BOUTIQUE TOUR «EASTERN ANATOLIA»
Day 1. Antalya to Van; sightseeing tour: Van Lake , Akdamar Church, Seljuk cemetery in Gevash
Meet at Antalya Airport; Domestic Terminal, at 07: 30. Departure at 08: 05, flight Antalya-Van. After the famous local Breakfast “vansky," we start our sightseeing tour of the city. Panoramic view of lake Van and the once mighty magnificent fortress Tushpa ( van), built on its shore on a high rock, and then, visit the tombs of the Kings of the ancient state of Urartu, Ulu Jami (Great mosque), Kyzyl Jami (Red mosque), mosque Khusrev Pasha and other historical monuments of the ancient city. From Van we move to its suburb of Gevash, where we will visit the Seljuk cemetery with carved tombstones and the mausoleum of Halime Khatun. Then, we wil journey by boat along lake Van to Akdamar island to see the beautiful Cathedral of Armenian architecture - the early medieval Church of Akhtamar (Church of the Holy cross). This tour you can visit at will ( extra cost) . After the tour we return to the city and stay at hotel; dinner, overnight. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Van
Day 2. Muradiye Waterfalls - Ishak Pasha Palace in Kars - Dogubeyazit
After Breakfast, we depart the hotel and head further East to the town of Muradie to see the colourful Muradie waterfall on the Bendimahi river, named after the Ottoman Sultan Murad IV; then through the Tendurek mountain range of the Armenian highlands, arriving in Dogubayazit, where we will be met in all its splendor by Mount Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey (5165 m). Here, we will visit the 17th Century Palace of Ishaq Pasha, the great Ottoman vizier and commander; rightly considered a pearl of world culture and has a direct relationship to Russian history. We stay at the hotel for the night. Kars Park Hotel 4*
Day 3. Kars – Ani – Erzurum - Antalya
After Breakfast we will see several sights among which are: Kars fortress, Stone bridge, City Museum, Alexander Nevsky Church (now a mosque), Iron bridge, Opera House. Kars is an interesting place for all and particularly for Russians. From 1878 to 1918, Kars was part of the Russian Empire and during this time the Russians managed to completely construct the city centre with buildings reflecting European architecture. Therefore, the modern centre of Kars resembles a city in Central Russia. We will walk the streets to see for ourselves. Next. we visit the ruined medieval Armenian city of Ani – a Ghost town, "city of 1001 churches" - the ancient capital of the Armenian Kingdom of Ani. Menujehir kamyi, Yj Kale, Kyz kilisesi, Surp , Kervansaray, Hajik, main Cathedral, Aslanli gate, Church of the virgin or Astavatsatsin with sundial. Next is Erzurum; here, if there is time before departure, we will visit a couple of ancient mosques and Madrasah. Flight to Anyalya .
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