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GREAT
SILK ROAD TOUR (SECTION C) 26 DAYS FROM DESERT TO SEA
Day
1 Mary/Mashad
After breakfast drive to the border check point at Serahs.
Continue to Iran, driving to the Holy city of Mashad. This
is the holiest city in Iran, containing the pilgrimage site
of the Shrine of Imam Reza, who was martyred here in the 9th
century. B/L/D
Day
2 Mashad
Today we have a full
day to see the sights of Mashad, including the complex of
the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most comprehensive
and elegant architectural complexes in the Islamic world at
the present time. We will also visit the old city of Toos
and the tomb of greatest Persian epic poet Ferdousi. B/L/D
Day
3 Mashad/Bidokht
Drive to city of Bidokht and visit the Mosque and Mausoleum
of Saleh Ali Shah. B/L/D
Day
4 Bidokht/Tabas
Drive to Tabas visiting a caravanserai en route. Tabas is
a pretty oasis city between the Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir
deserts. Here you will visit the Bagh-e Golshan garden with
its variety of tropical trees, pools and cascades, and the
ruined 11th century citadel of Tabas. B/L/D
Day
5 Tabas/Yazd
Drive to the city of Yazd, with its winding lanes, wind towers
and mud-brick Old Town. This relaxed city, with Iran’s
largest Zoroastrian community, is famous for its bagdirs (or
wind towers) sitting atop the roofs of the houses, circulating
even the smallest breeze to cool the homes inside. B/L/D
Day
6 Yazd
Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in Yazd. Visit
the Zoroastrian fire temple (Ateshkadeh) – it is said
that the eternal flame here has been burning since around
AD 470. Take a tour of the old city, one of the oldest towns
in the world according to UNESCO. Enjoy seeing the courtyards,
ornate wooden doors, and pretty adobe architecture. Also visit
the Jameh (Friday) Mosque dominating the old city with its
beautiful turquoise- tiled domes. Later, take a short drive
to see the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence. B/L/D
Day
7 Yazd/Isfahan
Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, the most
beautiful city in Iran. Isfahan is one of the finest cities
in the Islamic world; a place for savouring the high refinements
of Persian culture. En route, visit of the old city Naeen
with its Jameh Mosque, ruined fire temple and caravanserai.
Isfahan. B/L/D
Day
8Isfahan
Full day of sightseeing in this magnificent city with its
bridges, palaces and mosques. B/L/D
Day
9 Isfahan/Tehran
Drive to Tehran, the capital city of Iran. En route visit
the cities of Ntanz, Kashan, and Qom. B/L/D
Day
10 Tehran
Full day sightseeing in Tehran. B/L/D
Day
11 Tehran/Zanjan
Leave Tehran and drive to the city of Zanjan, the capital
of Zanjan province. En route visit city of Ghazvin with its
mosque and palace, and continue on to visit the 3rd biggest
Tomb of Soltanieh (a 14 century Moughal Tomb), before arriving
in Zanjan. B/L/D
Day
12 Zanjan/Tabriz
Today, drive from Zanjan to Tabriz. B/L/D
Day
13 Tabriz/Van
We will have a short tour of the city visiting places such
as the museum and mosque before driving to the Turkish border.
Cross into Turkey, and drive on to Van. B/L/D
Day
14 Van/Diyarbakir
The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartians
capital. An imposing 9th century B.C. citadel overlooks the
town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap Castle,
and the famous Citadel of Van. Drive to Lake Van. This lake
is the largest 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. After lunch in Akdamar, we will
continue to the walled city of Diyarbakýr. B/L/D
Day
15 Diyarbakir/Sanliurfa
Today we visit the Ulu (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk period
and possibly the third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin
Mary. Drive to 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 centre
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.
Continue to Sanliurfa. B/L/D
Day
16 Sanliurfa/Harran/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. Return to Sanliurfa for your overnight stay.
B/L/D
Day
17 Sanliurfa/Adiyaman
Drive to Nemrut Mountain via Kahta, on the way visit the huge
Ataturk Dam and the Cendere Bridge. Nemrut Mountain is a significant
attraction, with thousands of people coming at sunrise and
sunset to see the stones in the best possible light. Drive
to Adiyaman. B/L/D
Day
18 Adiyaman/Cappadocia
Drive to Cappadocia via Kahramanmaras. Visit the Coppersmith’s
Bazaar in Kahraman Maras and continue to Cappadocia. B/L/D
Day
19 Cappadocia
Full day in Cappadocia. Visit to the enchanting "fairy
chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent
Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, where we
will see the finest examples of religious rescoes in rock-cut
churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag
Valley, and then continue to Avanos, centre of terra cotta
work. Afternoon visit Derin kuyu underground city. In the
evening, we shall enjoy a whirling dervishes show. B/L/D
Day
20 Cappadocia/Konya/Pamukkale
This morning, you may take an optional hot air balloon tour.
Drive to Pamukkale via Konya. On the way visit Obruk han (Lake
Obruk). Continue on to Pamukkale B/L/D
Day
21 Pamukkale/Kusadasi
Visit the ancient site of Hierapolis (nearby Pamukkale), and
its calcium terraces. This is a magical and pectacular natural
site, unique in the world; it is a fairyland of dazzling white,
petrified castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous
salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic
formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. Later, drive
to Kusadasi. B/L/D
Day
22 Kusadasi
Today we shall explore the ancient city of Ephesus. First
we will visit the Temple of Artemis, and then drive to the
Ephesus Ruins and visit the Theatre, Celsius Library, Agora,
Odeon, Domitianus Temple, and Trajan Fountain. In the afternoon
visit a traditional old Ottoman Village. Return to Kusadasi.
B/L/D
Day
23 Kusadasi/Canakkale
Drive to Canakkale via Pergamum (Bergama) and Troy (Truva).
Visit the acropol at Pergamum, and after visiting Troy continue
on to Canakkale. B/L/D
Day
24 Canakkale/Istanbul
Today, we shall explore the Gallipoli peninsula on the way
to Istanbul. The Gallipoli area is known for the war cemeteries
and memorials dedicated to the Turkish and foreign soldiers
killed during the Canakkale Sea and shore battles in 1915.
There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds
of remains of the war. In total, there are graves and memorials
of around 250,000 Turkish soldiers, and 250,000 from Australia,
New Zealand, England and France. Thousands of people visit
the war cemeteries every year, and it is one of the most famous
sites in Turkey. Continue to Istanbul. B/L/D
Day
25 Istanbul
In the morning visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 unequalled
for its mosaics, and the Haghia Sophia dedicated in 536 AD
during the reign of Justinian, we will also visit Topkapi
Palace, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the afternoon
tour the Grand Covered Bazaar. This evening we shall have
a memorable dinner on a boat in the bosphorous. B/L/D
Day
26 Istanbul
End of this fantastic tour experience.
PS.Call us
at (90) 212 638 12 15 or send us EMAIL
to request the complete itinerary and PRICE of the tour. You
can also customize your own itinerary.
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