En  Fr  Nl  De  Tr  

TransAnatolie Welcomes You  to Turkey

 

 

 

 

TransAnatolie Tours

En  Fr  Nl  De  Tr  

 

 

 

Ensemble

 

 

Home ] Up ] Tours ] Turkey-Türkiye ] Prehistory Anatolia ] Anatolia ] Cities ] Museums ] About ] Site Map ] Search ]

 

Kubaba ] East Turkey ] Theodora ] Roxana ] Istanbul ] West Turkey ] West Turkey ] [ Ensemble ] Cappadocia ] West-South ]

 

 

Up

TransAnatolie TA3408
8 Day Cultural Tour in Turkey
Ankara-Black Sea-Cappadocia Tour
 
   

Cultural Heritage Tour to Turkey: Hittites, Roman Empire, Amasya and Holly Land Cappadocia

 

Day 1: Istanbul

Arrival in Istanbul, welcome cocktail and sightseeing of the city, dinner and overnight at the 4 star or 5 star high QoS hotel. 

 Le musée Sainte-Sophie

Ayasofya Museum

Day 2: Istanbul-Ankara (by train)

In the morning, we visit the Golden Horn, the Pierre Loti Square, the Ottoman Imperial Cemetery and the Eyüp Mosque. We walk through the Roman-Byzantine City-Walls and visit the Chora Church. Lunch is at a well-known Turkish-Greek restaurant next to the ancient Roman Circus.

 Le palais de Topkapı
Topkapı Palace

After lunch we proceed by the visit to the St. Sophia Museum and to the Ottoman Topkapi Palace Museum. After shopping (optional) at the Grand Bazaar, we enjoy the unique Bosporus view, while driving to the Asian Continent through the high-tech Bridge of Bosporus. We see Üsküdar and end enjoy our dinner at one of the best restaurants of Asia. After dinner, we we take our places in Wagon Lits in Orient Express for a new day in Ankara. 

 Intérieur de la basilique-citerne
Interior of Chora Church

Day 3: Ankara Hattusas Amasya (376 km)

After breakfast at the Orient Express, we drive along the Kizilirmak (Red River) Valley to the Capital of Hittite Empire, Hattusas, and its pantheon Yazilikaya. Yazlikaya is registered National Historical Park.

The main sites to be visited date back from the last period of the great Hittite Empire. On the way to the park, we can see the big temple at Asagi Sevir (temple n°1), the city walls with the colossal doors (Gate Arsanli with its lions, Gate Poterni and YER, Royal Gate Kral).In Yukari Sevir, one admires the 31 temples built on the edge of Nisan Hill, and the Royal Palace, the Big Castle and other buildings.

The open-air Temple of Yazilikaya of the Hittite Empire is located at the 5 km north-east of Bogazköy. It consists of two rooms: the small and the large gallery, and is built taking advantage of the natural placing of the local rocks. Goddesses cut from the rocks are depicted on the right wall of the large gallery, while an image of gods are described on the left wall. Those two groups bring us to the rear wall, the most important one. On the rear wall the meeting of the God of Time Tesup and his wife Goddess Hepatu is depicted.In a local village, breakfast will enable us to appreciate an Hittite menu, regional meal prepared with spices dried by the wind of the High Hittite Plateau.

In the afternoon, we head up to Amasya, place of birth of the famous geographer Strabon (1st century before JC). Amasya is also the centre of education for the Ottoman Princes. At the sunset, we hike trough Yesil Irmak (Halys River) Valley, take pictures of wooden houses along the roads of Amasya, known for their magnificent Ottoman architecture. Dinner and overnight is at the 4 star hotel with high QoS. The overnight hotel is in Amasya, Apple-Tusan Grubu ****.

Day 4: Amasya – Zile – Cekerek – Bogaziliyan – Cappadocia (330 km)

After the breakfast at the buffet, we explore the city of Ferhat and Sirin, also known as ‘City of the Crown’, Amasya.

One admires the old houses, Hazeranlar Konagi, the Ethnographical Museum, the royal rot-cut graves dig dating back from the Hellenistic period, the Castle of Amasya, the Mosque with the turning minaret Burmali, the Bayezit II Mosque and its medrese Kulliye, and the Medrese Gök, the bridges (Caglayan, Alcak, Kus), Darussifa-Bimarhane (psychiatric hospital).

We also  visit the museum of Amasya, one of the richest in Turkey. Here more than 27,000 objects, heritages from 11 civilizations are displayed. We enjoy our lunch in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon we drive across Turhal-Zile, visit the Zile Castle. Zile Castle is the place of wars between the Roman and the Bridge inhabitants. It is also known by the famous quotation of Julius Caesar: “Veni, Vidi, Vinci-I came, I saw, I won”. Then we head towards Cekerek, Sorgun and Bogaziliyan and end up in Cappadocia, one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world.

Dinner and Overnight in our 4 star or 5 star hotel (depending upon availability at the time of visit).

Day 5: Cappadocia

After the breakfast, we visit the old houses of Ürgüp,  the Rose Valley, the Camels Valley, the Valley of the Virgin Maria. 

Then we enjoy a relaxing programme aiming at discovering different craft industries (weaving and knotting of carpets), the nomadic culture and imperial palaces. Lunch gives one the opportunity to taste the Cömlek Kebab, specialty of the region in a restaurant offering a beautiful view on the Kizilirmak (Halys) River.

In the afternoon, we first visit the underground city of Ozkonak or Derinkuyu, and contemplate the unique and beautiful landscape of Cappadocia. Then, the old, quiet small village of Mustafapasa (Sinasos), the valley of Cemil-Taskinpasa-Soganli towns of the Mt. Hasan and Mt. Erciyes volcanos.

Before dinner and overnight, on the  way to the hotel, one admires the hand-made linen poppies in Soganli, and especially the gloves and socks with Anatolian drawings. 

Day 6: Cappadocia- The Holy Land of Christianism following the Apocalypse of St Johannes

Hikes through the Valleys of the Three Cappadocian Graces, Üc Güzeller, the Pigeon Valley, Uchisar, Avcilar. Stop in an Onyx atelier. Lunch at the hotel or at the buffet of the restaurant Koru.

In the afternoon, we visit Göreme Valley, the open-air museum surrounded by churches. Here, one  quietly admires at the sunset the early Christian art and the Byzantine Imperial Art decorated in these churches: Tokali-Elmali- St Basilius, Yilanli-Sandal.  This region of monasteries, priests and priestesses was a unique religious campus. It was the place where the apostles, the first Christians, the 40 Cappadocian Great Fathers, Saint Paul, Saint John, Saint Timothy, Saint Barnabe, Saint Naziane and Saint Basilius were welcomed.

Churches in Cappadocia

Diner en overnight in our 4 star (or 5) hotel of high QoS.

Day 7: Cappadocia – Ankara (320 km)

After breakfast, on the way to Ankara, we drive to the underground city of Saratli, take photos of Salt Lake with its rose filamingos and collect salt crystals. Lunch is at the best Doner/Iskender Kebab Restaurant, Hacibey, in Ankara.

After lunch, we visit the mausoleum built for Atatürk and Ataturk Museum. Here, one finds his pictures and other exhibitions recalling the key events of his life and of the constitution of the Republic.

Our guide will then lead us to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, prize-winning museum of the best Worldwide Museums in 1995. This visit will be preceded by a conference on the ancient civilisations of Anatolia. 

After free time in old part of Ankara, dinner is at the 4 star (or 5*) hotel. After dinner, we again take our Orient Express of Wagon Lits to go to Istanbul.

Day 8: Istanbul-Europe

After the breakfast either at the Orient Express or at the hotel in Istanbul, the group enjoys some free time to explore the city at his/her own pace, until to the transfer to the airport for returning to Europe.

   

Pricing

Inclusive

  • 8 days/7 nights full pension
  • Transportation in Turkey
  • Lunches in traditional Turkish restaurants, one of the best cuisine in the world.
  • All admission fees to the museums and sites mentioned
  • Prof. Guide and his/her services

Exclusive

  • Flights Europe/Istanbul/Europe
  • Insurance, Airport tax
  • Drinks and tips

Options

  • Evening with Traditional Turkish Dances and Mevlevi Performance
  • Cappadocia by Hot Air Balloons

Acemhoyuk

Top| Further Information| Reservation |For Pricing Click Here

 
 
 

 

Turkey

Turquie

Türkei

Turkije

Türkiye

 

Home ] Up ] Tours ] Turkey-Türkiye ] Prehistory Anatolia ] Anatolia ] Cities ] Museums ] About ] Site Map ] Search ]

Kubaba ] East Turkey ] Theodora ] Roxana ] Istanbul ] West Turkey ] West Turkey ] [ Ensemble ] Cappadocia ] West-South ]

 

Mail to  info[at]transanatolie.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1997 TransAnatolie. All rights reserved.
Last modified: 2023-10-28

 

Explore the Worlds of Ancient Anatolia and Modern Turkey by TransAnatolie Tour: Ancient Anatolia Explorer, Asia Minor Explorer, Turkey Explorer; Cultural Tour Operator, Biblical Tour Operator, Turkish Destinations, Cultural Tours to Turkey, Biblical Tours to Turkey, Health and Cultural Tours to Turkey, Thermal, Thalasso Holidays in Turkey,  Archaeological Tours to Turkey, Historical Tours to Turkey, Cultural Heritage Tours to Turkey, Cultural Tours to Turkey, Hobby Eco and Nature Tours Holidays to Turkey,  Beach and Plateau Holidays in Tuirkey, Anatolian Civilizations, Ancient Cultural Museums in Turkey, Top Turkish Museums, Museums in Turkey, Anatolian Civilizations Museum, Istanbul Archeological Museum, Ephesus Museum, Mevlana Museum, Topkapi Museum, Museum of Topkapi Palace, Turkish Cities, Turkish Destinations, Ancient Cities in Turkey, Ancient Anatolian Cities, Turkey in Brief, Turkish Culture, Turks, Turkish Language, Turkish Philosophers....Circuits culturels en Turquie, Excurcions en Turquie, Vacances en Turquie, Circuits de Culture en Turquie, Circuits de Croyance en Turquie, Turquie, Villes Antiques en Turquie, Musees en Turquie, Empires Turcs, Revolution de Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turquie d'Ataturk, Culturele Tours in Turkije, Rondreizen in Turkije, Reizen naar Turkije, Culturele Rondreizen naar Turkije, Vakanties in Turkije, Groepsreizen naar Turkije, Turkije, Turkse  Geschiedenis, Geschiedenis van Turkije, Oude Steden in Turkije, Oude Beschavingen, Oude Anatolische Beschavingen, Turkse Steden, Turkse Musea, Musea in Turkije, Turkse Steden, Overzicht van Turkije, Turkije in het Kort, Turks, Turkse Taal, Turkse Gescheidenis, Osmaanse Rijk, Ottamaanse Rijk, Gezondheid Tours Vakanties in Turkije, Geloof Tours in Turkije, Culturele Tour Operator, Turkije Specialist