Day 1: Trabzon
Arriving to Istanbul Airport and meeting with your guide
at the airport. Then we fly to Trabzon Airport by afternoon
flight. You will have the day free to begin exploring
Trabzon or to relax at your leisure. Learn more about
the cultural adventure ahead of you at an orientation
meeting at 7pm. During dinner get acquainted with the
other members of your group. Dinner, and overnight in
Trabzon.
Day 2: Trabzon - Erzurum
Miletian colonists founded Trabzon, the major city of
the region, in the 7th century B.C. You will begin the
day with a tour of the 14th century Sumela Monastery.
In the afternoon, continue to Erzurum. Situated on a high
plateau, Erzurum is currently the largest city in Anatolia.
It has been ruled by Arabs, Byzantines, Armenians, Seljuks
and Russians. The steadfast walls of this ancient fortress
are well-preserved. You'll have a chance today to discover
the castle, Cifte Minare Mosque and Grand Mosque. Visit
the wonderful complex of Seldjoukide tombs of Uckumbetler.
Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
Day 3: Erzurum - Ani - Kars
On the way to Kars, visit the medieval city of Ani, a
fascinating town situated on the ancient Silk Road. An
Armenian city from the 11th century on the Turkish Armenian
border, Ani was called "The City of 1001 Churches"
for its numerous churches and buildings of great splendor
and magnificence. During the 9th to the 12th centuries,
Ani was a thriving community and acquired fame as being
a Christian metropolis in Asia abounding with prestigious
monuments. As the capital of Christian Armenia, Ani was
a flourishing artistic and religious center ruled by Christian
kings. Within the walls of these ruins still today are
numerous churches, a convent and a citadel along with
the main cathedral. Beautiful woodcarvings, and a wide
collection of coins found in the area are exhibited. You
may also find fine kilims, carpets and local costumes.
Dinner and overnight in Kars.
Day 4: Kars - Dogu Beyazit - Mt. Ararat - Van
Drive to Dogubeyazit. On your way enjoy the unforgettable
scenery of Mount Ararat, Turkey's most scenic natural
monument. Mount Ararat, an inactive volcano capped year
round with ice and snow, rises to a height of 6,854 feet.
The Old Testament records that it was on this mountain
that Noah's Ark came to rest after the great flood. While
here be sure to try the local dessert, asure (Noah's Pudding),
believed to have first been made by Noah's wife from the
last bits of food in the ark. Then continue on to Van
on the shores of Lake Van. Visit Van Castle and the magnificent
palace of Ishak Pasha. Ishak Pasha, Ottoman governor of
the province, constructed the palace in the 17th century
in a mixture of architectural styles. Dinner and overnight
in Van.
Day 5: Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey. The province
of Van sits by Lake Van, and was the ancient Urartian
capital of Tuspa. It is situated in a green, fertile oasis
in the midst of rock-strewn mountains. An impressive citadel
stands on one of these peaks and dates back to the 9th
century BC. There are steps carved into rock leading to
the fortress, and while descending you will be able to
see some cuneiform inscriptions paying homage to Persian
King, Xerxes of the 5th century BC. Enjoy a morning cruise
on Lake Van towards the island of Akdamar with its 10th
century church of the Holy Cross, now a museum, whose
stone outer walls are richly carved with Old Testament
scenes and figures. In the afternoon make a visit to the
17th century Hosap Castle and Cavustepe dating back to
the 9th century BC. Cavustepe, 35 km from Van on the Hakkari
road, is an important Urartian citadel. Excavated in 1970,
today you can see temples, a palace, a sacrificial altar
and inscriptions. Dinner and overnight in Van.
Day 6: Van - Diyarbakir
Next stop on your journey is Diyarbakir. Known in ancient
times as Amida, Diyarbakir has been a cradle of 26 civilizations
during its 5000-year history. The city is spread across
a basalt plateau close to the banks of the Tigris River.
The remains of the 1800 year old black basalt triple walls
erected by Emperor Constantine , which encircle the old
town, give the city a rather ominous appearance, but you'll
visit beautiful Ulu Camii (the Grand Mosque), built in
1179 by Melik Nasreddin Mehmet and see many of the mosques
dating from the Ottoman period still intact. Dinner and
overnight in Diyarbakir.
Day 7: Hasankeyf - Mardin - Diyarbakir
Today, you'll explore the city Hasankeyf by the Tigris
River, before it is completely lost beneath the water
after the installation of the dam. Complete your day with
a visit to some of the oldest universities in the world
located in Midyat and Mardin where you will discover highlights
of Assyrian civilization. Midyat, famous for its silver
objects known as 'telkari' has many elegant, historic
houses. From a distance, the golden stone of Mardin houses
blend into the rock of the hills on which the city is
built. On closer inspection, the stone carving and decoration
of the houses and public buildings reveals the city as
an architectural treasure-chest. Among the jewels are
the ancient citadel and several mosques, in particular,
Ulu Mosque. Also visit the world's oldest universities
at Midyat and Mardin Darulzafeyran where you will discover
highlights of Assyrian civilization. Dinner and overnight
in Diyarbakir.
Day 8: Diyarbakir - Mt. Nemrut - Adiyaman
In the morning drive to Kahta and ascend to the summit
of Mount Nemrut. On the summit of Mount Nemrut, the highest
mountain in Northern Mesopotamia at 7,053 feet, sits the
gigantic funerary sanctuary erected in the first century
BC by King Antiochus I of Commagene. Antiochus believed
himself to be the descendant of Apollo, so he built a
statue of himself flanked by terraces on which rest the
colossal statues of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, Tyche and
Antiochus. Time has inflicted heavy damage on the sculptures
- their torsos sit with their beautifully carved heads
at their feet. Dinner and overnight in Adiyaman.
Day 9: Adiyaman - Harran - Urfa
Overlook the Ataturk Dam on the way to Urfa, which is
presumed to be the location where Rebecca drew water for
Jacob and where Abraham decided to move into the land
of Canaan. In the afternoon, explore Harran, lying on
the Mesopotamian plain, known for its mud-brick "beehive"
like dwellings. The worship of the moon was practiced
from 800BC to 830AD before the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius
destroyed the city's temple to the moon god. Stroll among
the archaeological finds including those of the largest
ancient Islamic university, city walls dating from the
eighth century, four gates and a citadel. Dinner and overnight
in Urfa.
Day 10: Urfa - Zeugma - Antioch
Drive to Halfeti village and enjoy a boat tour to discover
the Byzantine castle. Continue to Zeugma by the Euphrates,
which has become a world heritage site because it will
soon be submerged by water. Arrive to Birecik to explore
some of 300 "bold ibiscus" birds left. After
lunch drive to Yesemek where the most important Hittite
sculpture school was founded in the 12th century BC. Here
you can admire the fantastic statues still in good shape
today. Then, continue on to Antioch - once the capital
of the Seleucid kings and known for its great wealth and
luxury. In Roman times, the city continued to thrive with
commerce and culture and was the city where the followers
of Christ were first referred to as “Christians.”.
Dinner and overnight in Urfa.
Day 11: Cappadocia
We take a long but pleasant drive today, to Cappadocia;
the land of the fairies. Dinner, and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 12: Cappadocia
Today we introduce you to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia
at Dervent Valley, then we head on to Zelve Open Air Museum,
which is one of the earliest inhabited and latest abandoned
monastic settlements of Cappadocia. Seeing the best examples
of the fairy chimneys at Pasabag Fairy Chimneys Valley,
we drive further to Avanos, where we have lunch at a local
restaurant. Goreme Open Air Museum is where we visit the
rock carved churches and colorful frescoes. We end the
day hiking up to the top of Uchisar Castle, which is the
highest and the most dominant point, giving us a breathtaking
panorama. Dinner, and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 13: Cappadocia
Today we drive a little further to the outskirts of Cappadocia,
first to descend to the centre of the earth at Kaymakli
Underground City. As we drive further southwest, we pass
by Mt. Hasan, to start our hike along Ihlara Valley. After
a while we arrive at Belisirma village where we can have
our lunch in a local restaurant, mid-way along the valley
by the stream. Then we visit the Selime and drive back
to our hotel, giving an en route visit to Agzikarahan
Caravanserai, where the medieval merchants used to stay
overnight. Dinner, and overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 14: Cappadocia - Istanbul
Leaving the land of fairies, we drive Kayseri and have
a mini Kayseri Tour. Then we go to Kayseri Airport for
Istanbul flight. In Istanbul we have the last meeting
in our dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 15: Istanbul
After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul Airport, and fly
back home.
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