11 Oct 2026
Twin share
£9,890pp
Single from £11,985
Escorted tour
Turkey & the Caucasus: Istanbul, Baku, Tbilisi & Yerevan – 30 Days
Istanbul, Ephesus, Cappadocia, Baku, Sheki, Tbilisi, Kazbegi and Yerevan, in a small group of up to 12.
30 days
From £9,890
Tour overview
This 30-day upgraded small-group journey crosses four countries, from the Bosphorus to the foot of Mount Ararat. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with an experienced local leader and specialist guides in each country. You travel by private vehicle, with an included flight from Istanbul to Baku and 4WD vehicles up to Gergeti, and stay in handpicked hotels, including a cave hotel in Cappadocia and a historic noble residence in Tbilisi. Breakfast is included daily, with 5 lunches and 12 dinners, and arrival transfers are included in Istanbul and Baku. International flights are not.
The first two weeks cover Turkey's classic route: Istanbul and the Blue Mosque, the Gallipoli memorials, Troy and Ephesus, a fruit-wine tasting in Şirince and a cooking class, the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, a boat day with a local family off Kaş, Antalya, the Mevlana Museum in Konya and three nights in Cappadocia, with valley walks, an underground city and a home-cooked dinner.
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A flight then takes you to Baku, where a local guide shows you the walled Old City, the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, and a half-day trip visits the petroglyphs and mud volcanoes of Gobustan. Crossing the Caucasus foothills via Shamakhi to Sheki, you enter Georgia at Lagodekhi and spend two nights in Kakheti's wine country, with the hilltop town of Sighnaghi, the Telavi market and dinner and wine with a local family.
In Tbilisi you stay in a historic residence and take a walking tour of the Old Town and the cable car to Narikala Fortress. You visit Mtskheta's UNESCO-listed churches, the cave city of Vardzia and Stalin's birthplace at Gori, then ride by 4WD up to Gergeti Trinity Church beneath Mount Kazbek. Crossing into Armenia, you see the monastery of Haghpat, the shores of Lake Sevan and Sevanavank, and end in Yerevan, one of the oldest cities in the world.
The physical rating is medium, with some long travel days. This trip suits travellers with time to spare who want an in-depth journey through Turkey and the Caucasus with everything arranged.
Trip highlights
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Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus and Pamukkale (Days 2–5)
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Three nights in a Cappadocia cave hotel (Days 11–13)
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Baku's Old City and the petroglyphs of Gobustan (Days 16–17)
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Kakheti wine country and dinner with a Georgian family (Days 19–20)
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The cave city of Vardzia and Gergeti Trinity Church (Days 24–26)
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Haghpat Monastery, Lake Sevan and Yerevan (Days 27–29)
Your route
27 stops from Istanbul to Yerevan
- Istanbul Days 1 & 14
- Gallipoli Day 2
- Canakkale Day 2
- Troy Day 3
- Selcuk Days 3–4
- Pamukkale Day 5
- Kas Days 6–7
- Antalya Days 8–9
- Konya Day 10
- Cappadocia (Goreme) Days 11–13
- Baku Days 15–17
- Qobustan Day 17
- Shamakhi Day 18
- Sheki Day 18
- Sighnaghi Day 19
- Telavi Days 19–20
- Tbilisi Days 21–22
- Mtskheta Day 23
- Akhaltsikhe Days 23–24
- Vardzia Day 24
- Gori Day 25
- Gudauri Days 25–26
- Stepantsminda Day 26
- Haghpat Monastery Day 27
- Dzoraget Day 27
- Lake Sevan Day 28
- Yerevan Days 28–29
Why choose this tour
Four countries and two of the world's great crossroads regions in one fully arranged journey. Special stays in Cappadocia and Tbilisi, with the flight to Baku and 4WD trips included.
Best suited to
- Travellers with a month to spare
- Anyone fascinated by empires, monasteries and the Silk Road
- Wine and food lovers
- Travellers who want comfort and a small group on a long journey
Day-by-day itinerary
30 days from Istanbul, Turkey to Yerevan, Armenia
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Day 1 · Istanbul Arrive in Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul. You are met at the airport if arriving today, and meet your leader and group in the evening for a welcome dinner.
- Hotel
- Fer Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
-
Day 2 · Gallipoli, Çanakkale Gallipoli and Çanakkale
Drive to Çanakkale on the Dardanelles and tour the Gallipoli memorials with a guide, learning about the First World War campaign.
- Hotel
- Cura Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 3 · Troy, Selçuk Troy to Selçuk
Walk the walls of ancient Troy with your leader and see the replica wooden horse, then continue to Selçuk, with lunch on the way.
- Hotel
- Celsus Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 4 · Ephesus, Şirince Ephesus and Şirince
Explore Ephesus and its Library of Celsus, visit the village of Şirince for a fruit-wine tasting, and join a Turkish cooking class for dinner.
- Hotel
- Celsus Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 5 · Pamukkale, Hierapolis Pamukkale
Travel to Pamukkale to walk on its white travertine terraces and explore the Roman ruins of Hierapolis above them.
- Hotel
- Hierapark Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 6 · Kaş Kaş
Drive to the harbour town of Kaş, scattered with Lycian tombs, for a walking tour and a relaxed evening by the sea.
- Hotel
- Payam Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Kaş Boat day off Kaş
Cruise among the islands on a traditional boat with a local family, with swimming stops and a seafood lunch on board.
- Hotel
- Payam Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
-
Day 8 · Phaselis, Antalya Phaselis to Antalya
Stop at the ancient city of Phaselis for its ruins and a swim, then continue to Antalya for dinner.
- Hotel
- Ruin Adalia Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 9 · Antalya, Kaleiçi Antalya
Visit the Necropolis Museum, built around a burial ground discovered in 2008, and enjoy free time in the old harbour quarter of Kaleiçi.
- Hotel
- Ruin Adalia Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Konya, Mevlana Museum Konya
Drive inland to Konya, where the whirling dervish tradition began, and visit the Mevlana Museum, resting place of the poet Rumi.
- Hotel
- Selçuk Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 11 · Cappadocia To Cappadocia
Travel to Cappadocia for an orientation walk, then check in to your cave hotel for three nights.
- Hotel
- Cave hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Göreme Cappadocia
Take an optional hot-air balloon flight at sunrise, then walk among the fairy chimneys and rock-cut churches of the valleys.
- Hotel
- Cave hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · Kızılçukur Valley, Avanos, Özkonak Valleys and underground city
Walk through the Kızılçukur Valley, visit the pottery town of Avanos and explore the underground city of Özkonak, followed by a home-cooked dinner.
- Hotel
- Cave hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 14 · Istanbul Back to Istanbul
Return to Istanbul for a final evening in Turkey, with dinner together.
- Hotel
- Fer Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
-
Day 15 · Baku Fly to Baku
Take the included flight to Baku, where you are met and taken to your hotel. Baku mixes fortified medieval streets, imperial Russian squares and futuristic towers. Meet for dinner in the evening.
- Hotel
- Radisson Hotel Baku or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 16 · Baku Old City, Maiden Tower, Palace of the Shirvanshahs Baku Old City
Tour Baku with a local guide, from the walled Old City and the Shemakha Gate to the Maiden Tower and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
- Hotel
- Radisson Hotel Baku or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Gobustan National Park Gobustan
A half-day trip south of Baku, past old oil rigs, to Gobustan National Park, one of the world's largest open-air collections of rock carvings, and its bubbling mud volcanoes.
- Hotel
- Radisson Hotel Baku or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 18 · Shamakhi, Sheki To Sheki
Head for the forested foothills of the Caucasus, stopping at the Yeddi Gumbaz mausoleum and the Juma Mosque in Shamakhi. In Sheki, visit a local craft workshop.
- Hotel
- Marxal Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 19 · Lagodekhi, Sighnaghi, Telavi Into Georgia: Sighnaghi and Telavi
Cross into Georgia at Lagodekhi and head into the Kakheti wine region, stopping at the hilltop town of Sighnaghi above the Alazani Valley. In the evening, share dinner and wine with a local family.
- Hotel
- Boutique Hotel Kviria or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 20 · Telavi market, Batonistsikhe Castle Telavi
After a relaxed start, taste cheeses, wines and sweets at the Telavi food market, then visit Batonistsikhe Castle, home of the Kakhetian kings.
- Hotel
- Boutique Hotel Kviria or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 21 · Tbilisi Tbilisi
Drive to Tbilisi and check in to a historic residence once owned by the noble Orbeliani family, with the rest of the day free to explore.
- Hotel
- Museum Hotel Orbeliani or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 22 · Anchiskhati Basilica, Narikala Fortress Tbilisi Old Town
Take a walking tour of the Old Town with a local guide, visiting the 6th-century Anchiskhati Basilica, and ride the cable car up to the Narikala Fortress.
- Hotel
- Museum Hotel Orbeliani or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 23 · Mtskheta, Tserovani, Akhaltsikhe Mtskheta to Akhaltsikhe
Visit Mtskheta, Georgia's ancient capital, and its UNESCO-listed churches. Stop at the Tserovani settlement, home to people displaced by the 2008 conflict, for lunch, then continue to Akhaltsikhe.
- Hotel
- Hotel Limsia or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 24 · Khertvisi Fortress, Vardzia Vardzia
Visit the 10th-century Khertvisi Fortress and the cave city of Vardzia, carved into a cliff above the Mtkvari River, with a rock-cut church decorated with 12th-century frescoes.
- Hotel
- Hotel Limsia or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 25 · Gori, Gudauri Gori to Gudauri
Tour Gori, the birthplace of Joseph Stalin, including the Stalin Museum and the town's fortress, then drive up to the mountain resort of Gudauri.
- Hotel
- Marco Polo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 26 · Stepantsminda, Gergeti Trinity Church Kazbegi and Gergeti
Follow the Tergi River to Stepantsminda and ride by 4WD up the mountain road to Gergeti Trinity Church, at 2,170 m, with views of Mount Kazbek when the weather allows.
- Hotel
- Marco Polo Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 27 · Haghpat Monastery, Dzoraget Into Armenia and Haghpat
Drive to the Armenian border, stopping in Tbilisi for lunch. In Armenia, visit the UNESCO-listed monastery of Haghpat before a night in the Debed Canyon at Dzoraget.
- Hotel
- Avan Dzoraget Tufenkian or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 28 · Lake Sevan, Sevanavank, Yerevan Lake Sevan to Yerevan
Meet your Armenian guide and drive to Lake Sevan, one of the largest high-altitude freshwater lakes in the world, to visit the Sevanavank monastery on its peninsula. Continue to Yerevan.
- Hotel
- Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 29 · Yerevan Yerevan
A local guide introduces Yerevan, founded in 782 BC and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, followed by a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 30 · Yerevan Trip ends in Yerevan
The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights in Yerevan can be arranged when you book.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Istanbul (1 night) Fer Hotel or similar
- Çanakkale (1 night) Cura Hotel or similar
- Selçuk (2 nights) Celsus Hotel or similar
- Pamukkale (1 night) Hierapark Hotel or similar
- Kaş (2 nights) Payam Hotel or similar
- Antalya (2 nights) Ruin Adalia Hotel or similar
- Konya (1 night) Selçuk Hotel or similar
- Cappadocia (3 nights) Cave hotel
- Istanbul (1 night) Fer Hotel or similar
- Baku (3 nights) Radisson Hotel Baku or similar
- Sheki (1 night) Marxal Resort or similar
- Telavi (2 nights) Boutique Hotel Kviria or similar
- Tbilisi (2 nights) Museum Hotel Orbeliani or similar
- Akhaltsikhe (2 nights) Hotel Limsia or similar
- Gudauri (2 nights) Marco Polo Hotel or similar
- Dzoraget (1 night) Avan Dzoraget Tufenkian or similar
- Yerevan (2 nights) Tufenkian Historic Yerevan Hotel or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 29 nights in handpicked hotels, including a cave hotel in Cappadocia and a historic residence in Tbilisi
- Meals 29 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 12 dinners
- Transport private vehicle throughout, a flight from Istanbul to Baku and 4WD vehicles to Gergeti
- Turkey Istanbul, Gallipoli, Troy, Ephesus, Şirince, a cooking class, Pamukkale, a Kaş boat day, Antalya, Konya and Cappadocia
- Caucasus Baku Old City, Gobustan, Sheki, Sighnaghi, Kakheti, Tbilisi, Mtskheta, Vardzia, Gori, Gergeti, Haghpat, Lake Sevan and Yerevan
- Arrival transfers in Istanbul and Baku
- Local leader and specialist guides throughout
Not included
- International flights to Istanbul and from Yerevan
- Departure transfer
- Visas, including Azerbaijan's e-visa
- Meals not listed and optional activities
- Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want international flights included — they are not
- You have limited time — this is a 30-day journey
- You dislike long drives — mountain roads in the Caucasus are slow
- You want most lunches included — 29 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 12 dinners
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £9,890 per person, twin share, tour only. 23 upcoming departures.
28 Mar 2027
Twin share
£11,060pp
Single from £13,155
01 Apr 2027
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£11,060pp
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04 Apr 2027
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£11,390pp
Single from £13,485
11 Apr 2027
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£11,390pp
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25 Apr 2027
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£11,720pp
Single from £13,815
29 Apr 2027
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£11,720pp
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02 May 2027
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£11,720pp
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06 Jun 2027
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£11,060pp
Single from £13,155
13 Jun 2027
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£11,060pp
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18 Jul 2027
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£11,060pp
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01 Aug 2027
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£11,060pp
Single from £13,155
08 Aug 2027
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£11,390pp
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15 Aug 2027
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£11,390pp
Single from £13,485
22 Aug 2027
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£11,390pp
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29 Aug 2027
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£11,390pp
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02 Sep 2027
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£11,940pp
Single from £14,035
16 Sep 2027
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£11,940pp
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23 Sep 2027
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£11,940pp
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26 Sep 2027
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£11,940pp
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30 Sep 2027
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£11,720pp
Single from £13,815
03 Oct 2027
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£11,720pp
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10 Oct 2027
Twin share
£11,720pp
Single from £13,815
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is the flight from Istanbul to Baku included?
Yes. The flight on Day 15 is included, and you are met on arrival in Baku and taken to your hotel.
Do I need visas?
Azerbaijan requires an e-visa for most visitors, applied for online before travel. UK passport holders do not currently need visas for Turkey, Georgia or Armenia for short stays. Always check the latest rules.
How active is the trip?
The physical rating is medium. Expect walking at sites and in old towns, valley walks in Cappadocia and some long drives on mountain roads.
What are the special stays?
Three nights in a cave hotel in Cappadocia and two nights in a historic residence in Tbilisi that once belonged to the noble Orbeliani family.
What meals are included?
29 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 12 dinners, including a cooking class in Turkey, a seafood lunch on a boat in Kaş, a home-cooked dinner in Cappadocia and dinner with a family in Kakheti.
Can I do a shorter version?
Yes. The Turkey section is also available as a shorter trip, and the 18-day Azerbaijan and Georgia tour covers much of the Caucasus section.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary