Epic Turkish Moments in World History

Apr 3 Sat Depart Toronto – Fly Istanbul

Apr 4 Sun Arrive Istanbul Airport-Our representative will meet you before immigration, customs and baggage claim, with a“JEFF – TUTKU”sign. Transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (D)

Apr 5 Mon Fly Kars - Ani - Kars

Early flight to KarsTK2716 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)

Apr 6 Tue 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)

Apr 7 Wed 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)

Apr 8 Thu 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)

Apr 9 Fri 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)

Apr 10 Sat Harran - Gobeklitepe - Karahantepe – Sanliurfa (Urfa)

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 Urfa and visit the Well of Job. Dinner and overnight in Urfa. (B,D).

Apr 11 Sun 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)

Apr 12 Mon 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)

Apr 13 Tue 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)

Apr 14 Wed 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)

Apr 15 Thu 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)

Apr 16 Fri 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)

Apr 17 Sat Departure to Cappadocia (Kayseri) airport - Fly home from Cappadocia

• Roundtrip international flights between Toronto – Istanbul /Kayseri-Toronto on Turkish Airlines
• Istanbul - Kars domestic flight
• 1 Night at Moevenpick Golden Horn in Istanbul or similar
• 1 Night at Simer Hotel in Kars or similar
• 1 Night at Simer 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 DoubleeTree Hilton Hotel in Sanlıurfa or similar
• 1 Night at Park Dedeman Hotel in Adıyaman or similar
• 1 Night at Tugcan Hotel in Gaziantep or similar
• 1 Night at The Museum Hotel in Antioch or similar
• 1 Night at Wyndham Tarsus St.Paul or similar
• 2 nights at Barcelo Hotel in Cappadocia or similar
• Sightseeing as per the itinerary
• Daily breakfast at the hotels (B=Breakfast)
• 13 Dinners as mentioned in the itinerary (D=Dinner)
• All Entrance fees as per above itinerary
• English speaking private licensed guide for all the sightseeing tours (Meltem Ciftci)
• Meet and assist at all airport upon arrival and departure.
• All transportation by private AC Van with driver
• Service charges and local taxes

• Meals which are not included above
• All drinks
• Tips to tour guides and drivers
• Travel, Health Insurance, all kind of insurances