Arrival to Istanbul and the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 2 - Istanbul - Adana
Early morning fly to Adana, Pick up the rental car at Adana airport and drive to Tarsus, where St. Paul was born almost 2000 years ago. We will visit St. Paul’s well and the old houses of Tarsus. Then, we will visit the Karatepe-Aslantas Museum (Black Hill-Lion Stone Museum), this site has been inhabited for almost 4000 years. The extant ruins date from the 13th. century BC when this was a summer retreat for the neo-Hittite kings of Cilicia, the greatest of whom was named Azitawadda. Our next stops will be the Toprakkale Castle ( The Earth Castle), built of dark volcanic stone and Anavarza fortress city built by the Romans on top of a hill dominating the fertile plain. Return to Adana for dinner and overnight in Adana.
Day 3 - Adana - Antakya
We will drive to Antakya and visit the amazing mosaics museum and the grotto of St. Peter in old Antakya with its maze of narrow streets. The Arabic-speaking resort town of Samandag and the Roman tunnel of Titus and Vespasianus present further evidence of an ancient sophisticated society. Overnight in Antakya.
Day 4 - Antakya - Gaziantep - Sanliurfa
Today, we will drive to Sanliurfa via Gaziantep. We will visit Gaziantep Archeological Museum to see the spectacular mosaics saved from Zeugma Antique Site. In the historical Tepebasi district, fine example of mid nineteenth-century southeastern Anatolian architecture may seem an incongruous feature of this once-wealthy trading center in southeastern Turkey, but are only one of the elements in a well-preserved example of cultural and religius integration in the late Ottoman Empire. The missionary hospital and school costucted at the reguest of Tepebasi’s merchants still stand alondside a collection of synagogue, mosque and Roman Catholic, Protestan and Orthodox churches in the historic district of Gaziantep. Lunch
at a local restaurant to taste rich and delicious kebaps and desert. We will drive to Halfeti for a boat trip on the Euphrates to see Rumkale (Hromgla). Rumkale is the place where one of Jesus Christ’s apostles, St. John wrote copies of the Holy Bible. We will also see a ruined fortress, rebuilt and used by the crusaders. We will continue on to Sanliurfa, which was known as Ur in ancient times and later as Edessa. Overnight in Sanliurfa.
Day 5 - Sanliurfa
M
orning visit to the beehive-style mud houses of Harran. This is one of the most ancient continuously inhabited sites on Earth and is where Abraham and his wife Sarah spent some years. Return to Sanliurfa for afternoon sight-seeing. Tradition relates that Sanliurfa was the birthplace of Abraham. A great Roman ruin surmounts the mountain opposite our hotel and sacred carp swim in a quiet pool near the rose gardens. The ancient vaulted bazaar captures the atmosphere of the exotic East and you may find fabulous silks and other fabrics here. Overnight in Sanliurfa.
Day 6 - Sanliurfa - Nemrut Mountain - Kahta
T
oday, we will visit the Ataturk Dam, which is one of the biggest projects in the world. After lunch, we will depart to Nemrut Dag’s rugged peak, Built in honor of Antiochus a Commagene ruler. Marvel at the colossal stone heads of the gods that guard the entrance to King Antiochusi tomb. Dinner and overnight in Adiyaman.
Day 7 - Kahta - Diyarbakir
We will drive to Diyarbakir via ferry on the magical Euphrates. We will see the gorgeous city walls of Diyarbakir. They are between 5,5 and 6 kms in lenght and with its 16 keeps and 5 gates give the city an ominous appearance. We will visit Ulu Mosque and on our walk through the streets of the old city we will meet many people whose families have lived here for centuries as well as taking the opportunity of visiting the small Christian community. This is an amazing experience and the area with its base stones originating from a pagan temple which once stood on the site. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
Day 8 - Diyarbakir - Mardin
O
ur journey will take us to Mardin, where, from a dictance, the golden stone of the houses, blend into the rock on which the city is built. Now, it is the time to discover Mardin, the legendary city of Upper Mesapotamia, has a history going back to 8000 BC. With its unique stone architecture, Mardin became the second city in the world to be declared a conservation area in entirety. When you examine its buildings you will astonished at the way the Syrian Orthodox builders worked the stone with the delicacy of kilim or lace patterns. Syrian Orthodox churches stand side by side with mosques and medreses here, sometimes the sound of church bells mingling with the chant of the ezan.
Syrian Orthodox gold and silver smiths whose work is famous throughhout the country still practise their craft here. The U shaped main street of Mardin is the only one open to motorised traffic, transportation through the sidde streets being restricted to donkeys and mules. Otherwise everything from shopping to LPG bottles is carried by people. Pack animals are even used for refuse collection here.
The city museum is housed in the former patriarchate constructed in 1895 by the Patriarch of Antakya, Ignatios Benham Banni. Now restored to its original condition, the building houses collections dating from 4000 BC up to the present day and representing the Assyrian, Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Artuklu and Ottoman periods. Pottery, seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop bottles and jewellery are among the many and fascinating exhibits. After lunch at a local restaurants, we will visit The Deyrulzafaran Monastery or "saffron monastery", under the auspices of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch from 1160 until the 1920’s when it was relocated to Damascus. Our last stop will be Kasimiye Medresesi. Overnight in Mardin.
Day 9 - Mardin - Midyat - Hasankeyf - Van
Early in the morning, we will drive to Midyat. Midyat is the western gateway to the Tur Abdin proper, which still has 32 villages wholly or partly inhabited by Syrian Orthodox Christians, plus 46 monasteries and churches in varying states of repair and use. We will visit the active Syriac-Jacobite Monastry of Mar Gabriel, Dating from the 5th century. Fourteen nuns and three monks occupy separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers, guests sent by Turkish emigrants to learn the Syriac language and retie hazy cultural connections. Then, we will continue on to Hasankeyf, the spectecular site of a now-ruined city built by the Artukid Turcoman Tribe on the banks of the Tigris, involves a gradual, scenic descent towards the river. Continue on to Van. Overnight in Van.
Day 10 - Van
Early in the morning, we will drive to Midyat. Midyat is the western gateway to the Tur Abdin proper, which still has 32 villages wholly or partly inhabited by Syrian Orthodox Christians, plus 46 monasteries and churches in varying states of repair and use. We will visit the active Syriac-Jacobite Monastry of Mar Gabriel, Dating from the 5th century. Fourteen nuns and three monks occupy separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers, guests sent by Turkish emigrants to learn the Syriac language and retie hazy cultural connections. Then, we will continue on to Hasankeyf, the spectecular site of a now-ruined city built by the Artukid Turcoman Tribe on the banks of the Tigris, involves a gradual, scenic descent towards the river. Continue on to Van. Overnight in Van.
Day 10 - Van
This morning we will travel to the Akdamar Island. The small Akdamar church built by Vaspurakan King Gagik I in the 10th century isa masterpiece. It is the work of architect Manuel. Red clay stone was used in the construction of this church and it has domes, a cruciform plan, and three entrances. A chapel in the 13th century and a large front section in the 14th century were added to the church. The Armenian Patriarchy was moved here like in the 10th century. The outside walls are decorated with scenes from the Old Testament, and these figures look like sculptures under the sunlight. In the shade, these figures seem almost to disappear. The inside walls of the church have frescoes depicting scenes from the bible. A Byzantine influence is clearly seen in the wall pictures, even though some of them are badly ruined. Visit famed Van Castle from the Uratians by the Sunset and the Overnight in Van.
Day 11 - Van - Istanbul
Transfer to Van airport for the flight to Istanbul. Upon your arrival to Istanbul you will be transferred to your hotel, tonight you have a farewell dinner.
O
ur journey will take us to Mardin, where, from a dictance, the golden stone of the houses, blend into the rock on which the city is built. Now, it is the time to discover Mardin, the legendary city of Upper Mesapotamia, has a history going back to 8000 BC. With its unique stone architecture, Mardin became the second city in the world to be declared a conservation area in entirety. When you examine its buildings you will astonished at the way the Syrian Orthodox builders worked the stone with the delicacy of kilim or lace patterns. Syrian Orthodox churches stand side by side with mosques and medreses here, sometimes the sound of church bells mingling with the chant of the ezan.
Syrian Orthodox gold and silver smiths whose work is famous throughhout the country still practise their craft here. The U shaped main street of Mardin is the only one open to motorised traffic, transportation through the sidde streets being restricted to donkeys and mules. Otherwise everything from shopping to LPG bottles is carried by people. Pack animals are even used for refuse collection here.
The city museum is housed in the former patriarchate constructed in 1895 by the Patriarch of Antakya, Ignatios Benham Banni. Now restored to its original condition, the building houses collections dating from 4000 BC up to the present day and representing the Assyrian, Urartian, Hellenistic, Persian, Roman, Byzantine, Seljuk, Artuklu and Ottoman periods. Pottery, seals, cylinder seals, coins, lamps, figurines, teardrop bottles and jewellery are among the many and fascinating exhibits. After lunch at a local restaurants, we will visit The Deyrulzafaran Monastery or "saffron monastery", under the auspices of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch from 1160 until the 1920’s when it was relocated to Damascus. Our last stop will be Kasimiye Medresesi. Overnight in Mardin.
Day 9 - Mardin - Midyat - Hasankeyf - Van
Early in the morning, we will drive to Midyat. Midyat is the western gateway to the Tur Abdin proper, which still has 32 villages wholly or partly inhabited by Syrian Orthodox Christians, plus 46 monasteries and churches in varying states of repair and use. We will visit the active Syriac-Jacobite Monastry of Mar Gabriel, Dating from the 5th century. Fourteen nuns and three monks occupy separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers, guests sent by Turkish emigrants to learn the Syriac language and retie hazy cultural connections. Then, we will continue on to Hasankeyf, the spectecular site of a now-ruined city built by the Artukid Turcoman Tribe on the banks of the Tigris, involves a gradual, scenic descent towards the river. Continue on to Van. Overnight in Van.
Day 10 - Van
Early in the morning, we will drive to Midyat. Midyat is the western gateway to the Tur Abdin proper, which still has 32 villages wholly or partly inhabited by Syrian Orthodox Christians, plus 46 monasteries and churches in varying states of repair and use. We will visit the active Syriac-Jacobite Monastry of Mar Gabriel, Dating from the 5th century. Fourteen nuns and three monks occupy separate wings, as well as a fluctuating number of local lay workers, guests sent by Turkish emigrants to learn the Syriac language and retie hazy cultural connections. Then, we will continue on to Hasankeyf, the spectecular site of a now-ruined city built by the Artukid Turcoman Tribe on the banks of the Tigris, involves a gradual, scenic descent towards the river. Continue on to Van. Overnight in Van.
Day 10 - Van
This morning we will travel to the Akdamar Island. The small Akdamar church built by Vaspurakan King Gagik I in the 10th century isa masterpiece. It is the work of architect Manuel. Red clay stone was used in the construction of this church and it has domes, a cruciform plan, and three entrances. A chapel in the 13th century and a large front section in the 14th century were added to the church. The Armenian Patriarchy was moved here like in the 10th century. The outside walls are decorated with scenes from the Old Testament, and these figures look like sculptures under the sunlight. In the shade, these figures seem almost to disappear. The inside walls of the church have frescoes depicting scenes from the bible. A Byzantine influence is clearly seen in the wall pictures, even though some of them are badly ruined. Visit famed Van Castle from the Uratians by the Sunset and the Overnight in Van.
Day 11 - Van - Istanbul
Transfer to Van airport for the flight to Istanbul. Upon your arrival to Istanbul you will be transferred to your hotel, tonight you have a farewell dinner.
