Itinerary

Friday - Day 1 - Istanbul to Cappadocia
09:00 am In the morning we will meet you in your Istanbul hotel and provide a transfer to domestic airport, then put you on a 1 hour flight to Cappadocia - Nevsehir airport, after arrival we will provide a transfer to Urgup town after check in the hotel you will have a free afternoon to relax and explore Urgup town on your own, Overnight stay in www.Assianahouse.com

Saturday - Day 2 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
This day will be spent exploring the amazing sites of Cappadocia. (For those who have bought optional hot air ballooning tour of Cappadocia ) Very, very early in the morning we will wake up to take a hot air balloon ride over the area. After this we will come back to the hotel for breakfast and a rest before setting out in late morning to see the rest of the sites.
Sites you’ll see today
*The World Heritage Site of Goreme Open-Air Museum --This is a cluster of rock cut Byzantine churches, chapels and monasteries which include some wonderful 11th and 12th century frescoes on the cave walls.
*Fairy Chimneys--These geological phenomenon have been shaped over millions of years. They were formed during volcanic eruptions in the region. Reaching at times 40 meters in height, they are conical in shape and have a "hat" top to them.
*Devrent Valley--This valley is know as "the pink valley" because of the color of it’s soil. This is a lovely place to wander around and look at the magical rock formations indicative to Cappadocia, including the Fairy Chimneys.
*Uchisar Castle--Also called a fortress, this is actually a formation of two gigantic rocks surrounded by smaller rocks that together form a natural fortress with towers. These formations were inhabited during both the Byzantine and Ottoman times.
*We will also get the chance to visit local craftspeople and learn how they make dolls and create traditional pottery. Overnight stay in Cappadocia. www.Assianahouse.com

Sunday - Day 3 - Cappadocia - (B/L)
Today will be spent walking through an underground city where ancient people once fled for their lives escaping the Arab invaders, wandering through Ilhara Gorge and spending time in an Anatolian village.
Sites you’ll see today
*Underground City of Derinkuyu -- You will gradually stroll your way down into the depths of the earth in this ancient underground city that has 18-20 floors as deep as 40 meters below the ground. Don’t worry, you will only go down to the 8th floor. Cappadocia has around 36 underground cities. Archeologists date these back to the time of the Hittites which lived 4000 years ago. Others believe they were inhabited around the 7th century BC.....Regardless of how old or young they are, undoubtedly they will leave you with a sense of awe of how the dwellers of these cities lived. As you wind down you will begin to feel as if you are in a huge block of Swiss cheese.
*Ihlara Gorge will seem like an oasis in the middle of the Anatolian plain. Delve into the gorge and see the beautiful greenery as you follow the river. Around you will see ancient monasteries complete with pigeon holes cut into the cliffs by the monks. They used these pigeons as messengers to communicate with their monk friends!
*Traditional Anatolian village -- The head-scarved women out at work in the fields from sun up until sun-down, and the mustached, vest-wearing men hard at work playing cards in the coffee shops. You will get time to stroll in such a village and see the average Turkish villager at work...or play. Overnight stay in Cappadocia

Monday - Day 4 - Cappadocia - Adiyaman - (B/L/D)
After breakfast we will depart from Cappadocia, drive all the way down to Adiyaman - kahtaand will stop on the way to try the Turkey's famous Maras Ice Cream, After arrival we will check in the hotel and overnight stay in Adiyaman - Kahta.

Tuesday - Day 5 - Nemrut Tour - then to Urfa - (B/L/D)
Around 03:00 am in the morning we will start our tour and drive up to Nemrut Mountain and then we will watch the sunrise on Mount Nemrut, the postcard setting for the amazing statues at the Commagene Temple. In this area we will visit the capital of the Commagene Kingdom; Arsaemia; a tumulus on Karakus Hill and Cendere Bridge, before heading to Sanliurfa. Stay overnight in Urfa.
After lunch we will explore more of Urfa the city that's Famous for kebabs, this city in fact has a great historical past. The Lake of Sacred Fish being the focal point and the adjacent Halilurrahman Mosque and Dersa Mosque. Near Urfa, bordering Syria we come across a famed city of Mesopotamia, Harran with earthen mud huts and remains of palace and mosque. Return to Urfa where we will spend the night.

Wednesday - Day 6 - Urfa to Van - (B/D)
After breakfast we will start from Sanliurfa and all day drive to Van, Arrival in Van, check in the hotel, free day & Overnight stay. Akdamar Oteli

Thursday - Day 7 - Van - (B)
Breakfast provided in the hotel, Full day tour in Van, visiting Lake Van, Ahdamar Island, Monasteries, and sites on the way, Overnight stay in Van. Akdamar Hotel
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Archaeological excavations and surveys carried out in Van province indicate that the history of human settlement in this region goes back at least as far as 5000 B.C. The Tilkitepe Mound, which is on the shores of Lake Van and a few kilometres to the south of Van Castle, is the only source of information about the oldest culture of Van.
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Friday - Day 8 - Van to Dogubeyazit - (B/D)
After breakfast departure from Van to Dogubeyazit and visit the Ishak Pasa Sarayi & Overnight stay in Dogubeyazit. Nuh Hotel

Saturday - Day 9 - Dogubeyazit to Kars - (B/D)
After breakfast we will depart from Dogubeyazit and drive straight to Kars and visit Ani and Overnight stay in Kars.
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The town of Doğubeyazıt is a settlement with a long history. It lies 15 km southwest of Mount Ararat, The town stands on a plain surrounded by some of Turkey's highest peaks including: Ararat (5,137m).
However Doğubeyazıt attracts visitors to Mount Ararat, who usually stop to see the Ishak Pasha Palace and other historical monuments, and others crossing the border to Iran.
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Sunday - Day 10 - (B/L/D) Kars to Yusufeli - (B/D)
After breakfast we will depart from Kars to Yusufeli, arrival, check in the hotel, after that you will spend the day walking through the valleys, Overnight stay in Yusufeli, Hotel Barcelona

Monday Day 11 - Yusufeli to Trabzon - (B)
After breakfast we will depart from Yusufeli and drive straight to Trabzon, Arrival in Trabzon, check in the hotel, Overnight stay. Horon Hotel

Tuesday Day 12 - (B/D) Trabzon
After breakfast we will provide a trip to Sumela Monastery, Overnight stay in Trabzon, Horon Hotel
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Little about Sumela Monastery sits high up on the cliffs of mouth Mela, southeast of Trabzon. It was founded in the 4 th century by 2 Greek monks, Barnabas and Sophronius, who were guided to the site by an icon of a "black" image of the Virgin, allegedly painted by St. Luke. After their deaths, sumela became a place of pilgrimage. It was decorated with frescoes, and its treasures included priceless manuscripts and silver plates. The monastry was built several times -the ruins seen by today's visitors date largely 19 th century. In the Ottoman era, sumela enjoyed the protection of the sultans, but it was abandoned and badly damage during the War of independence. In recent years, extensive restoration has been carried out.
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Wednesday Day 13 - Trabzon to Istanbul - (B)
After breakfast we will provide a transfer to Trabzon Airport and put you on a 1 hour 30 minute flight to Istanbul, arriving in Istanbul will be the end of this program.

Tour ends

Cost will be € 1655 person in double room and € 2.280 Euros for single supp..

Price includes
* All of the hotels ( Each of them individually chosen )
* All of the land transfers with comfortable vehicles
* All of the meal mentioned in the itinerary ( B-breakfast, L-lunch & D-dinner )
* Professional English speaking tour guides
* Domestic flight tickets from Istanbul to Cappadocia
* Domestic flight tickets from Trabzon to Istanbul
* All of the TAX and service charges

Excludes
* International flight tickets to Istanbul
* Drinks with meals
* Hot Air Balloon ride on Cappadocia ( 15 percent discount if booked with this tour )

We can always organise your istanbul hotel accomadation and customize this program and match your dates,