Our itineraries are flexible and can be adjusted according to your preferences and the time you have available. Contact us for a personalised program.
Journey of a Canadian couple, mixed accommodation
June 2015
Budget: 79 € per person and per day
You can peruse photos of the hotels included in this program in the photo gallery.
Day 1: 21.09: Kars-Dogubeyazit
Pick-up your rental car at the hotel in Kars.
Drive to Mount Ararat where according to the Bible Noah's ark landed after the flood. The mountain is sacred to three great monotheistic religions.
Overnight in Dogubeyazit Golden Hill or similar
Day 2: 22/09: Dogubeyazit-Van
Visit the magnificent palace of Ishak Pasha, one of the most beautiful palaces of the Ottoman era, located 7 km from the city at the foot of Mount Ararat.
Drive to Van (about 2:30 hours)
Night in Van. www.grandarsisa.com
Day 3: 23/09: Lake Van
Visit the Hosap Fortress, built in 1643. Behind the imposing tower, one can discover the remains of the castle and of the walls, made of dried mud.
Visit Çavustepe, former residence of the kings of Urartu (in the Bible, Ararat) which is the civilization that dominated this area from the thirteenth to the seventh century BC. Located on a hill, there’s a great view from Cavustepe over the surrounding countryside. The fortified palace, of which there are only a few ruins, was built between 764 and 735 BC.
Night in Van.
Day 4: 24/09: Van, Diyarbakir
Lake Van, located at 1700 m altitude, is the largest lake in Turkey. It is an inland sea covering 3,713 km ². Visit the island of Akdamar (shuttle boat) to admire the church of the Holy Cross (Akdamar Kilisesi), a beautiful Armenian building dating from the tenth century.
Travel to Diyarbakir (6h).
Overnight in Diyarbakir www.kervansarayotel.com.tr
Day 5: 25/09: Diyarbakir-Savur - Mardin
Diyarbakir still has its Roman walls made of black basalt. Its the best preserved Roman wall of the Empire! A walk on the walls allows for a nice view over the valley of the Tigris. Visit the Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) that dates from 1091 and is one of the oldest mosques in Turkey.
In the small archaeological museum, there are many artifacts for the rich past of the region. The oldest objects are from the Neolithic site of Çayönü (7500 - 6500 BC).
Departure for the village of Savur, north of Mardin, considered as one of the most beautiful villages in Turkey. Built on the side of a hill, its narrow streets are lined with well-preserved old houses throughout the village. Walk for an hour or two toenjoy the quietness and charm of Eastern Turkey.
Overnight in Mardin, www.zinciriye.com
Day 6: 26/09: Mardin - Nemrut
Mardin, an eagle's nest located at 1200m altitude.
A small museum houses a collection of archaeological artifacts that link the city to the ancient Mesopotamian Empire. Its name, derived from the Aramaic, meaning "fortress." The city is near the Syrian border. It is built on a huge hill. At the top of the hill, stands the great mosque, a twelfth century Seljuk building. Despite the simple interior, the building is worth a look. Around the mosque lie the narrow streets of the bazaar. Visit the Coranic school, Sultan Isa Medresesi. Built in 1385, it was one of the places where the study of astronomy was the most advanced.
The "Saffron Monastery" is called so because of the yellowish color of the stones that were used to build it. The monastery belongs to the Syriac Orthodox Church. It was the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of 1160 to 1924 which was then transferred to Homs (1924-1959) and then to Damascus, Syria. The monastery still houses the tombs of the patriarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Syrian Church. Drive to Adiyaman (4:30 hours) , where you join the group. Drop off the car rental at the hotel in Adiyaman. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.
Day 7: 27/09: Nemrut Urfa-Harran-(tour group English speaking guide)
Very early in the morning, you’ll climb to the site to watch the sunrise over the heads of giant gods atop Mount Nemrut. On your way down the mountain, you’ll visit the Roman bridge and the tomb of Cendere Karakus. Back to the hotel for breakfast.
Drive to Urfa (2h). Visit on the way of the impressive Ataturk dam. After lunch, city tour, the pool of Abraham, the cave of Abraham, the bazaar. Drive to Harran village, where the mud houses are shaped like cones. Visit the ruins and return to the hotel in Urfa. Dinner and overnight at a hotel.
Day 8: 28/09: Urfa - Cappadocia
Drive to Adana and Cappadocia over the Taurus Mountains . Arrival in Cappadocia in the evening.
Dinner and overnight at www.kirkitpension.com
Day 9: 29/09: Cappadocia (mini-group)
Our vehicle takes us to the underground city of Derinkuyu, Deep 8 floors. We head off by car to the underground city of Derinkuyu, 8 floors deep. We`ll then hike down the magnificent Ihlara canyon from Ihlara to Belisirma whilst visiting some of its Byzantine rock churches. Lunch by the river. We drive onto the fairy chimneys of Selime and then return to your hotel.
Day 10: 30/09: Cappadocia (mini-group)
We`ll head off by car to the Open Air Museum of Göreme, where a big number of rock churches, monasteries and a refectory allow you to bring alive in your imagination how the Byzantine clergy lived at that time. Your guide will help you understand the meaning of the well preserved frescoes that you will see in the churches. From there, we`ll go to the amazing Pasabag Fairy Chimney valley which is probably one of the best places to understand the unique geological phenomenon of this incredible region. You`ll see fairy chimneys with multiple “hats” and how hermits lived in them. We`ll pass through the Devrent valley, yet another amazing fairy chimney valley, on our way to the village of Ürgüp with its traditional old houses. We`ll end of the day in Avanos, to visit the local potters, a tradition thousands of years old in the village. Overnight in Cappadocia (B/L)
Day 11: 01/10: Cappadocia
Half day guided hike in the fairy chimney valleys. Our vehicle will drop us off a tour staring point in the valley of Zindanonu with its Church and pigeon homes.
We’ll trek down the valley of Gulludere (Rose valley) and we’ll visit the church of Joachim and Ann, the church with the columns and the St. John’s church with three crosses. We’ll pass over a splendid view point to reach the valley of Kizilçukur (the red valley) whose colors and tuf a formations are fascinating. We’ll visit the church of Ayvali. Short drive back to your pension.
About 3:30 hours of walking.
Free afternoon.
Day 12: 02/10: Cappadocia - Istanbul
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Istanbul.
RATE: € 815 Per Person based on 2 people sharing a double room
Does not include Cappadocia-Istanbul domestic flight estimated at € 77 PP
The price includes:
All hotel accommodation with breakfast
2 day excursions with English speaking guide in Cappadocia
2 days tour with English speaking guide Nemrut and Urfa
Entrance fees to the sites
A half day of hiking
6 days car hire type with Fiat Albea A / C + drop off chargers
A transfer hotel / airport
3 dinners
4 lunches
