-MYSTICAL TREASURE OF TURKEY-
ISTANBUL - CAPPADOCIA - GAZIANTEP - SANLIURFA - MT.NEMRUT - VAN - DOGUBEYAZIT - KARS - ERZURUM - TRABZON

MYSTICAL TREASURE OF TURKEY (15 DAYS)

DAY 1) ISTANBUL ARRIVAL Arrival at Istanbul airport Meet and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul DAY 02) ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA In the morning visit the Blue Mosque.St Sophia dedicated in 536 AD. During the reign of Justinian, then Topkapi Palace which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the afternoon visit the Grand Covered Bazaar 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 Day 03) CAPPADOCIA FULLDAY 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,See the finest examples of religious frescoes in rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag Valley, We will take a short walk in the Rose Valley, and then continue to Avanos, center of terra cotta work since DAY 04) CAPPADOCIA - GAZIANTEP 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,We continue to Gaziantep, which is located on a wide and fertile plain cultivated with extensive pistachio groves.Overnight in 4* hotel B.L.D DAY 05) GAZIANTEP - SANLIURFA - HARRAN - MT. NEMRUT (KAHTA) 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. 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. It is possible to see the huge Ataturk Dam. Dinner and overnight in Kahta (near Mt. Nemrut) in 4* hotel B.L.D DAY 06) MT. NEMRUT - DIYARBAKIR Rise very early for the drive and the walk up to the summit of Mount Nemrut (2150 m) in Northern Mesopotamia. View a fantastic sunrise from the East Terrace Breakfast and pack up at hotel.We will take a ferry across the reservoir and continue to Diyarbakir 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. Overnight in Diyarbakir 4* hotel or special class caravanserai B.L.D DAY 07) DIYARBAKIR - MARDIN - DIYARBAKIR 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 B.L.D DAY 08) DIYARBAKIR - VAN The tour begins after breakfast with the drive to Lake Van,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.We will have lunch in Akdamar then continue to Van. Overnight in 4* hotel B.L.D DAY 09) VAN The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartians capital. An imposing 9th c B.C. citadel overlooks the town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap Castle, and the famous Citadel of Van. Time permitting visit to the museum Overnight in 4* hotel B.L.D DAY 10) VAN - DOGUBAYAZIT Today we will drive to Dogubayazit and have lunch at the beautiful Muradiye waterfalls. We will Visit Isaac Pasa Palace, which was built between the 17th and 18th centuries by a local lord. It is a mixture of Ottoman, Persian and Armenian architectural styles. Overnight in Dogubayazit 3* Hotel B.L.D DAY 11) DOGUBAYAZIT - KARS Weather permitting; we may have a nice view of Mt. Ararat this morning. We will pass small squat villages at the base of the mountain. We will arrive in Kars and visit the ancient city of Ani and its churches. Overnight will be in Kars 4* hotel. B.L.D DAY 12) KARS - ERZURUM Today we will drive to Erzurum. Erzurum is known for copper crafting and its Lout stone, which is a unique black stone used to make jewelry and beads. We will visit fine Seljuk monuments such as the Ulu (Great) Mosque, the Cifte Minareli Medrese and Uc Kumbetler (three tombs) and see the richly decorated portal and tiled minaret of the 13th century Yakutiye Medrese. Overnight in Erzurum 4* Hotel DAY 13) ERZURUM - TRABZON Our journey will continue on to Trabzon with a visit to the magnificent Sumela Monastery The church is covered inside and out with brilliant frescos.I f the time permitting; visit the St. Sophia museum (restored 13th c Byzantine church with its splendid frescoes). Overnight in Trabzon B.L.D DAY 14) TRABZON RIZE ISTANBUL Our journey will continue Ayder plateau lunch in Ayder in the afternoon trip to Uzungol and return to Trabzon for evening flight to Istanbul. (B.L) DAY 15) ISTANBUL Transfer to airport or Istanbul Extension