DAY 1) ISTANBUL ARRIVAL
Arrival at Istanbul airport Meet and transfer to your
hotel. Overnight in Istanbul
DAY 02) ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque.St Sophia dedicated
in 536 AD. During the reign of Justinian, then Topkapi
Palace which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the
afternoon visit the Grand Covered Bazaar Transfer to
airport for evening flight to Kayseri. Upon arrival
in Kayseri transfer to a special volcanic stone/cave
hotel in Cappadocia Overnight B.L.D
Day 03) CAPPADOCIA FULLDAY
Will begin our visit to the enchanting "fairy chimneys"
(conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley.
We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum,See the finest
examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut churches
from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag Valley,
We will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, and then
continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work since
DAY 04) CAPPADOCIA - GAZIANTEP
Today we will drive to Gaziantep making a photo stop
of Incesu Caravanserai. We will have a chance to taste
the famous Kahramanmaras ice cream,We continue to Gaziantep,
which is located on a wide and fertile plain cultivated
with extensive pistachio groves.Overnight in 4* hotel
B.L.D
DAY 05) GAZIANTEP - SANLIURFA - HARRAN - MT.
NEMRUT (KAHTA) Our drive today takes us to
Sanli Urfa. We may stop briefly at Zeugma, which is
mostly underwater. We pass the Euphrates River and stop
at Birecik, which is famous for the nearly extinct Bald
Ibis. We will have lunch in Sanliurfa. visit to Mevlid
Halil Mosque and the Cave of Prophet Abraham, then the
sacred fish pool.Drive to Harran - city of the prophet
Abraham. See the fortress, Islamic school and curious
beehive-shaped adobe houses. It is possible to see the
huge Ataturk Dam. Dinner and overnight in Kahta (near
Mt. Nemrut) in 4* hotel B.L.D
DAY 06) MT. NEMRUT - DIYARBAKIR
Rise very early for the drive and the walk up to the
summit of Mount Nemrut (2150 m) in Northern Mesopotamia.
View a fantastic sunrise from the East Terrace Breakfast
and pack up at hotel.We will take a ferry across the
reservoir and continue to Diyarbakir We visit the caravanserai
(Deliller Han), the Ulu (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk
period and possibly the third century Aramaic Church
of the Virgin Mary. Overnight in Diyarbakir 4* hotel
or special class caravanserai B.L.D
DAY 07) DIYARBAKIR - MARDIN - DIYARBAKIR
Today's highlight is the city of Mardin, with its golden
stone houses that blend into the hills. The houses are
often decorated with intricate carvings. This is a very
lively trading center with people coming from surrounding
villages to buy and sell. We will have a fantastic view
of the Plain of Mesopotamia and visit the Syriac-Jacobite
Monastery of Deyrulzaferan. Return to Diyarbakir for
the night. Overnight in B.L.D
DAY 08) DIYARBAKIR - VAN
The tour begins after breakfast with the drive to Lake
Van,It is the largest lake in Turkey and lies at an
altitude of 1720 m. The first site en route is the Akdamar
church, which is built on an island in the lake. We
will take a small boat across the lake to see the church.We
will have lunch in Akdamar then continue to Van. Overnight
in 4* hotel B.L.D
DAY 09) VAN
The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartians
capital. An imposing 9th c B.C. citadel overlooks the
town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap
Castle, and the famous Citadel of Van. Time permitting
visit to the museum Overnight in 4* hotel B.L.D
DAY 10) VAN - DOGUBAYAZIT
Today we will drive to Dogubayazit and have lunch at
the beautiful Muradiye waterfalls. We will Visit Isaac
Pasa Palace, which was built between the 17th and 18th
centuries by a local lord. It is a mixture of Ottoman,
Persian and Armenian architectural styles. Overnight
in Dogubayazit 3* Hotel B.L.D
DAY 11) DOGUBAYAZIT - KARS
Weather permitting; we may have a nice view of Mt. Ararat
this morning. We will pass small squat villages at the
base of the mountain. We will arrive in Kars and visit
the ancient city of Ani and its churches. Overnight
will be in Kars 4* hotel. B.L.D
DAY 12) KARS - ERZURUM
Today we will drive to Erzurum. Erzurum is known for
copper crafting and its Lout stone, which is a unique
black stone used to make jewelry and beads. We will
visit fine Seljuk monuments such as the Ulu (Great)
Mosque, the Cifte Minareli Medrese and Uc Kumbetler
(three tombs) and see the richly decorated portal and
tiled minaret of the 13th century Yakutiye Medrese.
Overnight in Erzurum 4* Hotel
DAY 13) ERZURUM - TRABZON
Our journey will continue on to Trabzon with a visit
to the magnificent Sumela Monastery The church is covered
inside and out with brilliant frescos.I f the time permitting;
visit the St. Sophia museum (restored 13th c Byzantine
church with its splendid frescoes). Overnight in Trabzon
B.L.D
DAY 14) TRABZON RIZE ISTANBUL
Our journey will continue Ayder plateau lunch in Ayder
in the afternoon trip to Uzungol and return to Trabzon
for evening flight to Istanbul. (B.L)
DAY 15) ISTANBUL
Transfer to airport or Istanbul Extension.
