Here we are in one of the most beautiful places in the whole country. Who hasn't already seen these magnificent photos of magical landscapes, between its natural chimneys, its pastel shades and its sky speckled with multicolored hot air balloons in the first light of dawn? Sultan of the Great Seljuk Empire, Alparslan opened the passage for the Turks to get to Anatolia in 1071. After the victory, he gave his commanders to conquer Anatolia entirely. Konya was conquered by Kutalmışoğlu Sultan Süleymanşah. After conquering Konya, Sultan Süleymanşah turned west, chose İznik as the capital and founded the Seljuk Empire of Anatolia in 1074. The Turkish-Islamic period began in Konya following its conquest.
Day 1 – Istanbul, Kayseri
Catch a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri Airport in the morning. You will be picked up by your guide and driver at the airport and start touring right away. The first stop is the newly restored Gevher Nesibe Medicine Museum. Never Nesibe is the daughter of the Great Seljuk Emperor Kılıcarslan II. The hospital was built by her big brother Giyaseddin Keyhusrev I since it was her last request. Unfortunately, Never Nesibe has passed away because of tuberculosis in 1205 in Kayseri city and was buried within the hospital named after her. Today, it is restored and converted to an interactive museum housing some important relics from the Seljuk’s and broad information about the medicine and several practices used in medical treatments during the Seljukian era. After visiting this museum, we will take a walk in the busy center of Kayseri city and visit other Seljukian monuments such as the Hunad Hatun complex, which houses a Turkish bath, mosque, madrasah, and a graveyard. Lunch will be in a local restaurant in Kayseri city before visiting the town market of Kayseri city surrounded by historical city walls. Then an hour's drive will take us to Cappadocia overnight. [B/L]
Day 2 - Cappadocia
Your day will start with the Imagination Valley, locally called Devrent, to see the region's very interesting fairy chimneys. Nearby, Monks Valley is located with its beautiful fairy chimneys, which looks like an alien planet. In the middle of the day, you will be strolling in the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site housing late Byzantine churches carved into the volcanic rock cliffs and decorated with religious-themed frescoes by Christian monks in the late 10th century. After lunch in the world-famous Goreme village, you can enjoy a rest and a hot cup of Turkish coffee while overlooking stunning landscapes at a major viewing point in the Cappadocia region. Then a 20-minute drive will take you to another UNESCO heritage site, Kaymakli Underground City. This complex caving system was once used as a shelter by the Christians during the Arabian attacks and religious persecution. Mustafapasa, formerly named Sinasos, will be a highlight of your trip with its beautiful Greek houses: a highlight being their wooden doors. Return to your hotel and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 3 - Cappadocia
We will start the day with a short drive to Taskinpasa village. This village is named after Tashun pasha, a respected figure to the Cappadocia region's first Turkish settlers. A Madrasah complex was built in the last years of the Seljuks, which was used as a library for many years and has been under renovation lately. The village houses a beautiful small mosque reflecting the Turkish architecture in the Cappadocia region. After our tour in the village, we will drive to Urgup town to explore a burial place of a Seljukian family located on a hilltop, offering us spectacular views of Urgup town and its surroundings. After a short stroll to the attractive Urgup town center, we will have our lunch there before our drive to Avanos town. This little town located on the banks of the Red River hosts a small mosque built by Alaeddin Keykubad I. We will finish the day at Sarihan Caravanserai, built in the 13th Century by Seljuk’s to host the Silk Road merchants. We will experience a whirling dervish ceremony in this caravanserai, a highlight of your trip. Return to your hotel and overnight in Cappadocia. [B/L]
Day 4 - Konya
After breakfast, we will start our journey to Konya, the Seljuk's capital for many years. On the way, after about 2 hours, we will reach the Sultanhan Caravanserai, which is the biggest merchant hotel in Anatolia built in the 13th Century by Alaeddin Keykubad I. After a break here, we drive another hour to reach Konya city and explore the Dervish Lodge of Mevlana Celaleddin-I Rumi. Rumi’s father was invited to Konya by Alaeddin Keykubad I to establish a theological school for Konya city since Alaeddin wanted to create an Education center in the middle of Anatolia. Upon his death, Rumi was asked to be in charge of his father’s school. He has many works, but Mesnevi is the most famous one among them. He is the founder of the Mevlana Dervish Lodge and the father of the Whirling Dervishes. After visiting this spiritual museum where Rumi, his family, and his important followers rest today, we will have lunch overlooking the museum's garden. Lunch will be followed by a visit to Karatay Madrasah, built-in 1251 by a Seljukian governor Celaleddin Karatay. This structure was used for religious searches, especially for interpreting the holy book, the Quran. Today it houses beautiful Seljuk tile relics, which makes it an important museum for handicraft fans. After a walk in Konya's attractive Alaeddin Park, we will check in our hotel and overnight in Konya. [B/L]
Day 5 – Konya, USA
After checking out from the hotel, you will be transferred to Konya airport to catch your flight back home.
[B] = Breakfast | [D] = Dinner | [B/D] = Breakfast and dinner | [B/T] = Breakfast & Tasting
