Ahlat

Day Trips

Arrive before dawn to witness the sun’s first rays illuminating the intricate Seljuk-era tombstones scattered across the field. The cool, golden light casts dramatic shadows, revealing ornate carvings and inscriptions etched in volcanic stone. You’ll feel a profound sense of history as birds chirp and the valley slowly awakens.

Stroll among the centuries-old gravestones with a local guide who shares stories of the Seljuk sultans and craftsmen who built this necropolis. Enjoy a picnic lunch under a shady mulberry tree while admiring the view of nearby Lake Van. Afterward, explore a small workshop where artisans demonstrate traditional stone-carving techniques.

Return to Ahlat town to watch the sunset dye the lake and tombstones pink and orange. Savor a simple meal of pide and ayran at a family-run lokanta by the shore. As dusk falls, let the stars sparkle overhead in an unpolluted sky.

Step into a centuries-old hammam restored with marble and intricate tile work. Steam and scents of eucalyptus open your pores as an attendant performs a gentle exfoliation and foam massage. Afterwards, rinse off in cool marble pools before donning a soft pestemal and sipping rosewater-infused sherbet.

Head to a local tea garden where apple tea is poured into tulip-shaped glasses amid potted geraniums. Join seniors playing backgammon at sunlit tables while tasting fresh simit and lokum. Learn how to brew tea properly from a master çaycı and sample a variety of herbal infusions grown in the nearby highlands.

Gather for dinner at a historic caravanserai converted into a cozy restaurant. Share meze platters of stuffed grape leaves, ezme salad, and grilled köfte beneath lantern-lit archways. End the night with a slow conversation over smoky tea in the courtyard.

Drive to the shores of Lake Van for a boat rental and set sail across its turquoise waters. The breeze cools your face as you glide past rocky coves and the dramatic silhouette of Akdamar Island. Sip on homemade lemonade while listening to the gentle lap of waves against the hull.

Anchor near a remote beach for a swim in the saline-rich lake, renowned for its buoyancy. Enjoy a lakeside barbecue prepared by your skipper, featuring fresh fish caught that morning. Explore hidden caves along the shore, where ancient inscriptions hint at long-lost civilizations.

Return to port and walk along the lakeside promenade as street lamps cast a soft glow. Stop at a floating café to taste freshly baked künefe topped with local cheese. Later, drift into sleep lulled by the rhythmic murmur of waves.

Visit the newly opened mosaic museum, home to Byzantine-era floors unearthed in nearby excavations. Admire vibrant geometric patterns and mythological scenes preserved under protective glass. An on-site archaeologist explains the restoration process and the stories behind each tile.

Walk to the adjacent excavation site where stone walls and foundations of a 5th-century basilica emerge from the earth. Try your hand at a supervised mini-dig and uncover pottery shards or mosaic fragments. Stop for lunch at a shaded pavilion while overlooking rows of unexcavated ruins.

Attend an open-air lecture by a visiting historian on Anatolia’s shifting empires, accompanied by the soft twang of a local bağlama player. Taste lentil soup and homemade bread served by museum staff. As the torches flicker around the site, contemplate the layers of history beneath your feet.

Travel along winding mountain roads to reach Fulya, a charming hamlet known for its stone houses and orchards. Join a local family picking apples and walnuts, learning age-old harvesting techniques. Children greet you with shy smiles and show you their hand-carved wooden toys.

Share a hearty lunch of yogurt soup, stuffed peppers, and fresh herbs in the family’s courtyard. Afterward, help women roll out yufka dough and cook gözleme over a wood-fired griddle. Wander through narrow lanes to visit a neighbor’s beehives and taste golden honey straight from the comb.

Gather for evening prayers in the village mosque, then attend a folk music session by a crackling fire. Sample homemade şıra, a sweet fermented grape drink, while dancing to traditional melodies. Retire under a blanket of stars, lulled by distant hoots of owls.

Begin in Ahlat’s bustling market to select fresh produce, spices, and Lake Van fish with your chef-instructor. Learn to distinguish local varieties of peppers, aubergines, and herbs grown in the volcanic soil. Chat with vendors about regional specialties like keledoş and sincik.

Return to the kitchen where you will prepare a multi-course meal. Under guidance, knead dough for bazlama flatbreads, simmer stuffed eggplant in tangy tomato sauce, and grill seasoned fish fillets. Discover the subtle art of balancing lemon, sumac, and mint to elevate each dish.

Feast on your creations alongside fellow participants at a long communal table. Toast with local white wine or ayran as the table buzzes with laughter and pride. Take home printed recipes and spice mixes as souvenirs of your culinary journey.

Set out in a 4x4 with a local guide to explore remote Seljuk and Ottoman mosques scattered across the countryside. Admire the intricate calligraphy, muqarnas vaults, and stone portals that have withstood centuries. Pause at a hillside shrine where pilgrims leave prayer beads and handwritten notes.

Travel to a tiny village renowned for its woven kilims and hand-dyed textiles. Visit a loom workshop to see vibrant rugs take shape under master weavers’ hands. Enjoy a simple lunch of lentil pilaf and shepherd’s salad in the shade of a walnut tree.

Watch the sun set behind a rustic mosque minaret as the call to prayer echoes across the valley. Sip sweet black tea from a thermos while listening to your guide recount legends of saints and warriors. Head back to town under a sky filled with twinkling stars.

Arrive at an artisan cooperative where potters and weavers open their studios to visitors. Try the potter’s wheel to shape a small bowl from local clay, guided by patient craftsmen. Meanwhile, others demonstrate the steps of dyeing wool with natural pigments from madder root and walnut husks.

Switch to the weaving loom to create a colorful coaster under the loom master’s tutelage. Learn how patterns and motifs reflect regional identity and familial heritage. Pause for a light lunch of cheese pastries and ayran woven into the communal chat with artisans.

Browse the cooperatives’ shelves for handcrafted mementos and textiles to bring home. Attend an informal recital of folk songs and watch artisans dance alongside the looms. Leave feeling connected to centuries-old traditions carried forward by dedicated hands.

Drive to the base of Mount Süphan, the region’s second-highest peak, and begin your trek through alpine meadows. The path winds past wildflowers and grazing goats while panoramic vistas of Lake Van appear in the distance. Stop at a shepherd’s hut to rest and taste fresh goat cheese with tea.

Ascend higher into rocky terrain, where snow patches linger year-round. A picnic lunch of flatbread, olives, and cured meats fuels you for the final push to a plateau. Upon arrival, marvel at sweeping vistas that stretch from distant volcanoes to glittering water below.

Return to Ahlat as dusk falls, sharing stories of your adventure with fellow hikers over a hearty stew. Celebrate your achievement with a glass of local fruit wine under the open sky. Let your muscles unwind and drift into a deep, well-earned sleep.

Sleep in and enjoy a leisurely breakfast of fresh pastries, honey, and local jams on a terrace overlooking Lake Van. Wander through a nearby olive grove, breathing in the fragrant air and gathering wild herbs. Chat with an olive farmer about ancient groves that have thrived here for millennia.

Attend a final group cooking session on the lakeshore, preparing fish kebabs, stuffed vine leaves, and rice pilaf over an open flame. Share laughs as you grill skewers and plate colorful salads on traditional trays. Watch the lake’s surface shimmer in the afternoon sun while tasting your collective efforts.

Host a farewell dinner picnic at sunset, complete with live saz music and dancing. Raise a toast to new friends and memories made across ten immersive days. As night falls, let the gentle lap of waves and the glow of lanterns bid you a heartfelt goodbye.