Multi-day journey
Hittite Tour in 7 Days: Hattusa, Kanesh and the Gods of Yazılıkaya
A private 7-day Hittite tour: the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, the Hittite capital of Hattusa, the rock gods of Yazılıkaya, Alacahöyük, Kanesh, Cappadocia and the spring sanctuary of Eflatunpınar.
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Length
- 7 days
- Route
- Ankara → Hattusa → Yazılıkaya → Alacahöyük → Kültepe (Kanesh) → Cappadocia → Sultanhanı → Konya → Eflatunpınar
- Style
- Private, guided
- Best time
- All year round. In summer, we start early on the plateau, and in winter, snow can cover the Hittite sites, so we plan the days around the museums.
Best for Returning visitors
Tour code TR-J07A
Overview
More than 3,000 years ago, the Hittites built their capital in the hills of the central plateau of Anatolia. Our Hittite tour follows them for seven days, from the museum in Ankara to their capital, their rock-cut gods and a sacred spring by a lake.
Ankara and Hattusa on the Hittite Tour
We begin in Ankara, at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. It fills an old covered bazaar and an inn below the castle, and it gives you a first look at the Hittites. Then we drive to Boğazkale for a full day at Hattusa, the Hittite capital. Since 1986, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its clay tablet archives are on the Memory of the World list.
The Gods of Yazılıkaya
Next, we walk to Yazılıkaya, 2 km northeast of Hattusa. In two rock chambers, long rows of gods and goddesses are carved into the stone. In the smaller chamber, twelve gods march along one wall, and King Tudhaliya IV stands under the protection of his god. From there, we drive to Alacahöyük, where excavations began in 1935 and a small museum stands on the site.
From our guides
Our suggestion In the smaller chamber of Yazılıkaya, look for King Tudhaliya IV under the protection of his god.
Kültepe, Ancient Kanesh
Then we drive south to Kültepe, about 20 km northeast of Kayseri. Here stood Kanesh, a city at the center of a network of Assyrian trade colonies in the 2nd millennium BC. Its merchants left about 23,500 clay tablets and envelopes, written in Old Assyrian cuneiform. In the evening, we reach Cappadocia, and the next day is slower, with the rock churches of Göreme and a valley walk.
Konya and Eflatunpınar
On the sixth day, we cross the steppe to Konya, with a stop at the Sultanhanı Caravanserai of 1229. In Konya, we visit the Mevlana Museum. On the last morning, we drive toward Lake Beyşehir to Eflatunpınar. There, beside a spring of ice-cold water, a wall of huge stones carries the gods of the Hittites, raised more than 3,000 years ago.
Shape Your Hittite Tour
Every journey is private, so we add a day at Gordion, the city of King Midas, or more time in Cappadocia. For a shorter trip, see our Hattusa tour from Ankara.
Would you like to follow the Hittites across Anatolia? Hattusa, the gods of Yazılıkaya and Kültepe lie far apart, so give us your days and we will plan the road between them.
Route
- Ankara
- Hattusa
- Yazılıkaya
- Alacahöyük
- Kültepe (Kanesh)
- Cappadocia
- Sultanhanı
- Konya
- Eflatunpınar
Day by day
-
Day 1 · Ankara
Ankara and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
Arrival in Ankara, then the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, set in an old covered bazaar and inn below the castle, for a first look at the Hittites.
- Places: Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
- Stay: Ankara
-
Day 2 · Çorum
Hattusa
The drive to Boğazkale and a full day in Hattusa, the Hittite capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Places: Hattusa
- Stay: Boğazkale or Çorum
-
Day 3 · Çorum
Yazılıkaya and Alacahöyük
The rock sanctuary of Yazılıkaya, with its carved gods and King Tudhaliya IV, then the old mound of Alacahöyük and its site museum.
- Places: Yazılıkaya, Hattusa, Alacahöyük
- Stay: Çorum
-
Day 4 · Kayseri
Kanesh, the city of merchants
The long drive south to Kültepe near Kayseri, ancient Kanesh, where Assyrian merchants kept their letters on clay tablets. Then on to Cappadocia.
- Places: Kültepe
- Stay: Cappadocia
-
Day 5 · Cappadocia
A day in Cappadocia
A slower day: the painted rock churches of the Göreme Open-Air Museum and a walk in the valleys.
- Places: Göreme Open-Air Museum, Göreme
- Stay: Cappadocia
-
Day 6 · Konya
To Konya
West across the steppe to the Seljuk caravanserai of Sultanhanı, then Konya and the Mevlana Museum.
- Places: Sultanhanı Caravanserai, Mevlana Museum
- Stay: Konya
-
Day 7 · Konya
Eflatunpınar and home
The Hittite spring sanctuary of Eflatunpınar near Lake Beyşehir, then the flight home from Konya.
- Places: Eflatunpınar
What’s included
Included
- Private licensed guides on every touring day, in the language you ask for
- A private vehicle and driver for the whole journey
- Airport meetings and transfers
- A 10 GB eSIM for one traveler in your group, our gift, valid for 30 days (data only)
Not included
- Flights, unless agreed in your program
- Hotels, unless agreed in your program
- Entrance tickets, unless agreed in your program
- Meals and drinks
- Tips
“The team was friendly, helpful, and easy to communicate with.”
Practical
- Best time to go
- All year round. In summer, we start early on the plateau, and in winter, snow can cover the Hittite sites, so we plan the days around the museums.
- Fitness level
- Moderate: long drives between the sites and walks on open, uneven ground.
- Accessibility
- Tell us your needs. We can shorten site visits and add rest stops.
Gallery
Photo: Ywpark2003 / Wikimedia Commons, CC0 
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Photo: Bernard Gagnon / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Photo: Anadolu / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Photo: Carole Raddato from Frankfurt, Germany / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0 
Photo: Carole Raddato from FRANKFURT, Germany / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Hittite tour start and end?
It starts in Ankara and ends with a flight home from Konya.
Which Hittite sites are on the Hittite tour?
Hattusa, Yazılıkaya, Alacahöyük, Kanesh (Kültepe) and Eflatunpınar, with the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara.
Is the Hittite tour only about the Hittites?
Mostly. We also add a slower day in Cappadocia and the Seljuk sights of Sultanhanı and Konya on the way.
How demanding is the journey?
Moderate: some long drives, and walks on open, uneven ground at the sites.
Can we add more days?
Yes. Every journey is private, so we can add Gordion or more time in Cappadocia.
Is the Hittite tour suitable for kids and seniors?
Yes, at a gentle pace. The journey is moderate: long drives between the sites and walks on open, uneven ground. Tell us your needs. We can shorten site visits and add rest stops.
How much walking is there?
Moderate: long drives between the sites and walks on open, uneven ground.
What should I wear?
Comfortable walking shoes and layers. Cover shoulders and knees for mosques and churches, and bring a scarf for women.
