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Eastern Turkey Tour
Upon arrival meet with our representative and transfer to
the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul. 4 Star Hotel or similar.
Dinner is included, if arriving in time.
Istanbul - Ankara
This morning we cross the Bosphorous and drive to Turkey's
capital, Ankara. This afternoon we take a guided tour of the
superb Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. Our next stop is
Anitkabir, the gigantic mausoleum of Ataturk. Overnight in
Ankara. 4 Star Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner
Ankara - Hattusas - Cappadocia
This morning we drive east from Ankara into the heartland of
traditional Turkey to visit the site of the Hittite capital,
Hattusas. As well as the ruins of the palaces in the main
site, we visit the open air religious sanctuary at
Yazilikaya and the Bronze Age site of Alacahoyuk with its
Sphinx Gate. From Bogazkale National Park we drive south to
Cappadocia. First of 2 nights near Urgup town, Cappadocia. 4
Star Hotel or similar. B & D
Cappadocia Tour
Today we enjoy guided sightseeing in the unique Cappadocia
region. We visit the Ozkonak underground city, carved into
extensive passages and hidden rooms by 7th Century
Christians fleeing from persecution. As we travel around the
Cappadocia region we will see dozens of "fairy chimneys"
and other hoodoos. We also visit the Goreme Valley,
designated by the United Nations as a World Heritage site.
Here many brightly painted churches have been carved into
the rocks. In this area we also visit the Sarihan
caravansarai. This is one of a chain of fortified hotels
built by the Selchuk state in the 12th century to encourage
caravans of traders to pass through their land. Second of 2
nights near Urgup town, Cappadocia. 4 Star Hotel or similar.
Breakfast & Dinner.
Cappadocia - Kayseri - Mount Nemrut
This morning we drive east from Cappadocia to visit the
Selcuk city of Kayseri. Today the city is famous for its
huge traditional bazaar and 13th century Ulu Cami mosque.
Overnight in Adiyaman. 3 star Hotel or similar. Breakfast
& Dinner.
Mount Nemrut - Urfa
Early this morning we witness one of the most extraordinary
sights in the world - the sunrise at Mount Nemrut. On top of
a 2,000 metre (6,500 ft) mountain in the middle of nowhere
King Antiochus, of a little-known people called the
Commagenes, built his massive funeral monument. We see giant
figures of animal and human-form gods from many religions
and local traditions. Their heads alone are 2 metres (6.5 ft)
high! Later this morning we drive south from Adiyaman,
stopping at the enormous Ataturk Dam. We make our way to the
city of Urfa. The city is believed to be where Adam and Eve
lived in the Garden of Eden. The Cave of Abraham, where
legend says the prophet was born, is one of the most
important pilgrimage places in the Islamic world. Later King
Nimrod of Assyria built an immense pyre to have Abraham
burnt at the stake but God intervened and turned the fire
into what is today called the Pool of Abraham. The pieces of
wood on the pyre were turned into the fish that still
inhabit the pool. Overnight in Urfa. 3 Star Hotel or similar.
B & D
Urfa - Harran - Diyarbakir
South of Urfa, we visit the ruins of Harran,. According to
the Book of Genesis, Abraham and his family lived here for
several years. We explore the ruins of this once-great city
and see the mud-brick bee hive houses of the local people.
Later today we journey from Urfa to Diyarbakir. Some
archaeologists believe that this may be the oldest
continuously inhabited city in the world. Remains dating
back to the Stone Age have been found here. First of 2
nights in Diyarbakir. 4 Star Hotel or similar. Breakfast
& Dinner.
Diyarbakir + Mardin
Today we explore on foot the old city of Diyarbakir,
protected within its walls. Walking through the narrow,
cobbled streets amid the ancient buildings is like stepping
back into the Middle Ages. We climb up on the walls to look
down on the fertile gardens along the banks of the Tigris
River. The walls still have 60 of their 72 towers intact.
The Ulu Cami (Great Mosque) is over 900 years old and
incorporates the remains of the Byzantine church of Martoma.
From the "Black City" of Diyarbakir we drive south
to the "White City" of Mardin. Here we overlook
the Mesopotamian Plains, the breadbasket of the ancient
world. We also hope to visit the Saffron Monastery, which
was the centre of the Syrian Orthodox branch of Christianity
for over 700 years until the 1920's. Second of 2 nights in
Diyarbakir. 4 Star Hotel or similar. Breakfast & Dinner.
Diyarbakir - Van
Today we travel from Diyarbakir along the banks of Turkey's
largest lake, Lake Van. The town of Van is the centre of an
area which is home to many nomadic tribes. Van was the
centre of the Urartian Kingdom in ancient times and we can
see many beautiful gold artifacts from this period at the
Van Museum The old town was built around the Rock of Van,
which provides commanding views of Lake Van and the
surrounding countryside. On the Rock are the remains of many
fortifications from different periods including a Urartian
castle where you can see cuniform writing. Below one can
just make out the outlines of the old city of Van. First of
2 nights in Van. Superior 3 star Hotel or similar. Breakfast
and Dinner.
Akdamar Island
Today we take a relaxing excursion by ferry across the azure
Lake Van to the tiny island of Akdamar. King Gagik
constructed a palace on this island and built the exquisite
Church of the Holy Cross. The carvings on the walls of the
church are in a distinctive flat, high relief style showing
Biblical scenes such as the whale swallowing Jonah and David
about to slay Goliath. On our way back to Van we stop at
Gevas to admire the intricately carved 14th century tomb of
a Turkish princess. This afternoon you can either enjoy free
time to explore the town of Van or join us on an excursion
south into the heart of the area. Here we visit the
8th Century BC Urartian palace-city of Cavustepe.. Further
down the rugged valley we come to the stunningly-located
castle of Hosap, perched on a tall rock outcrop with ranges
of mountains marching off into the distance beyond. This
17th century fortress was the stronghold of a local warlord who ruled this remote and wild region with an iron
fist. Returning again to Van, we have the chance to admire
the many styles of carpets indigenous to this region and the
surrounding areas. Maybe we will see one of the famous Van
cats. They have one blue eye and one green eye and are
reputed to enjoy swimming! Second of 2 nights in Van.
Superior 3 star Buyuk Hotel or similar. Breakfast and Dinner.
Van - Mount Ararat - Dogubayazit -
Kars
As we head north from Van we skirt the eastern shore of Lake
Van on our way to the frontier town of Dogubayazit. This is
the home of one of Turkey's most beautiful buildings-Palace
of Ishak Pasha, If the weather is clear we will have close-up
views of 16,400 ft (5,000 metre) Mount Ararat, the legendary
last resting place of Noah's Ark. Travelling round the
mountain we head north to the town of Kars. Overnight in
Kars. 3 star Hotel or similar. B & D
Kars - Ani - Erzurum
This morning, we make our way from Kars to the ruins of the
capital of the Armenian kingdom, Ani. This "ghost city"
is dramatically set on the edge of a gorge which separates
Turkey from the Republic of Armenia. At the height of
medieval Armenia's golden age in the end of the 10th century
Ani had a population of 100,000 and is said to have had
1,000 churches. We visit the ruins of several churches
including the Church of Our Saviour and the Cathedral of the
Apostles. Many of the churches have beautiful painted
frescoes. From Ani we return to Kars and travel across the
Anatolian plain to the Selchuk city of Erzurum. Overnight in
Erzurum. 3 star Hotel or similar. B & D
Erzurum - Trabzon
Erzurum is the highest city in Turkey and has been conquered
by a succession of invaders who have entered Turkey from the
East. The Cifte Minareli Medrese, with its impressive facade
and twin minarets, is an excellent example of early Turkish
muslim architecture. From Erzurum we head down from the
Anatolian Plateau towards the Black Sea coast. First of 2
nights near Trabzon. 4 star Hotel or similar. Breakfast and
Dinner.
Trabzon + Sumela Monastery
In a secluded valley, we stop to visit Sumela Monastery.
This was one of the holy centres of the Byzantine church for
many centuries, despite its remote and inaccessible location.
The monastery clings high on a vertical cliff face above a
pine-clad valley with a rushing river far below. The
monastery was occupied by Greek Orthodox monks right up
until the 1920's. This afternoon we explore Trabzon, which
has traditionally been the main town on the Turkish side of
the Black Sea and formed one end of the Silk Route. After
1204, when the Crusaders sacked Constantinople, the
Byzantine court fled here and established what became known
as the Trapezuntine Empire - essentially the Byzantine
Empire in exile. Many of the important buildings in the town
date from that period. The Aya Sofia is a church modelled
after its namesake in Istanbul and featuring excellent
frescoes. On a hillside above the town looking out over the
Black Sea is Ataturk's Villa. This elegant white mansion is
built in the Crimean style from the north side of the Black
Sea. Second of 2 nights near Trabzon. 4 star Hotel or
similar. Breakfast and Dinner.
Trabzon - Istanbul
This morning we fly from Trabzon back to Istanbul. The rest
of the day is free for you to explore some of Istanbul's
many delights. An excursion that many people like to make is
to take one of the ferries travelling up the Bosphorous
towards the Black Sea. This is a relaxed way of seeing the
towns along the European and Asian shores. Overnight in
Istanbul. 4 Star Hotel or similar. B & D
This morning we fly from Istanbul to Home
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Travel Turkey - 2005
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