Day 1 : Istanbul to Ankara

Tranfser to Istanbul Airport for afternoon/evening flight to Ankara. On arrival transfer to your hotel with dinner and meeting of your fellow travellers.
Dinner and overnight in Ankara


 

Day 2 : Ankara Tour - Travel to Cappadocia

After breakfast a morning visit to the Ancient Civilisations (Hittite) Museum where the remains of the 16 different civilizations, which have inhabited Anatolia, are displayed. Continue to Atatürk's Mausoleum, the resting place of the founder of modern Turkey, who was responsible for revolutionising the country, and is still revered as a great national hero. Then we leave Ankara and have lunch en route to Cappadocia. Stop at Tuz Gölü (Salt Lake), the second largest lake in Turkey, then continue on to visit the 13th century Seljuk caravanserai before arriving Cappadocia
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia

Day 3 : Cappadocia Tour

Breakfast then depart for Devrent Valley to see the unique "fairy chimneys". Visit the Zelve Open Air Museum, where three canyons meet in the valley. Drive to Pasabagi or "Monks Valley" to see the fascinating mushroom-shaped pinnacles and then to Avanos for lunch. In the afternoon visit another beautiful open-air museum at Göreme, to view the early Christian settlements and remains of rock-cut churches and frescoes. Lastly, visit the natural rock castle at Uchisar.
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia

Day 4 : Cappadocia Tour

Depart for Red Valley to explore the famous churches, hewn from the rock, and hike 5kms through the valley. Visit Çavusin Village which is famous for is churches and the clergymen's houses. Drive to "Pigeon Valley" for lunch before continuing to the underground city of Kaymakli where the Early Christians lived while they were persecuted for their faith by the Romans. On the way back to your hotel visit the naturel rock castle at Ortahisar and the Greek village of Mustafapasa.
Dinner and overnight in Cappadocia

Day 5 : Adiyaman - Kahramanmaras - Kahta

Early departure from Cappadocia for Adiyaman. After 1.5hrs drive, we visit the Seljuk Karatayhan Caravansarai on the famous Silk Road. We then drive through the Taurus Mountains, affording the opportunity to observe the countryside and everyday life of rural Turkey, which is completely different from that in the coastal resorts. After lunch, we head towards Kahramanmaras, famous for its ice-cream. We spend some time strolling around the local bazaar before heading to Kahta
Dinner and overnight in Kahta 

Day 6 : Mount Nemrut - Ataturk Dam - Harran - Sanliurfa

After breakfast we leave for spectacular Mount Nemrut to see the huge stone heads, all that remains of the statues in the Commagene Temple, which overlook the plateau and the Atatürk Dam. When then visit Mithridates I's Hierothesion in Arsemia, which was once the capital of the Commagene Kingdom before continuing on to the old Roman Cendere Bridge over the Cendere Stream and the Karakus tumulus where members of the royal famly were buried. We set off to Sanliurfa visiting the Atatürk Dam, one of Turkey's biggest project, en route. We arrive at Urfa around noon and have lunch before visiting the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham with is Mosques, Abraham's birth cave and beautiful gardens. We continue to Harran, the famed city of Mesopotamia, a mystical and ancient village of "bee hive" houses built of mud brick, which is mentioned in Genesis as being a place where Abraham lived. At the same site we will visit the world's first Islamic University.
Note: The hike to Mount Nemrut consists of a 20-40 minute walk up a 30% hill mostly with steps
Dinner and overnight in Urfa

Day 7 : Mardin to Diyarbakir

We leave Urfa for Mardin, which is seen from the south at a distance. It looks spectacular with its tiered layers of houses, mansions, mouques and churches rising out of the endless, level plain and clinging to a huge citadel-topped rock. In Mardin we visit the Deyrulzafran (Saffron) Monastery, which is still used by the Syrian Orthodox communities. In this Monastery, we first visit an underground vault which is said to have been used as a temple by sun-worshippers as long ago as 200BC. The tour moves on from here to the chastle, with its fine relief-decorated arches, carved stone altar, and the Patriarch's or Metropolitan's throne. On which are carved the names of all the Patriarch since 792AD. After visiting the monastery we drive to Diyarbakir.
Dinner and overnight in Diyarbakir

Day 8 : Diyarbakir to Van

We visit the city walls of Diyarbakir which were built by the Romans and Ulu Cami, the first of Anatolia's great Seljuk Mosques Afterwards we drive to Bitlis to visit a 13th century Caravansarai. We catch the ferryboat to Akdamar Island, situated in the largest lake in Turkey, to view an exquisite example of an Armenian Church.
Dinner and overnight in Van
 

Day 9 : Van

First we visit Van Castle, which is 100m high and 300m wide at the base. It was the sight of an Urartians Temple, of which only a couple of arched niches remain. Cuneiform inscriptions on a statue, based in one of the niches, document the life and works of Menua, an important Urartian King. Then we continue to Cavustepe, the site of an Urartian Royal Palace, built between 764 and 735BC. The next stop is Hosap Castle.
Dinner and overnight in Van

Day 10 : Van to Dogubeyazit

On the way to Dogubeyazit we stop at the wonderful Muradiye Waterfall. Then we head for Ishakpasa Palace, a 17th century palace set on a 200m high plateu.
Dinner and overnight n Dogubeyazit


 

Day 11 : Dogubeyazit to Kars

We drive to Kars, which has a spectacular castle and still has fine examples of Armenian architecture one of which is the breathtaking site of the ancient city of Ani located on the Armenian-Turkish border.
Dinner and overnight in Kars

 

Day 12 : Kars to Trabzon

We drive west along the Black Sea to Trabzon, founded by the Kingdom of Miletus, the largest city in the Black Sea region. The route will go through a forested area, passing through small, unspoiled villages untouched by tourism. We shall arrive in Trabzon in late afternoon, giving some free time to enjoy the city
Dinenr and overnight in Trabzon
 

Day 13 : Trabzon

After breakfast we visit the Hagia Sophia Museum with its spectacular frescoes, We then head inland to visit the mystical Sumela Monastery, dating back to early Christianity, which was built high into the side of the steep cliff face
Dinner and overnight in Trabzon

 

Day 14 : Trabzon To Istanbul

Transfer to Trabzon airport for your morning flight to Istanbul

Included in Package Rate

All land transportations
Domestic flight tickets
Accommodation in 4* hotels with breakfast and dinners
Experienced Tour Guide (English speaking)
Entrance fees
Lunches during tours

Not Included in Package Rate

Drinks at meals and personal expenses

  Price:

Adult ... GBP per person.

Accommodation and Tours in Istanbul can be added at the beginning or end of this tour