ITINERARY - 11 DAY MARVELS OF THE EAST TOUR
Day 1: Monday, Arrive in Erzurum
We start this tour in Erzurum, the largest city in Eastern Turkey and a provincial capital. You will be met at Erzurum airport and transferred to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will go on a tour to see some of the notable city sites, including Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minareted Seminary), Ulu Cami (the Grand Mosque) and the 5th century Citadel. The rest of the day is free. You will have dinner at the hotel together with members of the Best of the Black Sea tour group who are also going on the Marvels of the East tour.
Dinner and overnight at a comfortable 4* hotel in Erzurum (D)
Day 2: Tuesday, Erzurum – Kars
After breakfast, the group will drive through highland country with splendid scenery to Kars which stands at an altitude of 1,750 metres. On the way, we will stop to take a close look at the Çobandere Bridge dating back to the 13th Century and the monument to the victims of Sarikamis siege.
On arrival in Kars, we will have lunch at a local restaurant before visiting the major city sites, including the 12th century Selçuk Citadel and the 10th century Armenian Church of 12 Apostles. We will then check into our hotel and the rest of the day is free. When you stroll through the town, you will see many reminders of 40 years of Russian rule between 1878 and 1918. These include streets in a grid pattern of and elegant buildings.
Dinner and overnight at Karabag Hotel in Kars (B/L/D).
Day 3: Wednesday, Kars - Igdir - Dogubeyazit
This morning, we set off to visit the nearby ruins of the 10th century Armenian capital of Ani close to the border. Even though earthquakes and Mongol invasions destroyed much of the city, fortified walls and well-preserved ruins of churches are well worth seeing.
After visiting Ani, we will return to Kars for lunch (not included) and then drive on to the town of Dogubeyazit, stopping to take in the views of magnificent Mt Ararat (Agri Dagi in Turkish) on the way. Mt Ararat which is Turkey's most famous natural landmark is an enormous volcano, rising 5,137 metres high, always capped with snow and often shrouded in dark clouds. It is believed that Noah's Ark came to rest here.
Dinner and overnight at Sim-er Hotel. (B/D)
Day 4: Thursday, Dogubeyazit - Van
After breakfast on a balcony with uninterrupted views of Mt Ararat, we set off to explore the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace, once used to control the Silk Road. Built between 1685 and 1784, the palace incorporates a blend of Ottoman, Persian and Selcuk architectural styles and is a "must see" site. It is reputed to have contained 366 rooms, one for each day of a leap year.
Today we continue on to the lakeside city of Van (pronounced vun as in ‘run’), the ancient Urartian capital. Lake Van is Turkey's largest inland body of water. At 1720 metres above sea level, it is also one of the world's highest lakes. At the 'Rock of Van' near the lake shore are Cuneiform Inscriptions documenting the life and work of Menua, an important Urartian king. Today we see the imposing 'Rock of Van' and the nearby ruins of old Van.
Dinner and overnight at the lake side hotel, Merit Sahmaran Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 5: Friday, In Van
A full day to explore the ancient remains and monuments of the Van Region. In the morning we see the 10th Century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in Lake Van. Its outer stonewalls, richly decorated with Old Testament scenes and characters, are nothing short of amazing.
After lunch, we visit the imposing 9th century Hosap citadel some 50km away. With a little luck, we may catch sight of the famous cats of Van during our stay here. These cats are pure white and have one blue and one yellow or green eye. We will have free time in Van during late afternoon and evening.
Overnight at the Merit Sahmaran Hotel. (B/L)
Day 6: Saturday, Van - Diyarbakir
On our drive south of Lake Van to Tatvan, we visit the "real" Nemrut Crater Lake with its volcanic hot springs, before we continue on to Diyarbakir. The River Tigris flows past the mighty black basalt walls of Diyarbakir, (second only to the Great Wall of China).They are between 5.5 and 6 kms in length, and, with the 16 keeps and 5 gates; they give the city an ominous appearance.
Dinner and overnight at the Grand Kervansaray Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 7: Sunday, Diyarbakir - Mardin - Sanliurfa
In the morning we explore this fascinating old city with its maze of cobbled streets and alleys peppered with beautiful mosques, imposing huns (Caravanserais), stately Köşks (mansions) and intriguing churches. It has a lively energetic atmosphere and the residents are open, helpful and friendly.
Our journey then takes us to Mardin where we have lunch in the centre of this beautiful town. With its ancient citadel and unique stone buildings, Mardin is an architectural 'treasure chest'. From a distance, the golden stone of the houses blend into the rock on which the city is built. We shall visit the active Syriac-Jacobite "saffron monastery", so named for the yellowish rock from which it is built. Views of the Mesopotamian Plain will entrance you. Our journey then takes us on to the Old Testament town of Sanliurfa, which was known as Ur in ancient times. Reputedly the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, Sanliurfa is also known as the city of prophets. The name Sanliurfa means "Glorious Urfa" commemorating the town's resistance to the French invasion and occupation of 1918-20. We shall spend three nights in Sanliurfa.
Dinner and overnight at the Harran Hotel. (B/L/D)
Day 8: Monday, Sanliurfa – Mount Nemrut - Sanliurfa
This morning, we depart for Mount Nemrut (Nemrut Dagi in Turkish), to see the spectacular stone heads and god statues built in honour of King Antiochus, a Commegene ruler. Erected in the first century BC, the engineering involved continues to baffle and amaze archeologists and visitors alike.
On the way to Mount Nemrut, we visit the mighty Ataturk Dam, which harnesses the waters of Euphrates River providing hydroelectric power and irrigation, as well as holiday and recreation facilities for the region.
Overnight at the Harran Hotel (B/L)
Day 9: Monday, Sanliurfa - Gaziantep - Antakya
In the morning, we visit to the beehive-style mud houses of Harran. This is one of the most ancient continuously inhabited sites on Earth and is where Abraham and his wife Sarah reputedly spent some years.
After lunch in Urfa, we explore the fascinating sites of this Old Testament town, including the Sacred Carp Pools of Abraham, his birth cave and an ancient citadel, as well as the exquisite mosque complex and the most traditional covered bazaar. Rest of the day is free to spend as you please.
Overnight at the Harran Hotel (B/L)
Day 10: Wednesday, Sanliurfa - Gaziantep - Antakya
After breakfast, we set off for Gaziantep and with a brief visit to Birecik on the Euphrates River, time permitting. This is ancient Bronze Age country where 400 limestone tombs with jewellery, vases and other objects have been found. After lunch in Gaziantep, we visit the local museum which holds the exquisite mosaics from the ancient Roman City of Zeugma, as well as artifacts from the area belonging to every period. Our journey continues on to Antakya, the ancient biblical city of Antioch. It was a significant place of early Christianity. St Barnabas, St Paul and St Peter all visited the city.
Dinner and overnight at the Savon Hotel.(B/L/D)
Day 11: Thursday, Antakya - Adana
In the morning, we visit the renowned Antakya Mosaic Museum, the Grotto of St. Peter and stroll along the maze of narrow streets in old Antakya. We leave Antakya about mid-morning and drive to Adana, the fourth largest city in Turkey. On the way, time permitting; we visit the Karatepe Arslantas National Park to see its fine neo-Hittite stone carvings. Adana is the provincial capital and the centre of rich agricultural region and thriving textile industry. One of its notable landmarks is the Taskopru (Stone Bridge). Built by Hadrian and repaired by Justinian, it spans the river Seyhan. The tour ends in Adana in late afternoon. We transfer to Adana airport for our evening flight to Istanbul, which connects with late flights to Australia and to other ongoing destinations. (B/L)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The tour price includes:
- Accommodation in special category boutique style establishments and four-star hotels or the best available.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Modern air-conditioned coach or minibus with spare seats.
- Arrival transfers on Day 1 (in Erzurum) and departure transfers on Day 11 (in Adana).
- All entrance fees, all tips (including to hotels, restaurants, tour guide and the driver) and other charges
- Services of bilingual Turkish born Australian tour leader who is with the group 24/7.
- Drinking water on the coach
- Services of professional English speaking guide and/or bilingual tour leader.
- Drinking water on the coach
The tour price does NOT include:
- International and domestic airfares
- Departure taxes, levies and other charges
- Passport and visa fees
- Items of a personal nature such as drinks, minibar, phone calls, etc.
- Beverages at meal times
IMPORTANT NOTES
- Tour prices are subject to change without notice until paid in full.
- Up to two domestic flights in Turkey are included in the international airfare if flying to and from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines on long haul flights. Otherwise you should allow approximately $195 per person per flight for the two domestic flights from Istanbul to Erzurum and from Adana to Istanbul.
- At the time of writing, details for the Istanbul/Erzurum and Adana/Istanbul flight are as flows. Turkish Airlines flight TK668 departing Istanbul at 1225 and arriving in Erzurum at 1425 and Turkish Airlines flight TK467 departing Adana at 1940 and arriving in Istanbul at 2110. You should note that this may change in which case other suitable arrangements will need to be made at the time.
- Shorter "Add-on" tours and other travel pakages are available within Turkey, to Central Asia, to Ukraine and to other countries in the region.
- The Marvels of the East tour starting in Erzurum on 9 June 2008 is immediately preceded by our 10-Day Best of the Black Sea tour and it is followed soon afterwards by our 12-Day Ukraine Discovery tour. Hence these two tours may be ideal "Add-ons" to the Marvels of the East tour. See other tours on this website, or the latest issue of our Newsletter "OzTours News" or contact us for details
- Where two or more tours are combined, there will be a discount of 5% on the lower priced tour (or tours). When combined, the Best of the Black Sea and the Marvels of the East tours are regarded as a single tour. The combined tour price is $150 per person less than the sum of the prices for the two tours.
- We can make all your travel arrangements through Timeless Tours (our travel agent partner in Sydney), including flights with all airlines at competitive rates, travel insurance, and third party packages.
- This itinerary, which is current as at 02 December 2007, is subject to change without notice.