Explore the "green" Black
Sea coast, where the smell of the sea mingles with the fragrance
of the bay trees; meet the resilient Black Sea people for
whom sailing and fishing are natural occupations; visit
Sumela Monastery, a magnificent structure that resembles
an eagle's nest on the lush green hillside of the Black
Sea region; walk in the streets of Hattusas (1720 bc) the
earliest standing example of a walled city and the capital
of the Hittite Kingdom; witness the splendor of this bygone
culture when you view the enormous stone monuments of Yazilikaya;
imagine being part of Noah's Ark and expedition on Mount
Ararat; explore the rugged, natural beauty of southeastern
Turkey and marvel at the statues of the commagene gods on
top of the Nemrut Mountain.
DAY 1 - USA
TO TURKEY - Sat. |
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DAY 2 - ANKARA
- Sun. |
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Welcome to Ankara. The Blue Voyage staff
will guide you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be
at your leisure. (-/-/D)
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DAY 3 - CAPPADOCIA
- Mon. |
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After breakfast, we tour the sites of the
Turkish capital. Visits include, the Museum of Anatolian
Civilizations, Ankara Citadel and the Mausoleum of Atatürk.
After lunch, we drive to Cappadocia. (B/L/D)
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DAY 4 - CAPPADOCIA
-Tue. |
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The first thing in the morning, we start
exploring the pigeon houses in Uchisar Valley and the Goreme
Open Air Museum with its rock carved churches and colorful
frescoes. We complete our journey in this amazing region
of fairy chimneys with visits to the Zelve Valley and the
underground city of Kaymakli. (B/L/D)
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DAY 5 - ANTAKYA
- Wed. |
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We start the day with a drive to Antakya.
En route we visit another rock carved monastery called EskigUmUS
with it's incomparable smiling Virgin Mary fresco. Overnight
in Antakya. (B/L/D)
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DAY 6 - URFA
- Thu. |
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St. Peter's Grotto, considered to be the
first church in history, is our first stop in the morning.
Next on the agenda is the Mosaic Museum, and its remarkable
examples of mosaic once used in the houses of the city during
the Roman era. Then we drive to Urfa. (B/L/D)
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DAY 7 - NEMRUT
MOUNTAIN - ADIYAMAN - Fri. |
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The city tour of Urfa is followed by a drive
to Nemrut Mountain. The statues of the Gods of the Commagene
civilization will greet us after a short climb up the hill.
We drive to the provincial capital, Adiyaman. (B/L/D)
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DAY 8 - DIYARBAKIR
- ANKARA - Sat. |
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The day starts with a drive to Diyarbakir.
After visiting the old part of the city we will catch a
flight to Ankara. (B/L/D)
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DAY 9 - HATTUSAS
- SAMSUN - Sun. |
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We start in the morning with a drive to Hattusas
and the Yazilikaya Open-Air Sanctuary, once the former seat
of the Hittite Kingdom. We continue onto Samsun, a pearl
in the Black Sea region. (B/L/D)
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DAY 10 - TRABZON
- Mon. |
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Our tours in Samsun start with Merkez Camii
Mosque, the 'First Step' monument, and the AtatUrk Museum.
After a short walk in the city, we drive to Trabzon, a city
by the Black Sea. (B/L/D)
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DAY 11 - KARS
- Tue. |
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We start our morning with the SUmela Monastery
which is carved into a cliff face hundreds of feet above
the ground, then onto St. Sophia Church. The drive to Kars
will follow. Late check-in to the hotel, overnight. (B/L/D)
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DAY 12 - MOUNT
AGRI - ERZURUM - Wed. |
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After breakfast we tour the city of Ani.
Then we continue onto Mount AGri, with it's many stories
including that of Noah's Ark. The capital of Eastern Turkey,
Erzurum, is our last stop. (B/L/D)
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DAY 13 - ISTANBUL
- Thu. |
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After a short sightseeing tour of the SelCuk
monuments in Erzurum, we drive to the airport for our Istanbul
flight. (B/L/D)
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DAY 14 - ISTANBUL
- Fri. |
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Today we venture in Istanbul. In the
morning we explore The Blue Mosque, St. Sophia Church, visit
the Hippodrome before we continue onto Topkapi Palace the
house of Sultans with its remarkable Treasury section and
Harem. (B/L/D)
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DAY 15 - ISTANBUL
- Sat. |
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We sail along the Bosphorus in the morning
zigzagging between two continents. In the afternoon, our
visit to Suleymaniye Mosque is followed by the Covered Bazaar
and the Spice Market, huge Ottoman buildings consisting
more than 4000 shops under one roof. (B/L/D)
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Hattusas
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DAY 16 - RETURN
TO USA - Sun. |
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After breakfast we drive to the airport for
our homeward flight. (B/-/-)
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Tour Map
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