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| 17 DAYS |
| CULTURAL |
| Istanbul, Cappadocia, Sanliurfa, Mt. Nemrut, Kahta, Mardin, Van, Dogubeyazit, Mt. Ararat, Kars, Erzurum, Rize, Trabzon |
DAY 1 - Istanbul - Arrival Day
Meet with Barel Travel staff at Istanbul International Ataturk airport and transfer to your hotel. You will be given your room key and the rest of the day is yours to explore Istanbul. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 2 - Istanbul City Tour ( Breakfast included)
Pick up at 08:30am from your hotel for the a day tour of old Istanbul city. Visit to ST. SOPHIA This ancient basilica, built by Constantine the Great in the 4th century and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, is one of the architectural marvels of all time. TOPKAPI PALACE The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries housing an exquisite collection of cyrstal, silver, and Chinese porcelain, robes worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, is known as the BLUE MOSQUE because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. HIPPODROME Ancient Hippodrome, the scene of chariot races, with the three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine. Murtis Tour will then take you to the GRAND COVERED BAZAAR In this labyrinth of streets and passages are more then 4,000 shops with each trade having its own area: the goldsmiths' street, the carpet sellers, Turkish arts and crafts, such as handpainted ceramic plates, hand-honed copperware, brassware and trays, water ewers, onyx-ware and meerschaum pipes. After the tour, transfer back to your hotel. Free Evening and optional Istanbul Evening Shows or Bosphorus Dinner Cruise incluing traditional Turkish entertainment and dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
DAY 3 - Istanbul (Breakfast included)
Today you are free to explore this exotic city that spans east and west, before boarding your flight to Cappadocia. Overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 4 - Cappadocia (Breakfast and lunch included)
This morning you have the option of a sunrise hot air balloon ride over the spectacular landscape of Cappadocia. After breakfast you will enjoy a fully guided tour of Goreme Valley, the fairy chimneys, Uchisar castle and more. Overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 5 - Cappadocia (Breakfast and lunch included)
Today we trek through the wildly beautiful Soganli Valley, explore Kaymakli underground city and visit ancient Sobesos and the old greek village of Mustafapasa. Overnight in Cappadocia.
DAY 6 - Gaziantep (Breakfast included)
Early morning departure today for Gaziantepe, where we will see the superb roman mosaics of Zeugma in the archeological museum. Along the way we will visit Gumusler Monastery and Yesemek. Overnight in Gaziantep.
DAY 7 -Sanli Urfa (Breakfast included)
Today we drive to the ancient city of Sanli Urfa, home of Abraham. On the way we will visit remains of the ancient Roman city of Zeugma by the River Euphrates. Overnight in Sanli Urfa.
DAY 8 - Kahta (Breakfast and dinner included)
Discover the ‘City of Prophets’ as we visit Abraham’s Cave, the pool of sacred Carp and the busy colourful silk bazaar before visiting nearby Harran to see the incredible beehive houses. In the afternoon we drive to Kahta with a brief stop at Ataturk dam, third largest in the world. Overnight in Kahta.
DAY 9 - Mount Nemrut (Breakfast included)
Today will be an experience to remember as we visit Mount Nemrut and the mountain top sanctuary of Antiochus I at sunrise, before continuing to Mardin, overlooking the vast plains of Mesopotamia. Overnight in Mardin.
Day 10 - Mardin (Breakfast included)
This morning we tour Mardin and it’s Arabic style houses decorated with intricate carvings before continuing onto Hasankeyf, to visit the cliff top roman ruins of ancient Cephe and the old town of Midyat. After lunch by the Tigris River we depart to Tatvan, a small village on the edge of Lake Van and watch the sun set over the lake. Overnight in Tatvan.
Day 11 - Van (Breakfast and dinner included)
We depart from Tatvan and enjoy a beautiful lakeside drive to Van where we will take a ferry Akdamar Island and the 10th century Church of the Holy Cross. Overnight in Van.
Day 12 - Dogubeyazit (Breakfast included)
Today we drive the ancient ‘silk road’ Dogubeyazit located at the foothill of Mt Ararat, the highest mountain in Anatolia and Noah’s Ark is thought to have landed. We also tour Ishak Pasa Palace and visit the remains of Eski Beyazit, an ancient Urartian City before continuing onto Kars. Overnight in Kars.
Day 13 - Kars (Breakfast included)
An early morning departure to the medieval city of Ani, close to the Turkish-Armenian border. We also have a chance to visit the impressive Kars Castle, and surrounding ancient churches. Overnight in Kars.
Day 14 - Erzurum (Breakfast included)
Today we drive southwest to the scenic heights of Erzurum . On the way we will visit a 12th century Medrese, talk with the imam at the 12th century Mosque and enjoy the ethnographic museum. Overnight in Erzurum.
Day 15 - Trabzon - Sumela Monastery (Breakfast included)
We will enjoy a scenic drive towards the historic city of Trabzon today, via Karaca Cave before visiting the breathtaking Byzantine Monastery of Sumela. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 16 - Trabzon – Istanbul (Breakfast included)
Today we tour the historic city of Trabzon, once the capital of the Byzantine Empire, then we will flight back to Istanbul.
Day 17 - Istanbul - End of Tour (Breakfast included)
After breakfast check out from the hotel. We hope your tour was a memorable one and we would like to see you in the future in one of our tours again. We make your return airport transfer services. Have a nice trip back home and thanks for choosing Barel Travel.
INCLUDED SERVICES
- Arrival airport transfer from Istanbul Ataturk Airport
- 16 nights - Boutique & 4 star accommodation
- 16 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
- All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
- Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
- Professional English-speaking tour guides
- Return airport transfer to Istanbul Ataturk Airport
- Tour does not include: Domestic Flight
EXCLUSIONS
- Personal expenses on the tour
- Any gratuities for guide & driver
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