THE BLACK SEA COAST & EASTERN TURKEY
A cultural tour of Turkey

Eastern Anatolia and the Black Sea coast are the less visited parts of Turkey. They offer history going back to the Byzantine, Seljuk and Ottoman periods as well as rich cultural insight into the life and styles of the cultures of these people. A combination of the beautiful coast of the Black Sea and the interior of the eastern part of this huge country, this 13-day program shows “the other side 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. The enormous walls, Virgin Mary cathedral, the first mosque in Turkey and many more amaze the visitors. 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 and the Urartian royal tomb where inscriptions are still visible. (B, L, D)

Day 06: 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, a Syrian Orthodox and an Armenian Church stand side by side within the walls.
Overnight: Class Hotel, Diyarbakir (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 07: Hasankeyf/Mardin/Diyarbakir (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, & an Islamic university. 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 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: Sanliurfa Harran Hotel, Urfa (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 09: Urfa/Mt. Nemrut/Kahta (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: Nemrut 2000 Hotel, Kahta (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 10: Kahta/Gaziantep/Antioch (Drive)
Drive to Gaziantep, after the short visit of the town, visit museum for looking the famous mosaic of the Zeugma where Roman generals lived with their families in super villas Afternoon will be spent in Antakya,a true tresaure 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 city is also honored being where Cleopatra and Marc Anthony got married. The second largest mosaic museum will be another highlight of the day.
Overnight: Antakya Buyuk Hotel, Antioch (1 night) (B, L, D)

Day 11: Antioch/Tarsus/Istanbul (Drive - Flight)
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; so did the Crusaders. Day ends in Adana for your late PM flight to Istanbul. Transfer to your hotel.
Overnight: Aziyade Hotel, Istanbul (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 12: Istanbul
Day at leisure. (B)

Day 13: Depart Istanbul
After an interesting journey of the Black Sea Coast And Eastern Turkey, we bid farewell to a land “where it all began” and are transferred to the airport for our departure flight. (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 Hotels as mentioned or similar International / Domestic airfares Meal Plan as mentioned (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner) Airport/departure taxes All sightseeing and transfers by private transportation Insurances / Visas 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 $ 2455 • CA $ 2455 US $ 450 • CA $ 450 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.