Region: Eastern Turkey

A striking example of medieval Armenian architecture, Surp Tovmas Monastery at Altınsaç is built on a high hilltop overlooking the twisting shores of Lake Van.

One of Turkey’s most iconic sights, the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar island is a spectacular combination of architecture, art, and natural beauty.

Set on the high slopes of Mount Erek, Varagavank monastery, known as Yedi Kilise or “Seven Churches” in Turkish, is a beautiful and ruinous medieval Armenian complex still bearing traces of its former glory.

Hidden in the lonely mountain valleys above lake Van, Karmravank Monastery is one of the region’s more impressive medieval Armenian religious sites.

Home to a famous cat, giant breakfast, ancient inscriptions, a soaring castle, and medieval churches, the city of Van is a fascinating site and a gateway to the stunning sights in the mountainous countryside.

A striking castle perched above a harsh landscape, Hoşap Castle is grand and mysterious with its soaring walls and mud brick ruins eroded into otherworldly shapes.

Set between Lake Van and the slopes of Mt Artos, the Halime Hatun Tomb and Graveyard of Gevaş are some of Van’s best preserved Seljuk era sights.

Built as an Armenian-Georgian church, then converted into a fort in the 19th century, the ruins of Bana Cathedral are a stunning sight.

Tucked into a remote canyon in Turkey’s far east, the ruins of Beşkilise Monastery (Khtzkonk) are nestled in the stunning landscapes of Kars

One of the great cities of the medieval world, the ruins of Ani’s copper coloured monuments in an expanse of green are among Turkey’s most beautiful sights.

Green valleys lined with brilliant red cliffs carved by time, wind, and rain into strange shapes and fairy chimneys just outside the town of Narman in Erzurum

Amid all of Kars’s many scattered sights, the city centre is the best place to find a hotel. Here’s a guide to help you enjoy the handful of sights the city has to offer.

Etched into the high cliffs above the village of Camuşlu in Kars are panels of Stone Age carvings depicting ancient hunters among great herds of deer, mountain goat, and ibex.

All that remains of the Commagene city of Perre is the city’s sprawling necropolis with its Commagene, Roman, and Byzantine tombs set in an ancient quarry.

In the east of Gaziantep is a lush green valley filled with ancient Hittite cities such as Tilmen and Sam’al and the ancient Statue workshops of Yesemek

Just outside of Malatya is the archeological dig and UNESCO Heritage Site of Arslantepe, an ancient city mound famous for its numerous wall paintings.

Set high on a mountainside Mardin’s magnificent architecture and views make it one of the most unique and enchanting cities in all of Turkey!

An ancient monastery found just outside the city of Midyat. Mor Gabriel is also the spiritual heart of the Syriac Orthodox in south-eastern Turkey.

Visit a working Syriac monastery nestled between saffron-coloured walls and the blistering wilderness of the northern Syrian plain.

The old town of Midyat in the East of Mardin is fascinating blend of unique cultures, languages, and faiths set in a picturesque town of stone.

Explore the rich landscapes between the major towns and monasteries to get a deeper look into the life and heartland of the Syriac people.

A large pond in the Heart of Bingöl province with islands that blow around in the breeze.

A small idyllic village in Central Bingöl surrounded by strange fairy chimney topped hills.

A waterfall fed pool set in a deep valley just outside the beautiful village of Direkli.

The city of Hasankeyf has stood for millennia on the Roman-Persian frontier but will soon be lost.

A magnificent cave set above the source of the Tigris River with reliefs and inscriptions left by Assyrian emperors.

A roaring seasonal waterfall set high in the cliffs of Bingöl’s mountains that’s reduced to a trickle by summer