EASTERN TURKEY TOURS(14DAY)

DAY 1/ GAZİANTEP: ZEUGMA MOSAİC MUSEUM

We are starting with wisiting mosaic museum of Zeugma which is one of the biggest Mosaic Museum in Turkey holding more than 200 pieces of mosaics from Roman and Byzantian periods between 2nd to 6th century ad. Most of them are unearted from Roman period ancient city of Zeugma on the banks of EUPHRATES river. Than we are wisiting old town with splendid Roman castle surrounded with many old traditional houses,buildings, mosgues, hanns and caravansaries from ottoman and seljuk periods couse .G.ANTEP was an important city on the silk road to Haleppo. Also we are walking in its famous Copper Bazaar in center of old town. G.ANTEP is also famous with its baklava dessert and pistachoue nuts. Overnight in G.antep

DAY 2/ SUNKEN CİTY HALFETİ, Ş.URFA , HARRAN:

We are heading to Ş.urfa today. On the way to Urfa, we wisit Halfeti which is famous sunken town left under Birecik dam on euphrates river built in 2000. İts great Gorge sunken by the euphrates river with thousands of caves on the side of canyon, and one famous castle from Assyrian period known as Rumkale in the lake. We are taking boat tour here to discover this sunken city and amazing canyon with abondened willages on the side of river.

After boat tour in Halfeti. We drive to Harran one of the oldest setlement in North mesepotomia famous with mud-brick conical shaped Beehive houses. Wisiting Harran castle on the Silk Road to Domascus and also Harran grand mosgue from Ummayad period. Overnight in Ş.urfa

 

DAY 3/ Ş.URFA MUSEUM, GÖBEKLİTEPE, HOLLY FİSHES LAKE, OLD BAAZAR

 

Today we are starting with the zore point of hiistory, the oldest human construction known as GÖBEKLİ TEPE the oldest Temple in the World unearted by German archealog Klaus shmidt dates back to 10.000bc.one of the most important archaeological dig currently being undertaken anywhere in the world – this site represents a major shift in our understanding of humans’s early history.. Göbekli tepe 12.000 years old and pre-dating pottery, writing, Stonehenge and the Pyramids.  In the afternoon we will return to Urfa where we will visit the famous archeaological museum of city, all of the statues unearted from GÖBEKLİTEPE and its sister KARAHANTEPE ,which is another lately excavated Neolithic site, are on display in that museum.. its one of the richest archeollogical museum in Turkey. Later we will walk in old town near by the museum to wisit the Holy Pools of Abraham and the cave where, tradition tells us, the Prophet Abraham was born in. While castle of town overlooking us from top of hill. We will have small walk in its historical bazaar also wisit some Ottoman period hanns and coffe houses. Overnight in Ş.urfa

 

DAY 4/ ADIYAMAN : MT NEMRUT. CENDERE, KARAKUŞ TOMB, ARSEMİA.

We depart for mt nemrut today. On the way we will stop fort he biggest Dam built on Euphrates River in 1980ies known as Atatürk Dam. İts part of GAP. known as Southeastern Anatolian Project. They built many dams on Euphrates and Tigris according to this Project in the last 50 years. there are 5 big dams on euphrates ataturk is the biggest of all . We will have a short nice tea,coffe stop with great panoramic view of dam and Euphrates river than drive throughout Adıyaman to Kahta this area is under protectiıon as national and historical park also under protection of UNESCO World heritage site since 1986. there we start with wisiting royal family tomb of Commagenein ladies, known as Karakuş tomb than we will stop for the CENDERE Roman Bridge (Cendere on the river) , wisiting the Arsemia summer capital city of COMMAGENE kingdom than we will drive up to top of Mt. Nemrut where we will walk about 1km to wisit the ancient funerary monument at the summit of Mt.Nemrut with Colossal Statues of Greek Gods and king Antiouchos on top of Mt.Nemrut. its believed that famous King Antiochos is burried here . This ancient funerary monuments at the peak of Mt Nemrut was forgetten and lost to memory for almost 2000 years. After wisiting the eastern terrace we will watch the Sunset from western terrace of summit of Mt Nemrut with the statues of Gods and drive down to our hotel. Overnight in kahta.

 

DAY 5/ DİYARBAKIR: CİTY WALLS, GRAND MOSGUE, TİGRİS RİVER:

Today we are driving to Diyarbakır to wiist old city on banks of Tigris River encirciled with old City Walls dates back to Roman period and still standing well Sightseeing in Diyarbakir there are lots to see in that city once was a military base for the Romans thats why the city walls are built so high strong and thic. it was a Garrison city for thousands of years..we start with the Grand Mosgue (Mar Thoma)(Mosque and Church) which was a Syriac Church once and converted to mosgue now. İts known as the 5th holliest mosgue in islamic World looks similiar to the the mosgue in Domascus , the caravansarie from Ottoman period, hans ancient hotels for t he traders, we are wisiting Armanian surp Grigor church the biggest in middle east, there are also some Syrian orthodx churches in city as well. Next to church there is a mosgue with a uique minaret with 4 pillared coloumns, we are climbing to cıty walls having great view of Tigris river with fertiled fields on its banks. And wisiting 10 eyed bridge over the TİGRİS river . Diyarbakır city walss and traditional houses mosgues churches are all built with black Bazalt stone. Overnight in Diyarbakır

 

DAY6/ MARDİN: THE ZERZEVAN( ROMAN )CASTLE , MİTHRA TEMPLE, OLD MARDİN.

Depart from Diyarbakır for Mardin today. On the way to Mrdin we will stop by the ZERZEVAN Castle was built in the 4th century ad. By the Eastern Roman Empire as a military base on the side of ancient Trade Road . which was an important Roman castle a former Militarry base they used against the Perssians in the east. What made this castle so importans is: they unearted a MİTRAEUM TEMPLE dedicated to Mithra here in the recent Archeological Excavatiıons. With the recent archeological excavatiıon they unearted a Mithra Temple here. İts a big citadel overlooking the narrow passage also this walley was once used as a SİLK ROAD as well. They unearthed lots of settlements here such as a necropolis, water sisterns, canals and 2 churches from medieavel ages. And Mitraeum bull sacraficial area and babtism cannals . the archeological excavatıons at site revealed the existence of underground structures a Temple of Mithraism among them. After wsiiting Zerzevan site we will drive to Mardin old town. With its old lovely houses decorated with intricate carvings and terraced on hillside overlooking to the Mesopotamian Plain. Mardin is a mosaic city with its different religions, Languages,and cultures, there are Syriac orthodox, Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic people living together for thousands of years. churches and mosgues side by side its possiable to hear different languages when you walk on the streets. We are wisiting a Madrasa from 15th centruy ad. Than wisiting a 40 martry syrian orthodox church in Mardin. Overnight in mardin

DAY 7/ MARDİN: DEYRUL ZAFHARAN MONESTRY, DARA ANTİC CİTY, ROCK TOMBS.

After breakfast we drive to Deir-ul-Zafaran (Saffron Monastery) near by Mardin.  The Deyrul Saffron Monastery was once the ancient official seat centre of the Syriac Christian Patriarchy till 1930ies. Now its in Domascus . This site has been the centre of religious worship for centuries, the Monastery itself is built over an ancient temple dedicated to the Mesopotamian Sun God Shamash, built in 2000 BC and dedicated to the worship of the sun and which now provides the foundations to the main part of the monastery buildings – it is a fascinating structure as the roof of the temple to the sun is, essentially, a flat arch!.the Monestry is still actively in use by the Syrian population living in town. There are more than 5000 Syriac orthodx Christians living in Mardin and willages arround and theu use tehir Churches actively altough some of the are abondened.

İn the afternoon we are wisiting Dara ancient city which was another military base of Romans on the eastren border with parths. İt was constructed and its city walls were restored by Roman Empheror Anatasius thats why it was called as Anastasiapolis as well. With its city walls, water storege rooms sisterns,Dungens,Necropolis and bridges and churches from Byzantiaan periods ..İt was so big that, was called as Ephesus of mesopotomia too.

We turn back to Mardin and do for a nice walking in old town it feels like a big open air museum with its castle on top of the hill overlooking the old terraced houses, we walk throughout Mardin’s narrow streets passing by mosgues, madrasah, Syrian orthodx churches, and bazaar. Streets are narrow peaceful and so guite that you feel the Mystic Athmospher in the old city of Mardin. Overnight in mardin.

DAY.8/ HASANKEYF, AHLAT, TATVAN, CRATER LAKE

We depart from Mardin for Tatvan via Hasankeyf, another sunken city on banks of Tigris River. We stop in Hasankeyf for sightseeing. With building new dam they made local people to move new buiılt town on the other side of river. The old town submurged under the water of dam on Tigres river. People are living in their new houses built on skirt of mountain now. But hopefully before they hold the water they did some excavatıons in old site and also they carried some of important structures Tomb( moseleoum) of Zeynel bey, and a mosgue from Seljuks period. You still can see the old cave settlement on top of hill from far away on the other side of Gorge.

After short stop in Hasankef we drive to northeast from Bitlis Gorge to Tatvan on the West cost of lake Van to wiist Volcano Crater of Nemrut and Seljuk Graves, monuments, and from there we are heading Ahlat the biggest Grave yard with tousands of decorated Grave Stones with palmets candles from medieval ages belongs to the local Rulers, clergyman and soldiers.

The Nemrut Crater Lake is the second biggest Crater in the World named after the Biblical Figuare King Nimrod. Altough its in same name with the one we wisited with colossal Statues of Gods on top, thiis one is famous with its big Crater and the Lakes in crater. When you are on top, İt has an excellent viev of Mt. Süphan and Lake Van down on foothills of mountain with Tatvan. Overnight in Tatvan.

 

DAY 9/ VAN: AKDAMAR ISLAND, CHURCH OF HOLY CROSS, URARTU CİTADEL TUSHPA.

Depart Tatvan along the southern shore of Lake for Armenian Church of Ahtamar From here, we will take a ferry across the lake to visit the finest Armenian architectural wonder of the Church of the Holy Cross from 10th century ad. on Akdamar Island. The best preserved Armenian church of Holly Cross With chapels and gravestones near by. The finest church with decoratıons scenes from Bible and Old Tastemen on outfacade walls.

then we drive to visit the Urartian Capital city Tushpa and its citadel with Assyrian and Urartian Cuneiforms on walls from 900th. bc….Step over to the huge Van Castle from the days of Urartu and see the Hieroglyphs as you sense the spirit of the once Urartu capital Tushpa, overlooking the ruins of old Van city on foothils of urartian castle, and watching the Sunset over the lake from Tushpa Castle..feel the salty waters of the great Lake Van called as ‘the Sea’ by the locals.  Sightseeing in van to wisit famous Cats in Van. Van is beautiful city on the eastern banks of Lake with lots of Urartian Citadels cities and Amanian churches here .overnight in Van.

DAY 10/ VAN: ÇAVUŞTEPE, HOŞAP CASTLE, MUSEUM OF URARTIAN KİNGDOM:

Van is amazing city full of historical cites, we drive to another best preserved Urartian castle Çavuştepe Urartian Citadel city , with its Temmple Cuneiforms storege rooms, cisterns ruins of palace for Royal Family, guard rooms and walls surrrounding . This site was under excavatıons for long time thats why you can see all clearly. Also the modest guard of site Mehmet amca is still there since the first excavatıons.

Than we drive another 40km to South to wisit Hoşap Castle, sitting on the side of ancient Silk Road. İt used to be an old Urartian Castle to protect Gorge, later restored by Seljuks and Ottomans. Turn back to city to wisit the Urartian artifacts on display in Museum of Van. And wisiting the famous cats with one coloured eyes and long White furrs.overnight in Van.

DAY 11/ DOĞUBAYAZIT: MT ARARAT, İSHAKPASHA PALACE, NOAH’S ARK, KARS

Depart early in mornin from Van for Doğubayazıt via Muradiye Waterfall feding lake Van stoping at Waterfall than we drive over the high mountains close to İranian border to Doğubeyazıt. Mt Ararat is welcoming us. There we will wiist the İshak Pasha palace built in 18thcentury ad. By one of the Kurdish ruler known as İshakpasha during the Ottoman period. İts eye taking with its amazing reliefs on entrance of doors, tomb, rooms and mosgue . . This complex is a combination of a mosque, a fortress, and a palac. Below you can also see the remains of old Beyazit, and Urartian City which flourished in 1000 BC.

The palace is overlooking old Doğubayaızt town …There is also a gret splendid Urrartian Castle rising behind the palace on the side of cliffs behind.

. than we drive another 10km further east , We will have the opportunity to see Mt. Ararat from all sides. It is believed by some to be the resting-place of Noah’s Ark; but to date no one has found anything that has been verified as the Ark – yet the search is still on. The resting place of Noah’s Ark but stii hasnt been verrified. Believers in Ark continue to search for it in modern time.but no scientific evidence has ever been found , there is no evidence for global flood also.

 

Mt. Ararrat.the mountain of pains the higgest peak and also Volcano in Turkey. With elevetıon of 5.137.mt. 17.000feet high.traditionally considered the resting place of Ark and thus considerd Biblical mountain. overnight in Kars.

 

 

DAY12/ KARS: ANİ RUİNS, 12 APOSTLES CHURCH, OLD TOWN AND CASTLE

 

Departure from Kars for a 45-minute drive to the medieval Armenian City of Ani, used to be known as the city of 1001 churches, the city with 40 gates, the Capital of mediavel Armenian kingdom . which lies mostly in ruins today . Impressive fortified walls still encircle the ruins of numerous churches, mosques and caravansaries. we walk around the ruins for 2 hours and see the beautiful view to the Armenian Border on the other side of canyon. imagining it as a city with 200.000 people rivaling Bagdad in its time! İt was the starting point of Silk Road in Anatolia. This city has experienced the cultures of Urartians, Armenians, Georgians, Mongols, Russians and finally the Turks. Than we turn back to Kars to wisit its old part of Town, Russian houses, Castle and some ancient churches surrounding the city. Also the 12 Apostles Church in old town. İt was earlier Bgradid capital. Overnight in Kars.

 

 

DAY 13/ ERZURUM: SARIKAMIŞ W.W.1 BATTLEFİELD, BRİDGE, OLD TOWN.

 

Depart from Kars for Erzurum via Sarıkamış Battlefied of World War1 in norteast between Ottoman and Russians in 1915. Than drive to South by following the Aras River walley. Stop by bridge from Mongollians over the Aras Rİver.

 

Leave Kars and drive southwest to Erzurum. Of great interest will be the villages of stone houses and black sheep on green meadows.  Visit the 12th century Medrese (a Seljukian School) also the 3 cylindiric tombs built for local rulers in 12th century . Wisiting the 12th century Mosque and enjoy the Ethnographic Museum. Visit an old caravan stop where the local black stone ( jet stone)is mounted in silver and gold by the local artists in the most aesthetic art form Erzuurm always used to be bussy city couse of its locatıons it was on th e main Silk Road and was used as a military base by the Seljuks and Ottoman Empire against the Persians in east and Russian in north . its covered with snow 6month of the year one of the coldest city in winter mines 20 to -30 . also its a famous Sking Resort with high mountains rising behind city. City held hosted the 2011 Winter Universade.. in summer time its cool not too hot. Feels like a uplain. High from sea level. Overnight stay in Erzurum

 

 

DAY 14/ TRABZON: SUMELA MONESTERY, HAGİA SOPHİA of TRABZON BLACK SEA.

 

 

We begin a beautiful 5 hour drive from Erzurum to Trabzon, winding along the rivers, mountains and great landscape with many photo stops the passage where 10 thousands passed,and wisiting Karaca Cave along the way.

Visit the Sumela Greek Orthodx Monastery also known as the Monastery of the Virgin Mary from 386 ad.. İts located on black mountains. It has been said that it is neither on earth nor in heaven. Carved on the slope of a mountain, its built on hillside, it looks like hanging down from the clouds and sitting on the top of the forest. Nestled in steep cliff at an altitude of 1.200 mt. Facing the deep walley A short hike through the rain forest will leave no question in your mind about where you are in Turkey,

 

Visit to the 14th century Byzantine church of Hagia Sofia overlooking the Black Sea it served as a monastic and funerary church it is extensively decorated with frescoes The building dates back to the thirteenth century, when Trabzon was the capital of the Empire of Trebizond. Hagia Sophia was built in Trebizond during the reign of Manuel I between 1238 and 1263 Hagia Sophia was built sometime between 1238-1263 CE under Manuel I Komnenos, the emperor of the Trebizond Empire

is a formerly Greek Orthodox church that was converted into a mosque following the conquest of Trabzon by.The Hagia Sophia church is an important example of late Byzantine architecture.

our tour finish at about 6pm you can have flight to İstanbul at same day evening or you can stay relax and have early flights in the mornig next day. There are lots of fligts from Trabzon to İstanbul every 2 hours. Overnight in Trabzon.