Epic Turkish Moments in World History

Sept 13 Mon Depart – Fly Istanbul

Sept 14 Tue Arrive Istanbul Airport

Our representative will meet you before immigration, customs and baggage claim, with a “Abelardo Rivas – TUTKU” sign. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Sept 15 Wed Istanbul

Full day Istanbul tour; Start at Galata tower to enjoy the view. Visit the Roman Hippodrome Square, Blue Mosque with its beautiful blue tiles, Hagia Sophia, built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century, one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Visit underground Cistern and grand bazaar if time permits -then visit the Istanbul Archaeological Museum End the day with the spice bazaar and late afternoon Bosphorus Boat Tour. Dinner and Overnight (B,D)

Sept 16 Thu Fly Kars - Ani - Kars

Early flight to Kars TK2716 8:45-10:40. Travel to Ani. A ruined and uninhabited medieval city-site situated in the Turkish province of Kars, beside the border with Armenia Visit churches ruins. It was once the capital of a medieval Armenian kingdom. Discover the great Armenian architecture. Dinner and overnight in Kars (B,D)

Sept 17 Fri Kars-Noah’s National Park – Ishak Pasa Palace - Doğubeyazıt

Drive and visit the natural rock formation and Noah’s Ark National Park in Durupinar site and Arzap Drogue Stones. We are visiting the Ishak Pasha Palace, one of the UNESCO World Heritage candidates. Ishak Pasha Palace was built in 1784 by Çıldıroğulları II. It was built during the reign of Ishak Pasha and is considered to be the only palace structure of Ottoman architecture that has survived to the present day in Anatolia. The palace has 366 rooms with its mosque, divan room, oven, kitchen, and hamams. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Sept 18 Sat Dogubeyazit – Van

Continue to Van and after seeing the Van Castle, Urartian King Tombs, and Urartian ruins with a panoramic Van city tour and watching the insatiable beauty of Van Lake, we are making a pleasant boat trip to Akdamar. We visit the Akdamar Church, which is located on Akdamar Island and is famous for its stonework, and then we take a tour of the island. Dinner and overnight (B,D)

Sept 19 Sun Van – Ilusi Dam - Mardin

Early check out and drive to Ilısu Dam, a concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Tigris near the village of Ilısu and along the border of Mardin and Şırnak Provinces in Turkey. It is one of the 22 dams of the Southeastern Anatolia Project and its purpose is hydroelectric power production, flood control and water storage. Continue to Mardin for dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Sept 20 Mon Mardin

After breakfast visit of the Deyrulzafaran monastery, an Aramean Orthodox monastery still in use. Visit the Dara Ancient City and the St. Gabriel Monastery. Dinner and overnight in Mardin. (B,D)

Sept 21 Tue Harran - Gobeklitepe - Karahantepe - Sanliurfa

Drive to Harran- The place of Abraham, Laban, Jacob, Leah and Rachel (Gen 28:10–.) Visit Gobeklitepe, the oldest temple of the world and then visit KarhanTepe which is thought to be even older. Drive to Sanliurfa and visit the Well of Job. Dinner and overnight in Sanlıurfa. (B,D).

Sept 22 Wed Kahta - Cenderes - Perre - Mount Nemrut - Adıyaman 

After breakfast drive to Kahta to see the huge heads of gods (Apollo, Zeus, Hercules) and goddess (Tyke=Fortuna) built by Antiochus I, King of the Commagene Kingdom in the 1st century, and the man made hill, on top of the 2000 meters high mountain. Visit the late Roman Cenderes bridge. Visit the Ancient city of Perre and exciting Graves. Dinner and overnight in around Adiyaman (B,D)

Sept 23 Thu Carchemish - Zeugma Museum - Gaziantep

After breakfast drive to Carchemish (2 Chron 35:20; Isa 10:9; Jer 46:2)—a major east-west crossing point of the Euphrates and which is mentioned numerous times in the ancient texts. We will then visit the site of Zeugma—on the Euphrates River. We drive to the new Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep where the extraordinary finds from Roman Zeugma on the Euphrates are on display Overnight in Gaziantep (B,D)

Sept 24 Fri Antioch

Today we will explore Antioch on the Orontes—the third or fourth largest city in the Roman world and the place where Jesus Followers were first called “Christians” (Acts 11:26). During the day we visit the hippodrome, and two world-class museums—the New Antioch Archaeology Museum that houses one of the richest collections of mosaics in the world ( if open), and the mosaics at the Museum Hotel. In addition we will visit the grotto Church of St. Peter. Overnight Hotel (B,D)

Sept 25 Sat Antioch - Adana - Tarsus

Drive to Adana. After visiting the Adana Archaeology Museum and the Roman Bridge, we continue to drive south through the strategic Cilician Gates to visit Tarsus, the city of Paul. Visit the archaeological excavations, St. Paul’s well, the Gate of Cleopatra, and the massive Donuktas (a Roman Temple). Overnight in nearby Adana. (B,D)

Sept 26 Sun Cappadocia

Drive to Cappadocia. Stop and visit the underground city of Kaymaklı, an underground city which was an early Christian center that extended down in the earth for at least eight floors and housed several thousand people in the eighth and ninth centuries. Visit Goreme Open Air Museum with the rock Churches. Optional Whirling Dervishes Show in the evening. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

Sept 27 Mon Full day Cappadocia

Early morning optional balloon ride. After breakfast, we will drive through the Zelve Valley. We will continue to Uçhisar, another of these early Christian communities. Visit Avanos pottery Village and return to Hotel for dinner and Overnight in Cappadocia. (B,D)

Sept 28 Tue Hatusha - Ankara

Drive to visit Hattusha, the capital city of Hittite Empire. Overnight in Ankara. (B,D)

Sept 29 Wed Ankara

After breakfast enjoy a full day tour in Ankara. Our journey begins with a visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. After stopping to see the Roman remains of the important Temple of Augustus, we visit the Ataturk Mausoleum, the Ankara Castle with a walk through the oldest living area of Ankara, visit the Presidential Complex and Grand National Assembly Building. Dinner and overnight in Ankara. (B,D)

Sept 30 Thu Departure to airport - Fly home from Ankara via Istanbul.

• Istanbul - Kars one way flight domestic flight
• Meet and assist at international airport upon arrival and departure.
• Sightseeing as per the detailed itinerary
• 2 nights Istanbul Kent Hotel or similar
• 1 Night at Sim-Er Hotel in Kars or similar
• 1 Night at Sim-Er Hotel in Dogubeyazit or similar
• 1 Night at DoubleeTree Hilton Hotel in Van or similar
• 2 Nights at Anemon Hotel in Mardin or similar
• 1 Night at Nevali Hotel in Sanlıurfa or similar
• 1 Night at Ramada by Wyndham Adiyaman or similar
• 1 night at Tugcan Hotel Gaziantep or similar
• 1 Night at Museum Hotel Antakya or similar
• 1 night Seyhan Hotel Adana or similar
• 2 nights at Barcelo Hotel Cappadocia or similar
• 2 nights Ankara Radison Blu Hotel Ankara or similar
• Daily breakfasts
• 16 dinners
• Entrance fees to all archaeological sites included in the program.
• English Speaking licensed tour guide throughout the itinerary.
• Transfers & transportation by private A/C bus.
• Portage for one piece of luggage at the hotels.
• Service charges and local taxes

• International airfare to Istanbul and return from Ankara
• Lunches and drinks
• Personal expenses, any other item which is not included above.
• Tips to tour guide and driver and hotel staff. ($7-10 per person per day)