TURKEY TOUR  #9 - 5 DAYS, 6 NIGHTS

EASTERN TURKEY TOUR
Departure:  Between May-October on Saturday and Tuesday only. Ask for Sunday departure

CAPPADOCIA, MARAS, NEMRUD (NEMRUT), URFA, HARRAN TOUR FROM ISTANBUL

TOUR ITINERARY 

DAY 1 : ISTANBUL (Saturday or Tuesday)

Departure: Between May-October on Saturday and Tuesday only. Ask for Sunday departures.

This tour package will start with an overnight bus ride to Cappadocia with a new-model, air-conditioned coach. Bus ride is especially recommended for people who also want to see the great land panorama of Turkey on the way. Besides this will save you from the cost of 1 night hotel accommodation. The buses are non-smoking air-conditioned and have flexible seats suitable for sleeping. There will be several stop-over points at some highway cafe-restaurants during the journey for toilet needs or for those who would like to eat or drink a cup of coffee

Transfer to the bus station from our office in Sultanahmet at around 19.00 o'clock
Overnight bus to Cappadocia.
The departure time may change slightly depending on season but you will be informed of exact departure time after you your reservation is completed. You may also join the tour from other cities of Turkey, such as Izmir, Kusadasi, Antalya
 

DAY 2 :CAPPADOCIA

Your bus will arrive to Cappadocia next day early in the morning.
Full day Northern Cappadocia tour including transfers, guide and entrance fee. This tour will cover the most famous parts of the region such as Goreme Open Air Museum, Zelve, Urgup and Dervent Valley.
Lunch will be served during the tour in a nice Turkish Restaurant.
Transfer back to hotel.
Hotel accommodation in Cappadocia, breakfast included.

Cappadocia is Turkey’s most visited area on account of its history because of its singularity and the strangeness of its lunar landscape. It is considered to be one of the wonders of the world and for centuries it has sheltered churches, frescoes, mosaics and paintings of Byzantine art. The history of Cappadocia begins with the eruption of two volcanoes Lava covered the entire region changing the landscape. In the course of millennia rain and wind eroded the tufa creating unusual valleys, fissures, canyons and bizarrely shaped cones.  Dwellings were excavated inside the rocks and after the first Christians arrived churches and monasteries were also built. Numerous hermits and ascetics lived in the forgotten valleys. Under the rule of the Byzantines, Cappadocia became a bulwark against attacks by the Arabs, and entire underground cities were built.


 

DAY 3 :CAPPADOCIA-NEMRUD

Departure in the morning from Cappadocia. After passing Kayseri visit the 13th century Seljuk Caravanserai on the way. The next stop will be in Pinarbasi for a short tea break, than drive to Tekir Valley for Lunch. Take a picture of the beautiful scenery of the Tekir Valley. Drive to Kahraman Maras to have world famous ice-cream, than drive to Kahta town near the mountain slope. transfer to hotel.
Lunch and dinner at hotel included.
Half board hotel accommodation in Nemrud.

Huge statues built on on top of this 2150 meters high mountain thousands of years ago is incredible and watching the sunrise at the top of the Nemrut (Nemrud) Mountain is a unique experience.

NEMRUD (Nemrut Mountain): At the junction of the East and West civilizations, Nemrut Dagi (Mount Nemrud) is one of the most astounding sites in Turkey: A collection of colossal statues on a remote mountain 2150m high on top of the mountain, adorning the temple and tomb of King Antiochus. The western terrace contains a large slab with a lion, showing the arrangement of stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury and Mars on July 7 62 BC, the possible time when construction began on this monument.

Nemrud is a significant attraction, with thousands coming at sunrise and sunset to see the stones in the best possible light. In addition to the statues, the entire site includes art from the Commagene (Komagene) civilization, the Eskikale (Old Castle), Yenikale (New Castle), Karakus Hill and Cendere Bridge. Most people use the nearby towns of Malatya, Kahta or Adiyaman as a base, and the road to the summit is only open from mid-April to mid-October because of heavy snow the rest of the year.
 

DAY 4 : NEMRUD & COMMAGENE - URFA - HARRAN

Breakfast at your hotel included
Nemrud Mountain Sunrise Tour: Very early morning (before sunrise) departure up to the ruins, After get off the minibus twenty five minutes climbing on foot to the top where you will watch the beautiful sun rise between the colossal size statues and heads of the kings and Gods. After sun rise you will have time to walk around and take pictures. Then drive back to the hotel for breakfast, on the way visit the ruins of the Arsemia, Roman bridge of Cendere and Royal Tomb of Karakus. Tea break in Kahta. Drive to Sanli Urfa visiting Ataturk Dam on the way which is the biggest dam in Middle East. C/in to hotel in Sanli Urfa, after lunch visit Abrahams Cave and the Pools of Holy Carp surrounding it, than walk around oriental covered bazaar of Urfa. Then drive to Harran, a village of spellbinding Mud-Brick "beehive" houses mentioned in the book of genesis where Abraham spend last years of his life. Visit the ruins of Harran including city walls, oldest Islamic university and the castle datinf back to eighteen century. After the sun set drive back to the hotel, dinner
Lunch in Urfa included.
Half board hotel accommodation in Urfa (aka Sanliurfa)
Note: Nemrud tours are not possible in winter time because the mountain road is closed by snow fall, usually after the 1st week of November until the mid/end of April.
 

Burning woods magically turned into holly fishes living in this big pool in Urfa	Bald Ibis birds of Birecik	Harran is famous for its  'beehive' houses, constructed without any wood

DAY 5 : RETURN CAPPADOCIA

Breakfast in your hotel (included)
You will return to Cappadocia via Adana province, shortly visiting Brecik town on the way. Birecik is the well-known with its Kelaynak (bald-ibis) birds. These birds are endemic to this region,  living only in Birecik in the whole world, There is a breeding farm of these birds which are in danger of extinction. After lunch, drive up to the Taurus Mountain. Tea break and drive back to Cappadocia, expectedly arriving by 5-6 pm.
Lunch included.
Hotel accommodation in Cappadocia, breakfast included.
 

DAY 6 :CAPPADOCIA

One day is never enough to see the wonders of the vast Cappadocia region. You have many more things to see on your second tour of Cappadocia, with your eyes wide-opened from amazement.

The last day's itinerary will be like this:

Breakfast at your hotel included
Full day Southern Cappadocia Tour including transfers, entrance fees and lunch.
This tour will cover wonderful Rose Valley, either Derinkuyu or Kaymakli underground city, as well as a caravanserai of Seljuk period, which was the great Turkish Empire founded in Anatolia even before Ottomans.
Lunch included in a typical Turkish Restaurant during the day tour.
Overnight bus to Istanbul, arriving next morning. (of Day 7)
End of the package upon your arrival to bus terminal in Istanbul.
 

TOUR PRICE

Departure: Between May-October on Saturday and Tuesday only. Ask for Sunday departures. Ask for Sunday departures, which may be available occasionally. Nemrud tours are not possible in winter time because the mountain road is closed by snow fall, usually after the 1st week of November until May.

Pricing:
470 Euro per person in single room (1 pax)
420 Euro per person in double room (2 pax)
400 Euro per person in triple room (3 pax)

Prices are not guaranteed in case of last minute bookings. Ask for group discount for big groups.

Above tour prices include:
All taxes.  (Various surcharges apply in case of credit card payments of which you will be informed in advance)
4 nights accommodation in private rooms at 3 star or equal quality special class/boutique hotels.
Mentioned day-tours guided in English. Entrance fees for museums
All mentioned meals above in the itinerary.
All connecting transportations and hotel/tour transfers in between the tour period. 

Customize this tour package:

Flights
Overnight bus ride on departure can be replaced with morning flight next day (day 2)
Extra cost for this will roughly be 60-100 Euro, depending on flight cost on that day and early reservation, including 2 way airport transfers

Overnight bus ride on return can be replaced with evening flight (day 6)
Extra cost for this will roughly be 60-100 Euro, depending on flight cost on that day and early reservation, including 2 way airport transfers

Possible add-ons
Hot air balloon flight in Cappadocia (tour #5) at sunrise before the Southern Cappadocia tour on Day 6. Discounted price as a part of this package will be 130 Euro per person
Extra stay/hotel accommodation in Cappadocia with special discounts
Hotel in Istanbul before or after the tour package with special discounts
Airport transfers from/to hotels in Istanbul for your international flights  - 30 Euro - one way for 1-3 pax
Istanbul daily city tours: Istanbul Daily City Tours (Private or Group Tours) with special discounts
Return to Kusadasi (instead of Istanbul) to visit Ephesus, Pamukkale etc. Overnight bus is available everyday. Direct flight (to Izmir) are available rarely.

Hotels
Hotels can be upgraded to 4 or 5 star or deluxe boutique hotels, if you pay the extra cost. You can choose specific hotels you want to stay in each destination.

Click Here for Other Turkey Tour Packages
 

PAYMENT AND RESERVATION

Payment and reservation: Depending on season/number of participants etc, we will request 15-25 % of the total tour price in advance. We will send you necessary details by e-mail. Advance payments can be made by Pay Pal, Visa and Master and American express credit cards by mail order method or money transfer. You can pay the balance in Istanbul with credit cards or in cash, as you wish.