AyasİsosTravels AİT0602: Turkey Cultural Tour (Eastern Turkey Tour): Eastern Turkey from AyasİsosTravels: Eastern Turkey Full Tour: 15 Days Full Board (4* or 5*)
The cultural journey of Anatolia, Black Sea, Eastern Turkey, South-East Turkey: the hittites, Caucasian, arméniennes, séldjoukides, omayyades, Arab riches, persiennes, mesopotamiennes, Assyrian cappadociennes, ottomans, Turks...
- B: Breakfast L: Lunch D: Dinner.
Day 1: Arrival Ankara
Arrival Ankara Airport. Reception and then transfer to the Hotel (4* or 5*) with welcome cocktail and then dinner and overnight.
Day 2: Ankara - Hattuşaş - Amasya (336 km)
After breakfast we will visit the Anatolian Civilizations Museum and the Ethnographic Museum and the Atatürk Mausoleum in Ankara. We also take a look at old Ankara; the wooden palaces of notables and the spice market.
Lunch is at restaurant Hacibey, Ankara's most famous restaurant in the Deputeren district with the most delicious doner kebab.
After lunch we go to Hattouşaş (Hattusa), the Hittite capital. We see city walls and final version gates such as the Lion Gate, the Underground Gate, the King's Gate and the Pantheon-Yazilikaya. Then we are in Amasya: Amzonen-Amesis and the birthplace of Strasbon. We also take a walk along the Green River and see the beautiful wooden houses, the rock tombs and the castle. A welcome cocktail and delicious dinner are in the Apple-Tusan Otel (4*) where we will also spend the night.
Day 3: Amasya-Niksar-Ordu-Giresun (320 km)
After the small breakfast we leave our hotel for another visit from Amasya. We see the Sultan Bayezid Mosque, Burmali Minare Mosque, Darussifa-Bimarhane, the Blue Medresa and Gok Mosque. We also visit the archaeological museum, musuem of mummy and ethnographic museum at Hazeranlar Palace. Why not take some pictures of the tombs, the historic bridges, the fontaines (water springs), the Mausoleum of Torumtay, built in 1266, and the characteristic wooden houses along the Green River.
Lunch is at Amasya.
Then we drive along the Green River until Niksar enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way. Then we drive on a winding road in the direction of Ordu. To get here we cross the Pontic Mountains. Ordu is known for its hazelnut cultivation. We see beautiful views of the sea and the land.
Finally, we arrive at our hotel and spend the night. The New Jasmin (4*+) Hotel is in Giresun. Here grow the numerous cherry trees with their sweet cherries, also called the bird cherry. According to tradition, the Roman general Lucullus, after he conquered the city in 69 BC. conquered, introduced the cherry tree to Europe from here.
Day 4: Giresun-Trabzon (130 km)
After breakfast, free time in the center of Giresun; to make contact with the people of the Black Sea.
Lunch is in Akçaabat, very well known for its typical cuisine: meatballs (kofte) from Akçaabat.
After lunch we drive to Trabzon along the Black Sea coast.
Upon our arrival in Trabzon we visit the main attraction of Trapezunt: the Aya Sophia with beautiful frescoes. Saint Sophia was built during the reign of Manuel Comnemus 1 in the 13th century and has since been expanded and embellished several times. The south side of the church has a beautifully carved porch with images of Adam and Eve in the stone frieze, as well as mythological figures and plant motifs.
We find the most beautiful frescoes in the nartex. Depicted here are New Testament miracles such as Christ walking on water, the miraculous feeding and healing of the blind man.
At the end of the day, we will be in our 4 (or 5) star charming hotel in Trabzon for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Trabzon-Maçka–Gümüşhane-Bayburt–Erzurum (342 km)
After breakfast we first visit the Sümela Monastery located near the town of Altindere (Golden River). The name Sümela is a corruption and shortening of the Greek Panagia Theotokos tou melas which means: the Most Holy Mother of God of the Black Mountain. This is now deserted and difficult to access. Monastery is located at an altitude of 1200 m. The last 250 m must be covered on foot or by minibus. The monastery with its impressive frescoes in the rock church is listed as a UNESCO monument. Then we continue our journey; along the way we see Pontus Mountains, Torul and Gümüşhane (which are at an altitude of 1250 m). Bayburt is located at an altitude of 1600 m. Via Kop Geçidi (2302 m) through the mountains we drive to Erzurum, which lies at an altitude of 1950 m.
Lunch is at a specialty restaurant in Bayburt at the foot of Baybourt Bourch on the Çoruh River. At the end of the afternoon, we visit Karin in Erzurum.
Karin was called the Land of Romans by the Seljuks. We see the Great Mosque with three Kumbets, the Koranic school with the Twin Minaret and its beautiful oriental art motifs and turquoise faience tiles, commissioned by the daughter of the Seljuk Sultan, Alaeddin Kaykubat. It's like being in Central Asia. We spend the night in our Hotel 4* (or 5*), a winter sports holiday center on Mount Palandöken.
Day 6: Erzurum-Ani-Kars-Ağri (Doğubayazit) (434 km)
Early in the morning after breakfast we leave for the east towards Ani. Just outside Pasinler and before Horasan we stop to admire the Çobandede Bridge. This beautiful bridge was designed by Mimar Sinan, chief architect of the Superb Soliman and a friend of Michel Angelo. Over a distance of about 140 km, we follow the river Aras.
Ani is located 45 km east of Kars and 248 km from Erzurum on the border with the Republic of Armenia. Located on an important trade route, this city grew into the capital of Armenia in 961. There were then more than 100,000 inhabitants and a thousand churches.
Earthquakes and wars with Byzantines, Turks and Mongols put an end to that prosperity. The earthquake of 1319 marked the final end of the city. It was not until the end of the 19th century that the ruins of the abandoned ghost town were found. Spread over a vast area are the many ruins of Armenian and Seljuk monuments such as: the Great Cathedral, the Church of the Savior, the Church of St. Gregory, the Honentz Mosque, the Seljuk Palace with Harem and Selam, the Turkish Hamam and the Seljuk market.
After lunch in Kars at restaurant Ocakbaşı with oriental specialties, there is an opportunity to take pictures of the Cathedral of the Apostles and the Castle of Kars. Then we continue the tour to Ağrı (or Doğubayazıt). On the way we enjoy the impressive landscape of the Great (5165 m) and Small Mount Ararat (3896 m). The name Ararat occurs several times in the Old Testament. In Gen. 8:4 it is said that Noah's Ark foundered on Mount Ararat after the flood. In the Book of Kings, we read further how the murderers of the Assyrian King Sennacherib, the besieger of Jerusalem, fled to Ararat. In the Bible book of Jeremiah, where we read about preparing for a campaign to Babylon, Ararat is mentioned as one of the allies of the Israelites. The name Ararat is a translation of the Akkadian word Urartu. In the middle of the steppe landscape in this region, turtles, eagles, partridges, falcons, foxes, sheep and even bears live and many kinds of flowers and rare plants grow. At the end of the day, we are warmly welcomed in the Ararat Hotel or the Sim-er Hotel (***+) for dinner and overnight.
Day 7: Ağri (Doğubayazit) – Van (152 km)
After breakfast, the fairytale Palace of Ishak Pascha at the foot of Mount Ararat is on the program. The famous Ishak Pascha Palace is located 7 km south of the city. Already in 1000 BC. there used to be an Urartese fortress here. The old fortress was beautifully restored in 1784 and embellished into a castle palace by the Ottoman Emir Ishak Pascha. He had this palace built in different styles, of which the 17th century Ottoman Baroque style is the most important.
After construction, Ishak Pascha had the hands of the architect cut off, so that no one else could design such a beautiful palace. Without the terraces, the dimensions of the palace are 115 by 50 m. The complex contained 336 rooms spread over two floors and was reminiscent of the fairy tales from 1001 nights.
After lunch in Doğubayazıt, we go through the Tendurek pass (2644m) on our way to Van, which is located at an altitude of 1750 m. Before arriving in Van - Tuşpa, we will stop at Muradiye Walls, located at an altitude of 1700 m on the shore of Turkey's largest lake. The lake is surrounded by several Armenian churches, which are reflected in the water of the lake. The ancient city of Tuşpa was founded by the Urarti in the 9th century BC. founded. The Urarti empire encompassed a large part of Asia. This empire reached its peak between 900 and 600 BC. Then the decay started. The battle against the Assyrians was lost and the empire of Urarti fell due to the invasion of the Scythians and the Medes. For a time, Alexander the Great controlled this area. After a Persian period, the area passed into Armenian hands. Afterwards Van became a Byzantine city. In 1387 the city was destroyed by the Mongols.
Persians and Ottomans then fought for control of the area. It was the Ottomans who greatly expanded the city. On our arrival in Van, we visit Van Castle, which is accessible by a staircase with a thousand steps. The founder of Urartu, Sardur 1, built here in the 9th century BC. as protection against the Assyrians this strong fortress on a 1000 m long and 100 m high limestone ridge. We can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Van at sunset. During excavations, a cemetery with urns was found at the foot of the northern slope. Carved rock ravens of the Urartian kings can be seen on the steep south side of the hill. Some inscriptions in these tombs state in cuneiform that Xeres of Persia was the king of kings. ash. We stay in Van for dinner and overnight in the 4* or 5* hotel.
Day 8: Van (100km)
After breakfast we stop at a carpet knotting factory to see with our own eyes how carpets are knotted in Eastern Turkey.
Van's kilims are famous for their Turkish-Kurdish and Armenian motifs as well as their Persian motifs. We take a trip to the famous Çavuştepe Castle, located on a ridge 28 km south of Van. This castle is a good example of the architectural mastery of the Urartube civilization. There are two castles
namely: the upper castle and the lower castle. Above are the remains of a temple and below are the ruins of a palace, a temple complex, royal tombs and a large food depot with 30 storage vessels, on which the measurement in cuneiform writing can still be seen. This complex would have been the "Sardurihurda" fortress of King Sargon II from the 8th century BC.
We then sail to the island of Akdamar, which is located in the middle of Lake Van. We see the Holy Cross Dome Church in Armenian style, built of red sandstone. The island of Akdamar, now uninhabited, was a religious center 1,000 years ago and was also the seat of the Armenian Patriarch for several centuries. The Holy Cross Dome Church is particularly known for the sculptures that are placed against the outer walls. Mainly there are images from the Old Testament such as: Samson, David, Adam and Eve, Christ on the throne, Mary with the Christ child and the sacrifice of Abraham. Because there are also reliefs of the Abbasid caliph Muktadir, the building shows a wonderful mixture of Christian and Islamic art. Over the centuries, the church has been expanded several times, including a northern chapel, a large porch and a bell tower.
Today lunch consists of a cozy picnic at restaurant Deniz in Gevaş. At the end of the day we also stop to visit the Seljuk necropolis and admire the beauty of a Turkish princess. Finally, we drive back to our hotel (4* or 5*) in Van for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: From -Tatvan-Bitlis-Silvan-Tigris–Hassuni-Diyarbakir-Mardin (451km)
After breakfast we leave Van for a very varied day with various highlights. We drive south of it
From Meer over the Kuskunkıran Pass (2234 m) to Tatvan, a distance of about 145 km. Then we follow the valley of the Bitlis river. Bitlis is the city of Turkish tobacco. En route we stop at the world famous Malabadi Bridge over the Batman River, a tributary of the Tigris. The bridge was built at the time of the Artukids in the 13th century.
Lunch will be in Silvan -Tigranokerta, founded in the time of the Assyrians and visited by Alexander the Great. This place flourished under Tigran the Great, an Armenian king. Silvan was also called Martyropolis by the Byzantines because of the presence of 40 tombs of Christian martyrs, who were murdered during the 2nd Schappur of the Persian Empire. Constantine the Great had Silvan Castle restored and used it as a military garrison. During the First World War, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was in Silvan in charge of the battle against the Russian armies. As a result, the cities of Muş and Bitlis again fell into Turkish hands.
After lunch in the presence of the mayor of Silvan, we will visit the Selahattin Eyyoubi Mosque, the Broken Minaret, the Church of Kıldan, the Museum of Atatürk, the Caves of Temtemburg, Hamido, the approximately 300 troglodyte houses, the Castle of Hassuni and various fountains and water wheels from the point of view of monument preservation, the European Union subsidizes the restoration of places of interest in this place. There is also an opportunity to get to know the local population.
On our arrival at Diyarbakır we visit the ramparts. They have a length of 5.5 km, are made of black basalt stone in the shape of a fish and date back to Roman times. Here in Diyarbakir we can also take pictures of the Tigris Delta and the bridge over the Tigris. It is from here that the Tigris is navigable, initially only for keleks (rafts made of inflated animal skins). Dinner and overnight stay in our charming hotel (4* or 5*) in Diyarbakır or in Mardin.
Day 10: Mardin – Harran – Urfa – Katha (408 km)
After breakfast, the city of Mardin is on our program. This city of poetry, based on the rock formations present and on the beliefs of the population, is built into the rocks at an exceptional height and is, according to Arnold Toynbee, the famous English historian, the most beautiful city in the world. Mardin has a typical Arabic architecture. In the streets of Mardin you can indeed admire several beautifully decorated houses made of white limestone. The place therefore has an unmistakable Arabic character. The Sultan İsa Bey Medrese (1385) is one of the main sights of Mardin. The Medresse is e and Mosque with a Quran school and a gate with beautiful stone reliefs. From the roof of the Medresse there is a beautiful view over the city and the Mesopotamian plains. After the visit to Grand Mosque, we leave for Deir-az-Zafaran-Deyrulzaferan, which is located between vineyards and gardens in an inhospitable landscape. Most Syriac Orthodox patriarchs are buried here and until 1933 the monastery was also the seat of the patriarch, who now resides in Damascus. The Maria and Ananias both date from the 6th century when the monastery was founded.
Lunch is at Gol restaurant Urfa, ancient Edessa, the historic city where Abraham, Job, Jacob and even Saint Gregory lived. Gol is Edessa's most famous restaurant and is known for its Mesopotamian specialties. It is located in the Garden of Abraham.
In Urfa (also called URSU, ORKAI AND EDESSE) we visit the memorials to Abraham.
Then we leave for Harran; the warmest place in Turkey but also one of the most picturesque villages in the area. This city, where Abraham stayed on his journey to Canaan, is also said to be the place where, according to tradition, the Old Testament was written. This village, located at a crossroads of caravan roads, was an important shopping center with an important international trade and also had a not insignificant religious activity. Greek divinités mésopotamiennes as well as the Romans were worshiped there. This era of activity disappeared in the 1st century when Mongols scoured the city. We can admire the typical houses (TRULLI) in the form of termitières, built in clay with a roof in the form of a pointed dome. They formed barns which make it possible to keep the wares with the costs in the summer and the cold in the winter.
After this visit, we go to our final destination KAHTA at the foot of NEMRUT DAGI and our hotel NEMRUT ***+ where the cocktail of welcome, the evening meal and the accommodation awaits us.
Day 11: Kahta - Nemrut Dağ – Kahta - Antioche (351 km)
Today we leave early by minibuses to one of the highlights of the trip: Nemrut Dağı. On the gigantic plateaus of Mount Nemrut (2150m) we find the Commagene gods' heaven, built by order of Antiochos 1 (69-36 BC). Considering himself divine, Antiochos also added his own image to the line. Antichos 1 descends from the Persian king Darius through his father Mithridates and through his mother Laodike from Alexander the Great. Commagene was a buffer street between the area of Greeks, Romans and Persians. That is why gods from both cultures were worshipped. The tumulus on this mountain has a height of 160 m and a diameter of 150 m. The colossal statues were discovered in 1881 by the German engineer Sester. The hill consists of two parts: the eastern and the western terrace.
The East Terrace: Here are statues of gods sitting with their backs turned to the hill. These once 8 -9 m high statues are still well preserved. Only the heads are missing. Two heads are still reasonably intact and are standing. From right to left are Apollo, Mithras, Helios, Hermes (light and strength), Tychne (fertility), Zeus, Oromasdes (the creator), Antiochos 1 and Heracles, Verathragna and Artagnes (strength and courage) on both sides sides flanked by a lion and an eagle as guardian animals.
The west terrace: As on the east terrace, there are statues of the gods already mentioned here in the same order, only these are not so well preserved. However, the heads lying on the ground have remained intact. The west terrace has no altar. Special are the two lion figures with their symbolic meaning.
After our visit to Mount Nemrut, we continue towards Antioch for lunch and get to know specialties of the Arab cuisine. Antioch was founded by Seleucus 1 Nıcator, a general of Alexander the Great. The city expanded rapidly and became one of the most prosperous and powerful cities in Asia Minor. It even grew into the third city of the Roman Empire. Antioch also became the center of the Christian faith. From here the apostles Paul and Peter departed to preach the Gospel. In Antioch we visit the Cave of Peter, a place that was used as a place of prayer by the Christians. In the Archaeological Museum there are interesting architectural works and sculptures and several beautiful, ornate Roman mosaics, which are world famous.
For dinner and the overnight stay, we check into our 4* (5*) hotel in Antioch. In the evening there is an opportunity for a walk-through Antioch. The Orontes River runs right through the city. There is also an Eastern Orthodox Church here.
Day 12: Antioch – Alexandrette –Tarse – Gülek – Tyana Niğde –Cappadocie – Nevsehir (479km)
After breakfast we leave Antioch and head for Tarsus (Daphne), the birthplace of the Apostle Paul. We drive via Issos, the place where Alexander the Great and Darius the 3rd met. In Tarsus we see the house of the apostle Paul with the associated family well. We have lunch in a café-restaurant in the area. After lunch there is an opportunity for a walk through the city. Later in the afternoon we leave via Tyana-Nigde, a garrison place of Alexander the Great, to Cappadocia.
In Tyana-Nigde, a city of the Seljuk period, we will see the Aqueduct, the Grand Mosque and the Mausoleum of the Princesses. We spend the night today in our 4* or 5* hotel in Nevsehir, where we are warmly welcomed; reception cocktail, the buffet is ready for us. Early the next morning an optional Hot-Air Balloon trip is possible.
Day 13: Cappadocia (80 km)
For adventure lovers, there is the possibility of a hot air balloon ride early in the morning. From the balloon you have a beautiful view of the wonderful rocks and rotten houses.
We have all day today to get to know this unique environment. Over time, under the influence of weather conditions such as wind, rain and temperature differences, a unique landscape consisting of tuff has developed, which with the so-called fairy chimneys, rotten cones and rock points looks like a kind of lunar landscape. Of course, we also visit the Open Air Museum of Göreme with the rock churches and their beautiful frescoes and the Pigeon Valley. In Uçhisar we visit a carpet school shop and an onyx workshop. Of course, lunch is not missing either.
At the end of the day, we return to our 4 or 5 star charming hotel. Afterwards, a delicious dinner with folkloric dance evening is offered.
Day 14: Cappadocia: Rosen Valley – Paşabag - Sarath Underground City - Akasaray Pizze Tower - Acemhöyük - Salt Lake - Ankara (330 km)
Also today we go exploring in Cappadocia. After breakfast we first go to Rose Valley and Virgin Mary Valley. Next we go to Paşabağ and the underground city of Sarath and then to Aksaray with the Eğri Minare (Pizze of Turkey) and Acemhöyük, the first capital of Hittite civilization.
A special lunch is with the inhabitants of Acemhoyuk. From there we drive back to Ankara via the Salt Lake with the salt crystals, wild geese, pink flamingos and ducks. Dinner and overnight are in our 4* (or 5*) hotel in Ankara.
Day 15: Return journey
Unfortunately, today a special journey comes to an end and we fly back home, after breakfast and Turkish Baklava with pistachios.
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• or contact us.
Optional trips
• Discovery of Cappadocia in hot air balloon.
Include
• 15 days 14 nights full board in 4* (or 5*) charming hotels, according to cities.
• Dinner on the first night and breakfast on the last day.
• Lunches in the restaurants of specialties 13 days.
• Transport in Turkey: Mercedes Vito-Sprinter, WW, Wolt-Transporter
Mercedes 403/Intro/Mitsubishi -Safir-Isizu Turquoise, Karsan-Sultan of Sultan maxi.
• Entrance money from museums seen on the programme.
• Folkloric dinner show
• Service of a Dutch-speaking conference university guide.
• Transport in Turkey.
Not including
• Drinking in hotels and restaurants,
• Optional excursions, drinking money
• Transport in Europe,
• Return flight tickets Europe/Turkey,
• Airport tax,
• Insurances.
Departure days can be organized (according to the demand of the special groups)
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