Konya Day Tour: Mevlana Museum & Seljuk Sites

Overview

Konya day tour to the heart of Sufism: the tomb and museum of Mevlana Rumi, the Alaaddin Mosque, Karatay Madrasa and the Ince Minaret, with a local guide.

Konya, the Seljuk capital of Anatolia, is where Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi lived and taught, and it remains the spiritual home of the whirling dervishes. You reach the city by a morning flight from Istanbul (ticket not included) or by private vehicle from Cappadocia in about three hours, and your guide meets you on arrival. The day begins at the Mevlana Museum, the former dervish lodge where Rumi's tomb lies beneath the turquoise dome; headscarves and silence are required.

You then visit the Seljuk landmarks of the old centre: the Alaaddin Mosque on its hill, the Karatay Madrasa with its tilework and the Ince Minaret Madrasa with its carved stone portal. Your guide explains Rumi's poetry and the Sufi path along the way, and prayers can be performed at the Alaaddin or Selimiye Mosque. Transport and guiding are included; entrance fees and lunch are not.