GRAND TURKEY
A cultural tour of Turkey

Eastern Anatolia is a part of Turkey that has its own unique past. The region’s long and turbulent history has left monuments to its various civilizations: Byzantine monasteries and churches, Seljuk mausoleums and caravanserais, elegant Ottoman mosques and hilltop citadels. Our 22-day Grand Turkey tour is an attempt at understanding the history and culture of this unique part of Turkey.

Day 01: Arrive Trabzon
Upon your arrival in Trabzon, you are met with a friendly 'merhaba' (hello) and escorted to your hotel. You will have the day free to begin exploring Trabzon or to relax at your leisure. Learn more about the cultural adventure ahead of you at an orientation meeting at 7pm. During dinner get acquainted with the other members of your group.
Overnight: Usta Park Hotel, Trabzon (1 night) (D)

Day 02: Trabzon/Erzurum (Drive)
Trabzon, the city which Don Quichote dreamt constantly of being the king of. Start the day with a visit to the 14th. c. Sumela monastery, and continue to the Zigana Pass. Enjoying wild scenery of Kop mountain we arrive in Erzurum
Overnight: Polat Renaissance Hotel, Erzurum (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 03: Erzurum/Ani/Kars (Drive)
Following a visit of the city's Seljouki monumentssuch as the Yakutiye Madrasa, the Great Mosque drive across the vast plains along the Araxes river to Kars. Visit Ani, the border town to Armenia, once the capital city of an Armenian kingdom. Back to town for a stroll along the streets where Orhan Pamuk's "Snow" was set.
Overnight: Simer Kars Hotel, Kars (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 04: Kars/Dogubeyazit/Mt Ararat/Van (Drive)
Drive through the countryside to visit Ishak Pasha Palace. On route to Van, The 17000 feet Mount Ararat, fabled to have housed the Ark of Noah will be viewed for most of the way. Locals weave animal figures on the Sumak Kilims as a depiction of the ark's passengers.
Overnight: Merit Sahmaran Hotel, Van (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 05: Van
Our first visit will be to Cavustepe, a Urartian citadel complex dated back to 8th c. The 16th c. Hosap Castle will make you feel like you are in a sci-fi movie. A lake-side lunch will be followed by a cruise to the Akthamar Island, for a visit of a unique Armenian church, adorned with a stone carved story of the people and their faith. Visit a local carpet and handicraft center, and finally the Van Castle for a glance at the Urartian capital Tuspa. (B, L, D)

Day 06 Wednesday: Van/Diyarbakir (Drive)
Drive up the mountains for a stop in Bitlis to visit a Seljuki madrasa. Continue to upper Mesopotamia (between the Euphrates & Tigres) and visit the 13th c. Malabadi - one of the largest bridges of the past. Enjoy a lovely sunset on the city walls of Diyarbakir - The Great Mosque.
Overnight: Class Hotel, Diyarbakir (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07: Hasankeyf/Mardin (Drive)
Drive along a land spotted with oil wells, and irrigated by the waters of Tigris. Visit the remains of Hasankeyf's monumental Zeyl Abidin tomb, rock houses. Continue to Midyat, well known for its stone carvings and monastaries. Final visit will be to Mardin, and Dayr-ul Zafaran monastery. Return to Diyarbakir. (B, L, D)

Day 08: Diyarbakir/Harran/Urfa (Drive)
Drive to Urfa, along the banks of the largest man made lake in Turkey (of Ataturk Dam). which is the birthplace of Abraham. Ruins of the oldest Islamic university also an astronomy center with its observation tower still standing, and the Harran houses built of mud-bricks are all unique features of this land. Visit Urfa bazaar.
Overnight: Harran Hotel, Urfa (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 09: Urfa/Mt. Nemrut/Kahta/Antakya (Drive)
Drive to Adiyaman, along the banks of the largest man made lake in Turkey (of Ataturk Dam). Climb up the mount Nemrud, where Kommagenian king Antiochus' tomb was built, surrounded by the gigantic statues of local gods. Explore the terraces & statues.
Overnight: Buyuk Hotel, Antakya (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10: Kahta/Gaziantep/Antioch/Adana (Drive)
Drive to Gaziantep. Visit museum for looking the famous mosaic of the Zeugma. Afternoon will be spent in Antakya, a true treasure of history, religions and food. The word "Christian" was first used in this town where St. Peter gathered early Christians in a cave church for mass. The second largest mosaic museum is another highlight of the day.
Overnight: Cukurova Surmeli Hotel, Adana (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Antioch/Tarsus/Adana (Drive)
Drive along Meditarrenean, through the fertile Cukurova plains, barred by Taurus mountains range. St.Paul was born in Tarsus, and Alexander The Great marched his armies through this land. (B, L, D)

Day 12: Adana/Cappadocia
In the morning cross Taurus Mountains and visit Eskigumus Monastery. In the afternoon see the natural rock citadel of Uchisar. Visit Soganli village.
Overnight: Kapadokya Inn, Cappadocia (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 13: Cappadocia
Explore the frescoed interior of Goreme's churches.Visit the underground chambers and galleries of Ozkonak. You will take a walk in the red valley of Dervent, observe the uniquely formed pinnacles of Avcilar and Pasabag. (B, L, D)

Day 14: Cappadocia/Konya/Antalya (Drive)
Morning drive Konya. Visit Mevlana Museum. Continue to Antalya.
Overnight: Golden Ring Hotel, Antalya (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 15: Perge/Aspendos/Antalya (Drive)
Explore Greek and Roman archaeology starting with the ruins of Perge. Visit one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Aspendos. (B, L, D)

Day 16: Aphrodisias/Pamukkale/Denizli (Drive)
An inland drive will take us to Aphrodisias; the cult city of Aphrodite. Explore Hierapolis and the calcareous cascades of Pamukkale.
Overnight: Hierapolis Termal Hotel, Denizli (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 17: Denizli/Ephesus/Izmir (Drive)
Drive to the Aegean coast for a visit of Ephesus, where St.Paul stirred up the worshippers of mother goddess Artemis, the temple of whom is one of the seven wonders of ancient world.
Overnight: Aksan Hotel, Izmir (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 18: Pergamum/Troy/Canakkale (Drive)
Early drive to Pergamum for a visit of its acropolis. Drive along the Aegean coast to Troy, around which Achilles dragged the dead body of Hector, as told in Homer's Iliad. Continue onto Canakkale.
Overnight: Akol Hotel, Canakkale (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day19: Canakkale/Gallipolis/Istanbul (Drive)
Cross the Dardanelles to Gallipoli for a visit of the infamous World War 1 battle sites. Continue to Istanbul.
Overnight: Grand Yavuz Hotel, Istanbul (3 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 20: Istanbul
Visit Blue Mosque, Hippodrome. Enjoy successive courtyards and treasures of Topkapi Palace. Grand Bazaar for the rest of the day. (B)

Day 21: Istanbul
Saint Sophia, and Saint Savior in Chora preserve best examples of Byzantine Art. Enjoy a cruise on the Bosphorus to unveil beauties of European and Asian shores of the city. Last stop is the Spice Market. (B)

Day 22: Depart Istanbul
This morning we bid this magical land ‘”gule gule” (goodbye) as we are transferred to the airport. (B)

Departure Dates

2008 English Speaking Departures May 04, Jun 08, Aug 31 & Sep 14 & 28

Inclusions

Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotel Accommodation as mentioned or similar International airfares Meal Plan as mentioned (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner) Airport / Departure Taxes All sightseeing and transfers by private transportation Insurances / Visas / Tips Services of local English speaking guides   Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary

Tour Price

We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.

Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement Supplement Surcharge Sep. Departure 2008 US $ 3940 • CA $ 3940 US $ 700 • CA $ 700 US $ 200 • CA $ 200

Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour

Canada - West Coast CA $ 1600 USA - West Coast US $ 1400 Canada - East Coast CA $ 1400 USA - East Coast US $ 1200

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.

Notes

Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.