|
VAN - AKDAMAR ISLAND
Van Cat
Mt. Nemrut
Harran
|
|
|
Day 1: |
|
|
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. |
|
|
CAPPADOCIA - CAVE CHURCHES AND GOREME VALLEY |
|
|
Day 2:
In the morning you will wake up in a world you have
never imagined. Experience the feeling of living in
an Anatolian village, where houses are built in
caves, and life goes on as it has for centuries. You
may see villagers baking bread, drying fruit on
their rooftops or riding on donkeys to their fields.
We 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, which was once a Byzantine monastery. See
the finest examples of religious frescoes in
rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th
centuries. Enjoy Pasabagi Valley, while walking
through vineyards among strange multiple
"mushroom-capped" volcanic rock formations. We will
also visit Cavusin Village and see abandoned
troglodyte houses cut high up in the rock face. We
will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, where
mineral deposits have given beautiful color to the
weathered stones and then continue to Avanos, center
of terra cotta work since 3000 BC. See a pottery
demonstration using the ancient kick-wheel
technique. Evening of cultural entertainment and
music or performance of the Whirling dervishes.
Overnight in Special volcanic stone/cave hotel.
B.L.D. |
|
|
CAPPADOCIA - GAZIANTEP |
| |
Day 3:
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, which is thickened with gum Arabic and
beaten with a wooden paddle. We continue to
Gaziantep, which is located on a wide and
fertile plain cultivated with extensive
pistachio groves. The artisans of Gaziantep are
specialists in making copperware and furniture
inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The city has a
fortress with 36 towers originally constructed
in the Justinian era and later rebuilt by the
Seljuks. Overnight in 4* hotel. B.L.D. |
|
|
GAZIANTEP |
|
Day 4:
Today we will visit the Archaeology Museum
with its artifacts from Neolithic, Hittite and
Roman times. There are important mosaics from
the ancient site of Zeugma (Belkis). See
copper-makers and other trades. We will also
visit the Yesemek Open air-museum with its stone
carvings from the Hittite period. Overnight in
4* hotel. B.L.D. |
|
|
GAZIANTEP-SANLIURFA-HARRAN-MT. NEMRUT (KAHTA) |
|
Day 5:
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. View of
castle with Roman columns and
visit to Mevlid Halil Mosque and the Cave of
Prophet Abraham, then the sacred fish pool. You
will have a chance to wander in the old Bazaar.
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. |
|
|
MT. NEMRUT -
DIYARBAKIR |
|
Day 6:
Rise very early for the drive and the walk
up to the summit of Mount Nemrut, which is the
highest mountain (2150 m) in Northern
Mesopotamia. View a fantastic sunrise from the
East Terrace. Visit the East and West terraces,
fire altar, statues of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules,
Tyche and Antiochus Epiphanes I, tumulus,
reliefs and the world's first horoscope Descend
down the mountain through small villages and
beautiful scenery. Arsemia - old castle and
remains of bridge made during the time of
Alexander the Great. Cendere Roman Bridge -
built by Septimus Severus in the 2nd century AD
and still in use! Karakus - tumulus of the royal
Commagene women. Columns with eagle and relief.
Breakfast and pack up at hotel. We will take a
ferry across the reservoir and continue to
Diyarbakir, where we will visit the old city,
surrounded by triple walls made of black basalt
originally dating to 394 A.D. It is a city based
on a Roman plan with four gates. 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.
See people going about daily life on their
rooftops, drying fruits, and dung patties for
fuel. Overnight in Diyarbakir 4* hotel or
special class caravanserai. B.L.D. |
|
|
DIYARBAKIR - MARDIN - DIYARBAKIR |
|
Day 7:
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 4* hotel or special
class caravanserai. B.L.D |
|
|
DIYARBAKIR -
VAN |
|
Day 8:
The tour begins after breakfast with the
drive to Lake Van, which is ringed by mountains,
and deep blue in color. 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.
This church, from the 10th century is carved
with Old Testament scenes and figures. We will
have lunch in Akdamar then continue to Van.
Overnight in 4* hotel. B.L.D. |
|
