Cultural Cappadocia Tour

"The land of beautiful horses..."
"The holy land of Christians..."
"The heartland of Anatolia... "
 

The beauty of the unique landscapes of Cappadocia (valleys, fairy chimneys with caps) carved during ages by the nature-air, flood water and the fire of the volcanic mountains (Mt. Erciyes, Mt Hasan, Mt. Gollu) is spectacular. Light and time sensitive, continuously colour changing capped chimneys, curved paths along the trees, cultural heritages of Christians, Jews and Muslims decorated with natural coloured icons and dugout in rocks, animated by Saint Basile in Kayseri, Saint Gregoire in Nevsehir, Haci Bektas Veli in Haci Bektas...
5 day trip of this nature of its own unique character gives you the opportunity to discover the cultural richness of this area and enables you to interact with each other and with the hospitable local inhabitants…

• Vidéo Cappadoce

Day 1: Europe – Ankara

Arrival in Ankara. Transfer to a 3 or 4 star high QoS hotel for the welcome cocktail, dinner and overnight stay.

Ancient Ankara -- Angora -- Hittite Akuwash
The city of Ankara lies in the center of Anatolia on the eastern edge of the Anatolian Plateau at an altitude of 850 meters. It is the center of the province of the same name which is a predominantly fertile wheat steppeland with forested areas in its northeast region ...
The history of the region goes back to the third millennium of the Bronze Age -- the indigenous population were called the Hattians. Akuwash -- the Hittite name for the city -- was established circa 3000 years ago at the intersection of 2 trade routes ...
After the decline of the Hittite Empire in the second millennium BC the (1)Phrygians -- (2)Lydians -- (3)Persians -- (4)Alexander the Great (333 BC) -- (5)Galatians arrived in succession. The city subsequently fell to the Romans

Day 2: Ankara

After breakfast at the buffet, our guide will lead us to the Anatolian Civilizations Museum; prize-winning museum of the best Worldwide Museums in 1995. This visit will be preceded by a tutorial on the Anatolian civilisations. 

With historical buildings and solid origin, The Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara (Anadolu Medeniyetleri Müzesi) got the first place among the 68 museums and was awarded the title of “Museum of the Year" in Lausanne, Switzerland on 19 April 1997.

The Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations) with its original collections is considered to be one of the top Museums in the world today. Anatolian archaeological creations are exhibited in a chronological order starting from the Palaeolithic Age up to the present time.

We then visit the ancient Ankara, the citadel-giving the opportunity to have a helicopter-view of the capital, the Konak Boyacizade, the Zenger Pacha Ethnografical Museum and the famous old Spice Bazaar of Ankara.

The Ethnography Museum is the museum where Turkish art from Seljuki to present time is exhibited.

Public clothes, jewellery, shoes, slippers samples collected from various regions of Anatolia, woman and man socks from Sivas region, various bowls, laces, scarves. Belts, handkerchiefs, bed sheets, bride costumes, bridegroom shaving sets, old traditional Turkish art are exhibited.

Technical material and designs unique to Turks and carpets, weaving benches from Uşak, Gördes, Bergama, Kula, Milas, Ladik, Karaman, Niğde, Kırşehir regions are exhibited. Among fine art samples of Anatolian Mine arts there are Memluk boilers from 15th century, Ottoman sweet boilers, hand washing jugs, trays, coffee trays, meal tables, cups, candle scissors etc. are exhibited.

Arrows, bows, lighting pistols, rifles, sword and other things from Ottoman Period, Turkish pottery and porcelain and Kütahya porcelains, religious and sect properties, Turkish inscriptions are exhibited with the nice samples.

Seljuki Sultan Keyhüsrev III's throne a finest sample of Turkish wooden works (XIIIth century), Ahi Şerafettin Sandukası (XIVth century), Nevşehir Ürgüp Damsa Village Taşhur Pasha Mosque nish (XIIth century), Siirt Ulu Mosque Nish (XIIth century), Merzifon Çelebi Sultan Medrese Gate (XVth century) are some of the important arts of the Museum.

After a delicious lunch, we visit The Mausoleum of Atatürk and The Ataturk Museum. Here, one finds his pictures and other exhibitions recalling the key events of Ataturk's life and the evolution of the Turkish Republic.

The Museum of the 1st World War- the Dardanelles- in the Mausoleum, the symbol of the rebirth of the Laic Republic of Turkey is also explored.

We then  drive to Cappadocia and  pass through Aksaray. Aksaray possesses the most frequently visited regions of Cappadocia, displaying natural beauties mingled with the pages of history. We explore Aksaray after our Cappadocia Tour. Dinner and overnight is in Cappadocia.

Day 3: Cappadocia

After breakfast, we visit the old houses of Urgup, Uc Guzeller, the Pigeons Valley, Uchisar, Avcilar, the Goreme Valley and its Rupestrian churches.

After a delicious lunch in Cappadocia, we discover, observe and feel the unique silences of the Rose Valley, Camels Valley, Dolphins Valley, Owl Valley and the Valley of the Virgin Mary. We take a time-out in an onyx factory.

Later discovery of the 1^st part of the Zelve Valley: Pasabag. Drive across the Red (Halys) River, and take pictures of typical houses in Venessa-Avanos.

In the afternoon, we enjoy a relaxing programme aiming at discovering different craft industries (weaving and knotting of Turkish carpets), the nomadic culture and imperial palaces. Dinner and overnight in our hotel.

Day 4: Cappadocia- Aksaray-Selime-Ihlara-Saratli

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive towards Aksaray, the ancient Seljuk city of Karamanoglu, and visit its unique Pizze Tower (Kizil Minaret), and The Great Mosque (Ulu Camii) from the 13^th century.

There are important historical buildings from Seljuk times, mostly from the 13th century, such as the Ulu Mosque and the Kizil (Egri) Minaret. The brickwork of the Kizil Minaret is elaborate

We walk through the Melendiz Canyon, via typical villages such as Selime, Yaprakhisar, Belisirma and arrive in the Peristrema-Ihlara Valley. We discover primitive Syriaq churches dated from the 1^st period of the Christian campus in Cappadocia. Possibility to walk around and observe the nature for those who love nature and wild birds. 

Free lunch at the Melendiz Canyon in Ihlara Valley.

The lava flowing from the Hasan Mountains cooled down and formed a beautiful Canyon with its breaks and splits in the Ihlara Valley, which is about 40 kilometers from Aksaray. The Melendiz brook flows through this valley. The valley reaches a height of almost 150 meters at some places. One finds many churches, shelters and tombs engraved into the rock surfaces of the valley. Some of these shelters and churches are connected to each other by means of many underground tunnels.

Ihlara is a 14 km-long fascinating canyon, formed by the Melendiz River. In this valley can be found Byzantine rock chapels cut into the canyon walls and decorated with wonderful frescoes. Of these chapels the Agacalti (Daniel) Church, the Yilanli (Apocalypse) Church, the Sumbullu (Hyacinth) Church, the Purenliseki Church, and St. Georges Church are the most interesting. 

In the late afternoon, on the way back to Ankara we visit the underground town of Saratli-the town of Simone and Jean van Delft. In Saratli, one admires the hand-made linen poppies, and especially the gloves and socks with Anatolian drawings. 

After Saratli, we head towards Ankara, and enjoy again the beauty of Central Anatolian landscapes and take photos of Lake Salt, rose flamingos and collect salty crystals.

Dinner and Overnight in our 3*+ in Ankara
 

Day 5: Ankara-Europe

After a rich breakfast at the hotel, the group members enjoy some free time to explore the city on their own pace, until to the transfer time to the airport for returning home.

Pricing

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Optional Activities

• Evening with typical Turkish dances in Cappadocia.
• Discovery of Cappadocia in hot air balloon.
• Evening with Dancing Dervishes.
• Turkish Belly Dance

Rates Include

• Transportation in Turkey: air-conditioned bus Mercedes Sprinter, WW Wolt, Mercedes 304-403, Mitsubishi Safir, Isuzu Minibus-Turquoise
• Hotels: in Cappadocia 4* or 5*, in Ankara 3*+, HB.
• Certified multilingual professional guide

Rates Exclude

• Flights Europe/Turkey/Europe
• Airport taxes
• Drinks
• Insurance
• Tips

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