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DAY 1 Arrive
Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul, the only city in the world
that stands upon two continents. Depending on your arrival time, you may visit
the Grand Bazaar or Pera District on your own. The group will come
together for an orientation meeting and welcome dinner in the evening.
Overnight at
Erguvan
Hotel or a similar accommodation in
Istanbul’s fascinating Old City, the Sultanahmet.
DAY 2 Istanbul
This
morning we start exploring this exotic city
that
was capital to three great empires – Roman,
Byzantine and Ottoman. We visit world famous
sites such as the Roman Hippodrome, the
exquisite Blue Mosque and Topkapi
Palace, the home of Ottoman
Sultans for 400 years.
We visit the Harem, the Treasure and the other
sections of the Palace.
In the
afternoon
we see the great church of Haghia Sophia
and Justinian’s Basilica
Cistern.
After a short resting at the hotel we walk
down through the
Spice Market and take an early evening
boat trip along the beautiful Bosphorus. We have
dinner at a fish restaurant at the sea front. Overnight at
Erguvan or a similar hotel .
DAY 3 Van
We fly to Van in the morning. After checking into the hotel
we drive to Gevas and take a
ferry to Akhdamar Island in beautiful Lake
Van, where a magnificent
Armenian example of eastern ecclesiastical architecture, the Church of the
Holy Cross (921 AD), stands alone. The church has glorious didactic and
decorative friezes on the facades of the building which come to life in the
sun light. We then drive to the Hosap Castle (17 C AD) built by a local lord
on the ancient trade route. On the way back we see Cavustepe Urartian Fortress
(8 C BC) built by Urartians, the descendants of one of the strongest rivals
of the Hittites. Overnight at
Merit Sahmaran Hotel by the
Lake Van.
Total driving on this day: 180 km (112 miles).
DAY 4 Van,
Dogubayazit
We check out the hotel and visit Van Castle built by the Urartians in 840
BC and Van Museum to see Urartian artifacts. Then
we drive to
Dogubayazit. After checking in the hotel, we visit one
of the most exotic buildings in Turkey: The Ishak Pasha Palace. Built by a local
ruler in 1784, it is a complex with residential and administrative buildings,
heated by a central heating system. The architecture and the reliefs are
magnificent. Overnight at Dogubayazit
Sim-Er Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 219 km (136 miles).
DAY 5 Dogubayazit,
Kars
Depart from the hotel and drive to Gurbulak, the gateway to Iran. Near the
gate we'll see the second largest meteor hole in the world (after one in Alaska).
On the way back is the legendary Noah’s Ark. It has an ark shape, and a length
of 515 ft , exactly 300 cubits as the Bible says (a royal Egyptian cubit was
20.6 inches). Then a visit to the Ice Cave, northeast of Hallac
Village, which has stalactites and stalagmites of ice. Back to Dogubayazit
and have lunch there. Then drive northwest and stop at Tuzluca to see a
traditional salt mine. Continue driving and arrive in Kars. Stroll around
the streets flanked by old houses built during the Russian invasion between
1877 and 1920. Overnight at Kars
Sim-Er Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 295 km (183 miles).
DAY 6 Ani,
Savsat
Depart from the hotel and drive to Ani, one of the most touching sites in
Turkey. It was the capital of the Armenian principality until 1064,
located right along the border of present Armenia. The Armenian and
Seljuk structures dating from 10C to 13C are impressive. Then drive
back to Kars for lunch and to visit the formidable castle and Church
of the Holy Apostols dating from 930 AD. Then set off for Savsat via
Ardahan. Savsat is in the province of Artvin, which has the highest
literacy and education level in Turkey. The nature of this area contrasts
with what you have seen so far: beautiful natural forests and green pastures.
At Savsat we turn east to Karagol (Black Lake). Karagol is an amazingly
beautiful lake surrounded by natural forests, rich in wildlife. It is one
of the remotes wilderness areas in all Turkey. It is close to the Georgian
border. Overnight at Karagol pension at the lake front.
Total driving on this day: 249 km (160 miles).
 DAY
7 Savsat, Karagol
After breakfast visit Sogutlu Castle, a Syctian fort near Savsat, and the
Georgian Tbbeti Church in Cevizli. The Church was constructed between 899 and
914. The Church’s external face was adorned with columns and relieves. During
lunch time there will be an opportunity to be a guest in a traditional wooden
house in a village and have local meal. In the afternoon drive to Yalnizcam
Mountain and then take an uphill hike (one hour) to see the Monastery of
Kirazli Odalari, the most striking historic structure in the area. It is a
group of buildings, concealed from sight, amidst high hills. Overnight at
Karagol pension.
Total driving on this day: 96 km (60 miles).
DAY 8 Artvin,
Macahel
After breakfast leave the pension and drive to Hamamli to see another Georgean church. Constructed between
923 and 958, has impressive architecture with embroidered “sundial” on its door. Then drive to and through
Artvin (where there is nothing particularly interesting) to Hatilla Valley National Park, 10 km from Artvin.
The park is about 25 km long, with canyons of sheer cliffs and vertical drops. Both Mediterranean and
Black Sea flora are found in the Park with a wildlife including bears, deer, wolves, foxes and eagles.
Back to Artvin and drive to Borcka from where mountain track of 60 km, climbing over 1830m high, leads
to heavenly Macahel. Overnight at TEMA house in Macahel.
Total driving on this day: 220 km (137 miles).
NOTES ON MACAHEL:
Macahel, an extraordinarily beautiful valley, encompasses six villages with
unspoiled friendly people and the last pristine natural forest of the Black Sea
region, just at the border with Georgia. TEMA (The Turkish Foundation for
Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats)
is conducting a project in Macahel to protect the unique ecosystem and culture
by introducing sustainable forest resource management, ecologically viable tourism
and rural development plans (Also, there occurs a Caucasian race of bees that
thrives naturally in the area, a genetically unaltered, pure bred race).
DAY 9 Macahel
Hike to Findikli Yayla and Ayi-üzümü (huckelberry) Waterfall and visit village
houses, where we may have meals with the friendly people, dance with locals and
listen to a chorus of elderly locals. It will be an unforgettable day. Overnight
at TEMA house.
Total driving on this day: 50 km (31 miles).
DAY 10 Black
Sea, Kackar Mountains
After breakfast leave Macahel and drive to Hopa on the Black Sea coast and have
lunch there. Then drive along the Black Sea and turn south for another 40 km
drive to Ayder. After check in at the hotel, drive to Firtina (Thunder)
Valley to see peculiar old stone bridges and Zil Kale(Bell Castle). Overnight
at Kuspuni Hotel, a chalet in beautiful surroundings.
Total driving on this day: 247 km (154 miles).
Ayder is one of the “yaylas,” the alpine pastures of Turkey's Black Sea region,
located at an altitude of 1300m (4265 ft) at the foot of the Kackar Mountains,
where the rural people used to move during the summer to escape the heat and graze
their herds. In the present time, the descendants of those people come to these
yaylas mostly for their holidays and also to keep the old traditions. The nature
is magnificent, the culture is distinct and the people are the wittiest in Turkey.
This region has the highest annual rainfall in Turkey and it is evenly distributed
throughout the year. The number of rainy days in a month is 15, and that means a 50%
probability of rain (or dry weather) every day.
DAY 11 Kackar
Mountains
After a short drive, take a day-long hike to get closer to Mount Kackar
(3932 m -12900 ft), the 4th highest in Turkey, and to see beautiful glacier
lakes. Overnight at Kuspuni Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 45 km (31 miles).
DAY 12 Rize,
Trabzon
Leave the hotel at 09:00 and drive 83 km to Rize. Visit the castle, stroll
around the town and have lunch there. Then drive 76 km to Trabzon (Trebizond),
an 8 C BC Miletian foundation and capital of the Commenos Empire after 1204 and
also birth place of Suleyman the Magnificent. We discover the old center
of Trabzon today seeing the Church of St. Anne, City Walls, Zagnos Tower,
Roman Bridge, Fatih Mosque (originally the church of Panagia Chrysokephalus
-
Golden-Headed Virgin), Gulbahar Hatun Mosque (one of the oldest Ottoman monuments),
and Tabakhane Bridge (Roman). Then we leave Trabzon and drive 41km south to our
hotel in the mountains. Dinner and overnight at Cosandere Serander Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 215 km (134 miles).
DAY 13 Sumela
Monastery, Ordu
After breakfast drive 10 km up to Sumela Monastery the largest and the most
impressive Byzantine monastic establishment in Asia Minor. Founded in 385 AD
it is some three hundred meters above a rushing stream in the valley below.
A must see. After a round trip hike up to the Monastery, we return to the
hotel for lunch and check out. Drive down to Trabzon, turn west and continue
driving to Ordu (passing through Giresun). Giresun and Ordu are the two
provinces where most of the world's and Turkey's hazelnut production occurs.
Check into the hotel and tour the City of Ordu, seeing the old quarter
(Eski Pazar) and the old church. Overnight at Karlibel Ikizler Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 242 km (150 miles).
DAY 14 Ordu,
Giresun
 We
tour homeland of hazelnut today. Leave the hotel after breakfast and drive 20 km inland to hike on the Kurul
Rocks, one of the ancient settlements with mysterious underground
galleries cut into the rocks. Near the rocks is Bayadi Village, where we
visit Ahmet Özdemir, a popular local craftsman making hand-made clarinets.
Back to Ordu, see the site of ancient Ordu (Cotyora) and drive westward to
Cape Yason. This Cape was named after Jason, the mythical hero who quested
for the golden fleece with the Argonauts. Cape Yason is actually a protected
historic site under protection where, in early times, a temple was erected to
honour Jason which was later replaced with a church. Visit the church and the
site and return to Ordu then drive to Giresun. After a quick check in, drive
to the shore, board a boat and motor to Giresun Island (Aretias), the only
habitable island along the Turkish Black Sea Coasts. Antiope, queen of the
Amazons, had a temple built on the island consecrated to Ares. Jason and the
Argonauts reportedly stopped here and offered sacrifice in the Amazons' temple.
We return to the main land and take a town tour, ending up at Giresun Castle.
Overnight at Carikci Hotel.
Total driving on this day: 160 km (100 miles).
DAY 15 Trabzon,
Istanbul
Depart from the hotel at 09:00 and start driving toward Trabzon. Stop at Akcaabat
to see the old quarter. Then continue to Trabzon, have lunch on your own (Zindan
Restaurant near Gulbahar Hatun Mosque is recommended). In the afternoon, we continue
our tour in the City of Trabzon, visiting the Church of Haghia Sophia, Ataturk’s
Pavilion, Arsenal, Monastery of Panagia Theoskepastos (Kizlar Monastery) and
Kaymakli Monastery, the only Armenian sanctuary in Trabzon. We end up with
Boztepe to have drinks or a quick supper overlooking the city below. The flight
to Istanbul departs at pproximately 19:30 and arrives in Istanbul at 21:15.
Overnight at Ayasofya Pansiyons in Istanbul.
Total driving on this day: 166 km (103 miles).
DAY 16 Departures
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Optional 3-day pre-trip or post-trip Cappadocia extension.
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July
1 - 16 
Balbius Travel