DAY1-ISTANBUL(saturday)
Meeting at the Istanbul airport and transfer to our hotel.Welcome cocktail and details of tour programme.Overnight.

DAY2-AMASYA
Morning flight to Ankara.Archaelogical museumthen drive to Amasya where queen AMASIS found her town in the river valley.Tombs of the rulers of Kingdom of Pontus,the Citadel and MaidensPlace. Overnight Amasya.

DAY3-SAMSUN
After breakfast Sultan Beyazid Mosque and famous Amasya houses visited.Favoured crown prince was sent here to govern the city by Sultan.Going to Samsun to stay.

DAY4-TRABZON
First Step Monument and Ataturk museum visited.Walking around in Samsun(Amisos) which Amazons thought original settlement.We drive towards Trabzon along the coast,stop in Giresun(Azzi)for lunch.Azzi use to be used as colonial port by the traders from Genoa and Miletus,then drive to Trabzon.

DAY5-TRABZON
Byzantyne royal family of Comnenos escaped from crusaders in 1204 to settle here and set up a kingdom called Pontuswith the help of Georgians lasted 257years.The Sümela Monastery(dedicated to mother Mary).Hagia Sophia,Hagia Anna,Hagios Mikhail.Overnight.

DAY6-RIZE
Drive along the Blacksea coast this morning we'll witness the naturel beauty towards Rize as we call"the seven shades of green". Kackar mountains, Yayla(plateau)of Ayder,Camlihemsin and the castle.

DAY7-ERZURUM
Driving through the mountains with picturesque scenes on our way to Erzurum we pass over Coruh river which is the naturel spot for rafting but we won't take up the offer today!...

DAY8-KARS
This is the largest city on the high plateau of eastern Turkey.Excellent remains from the many civilizations that survived here including Mongol,Selcuk and Ottoman can be seen.Visit to Cifte Minare and Yakutlu Medrese then to Kars.

DAY9-KARS
Typical eastern Turkish town.The high plateau here creates excellent conditions for the products of yoghurt,milk,honey and meat. We'll go to Ani the Armenian ancient capitol city named after Anahid(Persian goddes worshipped by the pagan Urartians).Beyond the city walls a deep gorge seperates Turkey from Armenia.

DAY10-VAN
We start the day driving towards to the impressive palace of Ishak Pasha,have lunch there too and breathtaking views of Mt.Ararat,thought to be the final resting place of Noahs Ark.We continue to the refreshing Muradiye waterfalls on our way to Van(Tushpa).

DAY11-VAN
Once the capitol of ancient Urartians Thuspa dates to the times of Gilgamesh and the Great Flood. It's also famous for it's Van cat with two different coloured eyes,kilims,rugs and honey.First to Cavustepe to see the ancient capitol of Urartians,thereon we take the boat to Akdamar island to the 10th century Armenian church of Holly Cross and have lunch there as well.Afterwards we go to local rug place to see Turkish,Armenian,Kurdish and Azerbaijanian rugs and kilims all hand made.

DAY12-ISTANBUL
This morning we fly to Istanbul.We'll experience the unique mosaic of east and west,past and present,modern and old.This is the only city in the world spanning two continents.Our hotel is conveniently located in the old city so we can walk to all major sites.

DAY13-ISTANBUL
First we walk to Hippodrome then to Blue Mosque,Hagia Sophia and Underground Basilica nearby.Lunch in the 400years old Ottoman Kulliye and finally Topkapi Palace.

DAY14-ISTANBUL
We drive around the ancient city walls to Chora church.We take a cruise on Bosphorus between two continents and lunch in seafood restaurant.later we'll have time to see the Bazaar.In the evening We'll have farewell dinner(with or without entertaintment to choice). .

DAY15-ISTANBUL
Transfer to the airport for your homebound flight. End of our services till next time..
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTURE AND RETURN DATES
April 28-May 14
May 12-May 28
May 26-June 11

Sep 15-Oct 01
Sep 29-Oct 15