DAY 1 WEDNESDAY
USA - ISTANBUL
Overnight flight to Istanbul.
DAY 2 THURSDAY
ISTANBUL-ADANA
Morning arrival in Istanbul where you will connect to your flight to Adana.
DAY 3 FRIDAY
ADANA-ANTIOCH-GAZIANTEP
Drive to Antioch, declared a holy site by the Vatican in 1983.
Just outside of town you will visit St. Peter’s Grotto, where St. Peter preached his first sermon. Visit the museum renowned for its colorful mosaics. After lunch continue to Gaziantep and overnight.
DAY 4 SATURDAY
GAZIANTEP-URFA-ADIYAMAN-NEMRUT
Short sight-seeing of Gaziantep before driving to Urfa, known as the birthplace of Abraham. Here you will visit the remains of the famous mosque complex and Abraham’s cave. Continue to Harran and explore the mud-brick dwellings shaped like beehives and the ruins of the largest ancient Islamic University. Drive to Nemrut and overnight.
DAY 5 SUNDAY
NEMRUT
Early morning transfer to watch the sun rise from the summit of Mt. Nemrut. Antioch I believed himself to be the descendant of Apollo and built an enormous tumulus for himself here flanked by the colossal heads of Apollo, Zeus, Tych and Hercules. Visit the East and West terraces and breakfast at the mountain area. Continue to Arsemenia where you will see the tumulus of Karakus and Bridge of Cendere. The afternoon is free to relax or explore as you please. Overnight in Kahta.
DAY 6 MONDAY
NEMRUT-DIYARBAKIR
Morning drive to Diyarbakir located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. After lunch you will explore the city visiting Ulucami Mosque, built in 1091, Ataturk’s House, the 1,800 year old city walls and the Tigris River. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
DAY 7 TUESDAY
DIYARBAKIR-VAN
A full day’s drive exploring the region en route to Lake Van, one of the world’s highest lakes at 5,500 feet and Turkey’s largest inland body of water. Once the Urartian capital of Tuspa, you will visit the nearby town of Tatvan and Ahlat’s Open Air Museum and extensive cemetery where wealthy Muslims from the 12th to 14th centuries lie buried beneath ornate 5 feet tall tombstones. Overnight in Van.
DAY 8 WEDNESDAY
VAN
Morning boat trip to Akdamar Island to visit the 10th century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross famed for the ornate, wildlife reliefs on the facade. After lunch you will visit Van Castle built during the reign of Sardun I (764-735 B.C.) and Cavustepe. Overnight in Van.
DAY 9 THURSDAY
VAN-DOGUBEYAZIT
Journey to Dogubeyazit with stunning Mt. Ararat on the horizon. Stop en route for a refreshing visit to Muradiye Waterfalls along the way. Continue to Dogubeyazit. Explore the splendor of the Ishak Pasha Palace built in the 18th century to rival Istanbul’s Topakapi Palace. Overnight in Dogubeyazit.
DAY 10 FRIDAY
DOGUBEYAZIT-KARS
Morning drive to Kars. In the afternoon, you will tour the remains of the nearby ancient city of Ani, one of the most magnificent sights of the Near East. Once home to the legendary 1,000 churches and 100,000 inhabitants at its height, one mosque, 10 churches and a royal citadel are the only testament to its lofty past. Return to Kars for overnight.
DAY 11 SATURDAY
KARS-ERZURUM
Your Eastern Turkey quest continues as you drive to Erzurum, the ancient city of Theodosiopolis in the 4th century, where an afternoon tour of the city awaits you. Visit Cifte Minareli Medrese built b by the Seljuk ruler and Yakutiye Medrese built in 1310 by the Mongols. Overnight in Erzurum.
DAY 12 SUNDAY
ERZURUM-TRABZON
Journey along the lush, Black Sea coast as you drive to Trabzon. En route visit the Sumela Monastery, built on the face of a steep cliff with beautiful frescoes dating from the 14th century inside. Overnight in Trabzon.
DAY 13 MONDAY
TRABZON-ISTANBUL
Explore this lovely coastal town during a morning tour which will include St. Sophia Church, Orta Hisar Mosque, the city walls and Ataturk’s house. Transfer to the airport for your flight to the only city that truly bridges East and West, Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 14 TUESDAY
ISTANBUL
A full day to explore the legendary wonders of Istanbul. Visit the Blue Mosque the only mosque in the world with six minarets and St. Sophia’s coolly marbleized interior across the way where the beauties of Christianity and Islam live side-by-side. Next you’ll pass by the more worldly pleasures of the ancient Hippodrome and the Topkapi Palace home to Ottoman Sultans and Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 15 WEDNESDAY
ISTANBUL
What better way to bid farewell to Turkey than with a morning cruise on the Bosphorus Cruise past monuments of the past and present, East and West that grace its shores, from wooden Ottoman homes and minarets to palaces. The afternoon is free to finish that last minute shopping in the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand Bazaar or in the aromatic Spice Market. Or just relax with a cup of cay and watch Turkish life pass by.
DAY 16 THURSDAY
ISTANBUL
All too soon it’s time to bid this country gule gule (goodbye), as you are transferred to the airport for your return flight home.
LAND TOUR FEATURES
- Accommodations in mentioned hotels or similar
- Guaranteed departures with minimum 4 people
- Services at professional, English-speaking guide.
- 14 Breakfasts 13 Lunches 11 Dinners
- All sightseeing and admission fees.
- All transfers to and from airports, ground transportation, service charges and taxes
Tags: Abraham, adana, adiyaman, antioch, apollo zeus tych and hercules, diyarbakir, euphrates, gaziantep, harran, istanbul, lake van, Mt. Nemrut, nemrut, St. Peter, St. Peter's Grotto, tigris, urfa
