HIGHLIGHTS : Two area of Turkey: Eastern Black Sea coast and Eastern Anatolia. Not only is the scenery spectacular, but everywhere are to be seen the remains of Ottoman, Byzantine, Roman, Georgian, Pontic, and Seljuk civilizations. The North-East Turkey tour takes you to Trabzon, Gumushane, Rize, Artvin, and Erzurum . You will visit 4.th century Sumela Monastery and St.Sophia in Trabzon, medieval Georgian Churches near Artvin, Seljuk Medrese and Mosques in Erzurum. You will also visit: Zigana Mountais (Pontic Alps) , The River Coruh , Karaca Cave, Uzungöl, Firtina Valley, Camlihemsin and Ayder Plateau.
Tour Code : can11
Tour Itinerary
Day 1. TRABZON
Arriving at Trabzon International Airport, transfer to hotel, diner and brief information about the trip, and overnight . (D)
Day 2. TRABZON, SUMELA MONASTERY, ZIGANA, KARACA CAVE
Depart for Sumela Monastery, visit the 4 th century Sumela Monastery, 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 old Silk Road through the Zigana Mountains will take us to Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and formations, return to Trabzon, dinner & O/N in Trabzon,
Day 3 . TRABZON, UZUNGOL
Depart for St. Sophia (Ayasofya), a 13'th century church and study extraordinary collection of byzantine frescoes, depart for Gulbahar Hatun Mosque, Castle and Atatürk's Mansion, a picturesque hilside retreat, visit Ortahisar Mosque, a Comneni cathedral in the old town, Girls' Monastery, a nunnery built by Alexios III in 13.th century. Enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Boztepe. Depart for Uzungöl, one of the most photogenic locations in the region, lunch at a fish restaurant, sightseeing and dinner & O/N at Uzungol,
Day 4 . RIZE, FIRTINA VALLEY, AYDER
Depart for Ayder, visit botany garden and have a panoramic view of Rize, drive to Camlihemsin through the beautifull Firtina Valley , enjoy the panorama with many of waterfalls, stone bridges on firtina valley and lush green forests on the foothills of the magnificient Kackar Mountains, lunch and sightseeing in Ayder, dinner & O/N. in Ayder,
Day 5. AYDER, BORCKA-KARAGOL , ARTVIN
Drive to Hopa via Black Sea coast and looking towards Georgia from Sarp Gate, see Borçka Dam on River Çoruh on the way to Artvin, visit Kafkasor on Mount Genya, dinner & O/N in Artvin,
Day 6. YUSUFELI, ERZURUM
Visit Hell’s Gorge at Ardanuç (Klarjeti, old Georgian capital) arrival to Yusufeli, driving through Turkey's fastest flowing River Coruh Valley will take us to 7'th century Ishan Church, visit Tortum Waterfalls on the way. Oshk-Vank Church is the best example of Georgian architecture from 9’th century, arrival Erzurum on high anatolian plateau, dinner and O/N in Erzurum
Day 7. ERZURUM
Morning visit to Selchuk & Mongolian monuments; Cifte Minareli Medrese, a theological school named for its towering twin minarets, Yakutiye Medrese, built by Mongolian Prince Olcayto in 1308, is topped with a richly tiled minaret. Ulu Mosque and Erzurum Castle, transfer to Erzurum Airport for a homebound flight, and say farewell...
