Istanbul-Ankara-Cappadocia-Nemrut Mt.-Van-Dogubeyazit-Trabzon-Istanbul

After breakfast at the hotel, Morning visit to the fascinating Hittite Museum, Where the remains of the 16 different civilizations, which have inhabited Anatolia, are displayed. Continue to Ataturk's Maousoleum, the resting place of the founder of modern Turkey, who was responsible for revolutionising the country, and is stil revered as a great national hero. Then we leave Ankara for Cappadocia, After lunch enroute, We will stop by the second biggest lake of Turkey, Tuz Gölu (Salt Lake), And We visit The 13th Century Seljukian Caravanserai on the way to Cappadocia. Upon arrival, Check in to the hotel.

Day-3: Cappadocia tour

Depart from your hotel to visit Devrent Valley to see the unique fairy-chimneys. Drive to Pasabagi (Monk's Valley) to see the most interesting mushroom-shaped pinnacles. Drive to the city of Avanos for lunch. In the afternoon visit another beautiful open-air museum at Göreme where the remains of rock-cut churches and frescoes and Christian settlements date back hundreds of years. Lastly, before returning to your hotel, visit the natural rock castles at Uçhisar. Stay overnight in Urgup.

Day-4: Cappadocia tour

Depart from your hotel to visit Red valley, explore the famous rock-cut churches and hike 5 km through the Gulludere valley. Then visit Çavusin village. This village is famous for the houses and churches of the Christian clergymen. Drive to the pigeon valley for lunch. In the afternoon, visit Derinkuyu underground city where Early Christians lived in fear and faith. On the way back visit the natural rock castles at Ortahisar and the Greek village of Mustafapasa. Stay overnight in Urgup.

Day-5: Cappadocia - Silk Road - Mt Nemrut

Departure from Cappadocia for Adiyaman. After 1.5 hours driving we visit the Seljuk Karatayhan Caravanserai on the famous Silk Road. Then we drive through the Taurus Mountain Chain, giving you the opportunity to observe the countryside and daily life of rural Turkey, which is completely different to that in coastal resorts. After having lunch enroute , we head towards Kahramanmaras, which is most famous for its ice cream. We stroll through the Local Bazaar for a while and after that head towards Kahta to spend the night.

Day-6: Mount Nemrut tour - Sanliurfa - Harran

After brekafast at the hotel, we will leave for Mt Nemrut see the Colossal God statues on 3 different terraces overlooking the whole plateau and the Ataturk Dam. Then We visit Mithridates I Hierothesion in Arsemia, which was once the capital of the Kommagene Kingdom. We then visit the Old Roman Cendere Bridge over the Cendere Stream.We visit the Karakuþ tumulus where the royal family members were buried. Then we head on to Sanliurfa, on the way we visit Ataturk Dam, which is in one of the biggest projects of Turkey (GAP). we arrive at Urfa at noon where we have lunch. We visit the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham with its mosques, Abraham's birth-cave, and beautiful gardens. Then we visit another archeological site, Harran, a mystical and ancient 'bee-hive' house village built of mud-brick, which is mentioned in Genesis as also being a place where Abraham lived. At the same site we will visit the first Islamic University of the world. We then check in to the hotel and have dinner.

Day-7: Mardin - Diyarbakir

We leave Urfa for Mardin, which is seen from the south at a distance. It looks spectacular, tiered layers of houses, mansions, mosques and churches rising out of the endless, level plain and clinging to a huge citadel-topped rock. In Mardin, we visit Deyrulzafran monastery (Saffron Monastery), which is still used by the Syrian Orthodox communities. In this monastery we first visit an underground vault, which is said to have been used as a temple by sun-worshippers as long ago as 2000 BC. The tour moves on from here to the chapel, with fine relief-decorated arches and a carved stone altar, and the Patriarch's or Metropolitan's throne, on which are carved the names of all the patriarchs since 792 AD. After visiting the monastery, we drive to Diyarbakir. We visit the city walls of Diyarbakir, which was built by the Romans. Then we visit the Ulu Cami, the first of Anatolia's great Seljuk Mosques. Stay overnight in Diyarbakir.

Day-8: Diyarbakir - Van - Bitlis

After breakfast at the hotel, We leave Diyarbakir for Van. We drive to Bitlis to visit a 13th century Theological School. Lunch Enroute. We catch the ferryboat to Akdamar Island, situated in the biggest lake in Turkey, to view an exquisite example of an Armenian Church. Stay overnight in Van.

Day-9:Van tour

First we visit Hosap Castle, which was constructed at the behest of Sari Suleyman Mahmudi, a local Kurdish strong man, in the 1640s. According to legend, he was so pleased with the result when the castle was completed that he had the architect's hands chopped off, to ensure that he would never build another to rival it. After Hosap Castle, we continue to Çavustepe, the site of an Urartian Royal Palace, built between 764 and 735 BC by King Sardur II. Then we have lunch in Van. In the afternoon we visit Van Castle, which is 100m high and 300m wide at the base. It was just the sort of place that the Urartians favoured for their strongholds. It was the site of an Urartian temple, of which only a couple of arched niches remain. Cuneiform inscriptions on a statue based in one of the niches document the life and works of Menua, an important Urartian King. After visiting Van castle we go back to the hotel and stay in Van.

Day-10 :Van - Dogubeyazit tour

We leave Van after breakfast at the hotel. On the way to Dogubeyazit we stop at the wonderful Muradiye Waterfall. Then we head for Ishakpasa Palace, a 17th century palace set on a 200m high plateau overlooking the town. The architect seems to have taken elements from every architectural style extant in Anatolia and incorporated them into the palace's construction. We also visit the Crater which is situated right by the Iranian Frontier. Stay overnight in Dogubeyazit.

Day-11:Van - Kars tour - Ani

We drive to Kars, which has a spectacular castle and still has fine examples of Armenian architecture, one of which is the breathtaking site of the ancient city of Ani located on the Armenian-Turkish border. Stay overnight in Kars.

Day-12 Kars - Trabzon tour

We drive west along the Black Sea to Trabzon, founded by the Kingdom of Miletus, the largest city in the Black Sea region. The route will go through a forested region, passing through small, unspoiled villages untouched by tourism. On the way to Trabzon we will have a break on the tea plantation area.We shall arrive in Trabzon in the late afternoon, giving some free time to enjoy the city at your own pace. Stay overnight in Trabzon.

Day-13:Trabzon tour - Istanbul

After breakfast we visit the Hagia Sophia Museum with its spectacular frescoes, We then head inland to visit the mystical Sumela Monastery, dating back to early Christianity, which was built high into the side of the steep cliff face. Stay in Trabzon for a second night.

Day - 14: Istanbul - Home

Transfer to Trabzon airport for your morning flight to Istanbul.