ITINERARY
Day 01 Wed: Cappadocia - Kahta (Adiyaman)
We leave the Land of Beautiful Horses and weird rock formations and head out across Turkey's hinterland, along the ancient Silk Road via Kayseri and stopping at Karatay Han before proceeding to Adiyaman. Overnight in Kahta. (BD)
Day 02 Thu: Kahta(Adiyaman) – Nemrut-Adiyaman
After breakfast leave for nemrut Mountain,.Come to Kahta and then go to Narince Village. We will travel to the top of Mount NemrutTombs of Commagene Kingdom and the Colossal Statues of Gods. climbing up to Tumulus of Antiochos, Arsameia and Nymphaios, the capital of Kommagene. We will visit Nemrutdag National Park ,Visits to the Cendere the Roman bridge, Karakus cemetery the tumulus where the royal women of Kommagene were buried.Overnight Adiyaman. (BD)
Day 03 Fri: Batman-Hasankeyf-Batman
Leave for Batman , passing the Ataturk dam on the Euphrates to Batman. Arrive to Batman. Check in the hotel. Afternoon drive to Hasankeyf, situated by the Tigris River; soon to be submerged under the flood waters of a new dam on the Tigris, Hasankeyf has hundreds of caves, hidden waterways, tombs, a larger and smaller Palace, as well as ruins of the Great Mosque.Drive back to Batman. Dinner and Overnight Batman. (BD)
Day 04 Sun: Nemrut-Ahlat-Tatvan
We will drive to Tatvan via Bitlis. Before we come to Tatvan we will stop to see El Aman Han and then travel to Mount Nemrut crater and take a picnic lunch by the Crater Lakes Nemrut Mountain (not to be confused with Nemrut Dagi in Adiyaman), which rises above Tatvan on the southwestern edge of Lake Van. The highest peak of the mountain stands at 3050 metres and is one of the largest complete calderas in the world. The volcanic cone was believed to have originally been higher. It was at 4450 metres before its eruption (the last time it was active was in 1440 BC). There are five lakes within the crater, adn the largest two, which you will visit, are very different and then from Nemrut we will leave for Ahlat to visit the Seljuk monuments. Come back to Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van. Overnight Tatvan (BD)
Day 05 Sun: Tatvan - Van
After breakfast drive to Van via Akdamar Island where we visit the beautifully restored 10th century Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, or Sourp Khach; built as a part of a palace and religious complex between 915 and 921 by the Armenian King Gagik Ardzruni. From Akdamar we continue to the city of Van, where we will spend the night. (BD)
Day 06 Mon: Van
From Van we travel south for the last leg of our journey along the Silk Road (Ipek Yolu) in Turkey. We visit Hosap Castle. The main castle structure of Hosap was built straddling the Silk Road and served as both a means of protecting the road and as a point of charging tolls on travellers. From Hosap we return to Van for lunch, before ending the day with a visit to the Citadel of Van at sunset. On a large rock outcrop the 3000 year old Urartian castle, once the centre of Tushpa, the Urartian capital, commands wonderful panoramic views of the city of Van, Lake Van and Mt Suphan to the north- west and Mt Nemrut. (BD)
Day 07 Tue: Van - Ishakpasa - Kars
After breakfast, we leave for Dogubeyazit via Muradiye and the pretty Bendimaahi Falls in Dogubeayzit, we visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Palace 1685 – 1784 with unique fusion of architecture from Seljuk, Ottoman, Georgian, and Armenian – Persian styles. We continue our journey south skirting around the western edge of Mt. Ararat via Igdir arrive to Kars. Overnight Kars(BD)
Day 08 Wed: Kars - Ani
From Kars and continue for Ani to spend the morning at the former capital of the great medieval Armenian kingdom of Ani. The remains of the ruined city include several churches as well as the shell of the Cathedral of Ani, the citadel and a mosque along with an extensive and well preserved defensive wall. There are also some exciting remains of frescoes in the Church of St Gregory (Tigran Honentz) despite exposure to the elements for many centuries. Overnight Kars (BD)
Day 09 Thu: Kars - Erzurum
Kars to Erzurum. Follow the Aras river west through the Aladaglar mountains; magical scenery of fields of gorse and fern, pristine river beds and deep ravines. Cross the river over the beautiful six-arched Cobandede bridge. In Erzurum, the principal city of eastern Anatolia, visit the magnificent Seljuk Ulu Camii, with its wooden dome, and also the twin-minareted Cifte Minare Medrese, its entrance adorned with stalactite porches. Overnight Erzurum. (BD)
Day 10 Fri: Erzurum - Sumela Monastery - Trabzon
From Erzurum to Trabzon. Drive north through the Pontic Alps, in the steps of Xenophon's Ten Thousand with spectacular views. Along the Karasu, the northernmost branch of the Euphrates, to Askale, with its ruined Byzantine fortress. Over the 2390m Kopdagi Pass, the Black Sea watershed, into the Coruh valley, passing the huge fortress of Bayburt. Sumela Monastery, Trabzon. To Sumela Monastery, founded in the 4th century, it clings to sheer rock facing the Altindere Valley. Though in a ruinous state, many of the monastic buildings survive, with 18th and some 14th century frescoes. Overnight in Trabzon. (BD)
Day 11 Sat: Trabzon - Flight Home
After breakfast , in Trabzon, visit the beautiful late-Byzantine church of Aya Sophia , with 13th century frescoes and frieze. Transfer to the airport. (B)