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ITINERARY
Tour Departure
Dates
13th May 2009, 25th
June 2009, 30th July 2009, 27th August 2009
Description
8 Days though the East of Turkey Through the Zigana Mountains, visiting
Sumela Monestery, Mt Ararat the resting place of Noa's Ark, the medieval
Armenian City of Ani, The Church of the Holy Cross, the wonderful Kurdish
castle of Hosap near the Iranian Border. As well as experiencing all the
cultur and mysteries left behind by the Hittites, Urartians, Persian,
Armenians, Macedonians, Romans and finally the Turks during there
occupation of the Eastern Region of Turkey.
Day 1 Arriva Day Trabzon / Overnight Trabzon
Welcome to Trabzon. Today is your arrival day. Airport transfers are
available fro Airport and Bus Station during the hours of 8am till
20:00pm. Transfers will be made to your Hotel. Over Night in Trabzon
Day 2. TRABZON,
Depart for St. Sophia ( Ayasofya ), a 13th century church and study its
extraordinary collection of Byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun
Mosque, Castle and Ataturk's Mansion (a picturesque hillside retreat),
visit Ortahisar Mosque (a Comneni cathedral in the old town). Lunch at a
seaside restaurant in Akçaabat. Afternoon we explore the cobbled stone
streets of Trabzon. Drive to Boztepe; enjoy our tea from samovar with the
panoramic view of the city. Dinner & overnight stay in Trabzon.
Day 3. SUMELA MONASTERY, ZIGANA, KARACA CAVE, ERZURUM
Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4th century Sumela Monastery which
clings to a sheer cliff face in a deep forest, relax beside a fast flowing
stream at Altindere Valley National Park, lunch, traveling along the Silk
Road through the Zigana Mountains (Pontic Alps) will take us to Karaca
Cave, considered to be the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and
formations. Drive to Erzurum via Bayburt. Dinner & overnight stay in
Erzurum.
Day 4. ERZURUM, KARS
An early morning departure from Erzurum will take us on a beautiful drive
to Kars passing on the way Sarikamis, the coldest spot in Turkey!. We will
arrive in Kars and visit Ani at the Turkish-Armenian border. We will take
a 45-minute drive to the medieval Armenian City of Ani, which lies mostly
in ruins. Impressive fortified walls still encircle the ruins of numerous
churches, mosques and caravansaries. Enjoy a walk around the ruins and see
the beautiful view to the Armenian border imagining it as a city with one
million people rivaling Bagdad in its time! This city has experienced the
cultures of Urartians, Armenians, Georgians, Mongols, Russians and finally
the Turks.
Day
5. DOGUBAYAZIT (Mt. Ararat):
This morning we will drive for 3 1/2 hours along the "Silk Road"
to Dogubayazit. At the Iranian border we will see a site known as the
Crater Hole. This is a beautiful, yet rugged area. We will have the
opportunity to see Mt. Ararat from all sides. It is believed by some to be
the resting-place of Noah's Ark; but to date no one has found anything
that has been verified as the Ark - yet the search is still on. In the
afternoon we will stop and see the Ishak Pasa Palace. This complex is a
combination of a mosque, a fortress, and a palace which originally had a
room for every day of the year! Below you can also see the remains of Eski
Bayazit, and Urartian City which flourished in 1000 BC. Over Night in
Day 6. DOGUBEYAZIT VAN
After visiting the Iranian border, we will depart for Van in the early
morning, a drive of approximately three hours. This city has been
established 13th century BC, when the Hurrites arrived. Then the Hittites,
Urartians, Persian, Armenians, Macedonians, Romans and finally in 11th
century the Turks came here. From here, we will visit the finest Armenian
architectural wonder of the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island.
We’ll also visit the wonderful Kurdish castle of Hosap very close to the
Iranian border as well as the Urartian citadel. Over Night in Van
Day 7 Van – Ahlat - Batis - Diyarbakir
After visiting the eerie 12th century Selcuk cemetery in Ahlat in the
morning we will head to Bitlis for lunch and a good walk around, Batis
otherwise known as Alexander's town. Its a unique medieval town! then we
will drive to Diyarbkir for the night.
Day 8 – Diyarbakir – End of Tour
Breakfast Included
Today your tour is over. Please make your own arrangements for departure
remembering that your hotel will need you to check out before midday. We
hope you had a memorable tour and we look forward to seeing you in the
future on another TravelShop Turkey Tour. Have a safe trip back home and
thanks for choosing TravelShop Turkey.
TOUR INCLUDING
3, 4 star and Butique Hotels in each area
2 Nights accommodation in Trabzon with Breakfast and Dinner
1 Nights accommodation in Erzurum with Breakfast and Dinner
1 Nights accommodation in Kars with Breakfast and Dinner
1 Nights accommodation in Dogu Bayazit with Breakfast and Dinner
1 Nights accommodation in Van with Breakfast and Dinner
1 Nights accommodation in Diyabakir with Breakfast and Dinner
Guided Tour to Trabzon
Guided Tour to Erzurum
Guided Tour to Kars
Guided Tour to Dogubayazit
Guided Tour to Van
Guided Tour to Diyarbakir
Private Air-conditioned busses
Private Professional English speaking tour guide
All entrance fees mentioned in the Itinerary
Private Return airport transfers
Tour Excludes :
International Flights
Personal expenses: Lunches, Extras at hotel or meals
Tipping: Tips for guide and drivers
Insurance: All types
Tour
Departure Dates
13th May 2009
25th June 2009
30th July 2009
27th August 2009
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Tour
Price per person
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Euro
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Double occupancy
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€ 499.00
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Single
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€ 619.00
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