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SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS IN TURKEY
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St. Sophia Church
Suleymaniye Mosque
Hippodrome
Covered Bazaar
Topkapi Palace by Night
Blue Mosque
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PRS 801 / PHOTO TOUR IN THE REMOTE PARTS OF TURKEY
Day 01 / ANKARA Arrive in Ankara and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 02 / ANKARA-SAFRANBOLU In the morning visit to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum at which numerous remnants from Stone Age, Neolithic Age, Hittites, Urartians, Phrygians and many others are on display; Mausoleum of Ataturk, the burial place of the national hero who founded modern Republic of Turkey. Then continue on to Safranbolu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with some of the most beautiful traditional old Ottoman mansions in Turkey. Visit the Cinci Hani - a 17th century caravanserai; the Arasta (old) bazaar where craftsmen still use old Ottoman methods; and the restored mansion, Kaymakamlar Evi. Overnight in Safranbolu (B, D).
Day 03 / SAFRANBOLU-KASTAMONU-AMASYA Drive to Kastamonu and visit Nasrullah Complex, Liva Pasa Mansion and Clock Tower. Continue on to east to Amasya for overnight (B, D).
Day 04 / AMASYA-ORDU Visit the restored Hazeranlar Konagi, the Gok Medrese, the Museum which also houses some Mongol mummies, the Sultan Beyazit II Complex set in lovely gardens, and the Tas Han - an Ottoman caravanserai now used as a bazaar. Drive up to the kale (Castle) for views. There will also be some free time to climb up to the Pontic tombs - at your own risk. Late afternoon drive to Ordu and overnight (B, D).
Day 05 / ORDU-TRABZON Drive on to Trabzon to visit the 14th century Sumela Monastery, built high on a steep cliff above a gorge in the Altindere National Park - its setting makes it look more Tibetan than Turkish. Surrounded by the ruins of the monks’ quarter, is a church covered inside and out with brilliant frescoes. After visiting the 13th century St. Sophia Church, which is now a museum and some of the finest examples of Eastern Roman paintings are displayed in its frescoes, continue to the hotel for overnight in Trabzon (B, D).
Day 06 / TRABZON-UZUNGOL-RIZE Drive through tea plantation areas and drive inland to Uzungol. Overnight in Rize (B, D).
Day 07 / RIZE-AYDER-YUSUFELI Continue discovering inlands through Camlihemsin with its picturesque arched stone bridges, and wonderful mountain plateaux of Ayder. Overnight in Yusufeli (B, D).
Day 08 / YUSUFELI-ARTVIN-KAFKASOR-YUSUFELI Driving and hiking around Yusufeli with the inclusion of Artvin and Kafkasor as well the stunningly beautiful 10th century Georgian churches of Haho, Osk Van and Ishan (These are subject to road conditions, as continuous wet weather can deteriorate the roads badly). Overnight in Yusufeli (B, D).
Day 09 / YUSUFELI-TORTUM-ERZURUM A spectacular drive through mountains, valleys and gorges, and along the Tortum Lake to Erzurum, an important city on the famous Silk Road during the Middle Ages. On arrival in Erzurum visit the magnificent Seljukian monuments of Erzurum Twin Minaret Mosque, the Three Tombs, a wonderful complex of three Seljuk tombs, and the most spectacular building in Erzurum, the Yakutiye Medrese, built in 1310 by the Mongol rulers of Persia, with its splendid turquoise tiled minaret. Overnight in Erzurum (B, D).
Day 10 / ERZURUM-ERZINCAN-SIVAS A long day on ride. Overnight in Sivas (B, D)
Day 11 / SIVAS-CAPPADOCIA In the morning visit the museum and the impressive Seljuk buildings, including Twin Minare Medrese with its twin minarets, the Sifaiye Medresesi which is now used as a bazaar and the Gok Medrese. Drive to Cappadocia for overnight (B, D).
Day 12 / KAYSERI-CAPPADOCIA Optional balloon tour. Depart from the hotel at 09.30-10.00 depending on the arrival time of the participants and visit the valleys where animal-like natural formations like camels and fair chimneys are abundant. Drive on to Pasabagi in Zelve area where monks used to live in seclusion in rock cut rooms. Proceed to the pottery town of Avanos where Kizilirmak (Hallys), the longest river of Turkey, meanders leaving the red clay on its banks that has been the raw material of pottery for centuries. After lunch break visit to Open Air Museum in Goreme to visit to the early Christian churches decorated with unique frescoes depicting various scenes from the Bible. Stop by Pigeon Valley near Uchisar.. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D).
Day 13 / CAPPADOCIA Visit Kaymakli Underground City, the place early Christians hid from persecutors; Soganli Valley. Cavusin Village, an old Seljukian and Ottoman village. Shopping time for the well-known merits of the area. Overnight in Cappadocia (B, D).
Day 14 / CAPPADOCIA-ISTANBUL Transfer to the airport in Kayseri or Nevsehir for the morning flight to Istanbul. On arrival visit St. Sophia, one of the greatest marvels of architecture constructed as a basilica in 536 by Emperor Justinian (Closed on Mondays; replaced with a visit to the Kariye Museum - St. Savior in Chora); Blue Mosque, facing Hagia Sophia, famous with its more than 20.000 blue Iznik tiles and unique with its 6 minarets, built in the name of Sultan Ahmet in the 17th century, one of the best examples of classical Turkish art; Hippodrome, the scene of Byzantine chariot races, athletic events, victory celebrations, and political activities of the old city where one can also see today the “Obelisk of Theodosius” from Egypt, “Serpentine Column” from Delphi, the “German Fountain of Wilhelm II” and the “Colossus”. In the afternoon, proceed to Topkapi Palace - Harem section is excluded - (Closed on Tuesdays; replaced with a visit to the Archaeological Museum), built in 1468 by Mehmet the Conqueror, the imperial residence of Ottoman sultans housing the souvenirs of 600 years and exhibiting imperial treasury, Chinese porcelains, weapons, calligraphy section, etc. Visit the Grand Covered Bazaar (Closed on Sundays), the most attractive shopping center in the world with nearly 4000 shops (B).
Day 15 / ISTANBUL In the morning visit the aromatic Spice Bazaar, circa 1663, with its domed and vaulted shops selling spices and herbs along with a wide variety of commodities, also known as Egyptian Bazaar as it was once endowed with the Cairo imposts. Then walk to the pier and board the public (or private, depending on the number of the participants) boat. Sailing through the Bosphorus waterway separating the two continents - Asia and Europe - there will be ample opportunities to photograph marble palaces, ancient wooden villas of Ottoman architecture, and stately modern residential homes. During this trip the Dolmabahce Palace, Ciragan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridges as well as Rumelian Fortress, a historical armament built by the Conqueror in 1452 to control and protect the access to the Bosphorus, will be visible from the sea. Disembark the boat and ride the bus back to the city for a free afternoon. Overnight in Istanbul (B).
Day 16 / ISTANBUL-HOME Transfer to the airport for the departure flight (B)
Including accommodation at 4-star hotels on the specified basis, admission fees, domestic air ticket between Kayseri/Nevsehir-Istanbul, air-conditioned transportation, parking and taxes.
TESTIMONIALS FROM THE PREVIOUS PHOTO TOURS
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