Turkey: From Trabzon to Van

Cultural Treasures between the Black Sea Coast and Lake Van
Dates (9 days) 23.05.2026 - 31.05.2026 From/to Luxembourg, other airports on request.
Number of travellers 12-20 participants

This journey takes you to the centuries-old cultural treasures of Northeast Turkey: Byzantine monasteries and Ottoman palaces, Georgian churches and Seljuk madrasas. You will visit the Sumela Monastery spectacularly clinging to a rock face, the vast ruins of Ani, the Ishak Pasha Palace majestically overlooking a wide plateau, and the idyllic monastic island of Akdamar in the turquoise-blue Lake Van. In Erzurum and Kars, you will admire historic buildings and traditional bazaars. In a tea garden by the Black Sea you will be introduced to the secrets of Turkish çay, enjoy a picnic in the Pontic Mountains, and taste tangy regional specialties in a small cheese museum.

You will stay in carefully selected hotels: on the shores of the Black Sea and Lake Van, in the Pontic Mountains, and near the historic old towns of Kars and Erzurum.

  • Experience culture
  • DE

Travel itinerary

Day 1 Flight to Trabzon
  • Flight Luxembourg–Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 10:25–14:50)
  • Connecting flight Istanbul–Trabzon (Turkish Airlines, 17:45–19:35)
  • Welcome and transfer to the hotel
  • Dinner with local specialties in a restaurant
  • Overnight at Hotel Novotel Trabzon****(*) in Trabzon
  • Diner
  • Night
Day 2 Sumela Monastery, Old Town of Trabzon
  • Visit to Sumela Monastery in the Altindere Valley
  • Stroll through Trabzon’s Old Town
  • Visit to Hagia Sophia and the ruins of ancient Trapezunt
  • Dinner at the hotel restaurant
  • Overnight at Hotel Novotel Trabzon****(*)
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Night
Day 3 Tea Cultivation in Rize, Zilkale Castle in the Romantic Firtina Valley
  • Drive to the tea-growing region of Rize
  • Visit of a tea plantation with tasting
  • Continue into the Kaçkar Mountains (by minibus) to medieval Zilkale Castle
  • Walk through the Firtina Valley to the Palovit waterfall
  • Local specialties at the hotel restaurant
  • Overnight at Boutique Hotel Dudi Konağı*** in Çamlıhemşin
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Dégustation
  • Night
Day 4 Through the Pontic Mountains
  • Drive through the Pontic Mountains and the “Georgian Athos”
  • Exterior view of the Church of Ishan
  • Picnic with fresh regional products
  • Overnight at Hotel Ramada**** in Erzurum
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Lunchbox
  • Night
Day 5 Erzurum
  • City tour of Erzurum
  • Visit to Çifte Minareli Medrese
  • Stroll through the bazaar
  • Continue to Kars
  • Overnight at Boutique Hotel Celtikov***(*) in Kars
  • Breakfast
  • Night
Day 6 Multicultural Kars, Historic Capital Ani, and the Cheese Museum in Bogatepe
  • City tour of Kars
  • Visit to the ruins of Ani (UNESCO World Heritage)
  • Cheese tasting in the village of Bogatepe
  • Overnight at Boutique Hotel Celtikov***(*)
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Dégustation
  • Night
Day 7 Panoramic Drive to Lake Van
  • Drive to Van
  • En route panoramic view of Mount Ararat (weather permitting)
  • Visit to Ishak Pasha Palace
  • Visit to Tuspa Fortress
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Overnight at Hotel Ramada by Wyndham**** in Van
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Night
Day 8 Van and Akhtamar Monastery
  • Visit to a carpet workshop (influences of various cultures in local weaving)
  • Boat trip on Lake Van
  • Visit to the former Monastery of Akhtamar
  • Seljuk cemetery of Gevaş
  • Dinner at the hotel
  • Overnight at Hotel Ramada by Wyndham**** in Van
  • Breakfast
  • Diner
  • Night
Day 9 Return Flight
  • Transfer to Van Airport
  • Flight Van–Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, 10:55–13:25)
  • Connecting flight Istanbul–Luxembourg (Turkish Airlines, 15:00–17:55)
  • Breakfast
Program and flight times subject to change.
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Lunchbox / Picnic
  • Tasting
  • Night

Prices (per person)*

Bookings until 15/10/2025: Double room
2.795 €
Bookings after 15/10/2025: Double room
2.895 €
Bookings until 15/10/2025: Single room
3.190 €
Bookings after 15/10/2025: Single room
3.290 €

Minimum participants: 12 / Maximum participants: 20.

Included Services

Flights with Turkish Airlines Luxembourg–Istanbul–Trabzon / Van–Istanbul–Luxembourg (Economy, subject to availability)
Airport taxes and fuel surcharges €204.00 (as of 08/2025)
2 nights Hotel Novotel Trabzon****(*) / Trabzon, double room incl. breakfast
1 night Boutique Hotel Dudi Konağı***/Çamlıhemşin, double room incl. breakfast
1 night Hotel Ramada****/Erzurum, double room incl. breakfast
2 nights Boutique Hotel Celtikov***(*)/Kars, double room incl. breakfast
2 nights Hotel Ramada by Wyndham Van****/Van, double room incl. breakfast
3 dinners at the hotel, 1 dinner at a local restaurant
1 picnic with local specialties
1 cheese tasting in the village
Visit to a tea garden with tasting
Boat trip on Lake Van
Transfers, excursions, and visits as per program
Local German-speaking guide from Trabzon to Van
German-speaking Planet B tour escort (minimum 10 participants required)
100% CO₂ compensation via Atmosfair
Travel literature

Not included: seat reservations, optional activities and excursions, meals not mentioned, drinks, tips, personal expenses.

Authentic and sustainable

  • Picnic with local specialities in the Kackar Mountains
  • Cheese museum including tasting
  • Spices and herbs (women’s project) in the village of Bogatepe
  • Lunch breaks (lunch not included) in family-run and owner-managed restaurants
  • Two dinners with regional specialities
  • Overnight stays in owner-run boutique hotels and hotels certified according to (GSTC-recognised) ‘Turkiye Sustainable Tourism’ criteria
  • 100% CO2 compensation via Atmosfair (=1,620 tonnes, of which 1,367 tonnes = 84.38% are from flights)

Important information

For entry into Turkey, Luxembourg nationals require a passport valid for at least six months beyond the return date (as of 08/2025). The passport must be in good condition and have at least two blank pages. For direct entry from Luxembourg, no mandatory vaccinations are required (as of 08/2025). It is generally recommended to keep standard vaccinations up to date and consult a doctor before long-haul travel. Further information will be provided with your booking confirmation/invoice.

Prices are generally based on special and operator fares of the selected airline. Seat availability is limited; surcharges may apply for bookings within three months of departure.

Most accommodations offer Wi-Fi, though coverage is not always reliable. Hotels are non-smoking. If a booked hotel is unexpectedly unavailable, a comparable alternative will be provided.

Further details about the trip and the destination will be provided with your travel documents.

Travel insurance is not included. We strongly recommend purchasing both cancellation insurance (including Covid-19) and travel health insurance covering Covid-19 treatments (including quarantine). Currently, no Covid-19 restrictions apply (as of 08/2025), but this may change.

This trip is not suitable for guests with limited mobility or back problems. Please inform us before booking if this applies, so we can check whether your needs can be met.

Planet B is a brand of Bollig Tours. Therefore, Bollig Tours Sàrl is listed as the tour operator.

Related document(s)

Das ausführliche Reiseprogramm mit weiteren Informationen zur Reise und zu den Unterkünften finden Sie in der 'Ausführlichen Reisebeschreibung' (PDF zum Download).

Need more information?

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