AN T

GRAND EAST TURKEY

DAY 1 : Arrival in Istanbul

Meet and assist at Istanbul airport. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

DAY 2 : Istanbul / Adiyaman

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for a flight to Malatya. Drive to Adiyaman for dinner and overnight.

DAY 3 :Adiyaman / Nemrut Mountain / Urfa

Breakfast and departure for Nemrut Mountain to see the Colossal Statues of the Olympian Gods and a Temple built by Antiochus I Commagenes, surrounding a giant Tumulus at the very top of the mountain. Continue to Urfa, dinner and overnight.

DAY 4 : Urfa / Diyarbakir

Visit the Mosque of Hz. Ibrahim and the Holy Fish, Old Bazaar and the Castle in Urfa, drive to Diyarbakir for dinner and overnight.

DAY 5 : Diyarbakir / Tatvan

Sightseeing of Diyarbakir including Grand Mosque and the three-mile-long Roman Land Walls of black basalt still encircle the town. Drive to Ahlat and visit the tombs of Seljuk Kings and Seljuk cemetery with its typical tombstones. Dinner and overnight in Tatvan.

DAY 6 : Tatvan / Akdamar / Van

Full day tour to Akdamar Island, capital of the ancient Kingdom of Vaspurakan. Visit the Basilica on the island built in 915. Continue to an Urartian City, Cavustepe and a very impressive castle, Hosab Castle and the bridge there dating from the times of Urartu Kingdom which is still in use. Drive to Van for dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 : Van

Visit Tusba, the citadel of Urartu Kingdom, and the Archeological Museum housing mainly Urartian remains. Continue to Toprakkale a few miles north of Van and Ercis (ancient Arjesh). Return to Van for dinner and overnight.

DAY 8 : Van / Muradiye / Dogubeyazit

Drive to Muradiye and visit the waterfall there. Continue to Ishak Pasa Palace in Dogubeyazit. Dinner and overnight in Dogubeyazit.

DAY 9 : Dogubeyazit / Ani / Kars

Departure for a full day tour to the Ruins of Ani via Kars. Ani is located on the river that constitutes the Turkish-Russian border. It was founded in the 9th Century and has many interesting remains such as the Cathedral, City Halls and Gates, Churches. Dinner and overnight in Kars.

DAY 10 : Kars / Erzurum

Departure for Erzurum., one of the biggest cities of Eastern Turkey. Visit there The Castle, Grand Mosque and Yakutiye Medrese (old Religious School). Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.

DAY 11 : Erzurum / Trabzon

Drive to Trabzon and visit the city including St. Sophia, Zagnos Bridge and Land Walls. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.

DAY 12 : Trabzon

Excursion to Sumela Monastery. This monastery, built in the 14th Century, is the most important Byzantine monument of the region and situated on a cliff 1000 feet above the valley floor, at an altitude of 3900 feet. Sumela is dedicated to Virgin Mary. Return to Trabzon trough landscape of wooded mountains. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.

DAY 13 : Trabzon / Istanbul

Breakfast and transfer to Trabzon airport. Fly to Istanbul and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 14 : Istanbul

Breakfast and full day city tour in Istanbul including St. Sophia, Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome and the Grand Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.

DAY 15 : Departure

Breakfast and transfer to the airport.