From the Tigris to the Euphrates
Ottoman Heartland - 12 Days Expedition

Sights of Mesopotamia & SOUTH EAST TURKEY TOUR
Tour of Istanbul, Van, Ankara, Cappadoccia, Ahlat , Diarbakir, Sanliurfa, Adiyaman, Gaziantep & Adana .

The land between the Tigris and Euphrates, Turkey's most famous rivers, has been called the Cradle of Civilization. Come with us as we explore ancient civilizations dating from 1300 BC, and follow the trail of Moses toward the Promised Land

Four Departures a year : First Sat of each of the following Month :
May , June. Then September , October

This tour is available on a private basis ( minimum 4 guests)
Start Any Day

Covering the Central & Southeastern Anatolian Steppe This spectacular tour has been especially designed to experience the history, culture, diversity and color of the people of Turkey.

Enjoy the mystic palaces of the Sultans, bazaars and mosques of Istanbul. Visit magnificent ancient sites from the Roman, Christian and Islamic worlds, view the sun drenched waters of Lake Van and journey through the Anatolian heartland , experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the Turkish people.

This region is VERY hot in high summer (July - Sept), more pleasant in spring and fall, and not bad in the winter, so most visitors do consider it to be a good fall / winter destination.

Rate per person in USD $ :

DAY 1– ISTANBUL - Sat
Arrive in Istanbul. Meet your traveling companions at your Ottoman mansion Style hotel : Arena Hotel or similar.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL Sun Visit the magnificent museums, Blue Mosque, Aya Sofya and Topkapi Palace to see some of the finest examples of Turkish and Byzantine arts. Overnight in Istanbul (BL)

DAY 3– ANKARA/ VAN Mon
Early morning flight to Ankara the capital of modern Turkey. We connect & fly on to Van. Overnight : at Van Merit Sahmaran Hote, Van- Buyuk Urartul or Similar (BD).

DAY 4–VAN - Akdamar - Cavustepe - Hosap - VAN
Van is one of the principal cities of Eastern Anatolia and thru history the city was occupied and controlled by different cultures such as the Urartians, the
karakoyunlu (The Black Sheep Turkomans), the Armenians, the Selcuks and the
Ottomans.
After breakfast drive to the shores of Van Lake, the largest lake in Turkey and the
largest soda lake in the world. Take a motorboat to Akdamar Island (boat ride
takes 20 minutes); climb through the ruined terraced gardens of the monastery to the Church of the Holy Cross-View frescoes on the walls inside. Outside the walls are covered with relieves, which are decorative and didactic. Return to main land by motorboat. Drive to the Urartian fortress of Cavustepe. Visit the temple, today only the bases of the columns remain, the stone altar on which worshippers placed their offerings to gods, and the royal palace. Next visit is to Hosap Castle which was built in 1643. the road thru Hosap, an ancient trade route linking eastern Anatolia and northwest Iran, follows the line of an older Urartian military highway.
Dinner and overnight at Van.

DAY 5 VAN - Mt. Ararat - DOGUBEYAZIT
Morning, drive to Dogubeyazit. En route view the Mount Ararat. According to an ancient tradition Ararat is the mountain on which Noah's ark rested.
Tour the Ishak Pasa Sarayi which is one of the strangest and most exotic buildings in Turkey. It was built towards the end of 18 century by the Cildiroglu who were the facto rulers of a substantial part of eastern Anatolia. Visit the palace, mosque, and the hill fortress.
Dogubeyazit is the last town of any size before the Turco-Iranian border. It is wreathed in dust clouds and racked by icy winds in winter. The town owed its importance in the past to its proximity to a trade route which linked northwest Iran with the Black sea port of Trabzon. It suffered severely during the 19C wars with Russia and during the First World War.
Dinner and overnight at Dogubeyazit. Dogubeyazit Nuh Hotel ,Sim-Er or similar.

DAY 6 - DOGUBEYAZIT - AHLAT
Morning ride for Ahlat which has had a checkered history. Taken by the Arabs in the 7C, it was occupied subsequently by the Byzantine, Selcuk Turks, Mongols, the Akkoyunlu and Karakoyunlu Turkomans and the Ottomans. Visit the Kumbetler which are conical shaped mausoleum and are believed to resemble the tents used by the nomads of Central Asia. Ahlat possesses a dozen of these striking tombs, all from the pre-Ottoman period. Tour the Ahlat museum which houses an interesting collection of Urartian pottery, weapons and jeweler, Roman glass, Byzantine and Selcuk coins and pottery, Ottoman costumes.

Dinner and overnight at Ahlat

Day 7 AHLAT - Tatvan - Bitlis - DIYARBAKIR
Panoramic drive to Diyarbakir thru Tatvan, Bitlis and Silvan.
Dinner and overnight at Diyarbakir Dedeman Hotel

Day 8 DIYARBAKIR - MARDIN - Viransehir -SANLIURFA
In the morning Explore Diyarbakir, has been a cradle of 26 civilizations during its 5000 year history. View the old city walls which are decorated with inscriptions and bas, relieves, and which represent a superb example of medieval military architecture. If time permits visit the Deliller Hani (inn), lively bazaars where small shops are grouped according to their trades.
Drive to Mardin. See the Citadel. In this city three cultures Turkish, Arabic, and Kurdish, and two religions Islam and Christianity, meet. Walk thru the narrow streets and stone houses which are influenced by the architectural styles of Iraq and Syria. Mardin is the canter of an important community of Syrian Orthodox Christians, the so-called Jacobites. Depart for the monastery of Deir al Zafaran, the Saffron Monastery was for many years
Official residence of patriarch of Antioch. At present there are about 1000 Christians in Mardin. Two church of Mor John the Arab. Drive to Monastery of Mor Augen which was once the home of several hundred monks, but they left long ago. Drive to Viransehir which occupies the site of Roman constantina.

Dinner and overnight at Sanliurfa. Urfa Edessa Hotel or similar.

Day 9 SANKIURFA - Harran - ADIYAMAN
Walking tour of Sanliurfa. Some of the oldest signs of civilization, dating to 7000 BC, were found 70 kilometers northwest to Urfa. It is believed that Abraham was born in a cave near where the Mevlid Halil Mosque now stands. View the remains of the castle. Visit Halil Rahman Mosque which is built around a quiet pool in which sacred carp swim. The Archeological Museum, is one of the best in Turkey, houses important Neolithic and Chacolithic finds from the Lower Firat region.
Wander through the bazaar and linger in the old courtyards of the old hans (inns). Gumruk Hani and the Barutcu Hani are the most interesting of the old hans. Continue to Harran, which is believed to be the ancient City of Haran mentioned in the Old Testament. Harran is also known more now for its unusual beehive dwellings than as the place where Abraham actually spent several years of his life. Included among the archeological finds are those of the largest ancient Islamic University, city walls dating from the eighth century, four gates and a citadel.

Dinner and overnight at Adiyaman Kahta Zeus Hotel or similar

Day 10 ADIYAMAN-Mt. Nemrut - GAZIANTEP
An early start from Adiyaman to the mountain of Nemrut. See the gigantic funerary sanctuary erected in the first century BC by King Antiochus I of Commagene.
The engineering involved continues to amaze visitors seeing for the first time the article tumulus as it is flanked by terraces on which rest the statues of Apollo, Zeus, Hercules, tyche and Antiochus.
Continue to the ancient site of Carche,is. The earliest reference to Carchemish are on cuneiform tablets dating from C1750 BC found at Tell Hairiri, the ancient Mari, on the Middle Euphrates. The City's strategic position on the Euphrates (Firat in Turkish) invited goddess Kubaba, the Prototype to Cybele. Continue to Zeugma, also known as Belkis, strategically situated on a curve of the Euphrates. It was an important crossing-point from the earliest times. Zeugma is in the reservoir area of the Birecik Dam.
Rescue excavation has already started. After that visit Gavur Kalesi or Rm Kale which is at the north of Zeugma, Its strategic position attracted the Assyrians, Romans, Byzantine, Arabs and Turks.
Drive to Gaziantep. This city is always an important trading emporium on the caravan routes which linked Caucasus and the Arabian peninsula with the Mediterranean and the Aegean. Visit the Archeological Museum.

Dinner and overnight at Gaziantep Tilmen Hotel or similar

Day 11 GAZIANTEP - Hatay - ADANA
Drive to Antioch (Hatay), the ancient antiocheia and Orontem. A pleasant city, its wide boulevards and steep-banked river give it a vaguely French air. A touch of Arab influence and the presence of Christian minorities add an exotic touch of spice to its cultural mix. Visit the Archeological Museum where you can view the late roman and Byzantine mosaics. After that visit church of St. Peter, the Christians of Antioch, fearful of persecution, met here in secret.
Drive to Adana which is the fourth largest city of Turkey. A provincial capital and university city, it derives its wealth from the agricultural produce of the Cukurova Plain and from its strategic position at the junction of the main east-west highway and the route through the Cilician Gates to central Anatolia. Pleasantly laid out along the banks of the Seyhan River, the ancient Sarus, the city is surrounded by gardens and citrus groves. Visit Archeological Museum which has a fine collection of artifacts most of which were found in the city and surrounding countryside.

Dinner and overnight at Adana Mavi Sumerli Hotel or similar

Day 12 ADANA - air- ISTANBUL - Departure
Departure transfer to Adana Airport . This is a locally escorted tour. Bon Voyage

Rates are per person and include:

• Airfares within Turkey, including taxes.
  
• Accommodations in comfortable first-class (four-star) hotels are included.
• Most meals as listed (continental breakfast, pre set menu lunches/dinners): B/L/D : Breakfast lunch dinner codes as indicated on each day.
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including all entrance fees & services.
• Lonely Planet Travel Book

Rate doesn't include :

• International air fare.
• 
  Visa Fee : $20 in cash upon arrival, for US citizens, or $45 for Canadians, or from any of the Turkish Consulates
• 
  Trip/travel insurance, please ask us for the flyer or visit : www.travelexinsurance.com

En Espanol . Click here for info on sailing the Mediterranean (Gulet Blue Cruise)