Eastern Turkey Tour

 

Istanbul, Adana, Antakya (Antioch), Gaziantep, Adiyaman, Nemrut Mountain

Diyarbakir, Van, Dogubeyazit, Kars, Erzurum, Rize, Trabzon

 

 

Tour Dates: Between April- November

DAY 1: En Route

Depart the U.S.A. on your flight to Turkey.

DAY 2: Arrive Istanbul

Arrive Istanbul. Meet and transfer to your hotel. Welcome cocktail and dinner.

DAY 3: 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 your hotel.

DAY 4: Antakya - Gaziantep - Adiyaman

Drive to Adiyaman. Lunch in Gaziantep. Overnight at your hotel in Adiyaman.

DAY 5: 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 6: Adiyaman - Diyarbakir

Drive to Diyarbakir by crossing the Euphrates River. See the city walls, the market and Ulu Cami. Overnight at your hotel in Diyarbakir.

DAY 7: 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 your hotel in Van.

DAY 8: Van

Visit Cavustepe, Hosap Castle, reach Akdamar Island by local boats, then visit the Castle of Van. Overnight In Van.

DAY 9: 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 your hotel in Dogubeyazit.

DAY 10: 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.

DAY 11: 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.

DAY 12: Erzurum - Rize - Trabzon

Drive to Trabzon on the Black Sea coast. On the way, visit the tea production plant in Rize. Overnight at your hotel in Trabzon.

DAY 13: 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.

DAY 14: Trabzon - Istanbul

Fly to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel. Free afternoon.

DAY 15: Istanbul

Full day Historical Istanbul tour with lunch. Visit the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Church/Museum and Topkapi Palace.

DAY 16: Istanbul

Visit the Spice Bazaar and have a Bosphorus boat cruise in the morning. Afternoon is free. Tonight, we will have a farewell dinner.

DAY 17: Istanbul

Transfer to Istanbul airport. End of our services.

* Rates and availability subject to change without notice.