Detailed Product Description

HIGHLIGHTS : Two area of Turkey: Eastern Black Sea coast and Eastern Anatolia. Not only is the scenery spectacular, but everywhere are to be seen the remains of Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, Georgian, Pontic, and Seljuk civilizations.

The North-East Turkey tour takes you to Trabzon, Gumushane, Rize, Artvin, and Erzurum . You will visit 4.th century Sumela Monastery and St.Sophia in Trabzon, medieval Georgian Churches near Artvin, Seljuk Medrese and Mosques in Erzurum. You will also visit: Zigana Mountais (Pontic Alps) , The River Coruh , Karaca Cave, Uzungöl, Firtina Valley, Camlihemsin and Ayder Plateau.  

Day 1. TRABZON
Arriving at Trabzon International Airport, transfer to hotel, diner and brief information about the trip, and overnight . (D)    

Day 2. TRABZON, SUMELA MONASTERY, ZIGANA, KARACA CAVE
Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4 th century Sumela Monastery, clings to a sheer cliff face in a deep forest, relax beside a fast flowing stream at Altindere Valley National Park, lunch, traveling along the old Silk Road through the Zigana Mountains will take us to Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and formations, return to Trabzon, dinner & O/N in Trabzon,    

Day 3 . TRABZON, UZUNGOL 
Depart for St. Sophia (Ayasofya), a 13'th  century church and study extraordinary collection of byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Castle and Atatürk's Mansion, a picturesque hilside retreat, visit Ortahisar Mosque, a Comneni cathedral in the old town, Girls' Monastery, a nunnery built by Alexios III in 13.th century. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Boztepe. Depart for Uzungöl, one of the most photogenic locations in the region, lunch at a fish restaurant, sightseeing and dinner & O/N at Uzungol,    

Day 4 .  RIZE, FIRTINA VALLEY,  AYDER  
Depart for Ayder, visit botany garden and have a panoramic view of Rize, drive to Camlihemsin through the beautifull Firtina Valley , enjoy the panorama with many of waterfalls, stone bridges on firtina valley and lush green forests on the foothills of the magnificient Kackar Mountains, lunch and sightseeing in Ayder, dinner & O/N. in Ayder,    

Day 5. AYDER, BORCKA-KARAGOL , ARTVIN
Drive to Hopa via Black Sea coast and looking towards Georgia from Sarp Gate, see Borçka Dam on River Çoruh on the way to Artvin, visit Kafkasor on Mount Genya, dinner & O/N in Artvin,    

Day 6. YUSUFELI, ERZURUM
Visit Hells Gorge at Ardanuç (Klarjeti, old Georgian capital) arrival to Yusufeli, driving through Turkey's fastest flowing River Coruh Valley will take us to 7'th century Ishan Church, visit Tortum Waterfalls on the way. Oshk-Vank Church is the best example of Georgian architecture from 9th century, arrival Erzurum on high anatolian plateau, dinner and O/N in Erzurum   

Day 7.  ERZURUM   
Morning visit to Selchuk & Mongolian monuments; Cifte Minareli Medrese, a theological school named for its towering twin minarets, Yakutiye Medrese, built by Mongolian Prince Olcayto in 1308, is topped with a richly tiled minaret. Ulu Mosque and Erzurum Castle, transfer to Erzurum Airport for a homebound flight, and say farewell...    

Tour Price Includes :

• 6 nights accommodations at 3 - 5 stars hotels,
• Modern, spacious, air-conditioned, vehicle for land transportation.
• Professional English speaking tour guide,
• 12 meals : 6   Breakfasts,  and 6 dinners.
  Parking, portage, tipping (except guide, driver), tolls
• Admission fees to sights and museums
• V.A.T.

Tour Price Exludes :

• Airfare of Int'l and domestic flights within our program itinerary,
• Air and departure taxes,
• Bottled beverages or alcohol,
• Travel insurance ,
• Visas, laundry, and personal items,

Accommodation:

Accomodations at 3 - 5 star hotels

Day 07
Mardin Hasan Kehf Diyarbakir
Drive to Hasan Kehf in the morning and continue to Diyarbakir. Visit the old town of Diyarbakir and its Ulu Mosque. Stay in Diyarbakir.

Day 08
Diyarbakir Akdamar Island Van
We will depart early this morning to visit the Akdamar Church near Van. We will take a small boat ride to get to Akdamar Island on Lake Van. This church has one of the most complete scene collections of the Old Testament carved on the façade of the church. Late afternoon tour of Van.

Day 09
Van Mt. Ararat Kars
Our first sight seeing will be at Dogu Beyazit. We will observe the beauty of the Mt. Ararat from a distance. Then we will continue to Ishak Pasa Palace which is one of the oldest and most complete palace complexes in the world. Than we will continue to Kars the city built on top of the high cliffs. In the late afternoon we will walk the bazaars of Kars.

Day 10
Kars Ani Artvin
Ani is one of the cities which were emptied when Turkish Government reciprocated its people with Muslim Greeks. Since then the town has not been settled therefore it looks like a ghost town. Continue to visit Artvin which is one of the most beautiful cities near the Georgian Border.

Day 11
Artvin Ayder Plateau Rize
Today is completely kept for the visit of Ayder Plateau. During the day we will visit many different villages and observe the local people. We will continue to Rize for an overnight stay.

Day 12
Rize Sumela Trabzon - Istanbul