Across the Anatolian heartland from historic Sanliurfa to Van and seldom visited Yuksekova in search of beautiful spring flowers, fine landscapes and cultural treasure. We search especially for endemic fritillaries, irises and extraordinary steppe flora, tracing parts of the old Silk Road. Travelling from volcanic badlands and the wild mountains of Palandoken to the turquoise waters of Lake Van and the dramatic peaks of Hakkari. We also take in the newly excavated Gobeklitepe, the impressive heads of Nemrut Dagi and spectacularly positioned Ishak Pasa, which overlooks the old Silk Road into Iran. A pretour offers the chance to see that most iconic of frits, Fritillaria imperialis.
A 16-day tour with Chris Gardner
Arrival in Malatya and transfer to Tunceli for the night.
Munzur mountains to see Fritillaria imperialis. This requires an uphill walk and rocky sections to reach large stands of this magnificent bulb. Surrounding woodlands have Paeonia mascula and various orchids. Overnight Tunceli.
Arrival and transfer to a hotel in the city. Those on the pre-tour would drive to Malatya with stops for Tchihatchewia isatidea, Aethionema grandiflora and other steppe flora.
The only known location of the beautiful Iris peshmeniana and Bellevalia chrisii. Mountain slopes also have tulips, Fritillaria pinardii, Iris sari, Arabis caucasica and multicoloured Nonea stenosolen. We will continue on to see the remarkable stone heads on Nemrut Dagi before returning to Malatya for the night.
Limestone ridges of the Toros Daglari pierce inland and its on these we find plenty of the golden bells of Fritillaria aurea growing with Aubrieta deltoidea, Hesperis breviscapa, Corydalis tauricola. Afterwards we continue to the historical city of Sanliurfa.
Recent excavations at Gobeklitepe have caused us to reappraise our understanding of the past and we will visit this fascinating site in the morning. Afterwards there will be our first opportunity to see one of the largest flowered irises in the world; Iris gatesii. Overnight Mardin.
A second location near Mardin for the wonderful Iris gatesii.
A transfer day that crosses from one side of Anatolia to the other and the chance to see that classic of the Turkish steppe, Tchihatchewia isatidea, along with the purple spires of Verbascum weidermanniana, Muscari massayanum and Gladiolus atroviolaceus. Overnight Erzurum.
Serpentine ridges will have late snow patches fringed with Iris reticulata and Colchicum szovitsii, whilst are slopes glow with drifts of Tulipa julia. Another prize is soft pink Fritillaria alburyna often found near turd with related F. caucasica and silky-haired Pulsatilla albana. Overnight Erzurum.
Beautiful frits continue with stony slopes with the lovely Fritillaria michailovskyi as well as the chance to see screes filled with Allium akaka and that most glamorous of steppe plants, Iris iberica. Overnight in historic Kars.
The chocolate bells of Fritillaria latifolia cover grassy hills near melting snows with Corydalis angustifolia and huge drifts of Scilla sibirica subsp. armena colour the ground blue. Elegant Scilla rosenii is also found here in the bulb-packed landscape. With luck Iris aphelia will have started flowering too. Overnight Kars.
Fabulous populations of Iris iberica with Bellevalia sarmatica, pretty Scorzonera violacea and increasingly dramatic landscapes of soaring volcanoes and lava flows. Overnight Dogubeyazit.
Above the town is the eclectic yet fascinating Ishak Pass poised above the old Silk Road route between modern Türkiye and Iran. Beyond the lava fields we will find more fine stands of Iris iberica and the silken beauty of purple I. barnumiae. Hopefully the incredible parasitic plant, Phelypaea tournefortti will have begun sending up its intense scarlet flowers too. Overnight Van.
A bulb rich pass with Iris caucasica, Fritillaria minima, F. minuta, Tulipa humilis, the big pink cups of Colchicum kurdicum and masses of Puschkinia scillioides. The surrounding steppe will also have the unusual Iris paradoxa and limestone rock faces harbour Psephellus karduchorum. Overnight Van.
Recently accessible to visitors the dramatic high mountains of the south-east have slopes with plentiful Iris aucheri (white form) and the sumptuous purple of Iris lycotis. Elsewhere we hope find Fritillaria persica and maybe the odd late F. imperialis. Overnight Yuksekova.
A day of exploration in this newly accessible, remote and spectacular mountain area and plants will include the lovely Lathyrus satdagensis. Overnight Yuksekova.
Return flights from Yuksekova Airport via Istanbul
(3-)5-19 May 2026
Per person (twin share): 4650 Euros
Deposit: 700 Euros
Single supplement: 700 Euros
Included:
Minimum number of participants 5; maximum 12.
For more information on our tours
Turkey: +90 535 4125286 | UK: +44 (0)795 854 6807
