The
Mystic of Turkey and Georgia
We will explore 2 different country’s life style with this tour.
First 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. Then
Georgia: known to Greeks and Romans as Kolkheti ( western part
of the country ) and Iberia ( eastern part ), adopted Christianity
in the IV century under the influence of Byzantium. when Georgia
was conquered by foreigners. Russia, which started annexation
of this region in 1801 and finished it in 1917, was the last
among such conquerors. Georgia formed a part of the Soviet Union
from 1921, but it became an independent Soviet Republic of the
Soviet Union in 1936.
Program
15 days:
Day
1:
Trabzon
Meet the group at the airport and transfer to the hotel.
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Day
2 : Sumela
Monastery – Rize
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 Rize. Overnight
in Rize |
Day
3 : Rize-
Georgia : Batumi
After visiting the city , we drive to Georgia and we stop in
Batumi, city in southwestern Georgia, capital of Ajaria autonomous
region, a port on the Black Sea, near Turkey. Bat'umi is a transport
center for petroleum from Baku, Azerbaijan, with which it is
linked by rail and by pipelines. Industries include oil refining,
shipbuilding, and food processing. With a subtropical climate,
beaches, and scenic surrounding countryside, the city is also
a popular health resort. Bat'umi was the site of an ancient
Greek settlement. It was held by the Ottoman Turks from the
16th century until 1878, when it passed to Russia following
the Russo-Turkish War. Population (1990 estimate) 137,000.
Day
4 : Georgia
- Kutaisi
Kutaisi is one of the most beautiful and ancient Georgian
cities situated in West Georgia on both banks of the picturesque
Rioni river. The city itself is mentioned in the ancient
Greek "Argos" epos as the capital of old Kolkheti
. Kutaisi has contributed much into the process of Georgian
unification. In the VIII century it becomes the capital
of West Georgia, while in the X century – the capital of
united Georgia headed by King bagrat III. At the age of
16 the strongest Georgian king David the Builder has been
crowned here. Overnight in Kutaisi |
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Day
5 : Ahiska
Ahalchihe in georgian means new castle. Ahiska is a city in
Georgia 15 km from the border. It became ottoman in the XVII.
century and got under russian rule in 1828 with the Edirne treaty
. Overnight in Ahiska
Day
6 :
Turkey - Kars
In the morning transfer to Turkey and arrive to Kars, is a commercial
hub as well as an administrative centre. 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. Overnight hotel
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Day
7 : Kars
– Dogubeyazit
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. After visit driving to Dogubeyazit that
is close to the Iranian border and famous with Ishakpasa
Palace. We visit Ishakpasa Palace , 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..
Overnight hotel |
Day
8 :
Dogubeyazit - Van
Today, we start our long journey 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
hotel
Day
9 : Akdamar
Island - Bitlis
W e 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.Afetr visit we drive
to Bitlis . Bitlis was under the domination of the Assyrians
until the 7th century BC and under the Meds until the 6th
century BC. Later, after the formation of the Persian Kingdom,
Darius II conquered the province. Until the seventh century,
it was governed by autonomous princes under Byzantine rule.
It was eventually conquered by the Turks. Overnight hotel. |
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Day
10 :
Hasankeyf –Mardin
In the morning transfer to Hasankeys ruins , the capital
of artukids in12 century .the bridge, which once spanned
the Dicle (tigris) and connected the two parts of the city
with ruined palace inside the citadel, evokes the ghosts
of a vanished dynasty. Afetr visit arrive to Mardin province
was founded on a hill and is one of the oldest cities of
the Upper Mesopotamia. Overnight hotel |
Day
11 : Mardin
- Urfa
Mardin Castle: This castle was constructed by Hamdani nation
in AD 975 - 976 years. There is a mosque, bath, dungeon and
numerous warehouses inside the castle. Only 7 km east of Mardin
is the Syriac – Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan which was
once a thriving religious community. Ulu Mosque is one of the
best example of artukid architecture, has superb mihrap reliefs
and beautiful portal. Drive to Urfa. Overnight hotel
Day
12 :
Harran – Kahta
Arrive to 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.
After visit return to Urfa and driving to Kahta. Overnight
hotel |
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Day
13 : Mt
Nemrut – Diyarbakir
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 Diyarbakir known in ancient times as Amida, spreads across
a basalt plateau close to the banks Dicle river. We will
visit the Ulu Mosque , built by the Seljuk sultan Melik
Shah, is notable for its original plan and for its utilization
of Byzantine and more ancient architectural materials .
The mihrap of the nearby Mesudiye Medrese is made of the
local black basalt. The third century Aramaic Church of
the Virgin Mary which is still in use today. Overnight at
hotel. Overnight hotel |
Day
14 : Ýstanbul
After breakfast transfer to the airport and fly to Ýstanbul
Istanbul is the only city in the world which embraces two continents,
one arm reaching out into Asia, the other into Europe. After
installation to the hotel , we commence our tour with visiting
of Topkapý Palace, is administrative palace of the Ottoman Dynasty,
that rule on three continents for centuries. Amaze of buildings
at the centre of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th
centuries. In these opulent surroundings, the sultans and their
court lived and governed. Continue to visiting with Sultanahmet
Mosque (Blue Mosque) is more familiarly known as Blue Mosque
because its interior gleams with a magnificent panelling of
blue. It has 6 minarets and very nice cupolas. it was built
by architect Mehmet between 1609 and 1616. Overnight at hotel
Day
15 :
Return
Transfert to the airport and fly
home.
For
price details and more information, please contact us
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