13D10N EASTERN TURKEY DISCOVERY from Chan Brothers Travel

Highlights:

TOUR CODE: TR13E

Istanbul
- Topkapi Palace
- Blue Mosque
- Hippodrome of Constantinople
- Hagia Sophia Museum
- Grand Bazaar

Trabzon
- Sumela Monastery
- St Sophia Museum

Erzurum
- Great Mosque
- Cifte Minareli Medrese
- Uc Kumbetler
- Yakutiye Medresesi

Kars
- Citadel
- Ani
- Ruins of Ani
- Arpa River

Dogubeyazit
- Mt Ararat
- Ishak Pasha Palace
- Muradiye Waterfalls

Van
- Cavustepe Castle
- Hosap Castle
- Van Citadel
- Lake Van
- Church of the Holy Cross with boat ride

Diyarbakir
- Great Mosque
- Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary

Adiyaman
- Mt Nemrut National Park
- Arsemia
- Cendere Bridge
- Karakus Tumulus

Sanliurfa
- Mevlid–i Halil Mosque
- Cave of Prophet Abraham
- Balikli Gol
- Grand bazaar
- Harran
- Ataturk Dam

Antakya
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum
- Cave Church of St Peter

13D10N EASTERN TURKEY DISCOVERY

From $2988 SGD

Singapore – Istanbul

Assemble at Singapore Changi Airport for your flight to Istanbul.

Meals: (Meals On Board)

Istanbul

Upon arrival, visit Topkapi Palace, once the seat of the Ottoman Empire. After lunch, visit Blue Mosque, also known as Mosque of Sultan Ahmet, which boasts a unique feature of 6 minarets. Next, view the remains of Hippodrome of Constantinople, which consists of 3 monumental columns and a fountain. Then, visit Hagia Sophia Museum, a must–see attraction because of its religious and architectural significance. Thereafter, shop at the 500–year–old Grand Bazaar, a maze of over 4,000 stalls and shops selling leather goods, jewellery, handicrafts, ceramics, Turkish coffee and other local products.

Meals: (Meals On Board/Lunch/Dinner)

Istanbul – Trabzon

This morning, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Trabzon. Upon arrival, visit the magnificent Sumela Monastery which is dedicated to Virgin Mary. Built during the Byzantine period in the 11th century, the monastery was abandoned in 1923 and is currently being restored. You will be amazed at how the monastery seems to cling precariously onto a sheer rock cliff, overlooking a valley with evergreen forests and rushing mountain streams. It is a mysterious and unique place, especially when mist swirls over the treetops in the valley. Next, visit the famous St Sophia Museum, a restored 13th–century Byzantine church with its splendid frescoes.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Trabzon – Erzurum

Today, proceed to Erzurum, known for copper crafting and its oltu stone which is a unique black stone used to make jewellery and beads. Visit fine Seljuk monuments such as Great Mosque, Cifte Minareli Medrese, Uc Kumbetler and the richly decorated portal and tiled minaret of the 13th–century Yakutiye Medresesi. Stay overnight in Erzurum.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Erzurum – Kars – Dogubeyazit

This morning, continue to Kars, at the corner of eastern Turkey, once held by the Russian for 42 years. Visit the citadel which dominates the city. Continue to Ani, a fascinating medieval town situated on the ancient Silk Road. Ani was an Armenian city from the 11th century on the Turkish Armenian border and was called The City of 1001 Churches by its chroniclers. Visit the ruins of Ani and its churches. View Arpa River, which forms the border with Armenia. Thereafter, continue to Dogubeyazit for your overnight stay.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Dogubeyazit – Van

This morning, if the weather permits, you may enjoy the unforgettable scenery of Mt Ararat, Turkey’s most scenic natural attraction. Next, visit the magnificent Ishak Pasha Palace, which was built in the 17th century by the local lord Ishak Pasa. It has a mixture of Ottoman, Persian and Armenian architectural styles. After lunch, enjoy a photo stop by the beautiful Muradiye Waterfalls. Proceed to Van, a Urartian capital. Here you will visit the ancient sites of Cavustepe Castle, Hosap Castle and the famous Van Citadel, an imposing fortress that was built in 900 BC.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Van – Diyarbakir

Depart for Lake Van, which is deep blue in colour and ringed by mountains. It is the largest lake in Turkey and lies at an altitude of 1,720 metres. The1st site you will visit is Church of the Holy Cross, which is built on an island in the lake. Take a boat ride across the lake to visit this 10th–century church, which has been recently restored and converted to a museum. The outer stone walls of the church are richly carved with scenes and figures from the Old Testament. Continue to Diyarbakir to visit Great Mosque as well as the 3rd–century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Diyarbakir – Adiyaman

This morning, head to Adiyaman. Take a ferry across the reservoir, drive and ascend to the summit to visit Mt Nemrut National Park. Mt Nemrut is the highest mountain in northern Mesopotamia at 7,053 feet. Visit the east and west terraces, the fire altar, the colossal statue of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, Tyche and Antiochus Epiphanes I,the artificial tumulus, and the world’s 1st horoscope. Descend the mountain through small villages and beautiful scenery. Along the way, make a photo stop at Arsemia, where you will see the old palace and the remains of Cendere Bridge, built in 200 AD and still in use today. Visit Karakus Tumulus, where the women of the royal family were buried.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Adiyaman – Sanliurfa

After breakfast, continue your journey to Sanliurfa. This city is considered the 4th most significant religious city after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem, for it is where Prophet Abraham, the common ancestor of the 3 monotheistic religions, was born and raised. Visit Mevlid-I Halil Mosque, cave of Prophet Abraham and Balikli Gol, a sacred fish pool. You will have some free time to shop at grand bazaar for charming souvenirs and gifts of Turkish crafts, leather and suede goods. Then, proceed to Harran, well known for its brick, beehive–like dwellings. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as it still contains architectural ruins of ancient civilisations that date back to 2000 BC. Make a photo stop at the huge Ataturk Dam.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Sanliurfa – Gaziantep – Antakya

Today, continue your journey to Gaziantep, which is located on a wide and fertile plain cultivated with extensive pistachio groves. The artisans of Gaziantep are specialised in making copperware and furniture inlaid with mother–of–pearl, a precious gem. The city has a fortress with 36 towers originally constructed in the Justinian era and later rebuilt by the Seljuks. After that, continue to Antakya. It was also featured prominently in early Christianity where the term Christian was first coined.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Antakya – Adana – Istanbul

After breakfast, visit Zeugma Mosaic Museum the largest museum in Turkey and Cave Church of St Peter where St Peter spent time with the early Christians believers. This afternoon, transfer to the airport in Adana for your domestic flight to Istanbul.

Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)

Istanbul

This morning, you may take an optional tour to Dolmabahce Palace or take a Bosphorus cruise to enjoy the unique experience of cruising between the 2 continents of Asia and Europe, at your own expense. If time permits, you can do some last–minute shopping before you transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Meals: (Breakfast/Meals On Board)

Arrive In Singapore

Agency: Chan Brothers Travel

13D10N EASTERN TURKEY DISCOVERY

From $2988 SGD

Agency: Chan Brothers Travel

13D10N EASTERN TURKEY DISCOVERY

From $2988 SGD

Agency: Chan Brothers Travel