| Day 1. Arrival
in Ankara. You will be met by your personal guide and will be transferred to your first
class hotel. Rest of the day free to recover from jet -lag. Dinner and overnight in
Ankara. Day 2. Morning guided tour of the
fascinating Museum of
Anatolian Civilizations housed in a 15th century caravansary and
covered bazaar. It houses masterpieces from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, Hittite,
Phrygian and Urartu treasures as well as Hellenistic and Roman finds. Continue on a
short sightseeing tour of the city, then drive to Corum, gateway to the Hittite
archeological sites. Overnight in Corum.
Day 3. After breakfast full day visit of
the ancient cities of Alacahoyuk and Hattusas,
the capital of the Old Hittite Empire. Marvel the impressive Cyclopean Walls, the
unique fortifications, testaments to the military genius of the Hittites in the strategic
adaptation of their design to the extremely difficult terrain. Visit Alaca Hoyuk with the
sphinxes, the citadel of Hattusas, where the rulers of the Old Hittite Kingdom
lived. Marvel the famous Lion Gate and the five temples whose size and
structure place them among the grandest monuments of the second millenium in the whole
known world of that day. Drive Northeast to inspect the large gallery of rock reliefs at
the ancient sanctuary of Yazilikaya. Continue to Cappadocia,
famous for its underground cities built as retreats during centuries to escape the
invading hordes of enemies. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel Cappadocia.
Day 4. 36 underground cities have
been found in the area but none has been completely explored and strangest of all, these
cities are all interconnected by a network of tunnels, some as much as 9.5 km long. No one
knows who built them. Medieval Christians certainly occupied them, but a Roman tomb was
also found on the seventh flour in one of them and Hittite grain mill and seals were also
discovered in another. Full day tour including the visits of underground cities of Derinkuyu or Kaymakl and Ozkaynak. Continue on to Goreme,
this vineyard-filled valley of an open- air museum containing a wealth of rock churches
some of them dating back to the 4th century. Visit spectacular Zelve
Valley, an amphitheater carved by nature,
where the valley and three canyons come together to face myriad of cones with the openings
of rupestrine churches and houses. At the foot of the cliffs there are two large
basilicas, which can be dated to the very beginning of the monastic period. Dinner and
overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 5. Breakfast, then departure to
Adana. Visit of Karatepe archeological site
with the famous North Gate sphinx depicting expressive human emotions. This Neo-Hittite
site, situated 130 km Southeast is an exceptionally fine open-air museum, remote and
unusually beautiful. You will see Neo-Hittite stone releifs in situ in a quantity and
state of preservation unique in the world. The site is still being excavated. The name
Karatepe "Black Hill describes the pine covered hills on which the site, once the
summer palace of king Asitawanda stands dominating the valley and the lake below. Dinner
and Overnight in Adana.
Day 6. After breakfast continue on to Gaziantep,
the Pistachio capital as well as ancient Hittite center. Stop at the Kargamis
open-air museum and Yesemek,
the Hittite sculpture park and stone quarry with 200 works of Hittite art. In Gazientep
visit the Archeological Museum with its Neolitic, Hittite, Commagene and Roman
collection . Dinner and overnight in Gazientep. Don't forget to try the delicious Lacmacun
( a kind of pizza), a local specialty, as well as the sweet Gazientep baklava, allegedly
the best in the world.
Day 7. After breakfast departure Malatya,
at the foot of the antiTaurus Mountain, an important center on a fertile plain. The
Hittite "Maldya" famous for apricot growing. Stop at Aslantepe,
once a capital of a Hittite state. Visit the Malatya Museum. Dinner and overnight in
Malatya.
Day 8. Drive early in the morning to see
the Sunrise on Mount
Nemrut rising 7,052 ft above the Anatolian plain from which you will
have a stupendous view. Ancient temples stand on two terraces, one facing the rising, the
other the setting sun, the Tumulus of Kind Antiochus hidden between them. King Antiochus was the king of Commagene, a tiny
Roman puppet state founded by his father, Mithridates the Great. Enthroned on the two
terraces, there are massive white statues of gods with some of their huge heads
fallen onto the ground. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Check out, then drive to
Malatya airport
Program can be customized according to your interest
Prices October 2003-April 2004 in US$
Prices May-September 2204 in Euro
Based on the number of passengers in your party:
| Per person in US$ in low season,
euro in high season |
2 People |
3-5 People |
6-7 people |
8-9 people |
| 2225 |
1638 |
1150 |
950 |
Price
Includes:
* All sightseeing mentioned in the program
* Transportation by air-conditioned minibus(or bus) or private car
* Overnight in 4 or 3 star hotels with breakfasts and dinners
* Private guide and driver from day one to day 8
* Taxes and service charges |
Not Included:
Entrance fees: USD 60
All lunches
General
Information on Anatolia
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