1 night in Ankara, 10 nights in Eastern Turkey,
2 nights in Cappadocia, 2 nights in İstanbul

ANKARA
Upon arrival in Ankara, you will be met by a Golden Bay Tourrepresentative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

ANKARA / SAMSUN After breakfast, depart by coach for Samsun. En route, visit the most important Hittite site in Turkey, Bogazkale. The ancient capital, Hattusas is surrounded by double walls broken by the Royal Gate, the Lion's Gate and the Yer Kapi gate which is guarded by two sphinxes. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Samsun, for dinner and overnight.

SAMSUN / TRABZON
Today, make the scenic drive to Trabzon through forests and along the Black sea coast. Lunch at a local restaurant. Arrive at your hotel for dinner and overnight.

TRABZON / ERZURUM On the way to Erzurum, visit the spectacular 11th century monastery of Sumela perched 300 meters above a raging river. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Erzurum, the largest city in Eastern Anatolia, for dinner and overnight. ERZURUM In the morning, visit the Selcuk monuments of Erzurum, including the Cifte Minareli Medrese, a theological school named for its towering twin minarets; the Uc Kumbet (three mausoleums), and the archaeological museum. Lunch en route. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

ERZURUM / KARS
Drive along the ancient Silk Road en route to Kars. See the six arched Ottoman bridge spanning the Aras river and an Armenian fortress, Hasan Kale. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the abandoned city of Ani where great walls encircle beautiful churches and mosques dating from the 10th century. Arrive in Kars for dinner and overnight.

KARS / VAN
In the morning, depart for Dogubeyazit. The last main town before the Iranian border, Dogubeyazit sits in the shadow of Mt.Ararat (5137 m), the legendary resting place of Noah's Ark. Lunch en route. Visit the spectacular Ishak Pasha Mosque and Palace famous for its 18th century fairy tale pleasure dome. Ishak Pasha sits high on a cliff overlooking the endless plain and the ancient Silk Route. Continue to Van for dinner and overnight.

VAN In the morning, visit the ancient Urartian settlement of Cavustepe built by King Sardur in 750 B.C.E. Proceed to Hosap Fortress built in 1643 C.E. In the afternoon, take an excursion by boat to Akdamar Island and the 10th century church of the Holy Cross with its outer walls richly decorated in Old Testament reliefs. Lunch en route. Return to Van and visit the Van Fortress with its cuneiform inscriptions dating from 8th century B.C.E. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

VAN / DIYARBAKIR
Depart for Diyarbakir, a lovely city situated on a plateau overlooking the Tigris river. Upon arrival in Diyarbakir, take a short orientation tour including the ancient 5.5 meter long wall which encircles the city. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

DIYARBAKIR / ADIYAMAN
Depart for Adiyaman. En route, visit the ancient city of Harran. Known as Charran in the Old Testament, Abraham lived here on the way to Canaan. Visit the city walls, the old university and the houses shaped like beehives. Depart for Kahta in the afternoon and visit the ancient city of Arsameia on the Euphrates, the former capital of the Commagene Kingdom. Lunch en route. Cross the old Roman Bridge of Septimus Severus built in the 1st century. Arrive in Adiyaman for dinner and overnight.

ADIYAMAN / ANTAKYA
Very early in the morning, around 03:00 am, ascend Nemrut Mountain to the cone shaped tomb of the Commagene ruler Antiochus I. Watch the sunrise amid the disembodied heads of the colossal statues which once adorned this funerary sanctuary. After breakfast, drive to Antakya, ancient Antioch. Lunch en route. Visit the mosaic museum and St. Peter's Church. Paul and Barnabas spent over a year here building a strong Church. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.

ANTAKYA / CAPPADOCIA Drive to Cappadocia. Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. CAPPADOCIA Visit Göreme Valley a complex of rock chapels and churches covered with lovely frescoes. Continue to Zelve Valley and Avanos. Lunch en route. Visit the underground city of Kaymakli famous with its seven subterranean levels, and could accommodate several thousands of people. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

CAPPADOCIA / ISTANBUL
Fly to Istanbul from Kayseri or Ankara. Lunch en route. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

ISTANBUL
Visit the legendary Blue Mosque, named for the beautiful blue Iznik tiles that cover its walls.
Then stroll around the historical Hippodrome where chariot races were held. Continue to St. Sophia, originally a Christian Basilica built by Constantine in the 4th century, then converted to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire. Lunch at a local restaurant. See the beautiful mosaics on display at the museum. Visit Topkapi Palace, legendary residence of the Ottoman Sultans. Return to your hotel for overnight.

DEPARTURE
You will be transfered to the airport for your departure flight.

Price includes:
" Accommodation at 4 star hotels during the whole tour.
" Accommodations are all in HB basis except in İstanbul.
" A/C deluxe coach during the whole tour.
" Professional guidance services in your language during the whole tour.
" 14 lunches at the local restaurants
" All entrance fees as per itinerary
" 01 free in dbl room (for the Tour Leader)
" Porterage at airports and hotels.

Price does NOT include
" Tips to the guide, driver, and headwaiters at the hotels
" Personal expenses
" International or domestic air fares
" Dinners during the Istanbul stay