Duration: 9 Days Depart From: Iskenderun Tour Ending: Istanbul Route:
9 DAYS FULL BLACK SEA TOUR TURKEY
Duration: 9 Days Depart From: Iskenderun Tour Ending: Istanbul Route: Istanbul - Abant - Safranbolu - Ankara - Hattusa - Amasya - Trabzon - Istanbul
Details:
Day 01 - Istanbul - Arrival Day Welcome to Turkey!!! Today is your arrival day. Airport transfers are available from Ataturk International Airport during the hours of 8:00 am - 11:00 pm. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 02 - Istanbul City Tour We depart from the hotel at 08:30 am for the Istanbul City Tour. "TOPKAPI PALACE" The great palace of the Ottoman sultans from the 15th to the 19th centuries. The palace houses an exquisite collection of crystal, silver, and Chinese porcelain. Robes are worn by the sultans and their families, the famous jewels of the Imperial Treasury, miniatures, and the Holy Mantle; enshrining relics of the Prophet Mohammed. Next on the list is the "SULTANAHMET IMPERIAL MOSQUE" Across from St. Sophia built in the 16th century by the architect Mehmet, which is known as the "BLUE MOSQUE" because of its magnificent interior decoration of blue Iznik tiles. Outside the Blue Mosque, we find the "HIPPODROME". The Ancient Hippodrome was the scene of chariot races and entertainment. The Hippodrome comprises three monuments; the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column, and the Column of Constantine. After a short enjoyable lunch break, we head to the "SPICE BAZAAR" (Egyptian Bazaar) the air here is filled with the enticing aromas of cinnamon, caraway, saffron, mint, thyme, and every other conceivable herb and spice. After the tour, you have the option to experience the Bosphorus Cruise which will depart after the city tour. You will have the chance to enjoy magnificent views of the Bosphorus which is connecting Asia to Europe. Overnight in Istanbul.
Day 03 - Istanbul - Abant Lake - Safranbolu After breakfast at 09:00 am we depart for Abant Lake. Abant is most probably the most famous lake in Turkey. The lake is at the end of a 22 km drive. The seven-kilometer walk around the lake offers a great opportunity to enjoy the area. Those who don't wish to walk can ride horseback or complete the tour on a horse cart. Abant lake is surrounded by pine trees. The manner in which the lake was formed is a topic of discussion. Its deepest point is 45 meters. The countryside is pleasantly different in each season. Water lilies embellish the surface in summer. It is also famous for its trout. Lunch break at a beautiful alfresco restaurant under the trees with BBQ and fresh bread. After lunch, we depart for Safranbolu (from the 13th century to the advent of the railway in the early 20th century, Safranbolu was an important caravan station on the main East-West trade route. The old mosque, the old bathhouse, and Suleyman Pasha Medrese were built in 1322. During its apogee in the 17th century, Safranbolu's architecture influenced urban development throughout much of the Ottoman Empire). On arrival we will walk through the historical Safranbolu Bazaar, continuing on to Cinci Hodja Caravanserai, Cici Hodja Bath House, Kaymakamlar House (Museum). Overnight in Safranbolu.
Day 04 - Safranbolu - Ankara After breakfast at 09:00 am we depart sleepy Safranbolu for Ankara (3 to 4 hours drive) On arrival we will have time for lunch before taking the city tour of Ankara which is the 2nd biggest city and the capital of Turkey. On the tour, you will visit Ataturk`s (founder of modern Turkey) Museum and the Ataturk Mausoleum. Overnight in Ankara.
Day 05 - Ankara - Hattusa - Amasya After breakfast, we depart for Hattusa, which was the capital of Hittites. Haitians were Indo-German semi European people, they arrived via the Black Sea to north Anatolia at the beginning of 18th century BC. They used horse carts as their war vehicles, which they used during their attack of Ramses the 2nd and they had a big war with the Egyptians and they then made a peace treaty where they wrote on the clay and had 2 women sign it. That was the first peace treaty where women ever participated. Visiting Yazilikaya which is the ruin of an open-air temple of the Hittites where there are rock carvings of the Hittites god and Goddes. We then go to Hattusas, a big temple, and the city ruins including the gates of the lion and king. Visiting the summer palace of Hittites and driving to Alacahoyuk was the first capital of Hittites and Hatti civilization. After lunch, we drive to Amasya for our Amasya Tour. Amasya is one of the provinces which is distinct both with its natural setup and historical values it holds. It was the homeland of the famous geographer Strabo. Located in a narrow cleft of the Yesilirmak (Iris) river, it has a history of 3000 years during which many civilizations left priceless remains of their times. The ruins of the citadel on the rock face of the cleft shelter 2000-year-old water channels, 1000-year-old bridges, an ancient mental hospital, an Ottoman Palace, and a secret underground passageway. Overnight in Amasya.
Day 06 - Amasya - Trabzon After breakfast at 09:00 am is a departure for Trabzon. When the Roman Empire was divided into two at the end of the 4th century, Trabzon remained under the sovereignty of the Eastern Roman Empire which later on was called as Byzantine Empire. When relations and wars between the Byzantines and the Arabs started, the Arabs called the people under the Roman Sovereignty as Rum and the areas under the Roman sovereignty as Diyar-i Rum or Memleket-ul Rum (land of Rums). Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 07 - Trabzon Depart for St. Sophia (Ayasofya), a 13th-century church and study its extraordinary collection of Byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Castle, and Ataturk's Mansion (a picturesque hillside retreat), visit Ortahisar Mosque (a Comneni cathedral in the old town). Lunch at a seaside restaurant in Akcaabat. Afternoon we explore the cobbled stone streets of Trabzon. Drive to Boztepe; enjoy our tea from samovar with the panoramic view of the city. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 08 - Sumela Monastery - Zigana - Karaca Cave Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4th-century Sumela Monastery which 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 Silk Road through the Zigana Mountains (Pontic Alps) will take us to Karaca Cave, considered to be the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and formations. Overnight in Trabzon.
Day 09 - Trabzon - Istanbul End of Tour After breakfast, we depart for Trabzon Airport for our domestic flight to Istanbul and then back home.
Included services: - All airport transfers mention to Itinerary - Breakfast - Lunches by tour - 8 nights accommodation - Guides - All entrance fees mentioned in the itinerary - Transfers