Eastern Turkey Self-Launched Adventure: Istanbul to Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul at any time. Check into a well-rated hostel in the Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu neighbourhood — both are central and buzzing with fellow travellers. Spend the evening exploring the waterfront, grab a köfte sandwich from a street stall, and brief yourself on your early morning flight to Kars tomorrow. No pre-booking of activities needed today.

🚌Arrive independently. Metro from Istanbul Airport to city centre ~£1.50 (Havaist bus or M11 metro line).

🛏Agora Guesthouse or Cheers Hostel, Sultanahmet — approx £15–20/night

• →Settle into hostel and explore Sultanahmet neighbourhood
• →Evening stroll along the Bosphorus waterfront
• →Street food dinner — try a balık ekmek (fish sandwich) by the Galata Bridge

Take an early domestic flight from Istanbul (Sabiha Gökçen or Atatürk) to Kars — book ahead with Pegasus Airlines or Turkish Airlines for the best fares. On arrival, drop your bags at your guesthouse and hire a local taxi or join a shared day tour to the ruins of Ani, the hauntingly beautiful former capital of the Armenian Empire. The site sits right on the Turkish-Armenian border and rewards with pink stone cathedrals, palaces, and fortresses. Optionally stop at Kars Castle on return for panoramic city views.

🚌Domestic flight Istanbul–Kars approx £30–50 booked in advance. Shared taxi to Ani ~£6–8 return per person.

🛏Kars Hotel or Güngören Hotel — approx £18–22/night

• →Domestic flight Istanbul → Kars (book with Pegasus Airlines or Turkish Airlines)
• →Self-visit to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Ani (~£2 entry fee)
• →Optional: Kars Castle viewpoint (free)
• →Evening: try Kars honey and local cheese at a tea house

Take an early dolmuş or shared taxi south toward Doğubayazıt to visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace, a semi-ruined Ottoman-era palace dramatically perched above the town with views of snow-capped Mount Ararat. This is the legendary resting place of Noah's Ark — take it all in. Continue by bus or shared taxi onward to Van, the cultural centre of Turkey's Kurdish heartland. Optionally visit the ancient Fortress of Van on the lake shore.

🚌Dolmuş Kars–Doğubayazıt ~£8, Bus Doğubayazıt–Van ~£5. Total travel ~5 hrs.

🛏Büyük Urartu Hotel or Tamara Boutique Hotel, Van — approx £20–25/night

• →Dolmuş/shared taxi Kars → Doğubayazıt (~2.5 hrs, ~£8)
• →Visit Ishak Pasha Palace (~£3 entry)
• →Views of Mount Ararat (free)
• →Bus Doğubayazıt → Van (~2 hrs, ~£5)
• →Optional: Van Fortress ruins (free)
• →Evening: Van breakfast spread — the city is famous for it

An action-packed travel day with two unmissable stops. First, head to the southern shore of Lake Van for the Akdamar Island boat trip — a short ferry ride delivers you to the 10th-century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, one of Turkey's most photographed landmarks. Continue westward to Hasankeyf, an ancient cave city on the Tigris River with a history stretching back 12,000 years. Arrive in Mardin by evening — the honey-stoned hilltop city will take your breath away.

🚌Multiple bus/dolmuş legs totalling ~5–6 hrs travel. Budget ~£15 total for the day's transport.

🛏Artuklu Kervansaray or Dara Hotel, Mardin — approx £22–28/night

• →Public bus or dolmuş Van → Akdamar jetty (~1 hr, ~£3)
• →Akdamar Island boat trip and Church of the Holy Cross visit (~£5 total return ferry + entry)
• →Bus onward to Hasankeyf (~2 hrs, ~£6)
• →Self-guided walk around Hasankeyf caves and old bridge ruins (free)
• →Shared taxi or bus to Mardin (~1.5 hrs, ~£5)

A full day to fall in love with Mardin. Start with an orientation walk through the old city's labyrinthine bazaars and ancient stone alleyways — the whole city feels carved from amber. Visit the Deyrulzafaran Monastery (Saffron Monastery), a working Syriac Orthodox monastery dating to the 5th century, just 5km from town (shared taxi ~£3 return). Back in town, explore the Great Mosque (Ulu Cami), the Kasımiye Madrasa, and the rooftop terrace views across the Mesopotamian plain. End the day with local wine or tea and slow travel.

🚌All local — shared taxis and walking. Budget ~£5.

🛏Artuklu Kervansaray or Dara Hotel, Mardin — approx £22–28/night

• →Self-guided orientation walk through Mardin's old city bazaar (free)
• →Shared taxi to Deyrulzafaran Monastery (~£3 return, ~£2 entry)
• →Visit Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) and Kasımiye Madrasa (free/donation)
• →Rooftop terrace views over the Mesopotamian plain
• →Sample local cuisine: kaburga (stuffed ribs) and mirra (bitter coffee)

Head northwest to Kâhta, the base town for visiting the mysterious Mount Nemrut. Take a bus via Diyarbakır or a direct dolmuş if available. In the afternoon or evening, join a local guided excursion up to the Nemrut Dağı summit — most tours depart at sunset or sunrise for dramatic lighting on the giant stone heads of the Commagene king Antiochus I. En route, stop at the Karakus Tumulus (Women's Monument), the Severan Roman Bridge over the Cendere River, and the ruins of ancient Arsameia. These are included in most local Nemrut day tours.

🚌Bus Mardin–Kâhta ~£10–12. Local Nemrut tour transport ~£12–15.

🛏Karadut Pension or Zeus Hotel, Kâhta — approx £15–20/night

• →Bus Mardin → Kâhta via Diyarbakır (~4–5 hrs, ~£10–12)
• →Local minibus/tour to Mount Nemrut summit (sunset or sunrise, ~£12–15 including transport + entry)
• →Karakus Tumulus stop (included in local tours)
• →Severan Roman Bridge (Cendere) visit (included)
• →Ancient Arsameia ruins visit (included)

Travel west to Şanlıurfa (Urfa), one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and the supposed birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. En route, detour to Harran — famous for its extraordinary beehive-shaped mud brick houses, still inhabited today. In Urfa, take a self-guided walk to Gölbaşı Park (Pool of Abraham), surrounded by sacred carp ponds, and explore the labyrinthine Kapalı Çarşı (covered bazaar). If you have time, book a GetYourGuide guided walk of Urfa for extra context on the Islamic pilgrimage significance.

🚌Bus Kâhta–Şanlıurfa ~£8. Local taxis and walking ~£5.

🛏Manici Hotel or El Ruha Hotel, Şanlıurfa — approx £18–22/night

• →Bus/dolmuş Kâhta → Şanlıurfa (~2.5 hrs, ~£8)
• →Detour to Harran beehive village (~£5 shared taxi detour + ~£2 entry)
• →Self-guided walk to Gölbaşı Park and Pool of Abraham (free)
• →Explore the Kapalı Çarşı covered bazaar (free)
• →Optional: guided walking tour of Urfa via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)

Take a morning domestic flight from Şanlıurfa (GNY) back to Istanbul. Pegasus and Turkish Airlines both serve this route — book at least a week in advance for best prices. The tour ends on arrival in Istanbul. If you have time before your onward flight, the airport metro connects easily to the city for a final meal. Onward international travel should ideally be booked for late afternoon or evening.

🚌Domestic flight Şanlıurfa–Istanbul ~£35–55. Book in advance for best fares.

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Domestic flight Şanlıurfa → Istanbul (book Pegasus Airlines or Turkish Airlines, ~£35–55)
• →Airport metro to city centre if time allows (M11/Havaist, ~£1.50)
• →Final Turkish tea and pastry send-off