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Nordic Capitals Tour
Turkey Tour - Nemrut & Cappadocia
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9 days / 8 nights, departing April 1st 2010

Itinerary: Adana or Antakya - Sanli Urfa - Gobekli Tepe - Harran - Nemrut Dagi - Kahta - Kahraman Maras via Adyaman - Kayseri - Cappadocia - Tars - Adana or Mersin.

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Day 1: Antakya / Hatay

Departure from Otopeni Airport - Bucharest at 10.45 with Turkish Airlines and arrival in Adana at 15.45. Transfer to Hatay, old Antakya. Antakya is the gate to Middle East and an important city in christianity history. Antakya's traces of former glory are few and valuable. A special atmosphere, intense, surrounds the city, the narrow alleys of the bazaar and Islamic minarets, making it one of the most exciting cities in southern Turkey.

Dinner and accommodation in Antakya: BÜYÜK ANTAKYA HOTEL 4****

Day 2: Antakya / Hatay

Breakfast and morning tour in Antakya where you will visit: Hatay Museum with a a world-class collection of Roman mosaics, cave-church Sen Piyer Kilisesi, the world's first Christian church dedicated to St. Peter, Rana Koprusu, old bridge dating 3rd century, Ulucamii - Great Mosque - and Habib Neccar Camii, former Byzantine church.
Our tour continues with a walk in Belen or Cevlik-Little Cave and around the port Seleucia ad Piera , an area full of Roman graves and remains of the old walls. We are also visiting: Titus Tunnel - a huge channel, 30 m deep, carved in stone during the reign of Titus and Vespasian in first century, to prevent sealing of the bay with silt - Samandag Channel, carved by slaves, Musadag village or Moses Mount where, according to Muslim tradition, Moses learned to eat "humble pie" prepared by The Prophet Hizir.
8 km south of Antakya, on the road to Syria, lies "Daphnis's Grove - today known as Harbiye, a favorite place for relaxation for over 3000 years. Here Hera, Athena and Aphrodite met and asked Paris to judge their beauty and the result was the Trojan War. Seleucid people built a massive temple and an oracle dedicated to Apollo and Antony and Cleopatra married here after an Egyptian ritual in 40 B.C. This place was a summer resort with cottages whose rich mosaic is found in the Museum of Hatay.

Dinner and accommodation in Antakya: BÜYÜK ANTAKYA HOTEL 4****

Day 3: Sanli Urfa – the city of prophets

Breakfast and departure to Sanli Urfa, the city of prophets, where you will be visiting: Avraam's Cave, Balikligöl, Birket Ibrahim Mosque, Nimrod's slingshot, 2 corinthian colums on top of the citadel, the citadel and old town with medieval houses and crowded bazaars. Founded by Seleucos Nicator as the capital of his eastern Greek kingdom, Urfa city was populated by Macedonians who called it Edessa. Urfa was the first of several Crusader states in the Middle East.
Sauna and swimming pool in the hotel.

Dinner and accommodation in Urfa: HOTEL EL RUHA 5*****

Day 4: Sanli Urfa – Gobekli Tepe – Harran

Breakfast and departure to Harran to visit the city in the Mesopotamian plain. Strange houses like a hive, built from earth, can be found here, and also the Sin Temple, incorrectly called "First World University", famous in the ancient world for its scientists and astrologers. Near Haran there are several ancient Assyrian towns built in 7th and 8th centuries B.C. - Sultantepe, a major settlement in Carrhae or old city of Harran, where legendary tablets of Gilgamis were unearthed. 15 km off the main road to Syria lies Gobekli Tepe, one of the most important archeological site where you will visit the world's oldest temple, built 11500 years ago, considered by some archaeologists to be the Garden of Eden. You will also be visiting underground mosques in the Sumurtar labyrinth. Departure to Kahta, 3 hours far from Haran.

Dinner and accommodation in Kahta: ZEUS HOTEL KAHTA 4****

Day 5: Eski Kahta – Arsameia – Nemrut Dagi

Breakfast and departure with rented minibuses to Mount Nemrut (2150 meters) or Nemrut Dagi historical glory of eastern Turkey and the centerpiece of the tour. King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene built on the mountain top a tomb-sanctuary flanked by huge statues of himself, two lions, two eagles and various Greek and Armenian gods. The road passes several other major ruins where we stop: the Karakus tumulus reserved for royal commagene women, Severan bridge (also known as Cendere Bridge) over the river Kahta-Cayi, Nymphaeum - in the past one of the largest tributaries of the Euphrates. After an amazing experience in Western Kurdistan mountains, we will return to the hotel in the evening. The visit lasts an entire day. The hotel has a swimming pool, used only during the summer.

Dinner and accommodation in Kahta: ZEUS HOTEL KAHTA 4****

Day 6: Kayseri – Cappadochia

Breakfast and departure to Kahraman Maraş via Adıyaman. Kahraman Maras is famous for its delicious ice cream. We'll have lunch at Tekir in Taurus Mountains, then we will continue our driving to Kayseri passing through Dibek Mountains. The scenery is magnificent. Arrival in Kayseri, one of the oldest cities in Anatolia, a continuous settlement since 3000 BC. The city has always been a vital trade center since it is located on major trade routes, particularly along what was called the Great Silk Road. Departure to Cappadocia, Urgup.

Dinner and accommodation in Cappadochia: HOTEL TAŞSARAY ÜRGÜP 4****

Day 7:Capadocia – Goreme - Urgup – Avanos

Breakfast and departure at 5am. A fascinating adventure begins in the realm of Cappadocia, created by nature, millions of years ago, with the help of Erciyes volcano (3916m) which can be admired in the distance. The tour begins with open-air museum of Goreme Valley, Goreme city (tea break in the town center), Uchisar, Uchisar Palace and Kaymakly the underground 8 levels city (only 4 are open to the public). We continue with the pigeons valley, Urgup, Zelve Valley and Avanos. Between visits we'll have short breaks for pictures and souvenirs from local bazaars. Lunch is served at a restaurant chosen by tourists. Free wine tasting, if desired. Optional: ballon riding. Price per individual: €150.

Dinner and accommodation in Cappadochia: HOTEL TAŞSARAY ÜRGÜP 4****

Day 8: Cappadocia – Ihlara Valley - Tarsus

Breakfast and departure to Nigde passing through Mustafapasa. West of Nigde, there are over 60 churches carved into stone walls of Ihlara Valley, a 10km long and 80m wide canyon with steep walls, through which river Melendiz flows. Our tour continues to the old kingdom of Cilicia, to Cilician Gates (Gülek Boğazı), the main pass through the Taurus Mountains of southern Turkey, connecting the low plains of Cilicia and the Mediterranean coast with the high central plateau of Anatolia. Trade caravans, invading armies and pilgrims have climbed the mountain heights to reach Tarsus, Adana and the Mediterranean. Arrival in Tarsus where we will visit St. Pavel healing fountain, Cleopatra's Gate, Kilise Camii (former Armenian church dedicated to St. Peter, turned into a mosque in the 15th century) and Ulu Camii. Walk on the narrow streets which houses part of a colonnaded Roman road, surrounded by narrow alleys and Ottoman houses.

Dinner and accommodation in Tarsus: ŞELALE HOTEL TARSUS 4****

Day 9: Adana

Breakfast and transfer to Adana, 42km far from Tarsus. Adana is a modern city at the crossroads leading to places of major attraction. We'll visit Tas Kopru, a stone bridge dating 2nd century, built by emperor Adrian, Sabancı Camii - a gorgeos mosque whose white marble is reflecting in the river Seyhan, Ulucamii and Great Clock. Transfer to the airport for the flight back home. Arrival at the airport at 11:40 for boarding formalities and departure at 13:40.

We wish you a great holiday and an amazing tour!

 

PRICE: 1050 EURO - Minimum 10 individuals for one group.

 

Services included:
- Bucharest – Istanbul / Istanbul - Bucharest flight with Turkish Airlines.
- 2 internal flights: Istanbul – Adana / Hatay and Adana / Hatay – Istanbul.
- Airport taxes.
- Airport – hotel – airport transfers.
- Accommodation for 8 nights in 3, 4 and 5 stars hotels (single or triple room if requested).
- Half board included (breakfast and diner). No breakfast on first day and no dinner on last day.
- Coach / minibus with air conditioning, road taxes, parking tickets, bridges and tunnels taxes.
- Romanian authorized tour guide who has been already on this route and local tour guide in Cappadocia.

Not included:
- Visa tax of 15 euro per individual, paid at the entrance in Turkey (in airport).
- Tickets for sightseeing (museums, places of worship, etc.).
- Medical insurance.
- Additional meals and drinks, supplements.
- Personal expenses.
- Tips to service providers in Turkey (drivers, local guides, hotel staff).
- Optional packages: Cappadochia balloon ride, jeep safary, Turkish night, dervish show.

Observation:
- Minimum 10 individuals per group. Less than 10 individuals and the price is recalculated or tour is canceled
- Tour schedule is subject to change in terms of the order of visited places, without affecting the overall tour.
- Hotels star ranking is the official one given by Ministry of Tourism from Turkey.

Documents required for travel:
- Passport valid at least 6 months after return to your country.

Deadline for booking:
- 30 days before departure date.

Canceling conditions:
- Under general rules of travel agency, according to the Tourism Services Contract.

Notes:
- Local guide is included only in Cappadocia.
- If the flight is to Adana, a brief visit in Adana will be made on arrival before transfer to Hatay. If the flight is to Hatay, a brief visit in Adana will be made in the last day before returning home.
- According to Turkish law, travel agencies that organize tours in this country must provide local guides to tourists groups all the time during their staying in Turkey. Because this would mean additional costs of accommodation and tour guidance, travel agencies ignore the law. It's an acceptable compromise, but if checks are made, tourist police claim a fine of less than the cost of a local guide throughout the trip. However, some places in Turkey require hiring a local guide to avoid real problems with the tourist police, like Cappadocia and Antakya. Thank you for your understanding.

Important:
- Border authorities reserve their rights to refuse the entrance into Turkey to any person who looks suspicious for them.
- The travel agency is not responsible for such situations which can not be known before departure and no refund will be returned in this case.
- The tourist assumes the risks of not being allowed to entry into the territory of this country and therefore must inform the travel agency of any incident ever occurred outside the borders of his country.

 
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