Oriental Turkey
ORIENTAL TURKEY
Overview
15 Nights / 16 Days Professionally Escorted Itinerary EASTERN ANATOLIA IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WESTERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE BEAUTIES OF EASTERN TURKEY IN 16 DAYS. WINTER DEPARTURES ARE NOT RECOMMENDED.
DAY 1 ISTANBUL
Arrive Istanbul . Meet and transfer to Ciragan Palace Hotel. Welcome cocktail and dinner. (D)
DAY 2 ISTANBUL - ADANA - ANTAKYA ( Antioch )
Morning flight to Adana . Drive to Antakya and visit Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Caravanserai, Antakya Mosaic Museum , Grotto of St. Peter. Overnight at Buyuk Antakya Hotel. (B,L,D)
Day 3 ANTAKYA - GAZIANTEP - ADIYAMAN
Drive to Adiyaman. Lunch in Gaziantep . Overnight at the New Merhaba Hotel in Adiyaman. (B,L,D)
DAY 4 ADIYAMAN - NEMRUT MOUNTAIN - ADIYAMAN
Drive to Nemrut Mountain . See the huge heads of gods (Apollo, Zeus, Hercules) and goddess (Tyche=Fortuna) built by Antiochus I, King of the Commagene Kingdom in the 1st century, and the artificial man made hill, on top of the 2000 meters high mountain.
DAY 5 ADIYAMAN DIYARBAKIR
Drive to Diyarbakir by crossing the Euphrates River . See the city walls, the market and Ulu Cami. Overnight at Dedeman Hotel in Diyarbakir . (B.L,D)
DAY 6 DIYARBAKIR - VAN
Drive to Van, situated on the shores of Lake Van , at 5,500 feet, one of the highest lakes in the world. Overnight at Buyuk Urartu Hotel in Van. (B,L,D)
DAY 7 VAN
Visit Cavustepe, Hosap Castle , reach Akdamar Island by local boats, then visit the Castle of Van . Overnight In Van. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 VAN -DOGUBEYAZIT
Drive to Dogubeyazit, the closest town to Mt. Ararat . Visit the famous 18th century Ishak Pasha Palace, built on a high valley overlooking the caravan route. Overnight in Sim-Er Hotel in Dogubeyazit. (B,L,D)
DAY 9 DOGUBEYAZIT - KARS
Drive to Kars . Visit Ani, the capital city of an Urartian 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. (B,L,D)
DAY 10 KARS - ERZURUM
Drive to Erzurum , the largest city in the eastern Anatolia . Visit the Islamic monuments from Seljuk, Mongol and Ottoman eras. Overnight in Erzurum . (B,L,D)
DAY 11 ERZURUM - RIZE - TRABZON
Drive to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. On the way, visit the tea production plant in Rize. Overnight at Grand Zorlu Hotel in Trabzon . (B,L,D)
DAY 12 TRABZON
Visit Hagia Sophia and Sumela Monastery which was well known and respected as a monastic center from the 4th century until 1923. Overnight in Trabzon . (B,L,D)
DAY 13 TRABZON - ISTANBUL
Fly to Istanbul . Transfer to Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel. Free afternoon. (B)
DAY 14 ISTANBUL
Full day Historical Istanbul tour with lunch. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Church/Museum and Topkapi Palace . (B,L)
DAY 15 ISTANBUL
Visit the Spice Bazaar and have a Bosphorus boat cruise in the morning. Afternoon is free. Tonight, we will have a farewell dinner at the Tugra Restaurant of Ciragan Palace. (B,D)
DAY 16 ISTANBUL -END
Transfer to Istanbul airport. End of our services. (B)
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ROUND TRIP TOURS
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SHORE EXCURSIONS IN TURKİYE
