8 DAYS BLACK SEA EASTERN TURKEY TOUR – TURKEY

AVAILABLE: Every day

MEALS: Full Board as mentioned in the itinerary.

Welcome to Turkey!

8 Days through the East of Turkey Through the Zigana Mountains, visiting Sumela Monastery,
Mount Ararat the resting place of Noa’s Ark, the medieval Armenian City of Ani,
The Church of the Holy Cross, the wonderful Kurdish castle of Hosap near the Iranian Border.
As well as experiencing all the culture and mysteries left behind by the Hittites, Urartians, Persian, Armenians, Macedonians, Romans and finally the Turks during their occupation of the Eastern Region of Turkey.

Welcome to Trabzon. Today is your arrival day. Airport transfers are available from airport or bus station during the hours of 8:00am til 8:00pm. Transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Depart for St. Sophia (Ayasofya), a 13th century church and study its extraordinary collection
of Byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Castle and Ataturk’s Mansion (a picturesque hillside retreat), visit Ortahisar Mosque (a Comneni cathedral in the old town). Lunch at a seaside restaurant in Akcaabat. Afternoon we explore the cobbled stone streets of Trabzon. Drive to Boztepe; enjoy our tea from samovar with the panoramic view of the city.
Overnight in Trabzon.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4th century Sumela Monastery which clings to a sheer cliff face in a deep forest, relax beside a fast flowing stream at Altindere Valley National Park, lunch, traveling along the Silk Road through the Zigana Mountains (Pontic Alps) will take us to Karaca Cave, considered to be the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and formations. Drive to Erzurum via Bayburt.
Overnight in Erzurum.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

An early morning departure from Erzurum will take us on a beautiful drive to Kars passing on the way Sarikamis, the coldest spot in Turkey. We will arrive in Kars and visit Ani at the Turkish-Armenian border. We will take a 45-minute drive to the medieval Armenian City of Ani, which lies mostly in ruins.
Impressive fortified walls still encircle the ruins of numerous churches, mosques and caravansaries.
Enjoy a walk around the ruins and see the beautiful view to the Armenian border imagining it as a city with one million people rivaling Bagdad in its time! This city has experienced the cultures of Urartians, Armenians, Georgians, Mongols, Russians and finally the Turks.
Overnight in Kars.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

This morning we will drive for 3 1/2 hours along the “Silk Road” to Dogubeyazit.
At the Iranian border we will see a site known as the Crater Hole. This is a beautiful, yet rugged area. We will have the opportunity to see Mount 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. In the afternoon we will stop and see the Ishak Pasa Palace. This complex is a combination of a mosque, a fortress, and a palace which originally had a room for every day of the year!
Below you can also see the remains of Eski Bayazit, and Urartian City which flourished in 1000 BC.
Overnight in Kars.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

After visiting the Iranian border, we will depart for Van in the early morning, a drive of approximately three hours. This city has been established 13th century BC, when the Hurrites arrived. Then the Hittites, Urartians, Persian, Armenians, Macedonians, Romans and finally in the 11th century the Turks came here.

From here, we will visit the finest Armenian architectural wonder of the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island. We’ll also visit the wonderful Kurdish castle of Hosap very close to the Iranian border as well as the Urartian citadel.
Overnight in Van.

(Breakfast and Dinner included)

After visiting the eerie 12th century Selcuk cemetery in Ahlat in the morning we will head to Bitlis for lunch and a good walk around, Batis otherwise known as Alexander’s town. Its a unique medieval town!
Overnight in Diyarbakir.

(Breakfast included)

Today your tour is over. Please make your own arrangements for departure remembering that your hotel will need you to check out before midday. We hope you had a memorable tour and we look forward to seeing you in the future on another Antropoti Tour.
Have a safe trip back home and thanks for choosing Antropoti!

8 DAYS BLACK SEA EASTERN TURKEY TOUR INCLUDES:

• Return airport transfers
• 3 star, 4 star and Boutique Hotels in each area
• 2 nights hotel in Trabzon including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Erzurum including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Kars including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Dogu Bayazit including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Van including breakfast and dinner
• 1 night hotel in Diyabakir including breakfast and dinner
• Guided tour in Trabzon
• Guided tour in Erzurum
• Guided tour in Kars
• Guided tour in Dogubeyazit
• Guided tour in Van
• Guided tour in Diyarbakir
• All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary
• Transportation in a fully air-conditioned, non-smoking coach
• Professional English-speaking tour guides

8 DAYS BLACK SEA EASTERN TURKEY TOUR EXCLUDES:

• International flights
• Personal expenses: Lunches, extras at hotel or additional meals
• Tipping: Tips for guides and drivers
• Insurance: All types

Please Note:
If there are more than 4 travelers, we can provide you a special discounted price. Please contact us for requests and more information.
We have special rates for private tours if you are interested in doing your tour on private basis. Please contact us for requests and more information.

What are the discounts for children?
Under 2 years of age, your child will travel free of charge by land. Flight ticket insurance cost will be 20 Euro only.
Children under 6 years of age are charged at 50% of a full priced adult tour in Istanbul
Children 7-11 years of age are charged at 75% of a full priced adult tour in Istanbul.
Children above 11 years are full priced adult fares.

Price: at request

NOTE: Book minimum one month earlier before visiting.

Additional info

• Confirmation will be received at time of booking