Turkey Tours
A. East Turkey 12 Days/11 Nights | B. East Turkey 13 Days/12 Nights | C. Turkey 8 Days/7 Nights
A. East Turkey 12 Days/11 Nights
Day 1
Arrival to Adana, accommodation in the hotel.
Day 2: Adana – Karatepe – Adiyaman
Visit by coach of Adana. We will crossed mountain chains and valleys that were part of the ancient Cilicia in order to arrive to the archaeological area of Karapete. Visit the ruins of Ittit stonghold of the 13°century b.C.
The visit continues to Adiyaman passing through the city of Gaziantep and the Euphrates. In the evening arrival to Adiyaman, dinner and overnight in the hotel. .
Day 3: The Great Sculptures Of Nemrud Dag
Full day excursion to the majestic Nemrud Dag, the mountain on whose top the king Antioco I of Commagene in the 1° cintury made to raise huge statues and gigantic burial graves . From the village of Katha we will go by vans up to the mountain until an altitude of 2.100 m.
Visit to the graves of real ladies of Commagene and to the roman bridge of Cendere. In the evening arrival to Urfa and accommodation in hotel.
Day 4: Urfa – Harran – Diyarbakir
Visit of the bazaar, of the rests of a mosque, of the Sacred Swimming pool, the crusander Fort which dominates the city. Continuing towards the south, just nearly the borders with Syria, there is one of the most ancient places of the world, the city of Harran. It is possible to visit the ruins of several ages and many traditional “beehive buildings”.
Day 5: Diyarbakir – Van Lake
Visit to walls, to the coranic school, and to the roman bridge on the Tigris river. Paasing through eastern Anatolia, we will arrive to Van Lake. In the lake there is Aktamar island inhabited by hundred of gulls.
We will visit it the day after.
The charming coastal road arrives to the city of Van. Accommodation in hotel dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Van Surrounding
First of all we will visit Aktamar island where rises the Church of S. Cross (X century)
A beutiful excursion between sands and cliffs will lead to the Castle of Hosap, imposing defended medieval fortress which lies on the mountain (1643 m). Visit to the archaeological areas and to the rocky inscription of the ancient arartel civilization. Overnight in Van.
Day 7: Ararat Mount – Dugubeyazit
Arrival to Dugubeyazit and accommodation in hotel. The city is 30 Km from Iranian frontier. Visit to Dugubeyazit.
Day 8: Dugubeyazit – Ani – Kars
Arrival to Kars. Accommodation in hotel. 45 Km far from Kars, nearly to the armneian frontier, there is Ani, one of the most representative city we will visit . City tour and re-enter to Kars, dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Kars – Erzerum
The journey continues towards the west, crossing the plateau. Stop in order to admire one beautiful Armenian church in Ishan. It will be moreover possible to go to Balcesme, the “Honey Fountain”. We will follow the course of the Coruh river up to the lake and waterfalls of Tortum. Arrival to Erzerum and accommodation in hotel.
Day 10: Erzerum – Trebisonda – The Black Sea
Early morning departure to Trebisonda. We will pass through the Plateau of northern Anatolia, which was reign of Mitriade. We will go down through the Black Sea side, to go to Trebisonda. Arrival in the evening, dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Trebisonda – Sumela
In the morning visit the Greek Monastero - orthodox of Sumela, 47 Km from Trebisonda, in a wonderful alpine scene (National Park).
In the afternoon visits the bazaar and the church(which noe is a museum). Dinner and overnight.
Day 12: Departure
Transfer to the airport to take the international flight.
B. East Turkey 13 Days/12 Nights
Day 1: Istanbul
Departure to Istanbul, arrival and accommodation in the hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Istanbul – Erzurum – Kars
Departure by plane to Erzurum continuing to Kars.
Day 3: Kars – Ani – Dogubayazit
In the morning visit of Kars, the Church of the 12 Apostles, the citadel, the Armenian fortress that still conserves some muslim monument rests. Departure to Ani, the ancient armenian capital, visit of the city. The journey continues to Dogubayazit.
Day 4: Dogubayazit – Ishak Pasa – Van
In the morning visit of Ishak Pasa Sarayi, building constructed at the end of 17°century by the curd emirat Ishak Pasa, who was inspired from various architectural styles fusing them in an harmonious complex. The journey continues to Van.
Day 5: Van – Isola Di Akdanar – Van
In the morning visit of Van with the citadel and the walls with its towers of the medieval age. The journey continues to Van Lake which lies between vulcanic mountains; on the southern side of the lake there is the little island of Akdamar, which was the real residence and later became the center of the patriarchs of the Armenian church. It still conserves the church of Croce Saint, masterpiece of the Armenian religious architecture.
Day 6: Van – Diyarbakir
Departure to Diyarbakir and visit of the city and the roman town walls of the Citadel.
Day 7: Diyarbakir – Mardin
In the morning departure to Mardin, the ancient Marida, Christian center where there are some monasteries where few monks still live in, and where there are some communities sirian - orthodox. Visit of the Citadel, the Sultan Isa Medresesi and the Ulu Camii. Visit of the Monastery of Derzafaran, a monastery - fortress still inhabited by some monks and visit of Mar Yakub Monastery,near Salah Village.
Day 8: Diyarbakir – Katha – Nemrut Dagi – Adiyaman
Departure to Katha, excursion to Nemrut Dagi, with its huge figures carved in the stone and that, duringt the sunset, has suggestive tones and colorations. On the top of the high mountains erges Antioc I tomb whose entrance has still not been found. The journey continues to Adiyaman.
Day 9: Adiyaman – Sanliurfa – Harran – Tarso
Departure to Sanliurfa, the ancient Edessa and visit of the city: the citadel, the Mosque of Hal the Rahaman, the museum. Then visit of Harran, the city from which Abramo Patriarch left and in which the Patriarch Giaccobbe returned and stayed for some time. The journey continues to Tarso.
Day 10: Tarso – Istanbul
Visit of Traso, where S. Paul was born and visit to the Door of Cleopatra, to a beautiful roman road and to the “Saint Paul well” which has this name because it rose in the Jewish part of the city. Transfer to Adana airport to take the flight to Istanbul.
Day 11: Istanbul
In the morning visit to the city and to its wonderful monuments. Saint Sophia Basilica, the palace of Topkapi, which was the residence of the sultans but nowadys it is a museum
Day 12: Istanbul
Full day visit of Istanbul. The Sultan Ahmet Camii, known as “Blue Mosque”, the Suleymaniye Camii or Mosque of Solimao the Magnificent. The Church of Saint Salvatore in Chora, today museum, and its precious mosaics. The Great Bazaar where, in the typical oriental atmosphere, it is possible to find the products of the Turkish handicraft: carpets, jewels, copper objects etc
Day 13: Departure
Breakfast and transfer to the airport to take the international flight .
C. Turkey 8 Days/7 Nights
Day 1: Antalya
Arrival to Antalya, meet the local guide. Transfer in hotel, dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Antalya - Pamukkale
Breakfast in hotel, departure for Pamukkale. Visit of the city of Ierapolis, today Pamukkale, and of Cascades Petrified. Lunch in restaurant. In the afternoon departure for the city of Afyon, dinner and overnight in Afyon.
Day 3: Afyon - Bursa - Istanbul
Breakfast in hotel, departure for Bursa, visit of the Mosque and the Mausoleo Verde. Lunch in typical restaurant. Departure to Istanbul via Yalova with the ferry crossing the Mar di Marmara. In the evening arrival in hotel in Istanbul, dinner and overnight in the hotels.
Day 4: Istanbul
Breakfast in hotel, visit of the splendid Blue Mosque, known all over the world for its six minarets and its famous blue maiolicas. Visit the ancient byzantinum race- course of Costantino the Great. The day continues with the visit of the palace of Topkapi (except from the treasure hall), which was a real palace of the Ottoman sultans and nowadays it is a palace - museum. Lunch the typical restaurant and in the afternoon visits of the Church of Saint Sophia, the more ancient basilica of the Christian world. Visit of the Bazaar Egyptian, re enter to the hotels, dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia
Breakfast in hotel, departure for Ankara, visit of the Ittita Museum, and departure for the Cappadocia. Lunch in restaurant. Stop at Salt Lake. In the evening arrival to Cappadocia, dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Cappadocia
Breakfast in the hotel, then departure to visit the Goreme Velly and the Rocky Churches, visit of the basement city. Lunch in typical restaurant and in the afternoon visit of Pigeons Valley, of Camel Valley and of the Fairies Fireplaces Valley . The day continues with the visit of the more famous handicraft center of Turkey and with the pleasant tasting of the typical wine of the Cappadocia region. At the end visit of the lower part of Uchisar Valley and re-enter in hotel. Dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Cappadocia - Konya - Antalya
Breakfast in hotel, departure for the city of Konya. Visit of the Caravanserrai and of the Sanctuary and Mausoleum tuario of Konya. Lunch in restaurant and in the evening arrival to Antalya, dinner and overnight in the hotel.
Day 8 - Departure
First breakfast in hotel. Transfer to the airport of Antalya for the international flight.