East Anatolia (GAP) Istanbul – Ankara -Cappadocia – Konya – Adana – Tarsus – Antakya – Gaziantep – Urfa – Adiyaman (Mt. Nemrut) / 13 Days – 12 Nights)
DAY 1 – Istanbul: Arrival to Istanbul, welcome to great city Istanbul. Our team will pick you up from Ataturk International airport. You will be transferred to the hotel and overnight.
DAY 2 – Touring in Istanbul: Breakfast, then a visit to St. Sophia Museum- is unquestionably one of the finest buildings of all time. Built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, its immense dome rises 55 meters above the ground and its diameter spans 31 meters. You should linger here to absorb the building’s majestic serenity and to admire the fine Byzantine mosaics. Blue Mosque – famous with its blue Iznik tiles and unique with 6 minarets built in the name of Sultan Ahmed. Hippodrome – built in the 4th century and used longtime as a center for sports, (horse races, chariot races, athletics) events and political activities of the old city. Then visit to Grand Covered Bazaar – most attractive live shopping center and the biggest ‘Souk’ in the world with nearly 4000 shops of antiques, jewelry, gold, carpets and leather ware; it is also known as ‘Covered Bazaar’ because the top and the sides are covered it has 18 gates, 65 streets, 21 hans, 5 mosques, 6 fountains. Overnight in our hotel (B,L)
DAY 3 – Touring in Istanbul: After having breakfast we will drive to Topkapi Palace, number 1 sight to see in Istanbul. The maze of buildings at the center of the Ottoman Empire between the 15th and 19th centuries. In the opulent surroundings the sultans and their court lived and governed. A magnificent wooded garden fills the outer, or first, court. You can also visit galleries in exhibiting the imperial collections of crystal, silver and Chinese porcelains, jewels, weapons with viewing and the famous Ottoman’s Imperial treasury and the priceless collection of miniatures from medievel manuscripts and calligraphy of the Ottoman Sultans. Bosphorus Cruise on the Boat – A cruise through the waterway separating the two continents, magic Asia and Europe of marble Palaces. Ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture beside modern residential and deluxe apartments. Rumeli Fortress – historical armament built by the Conqueror to control and protect Bosphorus from enemies. One of the unique samples of a military tower. Return to hotel and ON (B,L)
DAY 4 – Istanbul morning flight to Ankara (Hittite Museum): Arrival to Ankara (Capital city of Turkey), transfer and visit the worlds famous Anatolian Civilizations Museum Hittite Museum, at which there are numerous remnant from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others; Citadel of Ankara, Hacibayram Mosque and the Mausoleum of Ataturk (Anitkabir), the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Turkey Republic. We continue the tour to having by a panoramic view of Ankara from the top of the Tower of Atakule. Return to hotel and ON in Ankara. (B,L)
DAY 5 – Ankara – Cappadocia: Breakfast and drive to Cappadocia. On road we have lunch, after arrival visit to Goreme Valley where visit 5 churches of Tokali, Elmali, St. Barbara, decorated with remarkable frescoes, drive to hotel where C/in and ON. (B,L)
DAY 6 – Touring in Cappadocia: Continue touring in Cappadocia, drive to visit Kaymakli Underground city, where early Christians hide from persecutors and fascinating its rocky churches and monasteries, decorated with colourful frescoes, Drive to Avanos Villages and Zelve, the ancient village and its ‘Fairy Chimneys’ visit some ancient pottery shop and antiquities, return to hotel where ON. (B,L)
DAY 7 – Konya – Silifke, Mersin – Old Cilicia Region): Breakfast and drive to Konya Old Iconia, on road we visit Sultanhani Caravanserail dating from Anatolian Seljuks period. After arrival Konya visit to the Mausoleum of Mevlana (Whirling Derviches) the burial place of the famous mystic and Karatay Theological School in which exquisite tiles are on display then we drive to road highway in Silifke reaching Mediterranean coast where visit Kiz Castle and Heaven Cave we stop and overnight at our hotel in Mersin ON (B,L)
DAY 8 – Tarsus and Zeugma overnight in Gaziantep: Breakfast and visit Tarsus (birthplace of St. Paul) after lunch drive to visit Anavarza Castle, Blackhill Tumulus, Castalna (Hierapolis) Fortress; upon arrival Osmaniye we drive to Gaziantep on road visit to Zeugma Ruines then we C/in to our hotel, dinner and overnight. (B,L)
DAY 9 – Gaziantep and Urfa: Breakfast and mini city tour in Gazi Antep. Shopping facilities in Elmaci Bazaar then visit to Ataturk Museum. After having lunch drive to S.Urfa. On road visit to Dolichenos ruines in Duluk village, and ancient rocky graves. Then we continue to Birecik for arrival S.Urfa. C/in to our Hotel. ON (B,L)
DAY 10 – Urfa and Mt. Nemrut in Kahta: Breakfast and we have a mini city tour in S.Urfa. Visit to Legendary Balikli Lake, (Pool of the Holly Carp) Mosque of Halil-Ur Rahman, Rizvaniye, and Urfa Castle. After having lunch we drive to visit one of the biggest industry project on the region (GAP Project) On road we trip to Ataturk’s Dam (the biggest in Turkey). We give you information about this project in the region. Then we drive to Kahta for reaching sunset in the Antioch Tumulus at Nemrut Mountain or sunrise in the morning (optional). C/in to hotel and ON (B,L)
DAY 11 – K Maras – and arrive Antakya (Old Antioch): We have a lovely sunrise in the morning on the Nemrut Mountain where visit ruines then drive to Karatus Tumulus, Cendere bridge, Arsemia Old Castle. Then we take and drive to Kahramanmaras city, following Islahiye town, then we arrive Antakya (Old Antioch). C/in to hotel Onur where ON. (B,L)
DAY 12 – Antioch – Adana domestic flight to Istanbul: After having breakfast, we visit to Antioch Castle, St. Pierre Church (most important), then Atcana Tumulus, and visit to Harbiye Waterfalls. After lunch we drive to Mosaic Museum, visit to Catholic and Orthodoks Churches, Old Ottoman style Antakya Houses, Ulu Mosque and Habib-i Neccar Mosque. Drive to Adana, after arrival C/in and ON (B,L,D)
DAY 13 – Transfer to airport (End of trip – Good bye): Breakfast and your transfer to airport for your international flight or optional participate to one of our new tour in Turkey. (B)
