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EAST ANATOLIA10 Nts – 11 Days  Day 1 : ARRIVAL ISTANBUL (L,D)
Arrival to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Meeting your guide at the airport and proceed
to visiting Istanbul old city tour…
The Blue Mosque is one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul, especially when viewed from the First Hill or from the Asian shore of the Sea of Marmara. It is very impressive with its beautiful domes and semidomes, nice courtyards and six slender minarets. Hippodrome and Obelisks The square in front of the Blue Mosque covers the site of the ancient "Hippodrome", one of the most famous areas in Byzantine… -Lunch at local restaurant Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesday) Topkapi Palace was more than just the private residence of the Sultan and his court. It was the seat of the supreme executive and judiciary council, the Divan and the training school (visit also Treasury section) Spice Bazaar (closed on Sunday) Spice bazaar, also known as the Egyptian Bazaar, is an exotic food market selling spices, dried fruits, caviar and turkish delight. - Dinner at Restaurant Overnight in Istanbul DAY 2 : ISTANBUL CAPPADOCIA (B,L,D)Devrent Valley, and Monk's valley (Pasabagi) where you will see the famous "fairy chimneys." Break for lunch in Avanos and then continue on to the Goreme Open-Air Museum, which is a UNESCO world heritage site, to visit the numerous rock carved churches and monasteries. Depart for a panaromic view of Esentepe and then on to Uchisar, a natural rock castle and then experience the intriguing Underground City Kaymakli and on to Ortahisar, a castle carved out of the living rock. Dinner & Overnight in Cappadocia DAY 3 : CAPPADOCIA – NEMRUT (B,L,D) - A.M. Optional Balloon tour Nemrut Mountain in Adiyaman, famous throughout Turkey for its enigmatic summit- top statues of the gods.These unforgettable monuments will be seen in the late afternoon - a spectacular vision at sunset. Dinner & Overnight in Adiyaman DAY 4 : ADIYAMAN – URFA (B,L,D) On our way to Urfa we will stop to see the Ataturk Dam. This is part of the Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) a massive hydro- electric and irrigation project on the upper reaches of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In Urfa we will have lunch and then enjoy some sightseeing. Urfa called the city of prophets for its biblical connections. After a stop off at the castle with Roman columns we will visit the "Pool of Sacred Carp" and then on to the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. In the late afternoon we will visit the on going archaeological dig at Gobekli Tepe. Although this site is not widely known it is one of the most important archaeological digs currently being undertaken anywhere - this site represents a major shift in our understanding of man's early history. Here lie the remains of the earliest religious structures built by man yet to be discovered. At about 11000-13000 years old the pre-dated pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids! Dinner & Overnight in Urfa DAY 5 : URFA – DIYARBEKIR (B,L,D) Harran, a town of the region of Urfa. Harran is a famous city from ancient Mesopotamian times: a mystical and ancient place of "bee hive" houses built of mud brick. Genesis speaks of this town as the place where Abraham and his family lived. It is also the site of the first Islamic University of the world. On to Diyarbekir. At least 5000 years old, Diyarbekir is one of the oldest cities in the world, encircled by a massive parapet built of jet-black blocks of basalt. It is a city based on a Roman plan with four Gates. A walking tour takes us to the fortification walls, the ancient walls of Diyarbekir. There will also be time to visit Ulu the (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk period, and the 3rd century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary. Dinner & Overnight in Diyarbekir DAY 6 : DIYARBEKIR – HASANKEYF – TATVAN (B,L,D) Mardin: located on a high hill overlooking the plains of southern Turkey and Syria. After breakfast, we will visit Deir-Al-Zafaran (the Saffron Monastery), center of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchy and still an active monastery. After lunch drive to Hasankeyf, situated by the Tigris river. Soon to be submerged under the flood waters of a new dam on the Tigris, Hasankeyf has hundreds of caves, hidden waterways, tombs, a larger and smaller Palace, as well as ruins of the Great Mosque. After Hasankeyf drive to Tatvan. Dinner and overnight Tatvan DAY 7 : TATVAN – VAN (B,L,D) On the south eastern shore of Lake Van we find Nemrud Mountain (not to be confused with Nemrut Dagi in Adiyaman) rising above Tatvan. This mountain has twin craters and two exquisite lakes named after Babylonian kings of 2100 BC. The highest peak of the mountain stands at 3050 meters. The volcanic cone was belived to have originally been higher. It was at 4450 meter before its eruption. The last time it was active was in 1440 BC. There are five lakes within the crater, and the largest of the two, which we will visit, are wonderfully different.The Cold Lake (13 sq.kms) has an average depth of 100 meters, The Hot Lake has a visible amount of steam rising from its thermal springs. The heat may reach up to 60 degrees centigrade! We will pinic by the crater lake and stroll around the crater itself. For those who arrive between June and September we will see and visit with the nomadic people who spend their summers around Nemrut Crater Lake. Dinner & Overnight in Van DAY 8 : VAN (B,L,D) After breakfast at hotel, visiting the citadel of Van; the site of Tushba, capital of Urartians. Enjoying the scenery on Lake Van, excursion to the island of Ahtamar to visit the Holly Cross Church, famous for Old Testament reliefs on the outer wall. - Free time to explore the city of Van visiting bazaars and markets Dinner & Overnight in Van DAY 9 : VAN – ISTANBUL by flight (B,L,D) After breakfast at hotel, Free time until your departure. Transfer to the airport for back to Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul Day 10 : ISTANBUL (B,L,D) After breakfast at hotel, crossing to the Bosphorus Bridge, (unique chance to step from one continent (Europe) to another (Asia) in 2 minutes ) and visiting Camlica Hill for photo stop, exposing a panoramic view of İstanbul and Bosphorus from the best point of view. - Lunch at restaurant Afternoon visit Leather Factory and Grand Covered Bazaar “Kapali Carsi” Grand Covered Bazaar (closed on Sunday) The oldest and the largest covered market place in the world is situated in the center of the city. After visiting the Grand Bazaar, there will be optional shopping opportunity before finishing the tour. - Dinner at restaurant Overnight in Istanbul DAY 11 : ISTANBUL DEPARTURE (B,L) Breakfast at hotel. Free time until departure. - Lunch at restaurant and then transfer to airport for your return flight to home. End of our services. |
