Cultural Interactions in Turkey with Şerif Yenen

Hidden Treasures of Turkey with the East (June 23 – July 9, 2015)

Day 1; June 23^rd, Tuesday: Arrive in İstanbul, Turkey

• Arrival
• Transfer to the hotel
• Included welcome dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel in İstanbul or similar

Day 2; June 24^th, Wednesday: Classical İstanbul City Tour

• Hagia Sophia
• Topkapı Palace (Harem section is excluded)
• Grand Bazaar
• Lunch and dinner excluded
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel in İstanbul or similar

Day 3; June 25^th, Thursday: İstanbul Sightseeing – Fly to Van ✈

• Chora Museum
• Transfer to the airport
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• TK 2750 to Van at 01.55 PM, arrive at 04.00 PM
• Van Fortress
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Elite World Van or similar

Day 4; June 26^th, Friday: Van Sightseeing

• Akdamar Island
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Urartian and Armenian silver art gallery
• A breeding center for the Van cat
• Çavuştepe site
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Elite World Van or similar

Day 5; June 27^th, Saturday: Van – Overland to Kars

• Muradiye Falls
• Mount Ararat
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• İshak Paşa Palace
• Dinner and overnight at Çeltikov in Kars or similar

Day 6; June 28^th, Sunday: Kars

• Ani Ruins
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Kars Old City Center: Church of the Apostles, the Castle of Kars
• Cheese tasting
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Çeltikov in Kars or similar

Day 7; June 29^th, Monday: Kars – Fly to Ankara ✈

• Transfer to the airport
• TK 7091 to Ankara at 11.10 AM, arrive at 12.55 PM
• Museum of Anatolian Civilizations
• The Mausoleum of Atatürk
• Lunch excluded
• Dinner and overnight at Divan Çukurhan in Ankara or similar

Day 8; June 30^th, Tuesday: Ankara – Overland to Cappadocia

• Hattusha
• Yazılıkaya
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Dinner and overnight at Yunak Evleri in Cappadocia or similar

Day 9; July 1^st, Wednesday: Cappadocia

• Full day Cappadocia sightseeing
• An underground City
• Avanos Pottery Village
• Lunch excluded
• Whirling Dervishes ritual
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Yunak Evleri in Cappadocia or similar

Day 10; July 2^nd, Thursday: Cappadocia (Optional Hot Air Balloon Ride)

• Full day Cappadocia sightseeing
• Göreme Open Air Museum
• Hike for 2 hours
• Lunch excluded
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Yunak Evleri in Cappadocia or similar

Day 11; July 3^rd, Friday: Cappadocia – Tarsus – Antakya

• Tarsus: St. Paul’s Well, the ancient road
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Çankaya Konakları in Antakya or similar

Day 12; July 4^th, Saturday: Antakya

• Sightseeing Antioch: Cave-Church of Saint Peter
• Antakya Museum
• Included lunch at a local house (home-hosted)
• Walking tour in town
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at the Çankaya Konakları in Antakya or similar

Day 13; July 5^th, Sunday: Hatay – Gaziantep – Şanlıurfa

• Zeugma Mosaic Museum
• Included lunch at a local restaurant
• Boat cruise at Halfeti Dam Lake
• Included dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Şanlıurfa or similar

Day 14; July 6^th, Monday: Şanlıurfa – Kahta – Şanlıurfa

• Nemrut
• The ruins of the Arsemia, Roman bridge of Cendere and Royal tomb of Karakuş
• Included picnic lunch
• Dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Şanlıurfa or similar

Day 15; July 7^th, Tuesday: Şanlıurfa – Göbeklitepe – Harran – Şanlıurfa

• Göbeklitepe
• Harran: the ancient Islamic university, its fortress and its charming beehive houses
• Lunch excluded
• Farewell dinner at a local restaurant
• Overnight at Hilton Garden Inn Şanlıurfa or similar

Day 16; July 8^th, Wednesday: Şanlıurfa – Fly to İstanbul ✈

• Şanlıurfa tour: the Pool of Sacred Fish, the Great Mosque and the bazaars
• Transfer to the airport
• TK 2247 to İstanbul at 12.10 PM, arrive at 02.05 PM
• Bosphorus Cruise
• Süleymaniye Camii
• Lunch and dinner are excluded
• Overnight at Richmond Hotel in İstanbul or similar

Day 17; July 9^th, Thursday: İstanbul & Departure

• Transfer to the airport

* Included Services:

• Accommodation for 16 nights in above mentioned hotels or similar
• Airport transfers for arrival and departure in Turkey
• Professional tour guide services in English by Şerif Yenen
• Air conditioned deluxe vehicle with a driver all along the tour
• Vehicle expenses (i.e. parking, tolls, highways)
• Domestic flight tickets from İstanbul to Van, Kars to Ankara and from Şanlıurfa to İstanbul
• 16 breakfasts at the hotels
• 7 lunches at local restaurants, 1 home-hosted lunch and 1 picnic lunch
• 3 dinners at local restaurants and 11 dinners at hotels
• All visits stated in the itinerary
• All entrance fees to the sites, museums and religious places indicated in the itinerary
• Whirling Dervishes ritual
• Bosphorus Cruise
• Tips to the hotels with porter services
• Tips to the restaurants for included meals
• Complimentary copies of some of Şerif Yenen’s publications
• Local taxes and service charges

* Services not included:

• International flights to/from Turkey
• Meals not stated
• Beverages with meals
• One hour hot-air balloon ride in Cappadocia (optional)
• Personal expenses
• Gratuities for the guide and driver
• Insurance
• Departure and airport taxes and fees (No similar taxes or fees are required for Turkey)
• Passport and visa services and fees
• Other than mentioned above

* Hotels:

• Richmond Hotel in İstanbul
• Elite World Van Hotel
• Cheltikov Hotel in Kars
• Divan Çukurhan in Ankara
• Yunak Evleri in Cappadocia
• Çankaya Konakları in Antakya
• Hilton Garden Inn Şanlıurfa

* Depending on availability there may be hotel changes. C.I.P Travel assures to accommodate you at the hotels with same standards.

Important notes:

• Travel on an intimate, expert-led luxury small group journey.
• Pre or post trip extensions can be tailor made upon request.
• Ladies should bring scarves with them to cover their heads when visiting religious sites and mosques.
• All foreigners must obtain their Turkish visas from Turkish missions abroad or from the e-visa application system, depending on eligibility. Please note, e-visas are easier to get.
  Information regarding Turkish e-visas and the application process can be found at: www.evisa.gov.tr/en
  General information on Turkish visas can be found at:
  www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa
• CIP Travel has always the right to modify the program according to the upmost satisfaction of the guests.
• We will disclaim any responsibility and shall not pay any indemnity or reimbursement in the event of certain museums or monuments included in the program could not be visited with any reason beyond our control.

 

* This tour is organized by Acacia Exclusive Travel (TÜRSAB No: 7851) for C.I.P Travel Services