Istanbul to Ashgabat (44 days) Caucasus and Persia Explorer

Join this overland adventure through Turkey, Georgia and Armenia, Iran and Turkmenistan.  

From Istanbul to Ashgabat, this trip is full of fascinating and varied history, demonstrating the contested and often turbulent past of this relatively unknown region.  Travellers are rewarded with breathtaking scenery from stunning snowy mountains to seemingly endless desert, ancient and medieval sites that rival and often outdo any found in Europe, and a wide array of eclectic cultures, with consistently friendly and welcoming locals.

Itinerary

Day 1

• Istanbul
• Our first day is free in Istanbul

Days 2 to 12

• Gallipoli - visit the battlegrounds and war graves of the forces that fought here in WWI.
• Ephesus - built by the Greeks 1000 years BC, then rebuilt by the Romans
• Pamukkale - hot springs and stunning waterways
• Cappadoccia - explore dwellings carved from the eerily eroded landscape

Days 13 to 20 - Georgia

• Batumi - on the Black Sea Coast
• Foothills of the Caucasus - bush camps in rural Georgia
• Kutaisi - Georgi'a second largest city
• Gori – birthplace of Stalin
• Tbilisi – Georgia’s capital

Days 21 to 22

• Telavi – ancient wine-growing region
• Days 23 to 27

Armenia

• Savanavank – monastery on the shores of Lake Sevan
• Yerevan – Capital of Armenia, cafes, museums and world-famous brandy

Days 28 to 42 - Iran

• Tabriz - explore the bazaar and the Blue Mosque
• Tehran - Iran's non-stop capital
• Esfahan - discover this historic and beautiful city
• Persepolis - ancient ruins partly destroyed by Alexander the Great
• Shiraz & Yazd
• Dasht e Kavir Desert - desert crossing with an overnight Oasis stop
• Mashhad - home to the stunning Imam Reza Mosque

Day 43 - Turkmenistan

• Ashgabat – Free time and City Tour

Day 44

• Ashgabat – Trip ends and transfer to airport.