Eastern Turkey Adventure

You are free to arrive in Istanbul at any time. Please note that check in time is approximately 2pm, but the hotel will be happy to store luggage if you arrive early. There are no planned activities today, until the evening when you will meet your Tour Leader and fellow group members for a welcome meeting. Check the notice board for a message from your Tour Leader or ask at the hotel reception for the exact time and location of this group meeting. Today is a good day to explore the Grand Bazaar, as it's closed on Sundays.

Overnight in Istanbul.

Please note that Eastern Turkey is a remote destination is quite "non developed" when it comes to tourism. Your accommodation on this tour will be very simple, business style hotels. Please refer to the accommodation section of these notes for more information.

This morning we head to the airport, ready to board our flight to Sanli Urfa. Timings will depend on the flight schedule, and it may be a very early (ie 5.30am) departure from our hotel this morning. If this is the case, a simple breakfast will be provided on the plane.

A world away from Istanbul, exotic Sanli Urfa gives you the chance to experience some true Middle Eastern flavour.
Begin the day with a visit to Harran, famous for its unique beehive houses. Constructed entirely without wood or nails, they are designed to be cool in summer and warm in winter. It must be a winning recipe as they have been built using the same design for at least 3,000 years. Some were still in use as dwellings until the 1980s, but now most of Harran's population lives in a newly built village nearby.

After returning to Sanliurfa we head to Golbasi Park. After exploring the surrounding mosque complex, enter the cave that is thought to be the birthplace of biblical Abraham before joining the many pilgrims at the pond below in feeding the sacred fish, which are believed to have helped save Abraham from death later in his life.

Later, explore the town’s fascinating covered bazaars, taking the chance to enjoy a glass of sweet tea and perhaps a game of backgammon in a local tea house.

Tonight, don't miss the chance to try the local specialties - the spicy Urfa kebab, and lahmacun, which resembles a thin crust pizza topped with spicy ground meat.

Overnight in Sanli Urfa.

Approx travel time: Hotel to Istanbul Airport, 30mins; Istanbul to Sanli Urfa, 2hrs (flight); Airport to Harran and return to Sanliurfa, 45 minutes.

We begin this morning with a walk up to Sanliurfa's massive kale, or fortress which gives an impressive view of the town below.
Travelling through the Anatolian plains, we make our way to Kahta, the small town which is our base for exploring Nemrut Mountain and its surrounds.
After lunch we make our way up to Nemrut Dagi, stopping en route to explore.
Our first stop is the Karakus Tumulus. While the males of the royal family have their tomb in their ancient capital city and of course, more famously on the summit of Nemrut Dagi, it is believed that these funerary mounds may be the burial monuments for the royal women. We pass the Severan Bridge, which at 34.2m is the second largest arched bridge ever achieved by the Romans and still in very impressive shape for being 2,000 years old.
Also enroute are the ruins of Arsameia, once the capital of the ancient Commagene kingdom whose rulers built the giant temple and tomb at the top of Mount Nemrut.
Nemrut Dagi is simply one of the must-see attractions in Turkey. On reaching the carpark, it is around a 15-20 minutes walk up to the mountain summit.
Learn about the fascinating history behind this site - basically one man's celebration of himself - before watching the sun set among the giant fallen heads of two thousand year-old statues. A simply unforgettable experience.

Overnight in Kahta.

Approx travel time: Sanli Urfa to Kahta, 4 hours. Kahta to Mount Nemrut, 3hrs return.

The beautiful and ancient hill-top town of Mardin is a real treasure. Explore streets of carved stone houses and bazaars scattered with picturesque mosques, with the remains of an imposing castle towering above you. Visit one of the most beautiful post offices in the world - it used to be a family mansion!
Wander the atmospheric old bazaar where you can see many traditional craftsmen at work. Pick yourself up some locally made soap and see if you can spot Shahmeran, Queen of the Snakes. Her portrait is traditionally hung on walls inside houses in Mardin to bring good luck and fertility to the occupants.
Purchase some local baklava- reputably some of the best in Turkey - and join the locals to enjoy it in one of the outdoor teashops with stunning views over the border and into the plains of Syria.
On the morning of Day 2, we will visit the Deyrül Zaferan Monastery, which is still used by local Syrian Christian community.
Founded in 493AD on the site of an older temple whose remains are still visible, this beautiful and important building was the home of the Head of the Syrian Orthodox church until the 1920s.
Mardin is a great place to experience a local hammam, or Turkish communal bathhouse. Take along your towel, soap and shampoo and enjoy a scrub like no other. The friendly locals will show you the correct protocol. Make sure you check the hours as the bathhouses are strictly segregated, usually being used by men in the morning and evenings, and women in the afternoons.
In the evening, why not take the chance to enjoy a meal of local dishes in an beautifully restored caravanserai, an ancient inn for traders and their animals.

Please note, our hotel in Mardin is in new Mardin town (about 1km from the centre) Old Mardin town is ancient, and does not have hotels large enough to accommodate groups. The local bus (dolmus) into town passes right outside our hotel, cost only around one Turkish lira, and will drop you right in the centre of the action and safely back to the hotel again. Your tour leader will show you the correct number bus.

Approx travel time: Mount Nemrut to Mardin, 5hrs

Day 6 begins discovering the ancient city of Hasankeyf. Spectacularly built around a rocky mountain and the Tigris river, this is a special place in which the architecture of the regions many different rulers is evident.
After passing the wonderfully named town of "Batman", we begin to catch our first glimpses of Lake Van, a vast inland sea.

This afternoon, travel by local ferry to Akdamar Island, the spectacular setting for the beautiful Armenian built church of Kilisesi. Marvel at the intricate external reliefs showing biblical scenes and characters, before wandering the atmospheric graveyards. Many tombs are carved with khatchkars- a type of cross which looks remarkably Celtic.

Returning by ferry at sunset, we make our way into the city of Van where we spend this evening.

Approx travel time: Day 6 Mardin to Van, including stops at Hasankeyf,lunch and Akdamar Island excursion, 9hrs

On Day 7 we enjoy a day trip to visit the incredible Ishak Pasha Palace. Perched high on a cliff, this half ruined fortified palace is the stuff Arabian tales are made of. Explore the many bedrooms of the harem, the ornate dining room and even the palace toilet, while enjoying stunning views over the plains below and onwards to Mt Ararat.
The afternoon is free for you to explore this dusty but interesting frontier town. You might want to visit the women's co op for a local lunch or perhaps purchase one of this region's beautiful carpets.

Approx travel time: Day 7 trip to Ishak Pasha Palace. It is approximately 2 hours each way Ishak Pasha Palace to Van return (4 hours total transfer) The day trip will last approximately 8 hours including visiting time and time in Dogubayazit for lunch.

This morning it is time to wave goodbye to the East as we transfer to Van airport where a short flight returns us to Istanbul. Your tour will finish in the early afternoon on arrival at Ataturk Airport.
Our usual flight is at 10am. Please do not book any onward travel until after 5pm to allow for possible delays.

We are able to organise extra post-trip accommodation if you wish to extend your stay for a few more days. Please ask at the time of booking.

Approx travel time: Van to Istanbul, 2hrs (flight)