SELJUKIAN TRAIL 5 DAYS

Day 1 - Arrival to Kayseri

Catch a flight from Istanbul to Kayseri Erkilet 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.

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 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 Seljuk’s, 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 hill top 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 Red River banks hosts a small mosque believed to be 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.

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 our 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.

Day 5 - Flight to Istanbul

After check out from the hotel, you will be transferred to Konya airport to catch your flight back home.

Important information

Passport or ID required. 

This tour is a long day(s) that involves a lot of walking, so it may not be suitable for people with limited mobility or children. 

PRICE INCLUDES:

* Hotel pick up-drop off

* Hotel with half board (Only breakfast at the hotel is included )

* Guidance

* Entrance fees 

Excluded

* Flight tickets (International & National) 

* All meals and drinks are not included.Only breakfast at the hotel is included

Important information

Please note that all times are approximate and subject to change.

The Guide may make corrections and adaptations in the course of the tour program according to the conditions and situations of the planned places of visits

Are you looking for a different Turkey tour?

Please check our other Turkey Tours for inspiration or send us an E-MAIL with details of your dream Turkey trip such as your ages, hotel preferences, personal interests and travel type. We will get back to you with a suitable itinerary. We are looking forward to hearing from you.

At your request, we can take care of all the procedures relating to reservations (hotel, car, etc.), transfers (airport-hotel) and other additional services depending on the type of stay chosen. 

For more information or reservation please contact us by mail or WhatsAap

• Antalya, Turkey
•         +90-5385823609 - ENG -TR - FR
•         +90-5435384606 - NL / FL - DE - ENG
•                      medical.travel.turkey@hotmail.com