Eastern Turkey Tours
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Eastern Turkey Tours can be arranged from Kemer-Antalya-Belek-Side-Alanya-istanbul and Bodrum
Price per. 3,320 Euro - 2,889 (GBP)
Eastern Turkey Tours is a tailor made private tour for you ,the tour route, departure city or the length of the trip can be changed up on your request.Choose Your own date..
ITINERARY: (16 DAYS)
ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA GAZIANTEP SANLI URFA MT NEMRUT
DIYARBAKIR VAN DOGUBAYAZIT KARS ERZURUM TRABZON
ISTANBUL
Visiting eastern Turkey is an unforgettable adventure. In this tour we will be immersed in a completely different lifestyle and culture. We will encounter a mosaic of people, very ancient civilizations, village life and more. This tour is a full-service escorted tour including entry fees and most meals. Because there is some climbing done in this tour, we recommend Eastern Turkey Tours only for those who are physically fit and in good health.
DAY 1
ARRIVAL
Arrival at Istanbul airport. Meet and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in 4* or boutique hotel.
DAY 2
ISTANBUL - SULTANAHMET
Visit the St. (Haghia) Sophia, which was built by the Emperor Justinian. It was the largest building in the world for over 1000 years. See its intricate mosaics and huge central dome. Continue to the Topkapi Palace, which was used by the Ottoman Sultans from the 15th to 19th centuries. We will also see the impressive collection of priceless jewels, crystal, silver and porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and relics of the prophet Mohammed. (Entrance to the Harem is extra). After lunch we will see the Blue Mosque, built for Sultan Ahmet I, which is a unique piece of architecture with its six minarets and features 20,000 beautiful Iznik tiles. Visit the ancient Hippodrome with Obelisk of Theodosius, Snake Pillar and German Fountain of Wilhelm II. Walk through the back streets of Old Istanbul and visit the elegant little Sokullu Pasa mosque and the hidden underground Theodosian Cistern. This tour may be done all or partially as a walking tour. Transfer to airport for evening flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival in Kayseri transfer to a special volcanic stone/cave hotel in Cappadocia.
DAY 3
CAPPADOCIA - CAVE CHURCHES AND GOREME VALLEY
In the morning you will wake up in a world you have never imagined. Experience the feeling of living in an Anatolian village, where houses are built in caves, and life goes on as it has for centuries. You may see villagers baking bread, drying fruit on their rooftops or riding on donkeys to their fields. We will begin our visit to the enchanting “fairy chimneys” (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, which was once a Byzantine monastery. See the finest examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabagi Valley, while walking through vineyards among strange multiple “mushroom-capped” volcanic rock formations. We will also visit Cavusin Village and see abandoned troglodyte houses cut high up in the rock face. We will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, where mineral deposits have given beautiful color to the weathered stones and then continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work since 3000 BC. See a pottery demonstration using the ancient kick-wheel technique. Evening of cultural entertainment and music or performance of the Whirling dervishes. Overnight in Special volcanic stone/cave hotel.
DAY 4
CAPPADOCIA - GAZIANTEP
Today we will drive to Gaziantep, visiting Gumusler Monastery in Nigde and Yesemek Open air-museum with its stone carvings from the Hittite period. Gaziantep is located on a wide and fertile plain cultivated with extensive pistachio groves. Arrival in Gaziantep and overnight in 4* hotel.
DAY 5
GAZIANTEP
The artisans of Gaziantep are specialists in making copperware and furniture inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The city has a fortress with 36 towers originally constructed in the Justinian era and later rebuilt by the Seljuks. We will at this Eastern Turkey Tours visit the Gaziantep Archaeology Museum with its artifacts from Neolithic, Hittite and Roman times. There are important mosaics from the ancient site of Zeugma (Belkis). See copper-makers and other trades in the Bazaars of Gaziantep Try some of the famous pistachios or pistachio baklava. See the Ethnographical Museum (old stone house) and beautifully carved stonework of doors and windows in the old parts of town. Overnight in 4* hotel.
DAY 6
GAZIANTEP - SANLIURFA - HARRAN - MT. NEMRUT (KAHTA)
Our drive today takes us to Sanliurfa. We may stop briefly at Zeugma, which is mostly underwater. We pass the Euphrates River and stop at Birecik, which is famous for the nearly extinct Bald Ibis. We will have lunch in Sanliurfa and visit the Mevlid Halil Mosque, the Cave of Prophet Abraham, then the sacred fish pool.
You will have a chance to wander in the Old Bazaar. Drive to Harran - city of the prophet Abraham. See the fortress, Islamic school and curious beehive-shaped adobe houses. It is possible to see the huge Ataturk Dam. Dinner and overnight in Kahta (near Mt. Nemrut) in 4* hotel.
DAY 7
MT. NEMRUT - DIYARBAKIR
Rise very early for the drive and the walk up to the summit of Mount Nemrut, which is the highest mountain (2150 m) in Northern Mesopotamia. View a fantastic sunrise from the East Terrace. Visit the East and West terraces, fire altar, statues of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, Tyche and Antiochus Epiphanes I, tumulus, reliefs and the world’s first horoscope. Descend down the mountain through small villages and beautiful scenery. Cross the Cendere Roman Bridge - built by Septimus Severus in the 2nd century AD and still in use! See Karakus, a tumulus of the royal Commagene women. We return to the hotel for breakfast and then depart for Diyarbakir, taking a ferry across the reservoir. In Diyarbakir we will visit the old city, surrounded by triple walls made of black basalt originally dating to 394 A.D. It is a city based on a Roman plan with four gates. We visit the caravanserai (Deliller Han), the Ulu Mosque from the Seljuk period and possibly the third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary. See people going about daily life on their rooftops, drying fruits, and dung patties for fuel. Overnight in Diyarbakir 4* hotel or special class caravanserai.
DAY 8
DIYARBAKIR - MARDIN - DIYARBAKIR
Today’s highlight is the city of Mardin, with its golden stone houses that blend into the hills. The houses are often decorated with intricate carvings. This is a very lively trading center with people coming from surrounding villages to buy and sell. We will have a fantastic view of the Plain of Mesopotamia. Visit the Syriac-Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan. Return to Diyarbakir for the night. Overnight in 4* hotel or special class caravanserai.
DAY 9
DIYARBAKIR - VAN
The tour begins after breakfast with the drive to Lake Van, which is ringed by mountains, and deep blue in color. It is the largest lake in Turkey and lies at an altitude of 1720 m. The first site en route is the Akdamar church, which is built on an island in the lake. We will take a small boat across the lake to see the church. This church, from the 10th century is carved with Old Testament scenes and figures. We will have lunch in Akdamar then continue to Van. Overnight in 4* hotel.
DAY 10
VAN
The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartian capital. An imposing
9th c B.C. citadel overlooks the town. Visit the ancient Urartian site of Cavustepe, Hosap Castle, and the famous Citadel of Van. Overnight in 4* hotel.
DAY 11
VAN - DOGUBAYAZIT
Today we will drive to Dogubayazit and have lunch at the beautiful Muradiye waterfalls. Dogubayazit is a small town situated by Mount Agri (Mount Ararat). We will Visit Ishak Pasa Palace, which was built between the 17th and 18th centuries by a local lord. It is a mixture of Ottoman, Persian and Armenian architectural styles. Overnight in Dogubayazit 3* Hotel (best available).
DAY 12
DOGUBAYAZIT - KARS
Weather permitting, we may have a nice view of Mt. Ararat this morning. We will pass small squat villages at the base of the mountain. We will arrive in Kars and visit the ancient and seemingly forgotten city of Ani and its churches. View of the Arpa River, which forms the border with Armenia. Overnight in Kars 4* hotel. B.L.D.
DAY 13
KARS - ERZURUM
Today we will drive to Erzurum. Erzurum is known for copper crafting and its Oltu stone, which is a unique black stone used to make jewelry and beads. We will visit fine Seljuk monuments such as the Ulu (Great) Mosque, the Cifte Minareli Medrese and Uc Kumbetler (three tombs), and see the richly decorated portal and tiled minaret of the 13th century Yakutiye Medrese. Overnight in Erzurum 4* Hotel
DAY 14
ERZURUM - TRABZON - ISTANBUL
Our journey will continue on to Trabzon with a visit to the magnificent Sumela Monastery located high on the cliffs in the Altindere National Park. The church is covered inside and out with brilliant frescos. We will also visit the St. Sophia museum (restored 13th c Byzantine church with its splendid frescoes). Transfer to airport for return to Istanbul. Upon arrival transfer to your hotel from the Eastern Turkey Tours. Overnight in 4* or boutique hotel.
DAY 15
ISTANBUL
At your leisure in Istanbul. Overnight in 4* or boutique hotel. B.
DAY 16
DEPARTURE
Transfer to the airport for departure. B
|
Rates per person in EURO | |
|
Triple |
EURO 3320.00 |
|
Double |
EURO 3860.00 |
|
Single |
EURO 6250.00 |
INCLUDED:
*All airport transfers
*Accommodation in hotels as mentioned
*Meals as mentioned only (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
*Museum entry fees
*Transportation in non-smoking minibus with professional English speaking guide and *professional driver.
*Entertainment as mentioned in tour plan
*Domestic Flights Istanbul-Kayseri-Trabzon-Istanbul
NOT INCLUDED: International flights, drinks, tips to guide and driver and items of a personal nature. **Domestic flight price, listed separately, is approximate.
OPTIONAL: We can arrange for pre-or post-tours or hotel accommodation for those of you who want to see more of Turkey. We can also arrange a Balloon Tour in Cappadocia.
Booking Request Eastern Turkey Tours
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