Your guide will meet you on arrival at Kars Airport, and transferred you to your hotel. After a short rest at the hotel, we have lunch at a local restaurant. We are going to visit the Ani Ruins, 50 km away.
Ani had its heyday between 953 and 1020 when it served as the capital of the Armenian Kingdom. The city of Ani was captured by the Byzantines in 1045 ending the Kingdom of Armenia. Then in 1064, Seljuk Emperor Alpaslan conquered Eastern Anatolia and took it from the Byzantines. Today, Ani is on the Unesco World Heritage List. Ani ruins spread over a wide area with the Gate of Lions, Church of the Redeemer (St. Prkitch), Stone Bridge, Seljuk Palace, Church of Saint Gregory of Tigran Hornets, and the Inner Fortress. Next, we’ll see historical artifacts such as Menüçehr Mosque, Ani Cathedral, Monastery of the Hripsimian Virgins, and Cathedral of Kars, also known as the Holy Apostles Church.
After our visits, we’ll head to Kars city center. Here, we recommend you to try Kars specialties such as goose meat, honey, Kars cheese, Kars gruyere cheese, yellowfish, Hengel, and kit, which you can also buy as souvenirs. In Kars, you’ll also realize buildings featuring Russian architecture and that the city’s climate and geography are similar to that of Russian cities.
Dinner and accommodation at Kars . ( Breakfast – Lunch - Dinner )
Today, we will continue our tour with a trip to the South. On the way, we will enjoy the beautiful geography of Eastern Anatolia and see the ruins left by ancient civilizations, which offer a glimpse into their way of life. We will arrive in Doğubayazıt via Iğdır city. We’ll give a lunch break and visit the famous Ishak Pasha Palace. It is said that the construction of the 116-room palace took 99 years. After we tour this magnificent palace overlooking Mount Ararat, we will depart for Van bypassing the Tendürek Mountain accompanied by beautiful views. After seeing the second-largest meteor pit in the world, we continue to the van.
At the end of a 7- hour bus journey, we’ll arrive at Van, one of the largest cities in Eastern Turkey located on the shores of Lake Van, Turkey's largest lake (3,713 square km).
Dinner and accommodation in Van. ( Breakfast – Dinner
We start today's tour in Van Castle, known as Tuspa Castle in the olden days. The castle, which overlooks Lake Van, was built by the Urartu King Sarduri 2800 years ago. It became the capital of the Urartu Kingdom with the name Tuspa. Inside the castle, there are also rock tombs belonging to the Urartu Kings. Next, we’ll visit the Akdamar Church located on the Akdamar Island in Lake Van, which was built with magnificent stonework and later restored by the Turkish government. We’ll reach the island on boats from the pier in the Edremit district and enjoy the wonderful lake and mountain scenery. We’ll continue on our way to Ahlat. Lunch break on the way. Afterward, we will go to Ahlat, 45 km away. The largest Turkish-Islamic cemetery in the world, founded in 1200 by the Seljuks, has 8,169 tombstones. Some tombstones are 3.5 meters long. What makes the tombstones special is the inscriptions and decorations on them. After seeing the Grand Vault, Emir Bayindir Mosque, and the tombstones. Arrival to Tatvan is located near the Van lake, it is very beautiful tow.
Dinner and accommodation in Tatvan. ( Breakfast – Dinner )
Today, we will have an enjoyable journey by watching the exquisite view of the changing geography. We will take a short coffee break in Bitlis, one of the oldest settlements in Anatolia.
We are taking a short tea break in Batman, a modern city. Passing Hasankeyf, one of the ancient settlements of the ancient world and now under the waters of the dam, we arrive in Midyat. Midyat is famous for its unique architectural structures, stone houses, and handcrafted gold and silver jewelry called filigree. After shopping, we will see the beautiful view from the terrace of Midyat Guest House. Midyat resembles a fairy tale city. Lunch break in a local restaurant.
Arrival in Mardin, dinner, and accommodation in Mardin ( Breakfast – Dinner )
Mardin tour is exciting, you feel in an incredibly enjoyable world.
The narrow passages that connect the parallel streets of Mardin and are called 'Abbara' also inspired an Art Biennale. It doesn't matter if you enter a restaurant or a jeweler in Mardin; It is as if you are holding in your hands the history and culture that determines people's daily lives.
we’ll start our tour of Old Mardin from the Kasımiye Madrasah (Mosque Kebir), which has a rich cultural mosaic with its architectural structure that gives a mystical Muslim, Syriac, Turkish, Arabian atmosphere to the city, bringing together different religions and languages, the Ulu Mosque and the Minaret, Şehidiye Madrasa and Old Post Office Building. After our visits, we will have free time in Mardin and have lunch with traditional dishes in a local restaurant. Shopping, local products, natural soaps (Sabuncu Mehmet), nuts, and Mardin-specialities like almond candies, dried fruits, sweets, rosary, and similar handmade accessories and souvenirs. While drinking your coffee in a cafeteria, watch the vast Mesopotamian landscape through the buildings decorated with stonework.
We will visit Dara, one of the most important ancient cities of Mesopotamia with its 3500 years of history. The water cistern built during the Romans is an impressive and magnificent work in Dara.
Dinner and accommodation in Mardin. ( Breakfast – Dinner
After breakfast early departure for Diyarbakır ( 90 Km ) we will visit the Diyarbakır Castle and Fortress, city walls, three-legged Minaret Hasan Pasha Inn, and the Ulu Mosque. lunch in a traditional restaurant. Mount Nemrut where the tumulus of the Commagene King Antiochus Antiochus I and huge head statues are located. This place will be one of the highlights of the entire trip.
With the narration of our guide, we will admire the history of the region. We will see the Karakuş Tumulus and Cendere Bridge in the Arsaemia ancient city. After some climbing, we will see the Zeus, Apollon, Heracles, Antiochhos, Commagene, Eagle, and Lion sculptures on the eastern terrace of the Nemrut summit. The tumulus of the Commagene King Antiochus Antiochus I is at the top. You will see the altars and sculptures on the western terrace as well. It is impossible not to be impressed by the magnificent view and the beauty of the colossal statues at the top of Mount Nemrut. After this visit, we will head for Adiyaman (90 km)
Arrival and overnight in Adiyaman ( Breakfast – Dinner )
After breakfast in our hotel, we’ll start our tour of Urfa, also known as the City of the Prophets. Here, we’ll see the Halil-Ür Rahman Mosque, Rızvaniye Mosque, Balıklıgöl ( Fish lake ), Ayn-el Zeliha Lake, and the pit where the Prophet Abraham was thrown into the fire. The city of Prophets has very fertile lands with great plains, and it is one of Turkey's most important agricultural centers. After our visits, we will have free time for shopping at Bedesten and Gümrük Inn.
Next, we will admire the Urfa Archlologial Museum, where many historical artifacts from Anatolian civilizations are exhibited, and the Mosaic Museum.
Lunch at a local restaurant, sampling Urfa's famous kebab and local dishes.
Visit Göbeklitepe, the oldest temple in the world with a history of 12.000 years. In the mysterious atmosphere of the temple, you will feel the mysticism in your bones. Göbeklitepe is the oldest open-air temple in the world, dating back to the Stone Age, which started a new era in the history of world archeology, and even changed the world's human history. Then we return to Urfa.
Dinner and overnight in Sanliurfa. ( Breakfast – Dinner )
*** Dinner is in the Sıra Gecesi musical program with traditional music, highly recommended.
Gaziantep Tour starts early drive to Halfeti dam after breakfast in Adiyaman hotel.
Halfeti district is also known as the hidden paradise of the Southeast with its historical stone houses, black roses, and natural beauties. Next, we will visit the Savaşan Village, a large part of which is underwater, therefore called "the sunken city", on a boat. During the Halfeti boat tour, we will see Rumkale, which is said to have reproduced the Gospel of St. Paul, the apostle of Jesus, from the boat, accompanied by a magnificent view. Architectural ruins in Rumkale have Late Roman and Medieval characteristics, and the Greek castle, which has the ruins of structures such as old water cisterns, St. Nerses Church, Barşavma Monastery, which has a magnificent visual view.
We will see the Sunken Mosque, and have plenty of time to take photos of the scenery and have coffee by the dam lake. Afterward, we will drive to Gaziantep.
We take lunch with delicious local dishes of Gaziantep and the famous pistachio baklava.
Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the second-largest mosaic museum in the world. Afterward, we will go for a shopping trip to Bakırcılar Bazaar, Almacı Bazaar, and Zincirli Bedesten.
End of the tour. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep. (Breakfast – Dinner )
After breakfast you transferred to Gaziantep Airport Flight to Istanbul. Transfer hotel Free time for shopping.
Overnight in Istanbul. ( Breakfast )
Free time until your flight time. Private transfer to Istanbul Airport where you can connect to your onward flight to your next destination. ( Breakfast )
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