Follow in the footsteps of Turkey’s mystic Sufis on a sightseeing tour of Konya and discover the history, wisdom, and energy of these extraordinary men.

Our guide and driver will meet you at your hotel in Antalya at 07:30am. Then, we will drive another 3 hours with breaks to get to Mevlana Museum. Mausoleum of Rumi (in Turkish ‘Mevlana Müzesi’),  is a must see destination in Konya and there is the tomb of the famous mystic/sufi/thinker Rumi (known shortly as Mevlana in Turkish, or with the full name Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi in English literature), as well as the neighboring museum that displays relics of his life and his time. The items on display in the museum range from old manuscripts, hand written copies of the Koran, musical instruments used at Rumi’s time, as well as numerous art works dating from the Seljuk era.

After visiting the museum, you will have your lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, we will visit Alaeddin Mosque. This mosque is one of the most interesting examples of Turkish Architecture with wooden columns that carry the entire building. A graveyard for the Sultans is located in the courtyard of this mosque. Finally, we will visit Ince Minareli Medrese (theological school) with its amazing portal gate which is one of the best examples in Turkey. The tour will end around 8:30pm – 9:00pm and we will drop you off to your hotel.

Highlights of Konya Tour

Mevlana Museum
The 13^th-century Persian poet, theologian, Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi is buried here at the Mevlana Museum the former home and lodge to the hauntingly beautiful order of the Whirling Dervishes the museum tour shows you the important area of the lodge including the Tombs, Ritual Hall, kitchens, and the Holy Tilavet Chamber which is where readings from the Quran are given and chanting takes place.

Aladdin Mosque
The historical city of Konya is laid out like a grid with all roads leading from a central circle and right in the middle of that is Aladdin Hill Park With its Mid 12^th to 13^th-century Mosque of the same name thought to be once part of the Seljuk Palace. It was built in the style of Islamic Seljuk architecture. Before this time there is evidence of a Christian basilica on this site dating back to 1080 when the city was captured.
Many changes were made and the façade we see today was built during the reign of Kaykaus 1 in 1219, within the mosque, the ebony Minbar (pulpit) was inscribed dating it to 1155, making this the first of this type of art to be found within this part of Turkey. Most visitors enter the mosque through the eastern door built in the Ottoman period, after leaving you will enter a courtyard where the dynasty of 8 Seljuk kings have been laid to rest.

Ince Minaret and Madrasa Museum
This 13^th-century building also located in the heart of the city centre is now a museum displaying all forms of art made from wood and stoneworks, included in the museum you will find carved sculptures, relief work, panelling and much much more. The Minaret and main entrance are exquisitely carved and have withstood the winds and weathers of time.

Karatay Madrasah and Museum
All of the historical sites of Konya are centred around the Aladdin Mosque and the same goes for the Karatay Madrasah which lies just behind it to the north. The word Madrasah comes from Arabic and means any institution for education in this instance, Islamic. From the outside, it is a one storey unimposing building, however, it is when you enter that you immediately see the outstanding beauty and craftsmanship of the ceramics, there are also other ceramic works of art on display here. Many being discovered 80 kilometres away at the Kubadabad Royal summer palace.

Azizye Mosque
Located in the Karatay district of Konya again very close to the city centre the 17^th-century Azizye Mosque will surprise you, is architecture is very different from anywhere else in the city in 1867 there was a great fire and most of the building was lost, however, Pertevniyel Mother of the sultan Abdulaziz had it completely rebuilt it took 7 years for work on the mosque to be completed and stands today as a testimony to her faith.