HIGHLANDS CIVILIZATIONS (15 NIGHTS/ 16 DAYS)

DAY 1 ( VAN)

Early today we fly to Van

This morning we hop a ferry toAkdamar,a tiny island in Lake Van, to view its Armenian cathedral. 

The recently restored reliefs on the exterior of the tenth-century structure depict a variety of Old Testament stories, as well as more mundane scenes of life at the ancient palace. 

The church’s conversion into a museum stirred up controversy in the Armenian community, where the cathedral is still considered sacred. 

In 2010, the Van government allowed an Armenian worship service to take place here for the first time in over 100 years. After exploring the cathedral, we'll take a walk through the surrounding meadows to admire the church's idyllic setting. 

After lunch, we’ll embark on a short hike back on the mainland to explore Van Kalesi (Castle), also known as the Rock of Van, an ancient Urartu fortress dating from the eighth century BC. 

The ruins of Van Kalesi make up the largest Urartu fortress in the world and the wall still contains a trilingual inscription from a later ruler, Xerxes the Great. 

Then, we’ll enjoy dinner back at our hotel.

DAY 2 (VAN)

Drive to Çavustepe an Urartuien site with temples 9 and 8 BC. 

This historic city is set along the southeastern shores of Turkey’s largest lake—Lake Van—a crystal-clear salinelake encircled by craggy, snowcapped mountains. 

Upon arrival, we’ll visit Cavustepe, a royal Urartian citadel consisting of temple buildings, a palace, sacrificial altar, and an extraordinarily advanced series of ancient cisterns. 

We’ll spend the morning exploring the site, then enjoy lunch at a local restaurant.

This afternoon, we take a walking tour of the city to walk in the city center to fell easterns life.

In the center of the city stands a statue of one of Van’s most famous icons—the Van Kedisi, an unusual breed of cat that typically has white fur, mismatched eyes (Blue and Green), and an affinity for swimming. 

They’ve been known to dive happily into Lake Van just for fun. 

Their numbers are dwindling and export is strictly forbidden, so Van cats are rarely seen anywhere else on Earth.

Dinner is at our hotel this evening.

DAY 3 (VAN, KARS)

Drive to Kars .

On the way to see World Haritage siteIshakpasa Palace.

Today, as we journey north through Eastern Anatolia, near the borders of Iran and Armenia, we enjoy views of green meadows carpeting a rugged landscape where trees are sparse and snowcapped volcanoes loom in the distance.

We’ll pause along our journey at the Muradiye Waterfalls to observe their frothing falls from a wooden bridge, and continue on through the rugged terrain surrounding nearby Mount Ararat—legendary resting place of Noah’s Ark. 

Then we visit the Ishak Pasha Palace. 

Rising magnificently from a dusty plain along the Silk Route close to the Iranian border, the palace is a magnificent example of 18th-century Ottoman architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Stay overnight in Kars.

Dinner this evening is at our hotel in Kars.

DAY 4 (KARS)

Drive 1 hour to Eastern border with Armenia and Turkey to see Ani city 10'th and 11 'th Century city with its churches 

This morning we visit Ani, the ancient walled Armenian capital that once rivaled Constantinople and Baghdad in size and magnificence. Known as the “city of 1,001 churches,” the ruins here still contain the same bright red, black and pale yellow hues as when they were originally built from colorful local volcanic basalt in the tenth century. Ani never fully recovered from a devastating 1319 earthquake and has been deserted for over 300 years. 

An archaeological site of great significance to Armenia, the ruins were rarely seen by visitors in the 20th century due to Ani’s proximity to the Armenian and Soviet borders.

Overnightand dinner at hotel in Kars.

DAY 5 (KARS, AYDER PLATEAU-BLACK SEA)

After breakfast we drive to The highlands in foothills of the Kaçkar mountain range with their unspoiled natural surroundings and charming highland houses are a must-see.  

The Ayder Highland is the most well-known highland along the Black Sea. 

Drive to the Hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 6 AYDER-KAVRAN HIGHLANDS

Today we enjoy the beauty of black sea mountains with its pllateaus , to hire a minibus to go Kavran plateau.

With an elevation of 1350 m. Çamlıhemşin-Aşağı and Yukarı Kavran Highlands The Aşağı Kavran highland, located 19 km in southeast of Çamlıhemşin, can be reached via a 10 km dirt road that starts in Ayder. 

It is 3 km from Aşağı Kavran to Yukarı Kavran. It is about 8 km from the highland village of Yukarı Kavran, (elevation 2300 m) to the peak of Kaçkar Mountain(3937 m.). The village is the base camp for climbers on their way to Kaçkar. 

Than we drive back to our hotel to have some rest and enjoy efternoon. 

Dinner is at  hotel.

DAY 7 (AYDER, TRABZON)

After breakfast wa drive to Trabzon , Before we leave Ayder region  you may have chance to have an Optional Rafting tour in Fırtına River. 

After lunch on the way to see Sumela Monestary which is UNESCO World Haritage Site.Its construction began in AD 385. Clinging perilously to the sheer face of a cliff overlooking a lush valley, the 72-room monastery complex dedicated to the Virgin Mary. 

Trabzon, situated along Turkey's Black Sea coast. Trabzon is birthplace of Suleiman the Magnificent, the most influential and longest-reigning sultan of the Ottoman Empire.

Drive to hotel for dinner and overnight in Trabzon.

DAY 8 (TRABZON) 

Half day tour of Trabzon to see Hagia Sophia Mosque in Trabzon.

Aya Sofya, a Byzantine-era cathedral adorned with spectacular frescoes.

Leaving the Aya Sofya, we discover more of Trabzon as we stroll from the Zagros Bridge to our hotel, where we enjoy dinner this evening in a local restaurant.

Overnight at hotel in Trabzon.

DAY 9 (TRABZON, SIVAS)

The province of Sivas is located at the eastern part of the Central Anatolian Region and is located on the course of the historical Silk Road and the Kings Road. 

The province of Sivas provides interesting vacation possibilities for visitors with its natural beauties, historical background and thermal springs.

After lunch we visit highlights of Saljuk Turkish State and Mongolians buildings.

Şifaiye Theological School: The structure is located at the city center inside the Seljukian park just opposite of the Double Minaret Theological School. 

The structure was constructed by the Sultan of the Seljukians I. İzzeddin Keykavus in 1217. The theological school was one of the oldest and greatest of the Anatolian Seljukian Medical schools and hospitals. 

Çifte Minareli (Double Minaret) Theological School: The theological school is located in the city center. The building was constructed by the vizier of İlhanlı, Şemseddin Mehmet Cüveyni in 1271. 

Only the original eastern side of the structure is still standing. 

Than drive to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 10 ( SIVAS- DIVRIGI UNESCO SITE)

The magnificent building called Divriği Ulu Camii and Daru'ş-şifa (old Mosque and Hospital) in the World Art History was built by lord of Mengücek Feudal Ahmet Şah in 1228. Şifahane (Hospital) was built by Ahmet Şah's wife Melike Turan. Divriği Ulu Camii is also known as Fatma Hatun Camii or Ahmet Şah Camii.

This building has some differences from the others. For example, the 3D geometric styles and botanic designs were said "unique" by art historians and architects. Designs which embroider on doors and walls are asymmetric and every square have over then a thousand patterns. The foreman had always renovated himself. All the styles were arranged for showing unity of God..

We drive back to Sivas to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 11 (SIVAS, CAPPADOCIA)

After breakfast we drive to Cappadocia

Upon arriving cappadocia we visit Kaymaklı Underground City .During the Hittite era, as successive armies swept across Asia Minor, underground cities were built as a uniquely defensible community, approximately eight stories underground. 

We can explore some of the hundreds of rooms, wandering the many narrow, sloping passageways between kitchens with enameled food storage areas, water cisterns, stables, and living spaces—all well ventilated by air shafts.

At one time, several thousand people lived here 

Than we drive to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 12 (CAPPADOCIA) 

Cappadocia is one of Turkey’s most fanciful and recognizable landscapes.

Today you may have an Optional Hot Air Balloon tour and during this optional hot-air balloon flight, we’ll soar over its amber terrain and fairy-tale chimneys, savoring a unique panorama in the quiet, rosy light of dawn.

We’ll drive to the famous Goreme “open-air museum,” a group of ancient churches carved from the rock. 

Most of these chapels have colorful frescoes inside, which date from the tenth to the 13th centuries.

Than we drive shortly to Uchisar Castle which is the panoramic watching point Cappadocia. 

Many rooms, steps, tunnel and galleries inside the castle.

This afternoon we visit Zelve open -Air Museum.

This nature site is the perfect place to take photos of remarkable landscape of tufa cones.

Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

DAY 13 (CAPPADOCIA)

We'll see more of this scenic area of Cappadocia.

Dervent valley The small fairy chimneys in the valley form a lunar landscape, or moonscape, by their strange look. 

The valley also has many animal shaped rocks. It looks like a sculpture zoo made by nature 

After lunch ,this afternoon we have hike to Rose Valley is a large valley located between Goreme and Cavusin villages, and it is divided into many smaller valleys: Gulludere, Kizilcukur, Meskendir and Zindanonu valleys. 

This beautiful valley gets its name from the rose-colored rock that varies in hue and intensity depending on time of day, season and weather conditions. 

Return to hotel or before dinner we have an optional Whirling Dervish tour,you can be witness the "Ritual of Sema." 

The Semazens, also called “whirling dervishes,” believe that the fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve. 

Dinner and overnight.

DAY 14 ( CAPPADOCIA- HITTITE SITE , ANKARA)

The archaeological site of Hattusha in UNESCO Sites List, former capital of the Hittite Empire, is notable for its urban organization, the types of construction that have been preserved (temples, royal residences, fortifications), the rich ornamentation of the Lions' Gate and the Royal Gate, and the ensemble of rock art at Yazilikaya. 

The city enjoyed considerable influence in Anatolia and northern Syria in the 2nd millennium B.C.

We drive to Ankara.

Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 15 (ANKARA )

After breakfast we  visit  to see Anatolian Civil. Museum and Ataturk Mosel.Turkey’s capital and second largest city. Our first stop will be the fascinating Museum of Anatolian Civilisations (The Hittite Museum) with its display of treasures and artefacts from the Assyrian trade colonies, the mighty Hittite Empire, and the Phyrgian and Urartu civilisations. lunch in local restaurant.

Dinner and overnight at hotel in Ankara.

DAY 16 DEPARTURE DAY

This morning we get ready to be transferred to the airport for your flight.

Important information

Passport or ID required. 

This tour is a long day(s) that involves a lot of walking, so it may not be suitable for people with limited mobility or children. 

PRICE INCLUDES:

*Hotel pick up-drop off

*Hotel with half board (Only breakfast at the hotel is included )

*Guidance

*Entrance fees 

Excluded

Flight tickets (International & National) 

All meals and drinks are not included.Only breakfast at the hotel is included

Important information

Please note that all times are approximate and subject to change.

The Guide may make corrections and adaptations in the course of the tour program according to the conditions and situations of the planned places of visits

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