Treasures of Eastern Turkey

Day 1-

This morning take the Turkish Airlines flight from London Heathrow to Istanbul (3 hours 50 Minutes). On arrival, having completed the necessary customs formalities, you will be met and transferred to the Mosaic Hotel where you stay for 3 nights in a standard room.

Day 2-

"After breakfast in the hotel we depart for a full-day city sightseeing in Istanbul Turkey’s largest city and the country’s historical and cultural heart. Including visits to the Hippodrome, usually associated with Constantinople's days of glory as an imperial capital, it actually predates that era. We then continue our tour with a visit to the Blue Mosque also know as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque before venturing up to Hagia Sophia, the highlight of any trip to Istanbul. This afternoon we also visit Topkapi Palace, a former royal palace now a wonderful museum. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. "

Day 3-

"Following breakfast we will have another full-day city sightseeing in Istanbul including visits to the Chora Church or Kariye Museum, which has one of the best examples of Byzantine mosaic art. We then continue to the Mosque of Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent (1557), Istanbul's largest and grandest. This afternoon we discover the Underground (Basilica) Cistern, also known as the ""Sunken Palace"", constructed by Justinian in 532AD to supply water to the Byzantine Palace primarily. We then continue to the Grand Bazaar (Kapal?çar??), home to over 3000 shops, is one of the largest covered markets in the world with 60 streets, and attracts between 250,000 and 400,000 visitors daily. It is well known for its jewellery, hand-painted ceramics, carpets, embroideries, spices and antique shops. Return to your hotel for dinner and a well earn rest. "

Day 4-

"After breakfast, transfer to Istanbul airport for your Turkish Airlines flight to Trabzon. Upon your arrival in Trabzon you will be met by your guide and immediately start with a visit to Sumela Monastery which stands at the foot of a steep cliff facing a valley near Trabzon and then we continue to The Church of Hagia Sophia in the city which is now a museum. Overnight in Trabzon at the Buyuk Sumela Hotel. "

Day 5-

"After breakfast in the hotel, leave Trabzon for Erzurum. A long, but scenic, road journey through the Pontic Mountains. Also known as the Parhar Mountains the name derives from a Hittite word meaning high or summit. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum staying at the Xanadu Hotel. "

Day 6-

"This morning we start our sightseeing in Erzurum; Erzurum is the biggest city of the Eastern Anatolian Region and is also a very ancient settlement place. After an orientation tour of Erzurum we visit the Theology School which was constructed by Seljukian Sultan, Alaaddin Keykubad's daughter Hüdavend Hatun in1253. It is the largest of the theology schools and also one of the most beautiful examples of Seljukian style with its corolla gate and relief adornments. We then continue for a brief visit of the Three Kumbets before an afternoon drive out to the remote eastern town of Kars where we stay for 2 night at the Simer Hotel. "

Day 7-

"Today we visit the haunting ruins of Ani which is located on the border of Turkey and Armenia, 45 kilometres West of Kars. At its heyday, one thousand years ago, Ani was the capital of an Armenian kingdom. It had a population of more than 100,000 people and was the rival of Constantinople, Baghdad and Cairo. At that time Ani was called ""The City of 1001 Churches"" and was renowned for the splendour and magnificence of its buildings. Now, its once crowded streets and marketplaces are empty as the city turned into a ghost town. Return to Kars later this afternoon for dinner and a further night at the Simer Hotel. "

Day 8-

After breakfast, today’s drive takes us past the holy mountain of Mount Ararat, believed to be the final resting place of Noah’s Ark. We continue on to our destination Dogubeyazit where we visit the Ishak Pasha Palace which was the second administrative campus after Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. Ishak Pasha Palace on the Silk Route near the Iranian frontier is situated on a high and vast platform of strategic importance on an area of 7600 meter square. The western influence in Ottoman architecture during the post-classical period can be observed is Ishak Pasha Palace and is the most famous of the palaces built in recent decades. Overnight at the Simer Hotel Dogubeyazit.

Day 9-

"This morning we drive to Van. Afternoon sightseeing in the city of Van, we later retire to the Merit Sahmaran Hotel where we are based for 2 nights. "

Day 10-

"Today we have a full day of touring in and around the city of Van. We start with a trip to Hosap Castle, built back in 1671 by a Emir of Hosap this stunning castle is perched atop a high vertical cliff with a small village located below. We continue to Akdamar Island and visit the Armenian Church with is know as the Cathedral of the holy cross, the seat of an Armenian patriarch from 1116 to 1895. Later today we return to Van for dinner and an overnight stay at the Merit Sahmaran Hotel. "

Day 11-

This morning we awake early and drive to the ancient walled city of Diyarbakir. Stay for 2 nights at The Green Park Hotel.

Day 12-

"After a leisurely breakfast we head into the narrow streets and markets of the old city. Diyarbak?r is surrounded by an almost intact, dramatic set of high walls of black basalt forming a 5.5 km (3.4 mi) circle around the old city. There are four gates into the old city and 82 watch-towers on the walls, which were built in antiquity, restored and extended by the Roman emperor Constantius in 349. Aside from the great wall we also visit some of Diyarbak?r numerous medieval mosques including, the Great Mosque of Diyarbak?r built by the Seljuk Turkish Sultan Malik Shah in the 11th century. We retrun to our hotel for dinner and a further night at The Green Park Hotel. "

Day 13-

"After breakfast in the hotel our journey takes us to Sanliurfa [ancient Edessa] where we visit Abraham’s Pool and the Citadel. According to both the Bible and Quran it is the birthplace of Abraham before his migration to Canaan, now Palestine. Continue into the Euphrates valley for an overnight stay at Kahta, staying at the Euprath Hotel. "

Day 14-

Early this morning we drive up to the amazing mountain top burial site of King Antiochus I on Nemrut Dag [7052feet] to see the famous monumental stone heads. After our visit we drive to Malatya for an overnight stay at Anatolia Boutique Hotel.

Day 15-

"After breakfast in the hotel, transfer to airport for return Turkish Airlines flight to London via Istanbul (7 hours 55 Minutes – including transit time). "

Turkish Airlines - Business Class

Cost: from £ 895

Turkish Airlines - Business Class