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Tours
By Region |
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 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 23-day
Grand Turkey tour is an attempt at understanding the
history and culture of this unique part of Turkey.
Day
01: Arrive Istanbul
Upon arrival meet with our representative and transfer to the hotel. Check in
time starts from 1400 hrs. Dinner not included.
Overnight: Black Bird Hotel, Istanbul (1 night)
Day 02: Istanbul/Trabzon (Flight TK546 dep 0700 hrs arr 0840 hrs)
Morning flight to Trabzon, the main city of the Black Sea Region. Upon arrival,
depart for the visit of the Byzantine Monastery of Sumela located hinterland
in a breathtaking site, hanging on the face of a 1,200m / 4,000 ft high steep
rock. Drive back to Trabzon where Alexios Comnenos founded the Independent Empire
of Trebizond in the early 13th century. After lunch in the city, visit old Haghia
Sophia Church (turned into a museum), decorated with wonderful 13th century frescoes
which are the most beautiful from this period that can be seen in Turkey; the
Panaghia Chryzokephalos (The Golden Head Virgin) which was the first church to
be converted into a mosque (Fatih Camii) when the city fell to Mehmet the Conqueror;
the old quarters of the upper town including the walls; the Russian Bazaar in
the harbour. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Usta Park Hotel, Trabzon (1 night) (B, L, D)
 Day 03: Trabzon/Rize/Erzurum (Drive 420 km)
Morning, you will head towards Rize, located in the middle of green tea plantations
that make the wealth of the region. Continue to Hopa, near the Georgian border,
and arrive in Artvin. After lunch, drive through the Coruh Valley characterized
by beautiful wild landscapes all along the raging river which is suitable for
rafting, and Georgian vestiges including castles and churches. Visit picturesque
Ishan Village perched in the mountains. In this village, which was once an Armenian
then a Georgian bishopric, stand the ruins of a 8-9th century cathedral and a
church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in 1006. Along Lake Tortum, you will continue
to Erzurum, located on a plateau at an altitude of 1905 m/ 6,250 ft. Dinner and
overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Polat Renaissance Hotel, Erzurum (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 04: Erzurum/Ani/Dogubayazit (Drive 495 km)
Morning, visit the Seljuk monuments of Erzurum, large city of eastern Anatolia
which has a reputation for beeing the coldest in Turkey: visit Cifte Minare Medresesi,
the old school of theology with two minarets covered with tiles; Ulu Cami, the
oldest mosque in Erzurum with its beautiful wooden dome; the "turbe" which
are domed tombs. After lunch in Kars, continue to Ani, the ancient capital of
the Bagratid Armenians, founded in the 9th century. Visit the site located on
a plateau near the gorges of the Arpa Cayi which course has delimited the border
between Armenia and Turkey. Drive back to Kars, a city with a stereotyped architecture
left by the Russians and continue to Dogubayazit located at the foothills of
Mount Ararat. This volcano that culminates at 5,165 m/ 16,945 ft and whose summit
is always capped with snow, is the highest mount in Anatolia where Noah's Ark
is thought to have landed after the Deluge. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Simer Dogubeyazit Hotel, Dogubeyazit (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 05: Dogubayazit/Van (Drive 170 km)
Morning, visit Ishak Pasa Palace where Persian, Armenian, Georgian, Seljuk and
Ottoman styles have been mixed in an harmonious way. After lunch, drive along
the Iran border through barren landscapes of volcanic stones. Stop at Muradiye
Waterfalls for lunch. Continue to Van, the ancient Tushpa and the capital of
the Urartu Kingdom. Van is located on the eastern bank of Lake Van,Turkey's largest
(salted) lake. Visit the citadel from where there is a panoramic view over the
lake. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Merit Sahmaran Hotel, Van (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 06: Van/Hosap/Akdamar/Van (Drive 160 km)
Morning, drive to Cavustepe and visit the 8C BC Urartian citadel. Continue to
Hosap village impressively crowned by a castle. From the top you will enjoy most
astonishingly shaped landscapes. Drive back to Lake Van. After lunch in Gevas,
boat excursion to Akhtamar island where stands the 10C Holy Cross Church whose
facades are ornemented with beautiful reliefs depicting scenes from the Bible,
Armenian king Gagik, animals and vine. Return to Van. Dinner and overnight at
the hotel. (B, L, D)
 Day 07: Van/Ahlat/Bitlis/Diyarbakir (Drive 460 km)
Morning, drive along the north shore of Lake Van to visit Ahlat and its interesting
Seljuk cemetery with tombstones and mausoleums whose architecture is different
from those in Central Anatolia. Lunch in Tatvan. Continue to Bitlis and stop
in this picturesque town located in a narrow and deep valley. Arrive in Diyarbakir,
a big city located near the right bank of the Tigris River (Dicle) and named "the
Dark" because of its black basalt walls which are one of the best examples
of medieval military architecture. Visit the impressive city walls and the Grand
Mosque which includes many re-used building materials from the Byzantine and
more ancient periods. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Class Hotel, Diyarbakir (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 08: Diyarbakir/Hasankeyf/Midyat/Mardin (Drive 250 km)
Morning, drive through the oilfield area of Batman. Arrive in Hasankeyf, located
at the end of an impressive large gorge formed by the Tigris River, in the middle
of which stand the huge piers of the Old Bridge. Visit the capital of the Artukids
in the 12th century, the Roman ruins of ancient Cephe set on top of the cliff
from where the view over the region is splendid. Continue to Turbadin Plateau
where a Syriac-Jacobite community lives, and visit the old town of Midyat, a
small treasure of architecture. After lunch, visit Mar Gabriel Monastery and
the Church of the Virgin Mary in Anitli. Continue to Mardin that rises in tiers
on the mountain slope and overlooks the vast plains of Mesopotamia. You will
stroll through the alleys and stairs of the town to discover its typical houses
and monuments such as Sultan Isa Medrese, the Great Ulu Camii Mosque, the buildings
of the Post-office. Also visit the Syriac-Jacobite Deyrul Zaferan Monastery located
outside mardin. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Buyuk Mardin Hotel, Mardin (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 09: Mardin/Harran/Urfa (Drive 295 km)
Morning, drive to Harran to visit this village whose houses are called beehive-houses
because of their most surprising cone-shaped roofs, and the ancient city where
Abraham is said to have spent several years of his life. Arrive in Urfa for lunch.
Discover the "City of the Prophetes" whose past is rich and eventful:
you will see Abraham's Caves; Balikli Gol, a large pool full of sacred carps
with the mosques reflected in its waters; the busy and colorful bazaar and the "hans" with
their different guilds; the old quarter and traditional corbelled houses. Drive
back to Urfa. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Harran Hotel, Sanliurfa (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 10: Urfa/Mt. Nemrut/Kahta (Drive 120 km)
Morning, depart for Kahta. On the way, stop at Ataturk Dam built on the Euphrates
River. A full day to explore Eski Kahta: you will see Karakus Tumulus, a burial
sanctuary; Cendere Bridge, erected by the XVI Legion in the honour of Roman Emperor
Septimus Severus; Arsameia on the Nymphaios (Eski Kale) with its cult monuments
and reliefs. Then you will drive inside the National Park of Nemrut Dag to start
the ascension of Mount Nemrut, the highest mountain (2150 m / 7,000 ft) in northern
Mesopotamia, on top of which, in the 1C BC, Antiochus I king of Commagene erected
a sanctuary where he was venerated like a god, and where he was buried. You will
visit the breathtaking site with its monumental statues located on terraces from
where you will watch, according to the season, an unforgettable sunrise or sunset.
Drive back to Kahta. Lunch during the visits. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Nemrut Hotel, Kahta (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 11: Kahta/Halfeti/Zeugma/Gaziantep (Drive 330 km)
Morning, depart for Halfeti located at the bottom of a picturesque canyon hollowed
by the Euphrates. Boat ride to explore the canyon, Rumkale Fortress and the valley
submerged by the rising waters from Birecik Dam. After lunch at Birecik, proceed
to the ancient Roman city of Zeugma, the most famous crossing spot on the Euphrates
for the caravans of the "Silk Road" and the military convoys of antiquity.
Beautiful mosaics have been brought to light inside Roman villas but the site
is today partly submerged by the waters of the dam. Continue to Gaziantep, the
Turkish pistachio capital. Visit the old quarters surrounding the fortress, and
the Archaeological Museum where the superb Roman mosaics from Zeugma are displayed.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Ravanda Hotel, Gaziantep (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 12: Gaziantep/Antakya/Adana (Drive 375 km)
Morning, drive to Antakya, the ancient Antioch whose people lived in exuberant
luxury and where the disciples of Jesus were called "christians" here
for the first time. After lunch, visit the Mosaic Museum which displays one of
the richest collections of Roman and Byzantine Mosaics in the world. Also visit
the Grotto of St Peter where the Apostle Peter is believed to have preached,
and which has been designated by the Vatican as a place of pilgrimage. Drive
through the Plain of Issus (Dortyol), whereAlexander the Great crushed Darius
III's Persian army, overlooked by the Fortress of Toprakkkale built by the Crusaders.
Continue through the rich agricultural plain of Cilicia to Tarsus, the birthplace
of St Paul and the home to one of the first Christian churches in Asia Minor:
visit St Paul's Well, Ulu Cami Mosque, Eski mosque, the Gate of Cleopatra crossed
by the Egyptian queen and Mark Antony when they met in Tarsus. In the evening,
arrive in Adana, Turkey's fourth largest city. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Cukurova Surmeli Hotel, Adana (1 night) (B, L, D)
 Day 13: Adana/Tarsus/Karatepe/Cappadocia (Drive 450 km)
In the morning, depart through the National Park of Karatepe to visit the open-air
museum of Karatepe, a 8C BC Neo-Hittite site which is a beautiful open-air museum
that has been left intact after the excavations, with its statues, hieroglyphic
inscriptions and reliefs. . Lunch in Kadirli. After lunch, continue to Cappadocia.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Burcu Kaya Hotel, Cappadocia (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 14: Cappadocia (Drive 90 km)
A full day tour to explore Cappadocia, a fantastic region with lunar landscapes.
Visit the Red Valley; Goreme Valley, an open-air museum with rock-cut churches
(7th-13th centuries) decorated with fine frescoes: the Church of St Barbara,
the Church of the Serpent, the Church of the Sandal, the Church of the Apple,
the Church of the Buckle... Also visit Avcilar Valley and Kiliclar Valley with
their old cave-dwellings and fairy chimneys; and Avanos, a small town located
on the banks of the Kizilirmak, famous for its pottery. Learn about arts and
and crafts of rural Turkey with a pottery atelier visit and attend a lecture
on Turkish hand-made rugs. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 15: Cappadocia/Konya/Antalya (Drive 535 km)
In the morning, drive through the Plain of Konya, the granery of Turkey. En route,
stop at the Sultanhan Caravanserai built during the Seljuk period in the 13th
century and which is the largest in Anatolia. Upon arrival in Konya, the capital
of the Sultanate of Rum and the holy city of the Seljuk Turks, visit the Museum
of Mevlana, the famous mystic and poet who founded the Sufi Order of the Whirling
Dervishes in the 13th century. Crossing the Taurus Mountains, drive to Antalya,
overlooking the Turquoise depths of the Mediterranean. Dinner and overnight at
the hotel.
Overnight: Golden Ring Hotel, Antalya (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 16: Antalya/Aspendus/Perge/Antalya (Drive 90 km)
Through the coastal plain of Pamphylia, drive to Aspendus, whose 2C AD theatre
is the best preserved Roman theatre in Asia Minor. Continue to Perge, and visit
this other Hellenistico-Roman ancient city with its stadium, colonnaded street
and theatre. Drive back to Antalya. Stroll in the narrow streets of the picturesque
old town (kaleici) with its narrow streets and typical wooden houses overlooking
the marina, to discover the Hadrian Gate, the Fluted Minaret, the Truncated Minaret,
and Hidirlik Tower Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B, L, D)
Day 17: Antalya/Aphrodisias/Pamukkale/Denizli (Drive 335 km)
In the morning, crossing the Taurus Mountains, drive to Aphrodisias the ancient
city dedicated to Aphrodite, the goddess of Beauty, Love and Fertility, also
famous for its school of sculpture: visit the stadium, which is the best preserved
in Anatolia, the Temple of Aphrodite, the Tetrapylon, the Theatre, the Museum.
Continue to Pamukkale, a unique natural site. Visit this " Cotton Castle " where
the hot waters, leaving their limestone deposits, have created an unreal landscape
with petrified waterfalls and basins; and Hierapolis, an ancient Roman health
spa whose well preserved necropolis is one of the largest in the ancient world.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: C & H Hotel, Denizli (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 18: Denizli/Ephesus/Izmir (Drive 270 km)
In the morning, drive through the plain of the Meander River to reach the imposing
city of Ephesus, one of the most fascinating in the ancient world. Visit the
site where you will see the Marble Street, the Agora, the Odeon, the Nympheaum
of Trajan, the Temple of Hadrian, the Celsius Library, the Theatre, the remains
of the Temple of Artemis which was one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Continue
to Izmir, the third largest city in Turkey known as "The Pearl of the Aegean".
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Aksan Hotel, Izmir (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 19: Izmir/Pergamum/Troy/Canakkale (Drive 310 km)
In the morning, depart for Pergamum, the capital of the Attalid dynasty. Visit
the ancient city where parchment was invented: the Acropolis with the ruins of
the agoras, temples, palaces, the library which contained 200,000 volumes, the
podium on which stood the Zeus Altar which was sent to Berlin, and the impressive
theatre built on the hillside which provides a wonderful panorama of the surroundings.
In the lower part of the ancient city, visit the Asclepion, a sanctuary and a
healing center dedicated to the god of healing, Asclepius. Continue to the ancient
city of Troy whose history covers a period of about 3,400 years with nine layers
of settlements (Troy I to IX). King Priam's glorious city, which can be found
in the Iliad, Homer's epic poem, was immortalized through mythological characters:
Helen, Menelas, Paris, Agamemnon, Achilles, Hector...and the legendary Trojan
Wooden Horse, a reconstruction of which stands at the entrance of the site. Dinner
and overnight at the hotel in Canakkale located on the Asian side of the Strait
of the Dardanelles
Overnight: Akol Hotel, Canakkale (1 night) (B, L, D)
Day 20: Canakkale/Gallipolis/Istanbul (Drive 335 km)
In the morning, cross the Strait of the Dardanelles by ferry. Continue to Gallipolli
Peninsula where the Dardanelles War took place. Brief glance at the battlefields,
trenches and memorials that remind us of the Turkish, English, French, Australian
and New Zealander (ANZAC), and Indian soldiers fallen between 1915-1916. Continue
to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Overnight: Grand Yavuz Hotel, Istanbul (3 nights) (B, L, D)
 Day 21: Istanbul
In the morning, visit imposing Haghia Sophia which marked the apogee of Byzantine
Emperor Justinian's reign; St Savior in Chora whose mosaics and frescoes are
among the most beautiful in the Byzantine World. After lunch visit Rustempasa
Mosque with its beautiful Iznik (Nicea) tiles and ; the lively Spice Market with
its exotic colors and aromas. You can take an optional Bosphorus cruise excursion
at extra cost. Dinner not included. Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)
Day 22: Istanbul
A full day tour to explore Istanbul, a fascinating city straddling two continents
which, under the name Byzantium and Constantinople was the capital of the Roman
and Byzantine Empires, and in 1453, became the third and last Capital of the
Ottomans. Visit the Blue Mosque, recognizable from its six minarets, built between
1609 and 1616 for Sultan Ahmet I and decorated inside with 21,043 tiles from
Iznik in a dominant blue color; the Hippodrome where political, cultural, and
sports activities took place during Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman times; Topkapi
Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans between the end of the 15th and
the first half of the 19th centuries, with its treasures; and free time to wander
and shop at the historical Grand Bazaar . Lunch during sightseeing. Dinner not
included. Overnight at the hotel. (B, L)
Day 23: Depart Istanbul
This morning we bid this magical land ‘”gule gule” (goodbye)
as we are transferred to the airport. Check out time by 1100 hrs. (B)
 Departure Dates | | 2009
English Speaking Departures
May 09 & 30, Aug 29, Sep 12
& Oct 03 | 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 | |
| Domestic flight Istanbul/Trabzon |
|
| 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 |
| 2009 |
US
$ 4580 |
US
$ 700 |
| Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour | | Canada - West Coast |
N/A | USA - West Coast | US $ 1600 | | Canada - East Coast |
N/A | USA - East Coast | US $ 1400 | | 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. | | |
|
| © Copyright 1999-2009 Bestway
Tours & Safaris |
Site last updated Apr 03,
2009 |
| Photographs by Peter
Langer & Mahmood
Poonja |
Site by antoinette |
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