the lower slopes of the hill above modern-day Boğazköy, continuing up to the high stronghold of Büyükkale in the southeast, where remnants of the ancient city walls still stand.
• By the 14th century BC, the city had grown in size and significance, prompting the expansion of its fortifications to protect the elevated areas. At its height, the city was enclosed by walls covering an area of approximately 300 acres.
• A century later, the nearby hill of Büyükkaya to the east was also enclosed and linked to the main city by a bridge. The newly built southern walls were especially impressive, showcasing both strength and sophisticated design. They featured stone-faced ramparts, outer curtain walls, and cleverly designed sally ports. Tower-flanked gateways with arches were adorned with intricate sculptures, reflecting the city’s architectural prowess.

Highlights:

• UNESCO-listed Hattusha
• Ancient temples and city walls

• Today, we journey along the beautiful Turkish coastline, passing through the charming towns of Ünye, Ordu, and Giresun—famously known as the land of cherries—en route to Trabzon.
• If time allows, we’ll explore the Church of St. Sophia and the city centre before checking into our hotel. Depending on our arrival, we may also visit the Sumela Monastery either later today or early tomorrow morning.

Highlights:

• Black Sea drive through the land of cherries
• Trabzon city centre & St. Sophia
• Optional visit to Sumela Monastery

• After breakfast, we depart for Erzurum, the largest province in Eastern Anatolia. Historically a major transportation hub, Erzurum continues to serve as a key transfer point for air, rail, and bus connections to Eastern Türkiye.
• The city’s history dates back to 4000 BC, with one of its most notable remnants being the remarkably well-preserved ancient city walls.

Highlights:

• Historic Erzurum
• Ancient city walls

• After breakfast, we depart for Ani, travelling along the ancient Silk Road.
• Explore the legendary ruins of Ani, a city once known as the “World City,” “Cradle of Civilizations,” “City of 1001 Churches,” and “City of 40” proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Once the capital of a powerful mediaeval Armenian kingdom, Ani dazzled with its rich cultural layers and architectural beauty. Today, its ruins reveal centuries of Christian and Muslim influence, offering a fascinating glimpse into mediaeval urban life.
• Highlights of our visit include the Cathedral of Ani, the Menüçehr Mosque, and the Tigran Honents Church.

Highlights:

• Ruins of Ani (UNESCO)
• Cathedral, mosque and churches

• After breakfast, we depart for Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Türkiye at 5,165 metres above sea level and a symbol of the Ağrı region. Ararat is a dormant volcano, usually covered in snow. According to tradition, this is where Noah’s Ark came to rest and where the second creation of the world began.
• At the foot of Mount Ararat lies the wide and fertile plain of Iğdır, believed to be the first dry land where Noah set foot after the flood. We’ll stop for lunch at a local restaurant (own account).
• Later, we continue to the Ishak Pasha Palace, located 6 km from town. This is the region’s most significant historical site, built in the 17th century by Ishak Pasha, an Ottoman governor. The palace features a fascinating mix of architectural styles and has undergone several restorations.
• Our journey then continues to Lake Van.

Highlights:

• Views of Türkiye’s highest peak
• Ishak Pasha Palace
• Journey to Lake Van

• We spend the day exploring Van and its surroundings, including a visit to Lake Van and the historic Van Fortress. A highlight of the day is a boat trip to Akdamar Island, where we visit a 700-year-old church built by King Gagik I of Armenia. Stories from the Old Testament are intricately engraved on the church’s outer walls. After years of restoration, the church was reopened for services in 2010.
• We also explore the ancient Urartian ruins of Çavuştepe, originally constructed by King Sarduri II in 700 BC.
• As the day ends, we enjoy the sunset over the lake from our hotel — perhaps with a cocktail in hand (at your own expense!).

Highlights:

• Boat trip to Akdamar Island
• Van Fortress & Çavuştepe ruins
• Sunset over Lake Van

• Our journey takes us to Hasankeyf, situated on the banks of the Tigris River, once an old Seljuk capital. This afternoon we have a picnic next to the river before we set off to Mardin. This unusual town is in Upper Mesopotamia and built of sandstone against the rock cliffs.

Highlights:

• Picnic in Hasankeyf
• Arrival in hilltop Mardin

• We begin with a visit to the Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzafaran, which, along with the nearby Deyrulumur Monastery, has been in continuous use for centuries. Both are part of the Syriac Orthodox Church and are renowned for their distinctive architecture. The language spoken here closely resembles that spoken by Jesus and his disciples, and the deep sense of spirituality is tangible. There will be an opportunity to speak with the monks.
• Mardin, one of Türkiye’s most picturesque stone towns, invites us to explore its narrow lanes and historic charm before we continue to Urfa.
• In Urfa—widely believed to have been the capital of the Hurrians — we delve into rich layers of religious and cultural history. While the Bible names “Ur of the Chaldeans” as Abraham’s birthplace, many scholars suggest this refers to Urfa, not far from Haran (to which Abraham travelled). Later known as Edessa, the city also hosted some of the earliest Christian communities.
• We conclude with a visit to the cave where, according to tradition, Abraham was born.

Highlights:

• Visit active Syriac monastery
• Explore Mardin & Abraham’s cave in Urfa

• This morning, we visit Harran (or Haran), located south of Urfa.
• The landscape stretches into the flat Mesopotamian plain, dotted with ancient mounds and remote mud-brick villages. Today, these villages are connected to electrical grids, and with the promise of prosperity through irrigation, many locals are investing in modern “luxuries” such as refrigerators and televisions.
• This region, once among the poorest and least developed in Türkiye, is now undergoing remarkably rapid change.

Highlights:

• Harran’s mud-brick villages
• Glimpse into ancient Mesopotamia

• After breakfast, we drive to Gaziantep, stopping en route to visit Göbekli Tepe – recently opened to the public and recognised as the world’s oldest religious temple, dating back 12,000 years.
• Upon arrival in Gaziantep, we explore the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the largest of its kind in the world. Here, we’ll admire priceless mosaics and uncover fascinating mythological stories.
• If time permits, we will also visit Gaziantep Castle and the Coppersmith Bazaar.

Highlights:

• Göbekli Tepe temple
• Zeugma Mosaic Museum
• Optional: Gaziantep Castle & Coppersmith Bazaar

• After breakfast, we drive to Antioch On Orentes. We visit the cave where believers were first called ‘Christians’. This is now a museum and well worth a visit. St. Paul gave his first sermon in this cave, which was later turned into a church with additional features. St. Paul used Antioch as his base as he carried out his activities to spread Christianity.
• We then drive to Hatay Airport for our flight to Istanbul. Later, we depart for Johannesburg.

Highlight:

• Cave church in Antioch