EASTERN TURKEY Extension-  Sep

 

Day  1 [Sep 1] Instead of flying back to Istanbul, we’ll drive to the Atatürk Dam on the Euphrates River, one of the largest irrigation projects in the modern world. Drive to the Commagene Nemrut, for sunset. Nemrut Dag, a 7000-foot peak in the Anti-Taurus range, is a monument to the megalomania of the pre-Roman King Antiochus I. [600 km] Overnight in Adiyaman

 

Day 2  Drive through Gaziantep and arrive about noon at Sanliurfa (Urfa) known to the Crusaders as Edesa and visit the cave and pools of Abraham, with the legendary holy carp. Free time to explore the Urfa bazaar. [150 km] Overnight in Urfa.  

 

Day  3 Visit the beehive homes of Harran, where Abraham is thought to have lived. Also known as Charrae, this is the site of the battlefield where Crassus was destroyed by the Parthians around 40 BC.   [100km] Overnight in Urfa.

 

Day   4-  Drive through Gaziantep to Antakya (ancient Antioch). Visit Zeugma, an  ancient site whose mosaics were rescued recently when a new dam was built nearby.  Lunch in Gaziantep,  well known for  Kebap and Baklava. Overnight in Antakya. (350 km) B.L.D

 

Day 5- Drive to Antakya (ancient Antioch). You`ll visit Samandagi, an early Christian site  from where Paul, Silas, Barnabas,  John, and Mark set out on their ministries.  Also walk thru the narrow canyon that was part of an amazing engineering marvel of Roman irrigation.    Overnight in Antakya. (150 km).  

 

Day 6 - You tour the Mosaic Museum with mosaics dating from the second and third centuries AD.   Free time before we drive to Adana to fly to İstanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul. (200 km)

 

Day 7 Transfer to Airport and flight to Home

 

Includes

- Good standard tourist Hotels

-All meals 

-Entrance fees

-1 Domestic flight  in Turkey

-Transportation with A/C and transfers between airports and hotels

-Guiding services

-services and tips

-All taxes including %18 VAT

Excludes:

-drinks

-tips for driver and guide

-personal expenses