In this tour 13- Day tour you will see the ancient towns and cities in the eastern
and southeastern parts of Turkey. Starting from Adana, the city of the Hittite King,
where Alexander the Great fell seriously ill, to the beautiful archeological museum
of Antakya where excellent impressions of Roman and Byzantine mosaics are displayed,
from the Nemrut Mountain where the huge heads of ancient Gods, such as Apollo –
Zeus – Hercules, are displayed to the City of Prophets: Sanliurfa, you will never
get enough of this part of the country.
Overnights:
Adana (1) Antakya (1) Gaziantep (1) Adiyaman (1) Sanliurfa (1) Diyarbakir (1) Van
(2) Kars (1) Erzurum (1) Trabzon (1) Istanbul (1)
Toll Free:
1-888-596-6886
Day 1
Istanbul Fly to Adana
Arrive Istanbul meet and greet. Take a domestic flight to Adana. Dinner and overnight
at your hotel in Adana. (D)
After breakfast drive to Antakya, and visit Sokullu Mehmet Pasha Caravanserai, Antakya
Mosaic Museum, Grotto of St. Peter. Overnight in Antakya. (B,L,D)
Day 3
Antakya – Gaziantep
Drive to Gaziantep to visit the site Zeugma, located next to Euphrates river and
famous for his marvellous mosaics. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep. (B,L,D)
Day 4
Gaziantep – Nemrut Mountain – Adiyaman
Drive to Nemrut Mountain. See the huge heads of gods (Apollo, Zeus, Hercules) and
goddess built by Antiochus I, King of the Commagene Kingdom in the 1st century,
and the man made hill, on top of the 2000 meters high mountain. Overnight Adiyaman.
(B,L,D)
Day 5
Adiyaman – Sanliurfa
Departure to Harran, one of the oldest cities of the Mesopotamia. See the soil houses.
Then continue to Urfa, the city of the prophets. Visit of Golbasi & the castle.
Diner and overnight in Urfa. (B,L,D)
Day 6
Sanliurfa – Mardin – Diyarbakir
After breakfast leave Urfa and drive to Mardin. Visit of the Deyrulzafaran monastery,
an aramean orthodox monastery still inn use. Lunch en route and arrive to Diyarbakır.
See the city walls, the market and Ulu Cami. Dinner and overnight in Diyarbakir.
(B,L,D)
Drive to Van, situated on the shores of Lake Van, at 5,500 feet, one of the highest
lakes in the world. Visit the St. Croix church, a beautiful example of Armenian
architecture. This church is located on the Akdamar Island. Dinner and overnight
in Van. (B,L,D)
Morning departure for Hosap Castle. After the visit continue to Cavustepe, the Ourartéens
site. Lunch and stop at a local handicraft, KILIMS. Then visit the Castle of Van
at the sunset, to have a beautiful view over the biggest lake of Turkey, the lake
of Van. Dinner and overnight in Van. (B,L,D)
Day 9
Van – Dogubeyazit – Kars
Drive to Dogubeyazit, the closest town to Mt. Ararat. Visit the famous 17th century
Ishak Pasha Palace, built on a high valley overlooking the caravan route. In the
afternoon continue to Kars, small city which is a beautiful example of Russian urbanism
of the 19th century. Dinner and overnight in Kars. (B,L,D)
Day 10
Kars – Ani – Erzurum
Morning visit Ani, the capital city of an Ourartéens 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. After lunch, drive to Erzurum the largest
city in the eastern Anatolia. At arrival visit the Islamic monuments from Seljuk,
Mongol and Ottoman eras, Ulu Mosque and Cifte Minare. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.
(B,L,D)
Transfer to the airport for departure. End of our services. (B)
Day 12
Trabzon – Istanbul
Fly back to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Afternoon at leisure. Farewell dinner
at a local restaurant. Overnight Istanbul (B,D)
Transfer to Istanbul airport. End of our services. (B)
Toll Free:
1-888-596-6886