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Eastern Turkey on Utube
Departure Dates:
10Jun, 2Sep 2010
Description
8 Days through the East of Turkey Through the Zigana Mountains, visiting
Sumela Monestery, Mount 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.
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Trabzon - Arrival Day
Welcome to Trabzon. Today is your arrival day. Airport transfers are
available from airport or bus station during the hours of 8:00am til
8:00pm. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 2 - Trabzon
(Breakfast and dinner included)
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 Akcaabat. Afternoon we explore the
cobbled stone streets of Trabzon. Drive to Boztepe; enjoy our tea from
samovar with the panoramic view of the city. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 3 - Sumela Monastery - Zigana - Karaca Cave - Erzurum
(Breakfast and dinner included)
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. Overnight in
Erzurum.
Day 4 - Erzurum - Kars
(Breakfast and dinner included)
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. Overnight in Kars.
Day 5 - Dogubeyazit (Mount Ararat)
(Breakfast and dinner included)
This morning we will drive for 3 1/2 hours along the "Silk Road" to
Dogubeyazit. 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 Mount 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. Overnight in Kars.
Day 6 - Dogubeyazit - Lake Van
(Breakfast and dinner included)
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. Overnight
in Van.
Day 7 - Van - Ahlat - Batis - Diyarbakir
(Breakfast and dinner included)
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!
Overnight in Diyarbakir.
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.
8 DAYS EASTERN TURKEY TOUR INCLUDES:
• Private return airport transfers
• 3, 4 star and Boutique Hotels in each area
• 2 nights hotel in Trabzon including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Erzurum including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Kars including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Dogu Bayazit including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Van including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Diyabakir including breakfast and dinner
• Guided tour in Trabzon
• Guided tour in Erzurum
• Guided tour in Kars
• Guided tour in Dogubeyazit
• Guided tour in Van
• Guided tour in Diyarbakir
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English-speaking tour guides
8 DAYS EASTERN TURKEY TOUR EXCLUDES:
• International flights
• Personal expenses: Lunches, extras at hotel or additional meals
• Tipping: Tips for guides and drivers
• Insurance: All types
Price 2010 in Euro per person ($ rate
varies depending the exchange):
| Tour
Price per person |
Euro |
| Double
occupancy |
729 |
| Single |
989 |
Tour Map:
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