Turkey Escorted Tour
To the Heart of this fascinating country to less visited Biblical and ancient Sites like Mount Ararat, Urfa, Van
 

Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Tarsus, Adana, Antakya, Harran, Sanliurfa, Hagan Kehf,  Akdamar Island,  Van,  Mount Ararat - Kars , Van
Best of Eastern Turkey

2007
11 days/10 nights
 (the tour runs with min. 10 passengers)

Day 3 Sat: Istanbul - Ankara - Cappadocia
Morning flight to Ankara. There we visit the world famous Anatolian Civilization Museum and the Ataturk Mausoleum, the burial place of the Turkish hero. After a picturesque drive along Salt Lake, visit the 13th century Agzikarahan caravanserai. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, D)

Day 4 Sun: Cappadocia
After breakfast, visit the Pigeon Valley near Uchisar, then proceed to the open air museum of Goreme where you will see early Christian churches with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Visit Kaymakli - underground city where early Christians hid from prosecutors. Chance for shopping for handcrafts in the famous pottery making village, Avanos. Overnight in Cappadocia. (B, D)

Day 5 Mon: Cappadocia - Tarsus - Adana
After breakfast, drive through Tarsus Mountains to Adana. En route we visit St. Paul's house and well and  Cleopatra's Triumphal Arc in the famous city of St. Paul, Tarsus. Overnight in Adana. (B, D)

Day 6 Tue:  Adana - Antakya
Today, we make our way to the lovely town of Antakya. In the afternoon we visit the second largest Museum of Mosaics in the world. Visit the 1st century AD Church of St. Peter. Overnight in Antakya. (B, D)

Day 7 Wed: Antakya - Kahta
After a scenic drive to Kahta, check-into the hotel and in the afternoon, climb up to the mountain to see colossal statues of pagan gods and goddesses. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset. (B, D)

Day 8 Thu: Kahta - Ataturk Dam - Harran - Sunliurfa
Today we travel to Ataturk Dam which is the 4th largest project in the world. In the afternoon we continue to Harran, the place where God talked to Abraham. Also we visit Sunliurfa Balikli Gol. (B, D)

Day 9 Fri: Sunliurfa - Mardin
Drive to Mardin and visit Deyr-ul Zaferan Monastery. We return to Mardin for a walking tour, including Kadim Kirklar Monastery and the famous Archeological and Ethnographical Open Air Museum under the protection of UNESCO. (B, D)

Day 10 Sat: Mardin - Hagan Kehf - Akdamar Island - Van
In the morning we drive to Hasan Kehf. Then we take a small boat trip to Akdamar Island in lake Van. There we visit Akdamar Church on which facade is carved one of the most complete collection of Old Testament scenes. Late afternoon tour of Van. (B, D)

Day 11 Sun: Van - Mt. Ararat - Kars - Van
Our first sightseeing is at Dogu Beyazit. We will observe the beauty of Mt. Ararat from a distance. Then we continue to Ishak Pasa Palace which is one of the oldest and most complete palace complexes in the world. At sunset, enjoy the view of Van Lake from the prehistoric Urartian Castle. We drive back to Van for a flight back to Istanbul. (B, D)

PRICES Per person in US$ or Euro*

* Euro rate varies depending on the exchange rate

Two domestic flights are included in the price