13 DAYS EASTERN TURKEY: ACROSS ANCIENT LANDSCAPES

Transfer: Adiyaman Airport to Hotel

Upon arrival at Adiyaman Airport, you will transfered to your hotel to rest after today’s long journey.

Sunrise at Mount Nemrut

The early start today is well worth it! You will be catching a sunrise at a UNESCO World Heritage site, one of the most fascinating archaeological sites of the Middle East - Mount Nemrut or Mountain of Gods. Enjoy a picnic breakfast with the spectacular view.

Yeni Kale and Pirin Medieval Ruins

Visit the medieval ruins of Yeni Kale, which means new castle, situated above the village of Kocahisar and built on a narrow mountain spur high above a Seljuk bridge spanning the Kahta Cayi gorge.

Next, a 1-hour drive brings us to the ancient city of Perre, today called Pirin. The city ruins and 208 caves in the rocks that are of historical importance. Synonymous for its burial caves and cities built into the hills, one of the largest cities of the Commagene Kingdom dating back to 162BC, the Pirin Caves is a stunning collection of rock tombs in striking resemblance to Cappadocia.

Halfeti and Rumkale

We will drive about 1.5 hours to the stunning village of Halfeti, on the banks of the Euphrates River in South-eastern Anatolia. Much of Halfeti is submerged due to the building of the Birecik Dam and the new village was moved to Karaotlak.

Enjoy a boat tour in “Old Halfeti” as you learn about its fate. Until the area was flooded in 1999, the people lived from fishing in the Euphrates and farming on the riverbank, especially growing peanuts and the area's famous black roses. Admire the Rumkale from your boat, an ancient fortress first built by Assyrians, later occupied by various Byzantine and Armenian warlords during the Middle Ages.

Harran the Legendary Village

Travel towards west bank of the Balikh River to explore the ancient city of Harran, a major crossroad for primary trade routes from ancient Mesopotamia to the west. The most distinctive aspect of Harran is its mud beehive houses, and you can visit models of these at the Harran Cultural Centre. Harran also has a “kale” (fortress) dating from the 11th Century, an impressive city wall and ancient remains of abandoned caravanserais and mosques.

Thereafter, drive to Sanliurfa and check-in to your hotel.

Sanliurfa: The Birthplace of Abraham

Today, visit the Gobekli Tepe, pre-dating Stonehenge by more than 6,000 years, from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A period, and celebrated as the world’s first and oldest temple. Then, proceed to Karahan Tepe, which is later discovered to be possibly even older than Gobekli Tepe.

After lunch, visit Abraham’s Pool (Balikli Gol), the Great Mosque and Abraham’s Cave to discover the ancient city’s association of the great patriarch.

Journey to Mardin

Leave Sanliurfa and continue our eastern endeavour to the ancient city of Mardin, where it was under the rule of the Hittites, Surs, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs and the Seljuk Turks. It is about 3 hours' journey to this city of honey-colored, sandstone buildings perched on the southern slope of a hill. Explore the labyrinthine alleys of the old town and soak in the atmosphere and architecture on foot.

Mardin and Dara

Today, visit the ancient Roman ruins of Dara, where Mesopotamia’s first dam and irrigation canals were built. Discover the ancient stairways, underground aqueducts and cisterns of one of south-eastern Anatolia’s forgotten gems, which were only recently opened to public.

En-route back to Mardin, we visit the Deyrul Zafaran Monastery, once the seat of the Syrian Orthodox patriarchate, and built on the site of a temple dedicated to the sun. Church services are still held in Aramaic, the language of Jesus.

Journey from Mardin to Van via Hasankeyf

Depart Mardin for a full day long drive to Van. We will first drive about 2 hours to Hasankeyf for private boat tour of the village that is submerged with the completion of the new Ilisu Dam project.

After lunch continue approximately 5 hours drive to Van, and check into hotel.

Lake Van and its Surroundings

Devote the day to exploring the wonderful sights around scenic Lake Van. Visit Van Museum, an archaeology and ethonography museum which showcases ancient Urartian artifacts. Proceed to Van Castle that was part of the Urartu Kingdom, built on a rocky hill overlooking the waters of Lake Van.

Then, head to Gevas Cemetery, comprising of tombstones dating from the 14th to 17th centuries. Look out for the polygonal Halime Hatun Türbesi, built in 1358 for a female member of the Karakoyunlu dynasty.

The highlight of sodium-rich Lake Van would have to be the spectacular 10th century Armenian Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island accessed by a 20-minute ferry ride. Akdamar Church was built between 915 and 921. It has amazing reliefs on its’ walls which include lots of stories from The Old Testament and numerous creatures.

Muradiye Falls and Dogubeyazit

After breakfast, drive about 3 hours to Dogubeyazit, en-route stop at the elegant cascades of Muradiye Falls, and the historical Devil's Bridge.

Arriving in Dogubeyazit, visit the beautiful 17th-century Ishak Pasha Palace semi-ruins, perched on a small hill overlooking the city. It is one of the most magnificent and lavish examples of Ottoman architecture. We then continue to the Noah’s Ark mound situated on a hillside and is one of a few possible ark sites around Mount Ararat.

Thereafter, continue approximately 3-hour drive to Kars.

Ani and Kars

This morning, we will drive about 1.5 hours to the stunning medieval ruins of Ani, the “City of 1,001 Churches”, a must-visit in this part of the country, surrounded by remote landscapes near the border with Armenia.

Return to Kars to explore this impressive city once colonized by Russians, filled with historic buildings including the Fethiye Mosque (formerly Alexander Nevsky Church), Russian Consulate, Revenue Office, and Governor’s mansion. We will also visit Armenian and Ottoman buildings of the old Armenian Church and Evliya Mosque.

Journey from Kars to Trabzon via Erzurum

Depart Kars for a long drive to Trabzon. We will first drive about 3 hours to Erzurum, the largest city in Eastern Anatolia, to visit the Great Mosque and admire the Medrese. After spending some time in the local bazaar, we continue approximately 4 hours to Trabzon before checking into the hotel.

Uncover Trabzon & Sumela Monastery

Serving as one of the leading trade routes between Europe and Central Asia, Trabzon has been home to several civilizations throughout the history.

Visit the cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery complex, which ranks among some of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. You will also visit the Trabzon Hagia Sophia with its fascinating collection of ancient art and frescoes. Another highlight is the three-storey Ataturk Mansion, which was built for a wealthy Greek banking family in the Black Sea style which is popular in the Crimea, and bequeathed to Ataturk in 1924.

Uncover Trabzon & Sumela Monastery

Serving as one of the leading trade routes between Europe and Central Asia, Trabzon has been home to several civilizations throughout the history.

Visit the cliff-hanging Sumela Monastery complex, which ranks among some of the oldest Christian monasteries in the world. You will also visit the Trabzon Hagia Sophia with its fascinating collection of ancient art and frescoes. Another highlight is the three-storey Ataturk Mansion, which was built for a wealthy Greek banking family in the Black Sea style which is popular in the Crimea, and bequeathed to Ataturk in 1924.