Day 01 Istanbul - Adana
Arrive to Istanbul. Take flight to Adana. Dinner and
overnight at your hotel. (D)
Day 02 Adana - Antakya (Antioch)
After breakfast drive to Antakya, and visit Sokullu Mehmet
Pasha Caravanserai, Antakya Mosaic Museum, Grotto of St.
Peter. Overnight in Antakya. (B,L,D)
Day 03 Antakya - Gaziantep
Drive to Gaziantep to visit the site Zeugma, located next to
Euphrates river and famous for his marvelous mosaics. Dinner
and overnight in Gaziantep. (B,L,D)
Day 04 Gaziantep - Nemrut Mountain – Adiyaman
Drive to Nemrut Mountain. See the huge heads of gods
(Apollo, Zeus, Hercules) and goddess (Tyke=Fortuna) built by
Antiochus I, King of the Commagene Kingdom in the 1st
century, and the man made hill, on top of the 2000 meters
high mountain. Overnight Adiyaman. (B,L,D)
Day 05 Adiyaman - Urfa Departure to Harran, one of the oldest cities of the
Mesapotamia. See the soil houses. Then continue to Urfa, the
city of the prophets. Visit of Golbasi & the castle. Diner
and overnight in Urfa. (B,L,D)
Day 06 Urfa - Mardin - Diyarbakir
After breakfast leave Urfa and drive to Mardin. Visit of the
Deyrulzafaran monastery, an aramean orthodox monastery still
inn use. Lunch en route and arrive to Diyarbakýr. See the
city walls, the market and Ulu Cami. Dinner and overnight in
Diyarbakir. (B,L,D)
Day 07 Diyarbakir - Van
Drive to Van, situated on the shores of Lake Van, at 5,500
feet, one of the highest lakes in the world. Visit the St.
Croix church, a beautiful example of Armenian architecture.
This church is located on the Akdamar Island. Dinner and
overnight in Van. (B,L,D)
Day 08 Van
Morning departure for Hosap Castle. After the visit continue
to Cavustepe, the Ourartéens site. Lunch and stop at a local
handicraft, KILIMS. Then visit the Castle of Van at the
sunset, to have a beautiful view over the biggest lake of
Turkey, the lake of Van. Dinner and overnight in Van. (B,L,D)
Day 09 Van - Dogubeyazit - Kars
Drive to Dogubeyazit, the closest town to Mt. Ararat. Visit
the famous 17th century Ishak Pasha Palace, built on a high
valley overlooking the caravan route. In the afternoon
continue to Kars, small city which is a beautiful example of
Russian urbanism of the 19th century. Dinner and overnight
in Kars. (B,L,D)
Day 10 Kars - Ani - Erzurum
Morning visit Ani, the capital city of an Ourartéens State,
and later of the Armenian Bagratid Kingdom from 953 to 1045
AD. Among the ruins of this ancient city there are eight
churches, a convent and a citadel along with the main
cathedral which has alternately been a church or a mosque.
After lunch, drive to Erzurum the largest city in the
eastern Anatolia. At arrival visit the Islamic monuments
from Seljuk, Mongol and Ottoman eras, Ulu Mosque and Cifte
Minare. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum. (B,L,D)
Day 11 Erzurum - Trabzon
Drive to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. Visit Hagia Sophia
and Sumela Monastery which was well known and respected as a
monastic centre from the 4th century until 1923. Dinner and
overnight at Trabzon. (B,L,D)
Day 12 Trabzon - Istanbul
Fly to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon.
Farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Istanbul (B,D)
Day 13 Istanbul - End
Transfer to Istanbul airport. End of our services. (B)
Guaranteed departure
(Regular
Group rates in USD) prices: (with minimum 6
participants)
Per
Person in a DBL room:
T B A
Singe
Room:
T B
A
Per
person in a TRPL room:
T B
A
INCLUDING
• 12 nights
hotel accommodation
in 4 star hotels (or best
available)
• Transportation by A/C minivan or
motor coach depending on the
size of the group
• Entry fees to sites and museums
mentioned in the program
• 12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 11
dinners
• English speaking professional
tour guide throughout
• Arrival and departure transfers
• 2 domestic flights (Istanbul –
Adana and Trabzon – Istanbul)
• Tip to hotels and restaurants
• Local Taxes
• Service Charges
EXCLUDING
• Tip to the guide and driver
• All personal expenses
• All items not specifically
mentioned in including part
