Exploring
Mystic Turkey
The nature in Turkey is a humanized landscape inseparable from
its culture. Nevertheless, to the outsider, nature in many parts
of Turkey gives a new meaning to wilderness, because even in
the most inaccessible or isolated parts(such as the high mountain
tops or the secret places in the valleys ) the visitors remains
with the feeling that sometimes in history this place, now wild
and untended, was the home to a civilizations with settled villages
and city life for nine thousand years. The Southeastern Anatolian
region, with its very rich history and cultural heritage as
shown in its magnificent historical sites, is well worth visiting.
Its history begins around 7,000 BC in the new stone age. In
this tour one of the highlight is Nemrut Dagi (Mt.Nemrut) is
the first impressive peak rising from a flat plain in Northern
Mesopotamia and stretches to a height of 2150m.
Itinerary
: 15 Days
Day
1 : Adana
Meet the group at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Overnight
in hotel
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Day
2 :
Adana – Hierapolis – Karatepe – Adiyaman (320 km)
In the morning we drive to Castabala , one of the most important
archaeological sites of the province. Only the remains of
the castle, amphitheatre, Roman baths, and colonnaded street
have survived. We go on driving to Karatepe is located in
ancient Cilicia within the borders of present day Osmaniye.
In the late Hittite period, Karatepe served as a military
base and as a summer palace of King Asitawandas. The longest
Hittite inscriptions have been discovered at Karatepe, along
with its Aramaic language Translations, written in the Phoenician
alphabet. The discovery was important because it enabled
archaeologists to decipher Hittite hieroglyphics. After
visiting we drive to Adiyaman. Overnight in Adiyaman |
Day
3 :
Adiyaman - Nemrut Dagi - Urfa (110 km)
In the morning we drive to Mt. Nemrut is the most outstanding
landmark of the region, reaching a height of 2150 meters. On
its summit there exist the tumulus of Antiochus I, constructed
in the 1st century, is one of the king of Commagene kingdom
, along status of Apollo, Fortuna, Hercules and Zeus, shows
that he saw himself as a divinity. Also, gigantic toppled heads
of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, Tyche and Antiochus from Greco-Persian
style stone statues stand on the ground all of these date from
same period. Then we continue the visit Karakus Tepesi is actually
a 21 meter high monumental tumulus, located 49 km east of Adýyaman
on a hill on the western side of the Kanto River. The name Karakus
(Black Bird) comes from an eagle statue that stands on a 2.54-meter
high column. Then we continue the visit Cendere bridge, one
of the major tributaries of the Euphrates. This structure, constructed
during the period of Roman Emperor Septimus Severus is built
of 92 large stones and has a large and small arch. Drive to
Urfa. Overnight hotel
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Day
4 : Urfa
– Harran
In the morning, explore Urfa and Harran , the ancient and glorious
Edessa and Harran are places dear to Christians, Jews and Muslims.
From Harran, Charan in the Bible, Abraham may have departed
in search of the promised land in 1850 B.C. The Haul Rahman
Cami mosque, dates from the 17th century. The mosque is surrounded
by a large arched pool known as the Pool of Abraham. It is full
of carp which are thought to be sacred fishes. Urfa’s archaeological
museum has a fine collection of mosaics, inscriptions, panels
from the Koran and Haded, Assyrian and Roman artifacts. There
are unusual and fanciful beehive-shaped houses at Harran, made
of mud from the local earth which was once fertile. Three polygonal
towers survive on the fortress which was rebuilt by the Crusaders
in the eleventh century on the site of the temple to the Moon
goddess Sin. Overnight at hotel.
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Day
5 : Urfa
- Diyarbakir- Van ( 550 km )
Today, we start our long journey by passing through Diyarbakir
to Van is one the most important cities of the old Vaspurakan
region. It is located on the east coast of Van lake and its
ancient name is Tooshpa; the Urartian capital of Tuspa. Van
Lake is the largest lake in Turkey . Overnight at hotel.
Day
6 : Van
- Dogubeyazit (170 km )
In the morning , we go to Akdamar Island (a half-hour sail
from shore) is the most important of these. On the island
stands the 10th-century Church of the Holy Cross, Architect
monk Manuel built the church between the years 915 and 921.The
Church, consecrated in honour of the holy cross. Reliefs,
depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments, daily
Iife such as hunting, run along the exterior of the church.
We take our bus and transfer to Dogubeyazit that is close
to the Iranian border and famous with Ishakpasa Palace.
Overnight at hotel. |
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Day
7 : Dogubeyazit
– Ani – Kars (190 km)
In the morning we will visit Ishakpasa Palace 6 km. from Dogubeyazýt
. Ottoman governor Ishakpasa constructed the palace in 17th
century with a mixture of architectural styles. The palace was
made by using red clay stones and it resembles the Topkapi and
Edirne Palace. We drive to Ani to visit the fascinating old
site of Ani. Also we have an arranged side-trip to explore the
old Armenian ruins of Ani, some 56 km away. Once a wealthy rival
of Kars but now a ’’Ghost town’’ destroyed by the Mongol orders
in 1239, within the city walls are the remnant of churches,
a convent and citadel. Ruined 1000 years-old churches contain
remarkable wall paintings and sculptured decorations representing
some of the finest ecclesiastical architecture of the 9th and
10th centuries. We continue driving to Kars. Overnight
Kars.
Day
8 :
Visit ing Kars - Artvin (200 km )
In the morning we will visit the museum of Kars exhibit some
antiquity example of Branze times, some ceramic example of Seljuk
times etc. We explore the town dominated by a medieval fortress
built in 1152 it was the scene of bitter fighting during and
after WW1 and is still an active military base. We journey south-east
this morning towards the border with Armenia and to the harsh
and isolated garrison town of Kars. En route we will visit the
aptly named Satan’s Castle and Ardanuc Citadel both remained
of the time when this land belonged to Georgia. Kars is a commercial
hub as well as an administrative centre. Afternoon we drive
to Artvin. Overnight in Artvin.
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Day
9 : Artvin
- Erzurum ( 240 km )
Artvin is a charming city with beautiful Turkish houses.
Artvin area is the best place for touring remains of the
Georgian past; its wonderfully scenic roads lead to the
ruined churches and settlements that stand as a legacy of
this period. We drive to Erzurum is the hub of eastern Anatolia,
and has been an important centre of civilisation for centuries
because of its natural and geo strategic position. Many
Ottoman and Seljuk monuments, tombs and mosques stand in
Erzurum province and the neighbouring areas. We visit Cifte
Minareli medrese, with twin minarets is an architectural
masterpiece due to its plan and decorations, built by either
Hundi Hatun, daughter of Seljuk Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat
or by Padizdi Hatun of the Ýlhanlý dynasty. Overnight hotel
in Erzurum |
Day
10 : Erzurum
– Sumela - Trabzon ( 285 km )
In the morning we drive to Sumela Monastery is built into a
cave on the face of a cliff overlooking a verdant valley . According
to legends, two monks from Athens, Barnabas and his nephew Sophronius
laid the foundations for this monastery. After the death of
the two monks around 412, the monastery became a holy side for
both Orthodox and Caiholic Christians, After the Roman Empire
split into two, Byzantine Emperor Justinian ordered the fortifications
of Trabzon and expansion of the monastery and donated a rich
library to the monks. After visiting we arrive to Trabzon, stretches
along the eastern Black Sea coast of Turkey. The province is
rich in Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman sites. Overnight
in Trabzon
Day
11 :
Trabzon - Giresun - Tokat ( 380 km )
In the morning we start our city tour and our first stop is
Ayasofya ( Hagia Sophie) Located in a monastery complex in the
western part of the city of Trabzon, the church was built between
1238- 1263 by King Manuel I .The chapel with four columns and
three apses, located in the north, is older than the church.
We drive to Tokat via Giresun it was the city , ancient Cerasos,
that the roman general Lucullus exported the first cherry trees
to Europe. AB 18th century church (now a museum) makes a short
visit worthwhile. Overnight Tokat
Day
12 :
Tokat - Sivas ( 100 km )
Tokat has many Suljuk and Ottoman monuments . We visit the
highlights of the city , Gok Medrese, is one of the finest
building , now a museum. After visiting we drive to Sivas,
was an important commercial centre stood, during the Middle
Ages, at the junction of the caravan routes to Persian and
Baghdad. The remaining architectural monuments reflect Sivas’s
former prominent position. Cifte Minareli Medrese, the structure
is located at the city centre. The structure has rectangular
plan and only the frontal section and the minarets are still
standing in the present day. The structure has the biggest
portal among the other theological schools in Anatolia.
Overnight in Sivas |
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Day
13 :
Sivas - Bogazkoy (Hattutas) (200km)
Our first stop is Alacahoyuk, was the centre of the flourishing
Hattian culture during the Bronze Age. Alacahoyuk is an important
archaeological ruin place that remains to present day are dated
back to Hittite period. Alacahoyuk has an open - air museum
status with its magnificent gate containing sphinxes, its religion
and government buildings like temple - palace complex and other
architectural ruins. We continue the visiting Bogazkoy (Hattutas),
the capital city of Hittite civilisation the first to build
an organised State in Anatolia, has an important place in Anatolian
archaeology too. The largest ruins are those of the great temple
of the storm god, Tesup. The Acropolis contained government
buildings, the Imperial Place and the archive of the Hittite
Empire. Overnight in Bogazkoy
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Day
14 :
Bogazkoy - Ankara (100 km )
In the morning we drive to Ankara the capital city of Turkey.
Enroute we visit Yazilikaya, an open air rock pantheon dating
from 13th century B.C contains fine reliefs of all the Hittite
gods . we arrive to Ankara is the city selected by Mustafa
Kemal Ataturk, the republic’s founder. Though thoroughly
modern in appearance, Ankara’s history and that of the surroundings
area dates back to the Bronze age to the Hatti civilisation.
We visit Anatolian Civilisation Museum and its priceless
collection of Paleolithic, Neolithic, Hatti, Hittite, Phrygian,
Urartian and Roman artifacts. Overnight in Ankara.
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Day
15 :
Return
Transfer to the airport and fly home.
Season :
April to October
For
price details and more information, please contact us
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