Air Adventure Australia

Global Expedition - Turkey

Istanbul

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to your hotel. After an orientation city tour (if time permits) arrive in hotel for overnight.

Istanbul - Safranbolu

Morning departure from hotel to Safranbolu. Drive through Bolu, arriving late afternoon in Safranbolu. Short sightseeing tour. Dinner and overnight in Safranbolu. 2 nights.

Safranbolu

We spend the day touring Safranbolu, the best-preserved Ottoman Town which still maintains 18th and 19th century Ottoman civil architecture, and declared a World Heritage Site. Traditional family town houses and mansions stand on high stone foundations adjusted for the slope. Safranbolu's market area is a warren of narrow streets and merchants shops. In Ottoman times, known as Paphlagonia, the town lay on a major trade route. The cultural, economic and social structure of the city reached its highest level between 17th - 19th centuries. Overnight in Safranbolu.

Safranbolu - Kastamonu - Sinop

After breakfast we drive to Kastamonu, known for hand printed tablecloths and upholstery fabrics made from cotton and flax. Kastamonu Castle was built by the Byzantines in the 12th century. Today, its remains serve as a fire tower and lookout point. We visit the Ethnographic Museum and see Byzantine and Greek mementos, tools and coins; and the Archeology Museum. We drive to the Atabey Mosque (1273), with its 40 wooden pillars and stone door, and pass through narrow streets with stone pavements. Continuing through Kure Mountain National Park, with its rich plant cover, rivers, wild animals, we reach Sinop. This city has a long history as a port, beginning with Chalcolithic settlements around 4500 BC. Dinner and overnight in Sinop.

Sinop -Amasya

After breakfast we drive to Amasya, a charming little settlement in the narrow valley of Yesil Irmak (Green River). The ruins of a citadel over the rocky façade shelter the valley and bridges. On the façade are impressive rock tombs of the Pontus kings. Well-preserved Turkish edifices include the 13th C Seljuk Burmali Mosque, the 15th Yildirim Bayezid Mosque and complex, the 14th C Timarhane (mental hospital) with lovely reliefs around its portal, the amazing octagonal Kapi Aga Medrese, the Torumtay Mausoleum, the Gok Medrese, and traditional mansions. We visit highlights of Amasya (Harsena) Castle, built in the Early Bronze Age (3200 BC) and Ferhat's Canal, built by the Romans to supply water to the ancient city of Amasya. We visit the Rock Tombs of The Kings, 21 monumental tombs carved into the limestone on the eastern skirts of the Harsena Mountains. On then to see The Asylum Darussifa, constructed 1308 and famous for its beautifully ornamented, precious details of stone craftsmanship; the Sultan Bayezid II Complex (Kulliyeh); The Mansion of Hazeranlar now housing the Museum House and The State Fine Arts Gallery. Overnight in Amasya.

Amasya - Samsun - Ordu - Giresun - Trabzon

After breakfast we drive to Samsun, now a large commercial city. Visits today include Samsun Museum, where rich metals, high quality textiles, and burial offerings found in excavations are on display. We travel on to Ordu , a delightful town on the Boztepe, commanding views of the sea. On to Giresun, where cherries and hazelnuts are grown in vast quantities along the coast. We reach Trabzon, doorway to Asia on the west edge of Kachkar Mountain range. Overnight in Trabzon. 2 nights.

Trabzon

Full day tour of Trabzon and its environs. Trabzon is famous for the 4000 years of history in the Monastery of Sumela. The port is still important today, and the Roman City walls still stand. We visit Hagia Sophia, Fatih Mosque, Gulbahar Mosque, Ataturk Mansion and the Sumela Monastery. Sumela Monastery, founded on a dark rock above a narrow valley 45km south of Trabzon, is renowned as the easternmost monastery of Byzantium. The first records of the monastery are from the 13th C, but like other holy places, it is shrouded in legends dating back to the 3rd and 4th centuries. Overnight in Trabzon.

Trabzon - Erzurum

After breakfast we set out for Erzurum, through the Black Sea Mountains and Zigana Pass. With a population of more than 350.000, it is the largest and most important city on the high plateau of Eastern Anatolia. The city sits at an elevation of 1853m on the northern skirt of the Palandoken mountains. We shall visit Ulu (The Great Mosque), Lala Mustafa Mosque, the Cifte Minareli Medresseh, and the Medresseh of Yakutiye. The Congress Museum houses the covered jewellery bazaar. Overnight in Erzurum.

Erzurum - Kars

After breakfast we drive to Kars, with its citadel-acropolis on a sheer hilltop, built by the Saltukians in 1152. It comprises an inner and an outer citadel and is surrounded by five rows of ramparts. The Ruins of Ani (Ani Harabeleri) 48km from Kars date from the pre-Christian era as a fortified settlement. The Ani's cathedral was built in 1001 and converted to a mosque in 1064. As one descends the sheer cliff towards the Arpacay River, the Surp Kirkor Church comes into view. Overnight in Kars.

Kars - Dogubeyazit -Van

We depart Kars and drive to Dogubeyazit. Mount Ararat (Agri Dagi), Turkey's highest mountain, rises 5,165m above the landscape, said to be the resting place of Noah's Ark.. The impressive Ishak Pasa Sarayi, lies 8km southeast. The fortress-like palace was constructed by an Ottoman governor in the late 18th C. Ottoman and Russian troops occupied Ishak Pasa Sarayi at various times and showed little regard for its historic importance. Although major restoration work has recently been carried out, the results are rather controversial. After Dogubeyazit continue to Van. Dinner and overnight in Van. 2 nights.

Van

Today we tour the city area. Van served for 300 years as capital to the little-known Urartian empire, successors to the Hittites. We visit Lake Van, Turkey's and also the world's largest caustic body of water (3738 sq km). The Lake, surrounded by monumental mountains, has four islands. The waters of Lake Van lather naturally without the use of any soap, and women wash clothes from its banks. We travel by ferry to Akdamar Adasi (Island of Akdamar), the largest on Lake Van, known for its church. We call at Van Museum, then on to Cavustepe, the second largest Urartian citadel. Here we can explore a temple and a royal palace, still impressive for its beautifully carved blocks. We also look at the Hosap Citadel (Hosap Kalesi), and visit Van Kalesi (Van Castle), which stands on the lakeshore on the extraordinary Rock of Van. Dinner and overnight in Van.

Van - Diyarbakir

Today we drive to Diyarbakir, visiting The Malabadi Bridge, which spans the Batman River and has the widest arch of any stone bridge in the world. We stop at Hasankeyf, a city surrounded by caves. Then continue to Diyarbakir for dinner and overnight. 2 nights.

Diyarbakir - Mardin - Diyarbakir

Diyarbakir (Amidi) above the Tigris River valley is a magnificent city, surrounded by walls built by the Romans in the 3rd C of local basalt stone and said to be visible from space. The Great mosque is regarded one of the holiest place in the Islamic world. We drive to Mardin, included in the World Heritage list, a unique town that exhibits fine examples of stone carving and has preserved its civilian and religious architecture. We visit The Mardin Citadel, located roughly 1000m above the surrounding plain, and 4th C Monastery of Deyr-ul Zaferan. Then we shall see the Monastery of Mar Izozil, the oldest in the area, visit The Zinciriye Medrese,. and the Church of Virgin Mary. Return to Diyarbakir for overnight.

Diyarbakir - Adiyaman - Nemrut Dagi (Mountain)

After breakfast we travel to Adiyaman, checking in to our hotel, then we drive to Nemrut Dagi (The Throne of Gods) visiting Karakus Tumulus (Tomb of the Women) on the way. We visit Cendere Koprusu (Cendere Bridge), a single-span structure, built in AD193-211, and Nemrut Dagi (The Throne of Gods), at 2150m. Nemrut, the eighth wonder of the world is on the UNESCO World Heritage List thanks to its 10m sculptures and inscriptions several meters in length. It is also known as the best place in the world to watch the sunrise and the sunset. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight in Adiyaman.

Adiyaman - Sanliurfa - Zeugma - Gaziantep

After breakfast we visit Ataturk Dam, an energy and irrigation complex, which will fundamentally change the economical, cultural and social stature of the relatively underdeveloped region. Ataturk Dam will be the 6th biggest dam on the planet. We drive to Sanliurfa ''An Open Air Museum'' , with its history dating to 9000 years ago. We visit the historic city of Harran, with its unique houses in the form of inverted cones. We stop at Lake Balikli ( Fish Lake), Lake Halil - ur Rahman and Lake Ayn- I Zeliha. We visit the cave where Prophet Abraham was born and the Mevlid-I Halil Mosque. On route to Antakya (Hatay) we visit Zeugma: the City of Mosaics. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep.

Gaziantep - Antakya - Adana

Gaziantep on the Sacir Suyu is the sixth largest city in Turkey. We drive on to Antakya (Hatay), founded (as Antioch) in 300 BC. We visit St. Peter's Grotto, a cave church thought to have been founded by St. Luke. We visit the Archaeological Museum, within the citadel, with its fantastic Roman mosaics. Adana for dinner and overnight.

Adana - Istanbul

After breakfast we take an orientation tour of Adana, Turkey's fourth largest city (after Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir) and one of its most prosperous economic centres. The Archaeological Museum contains objects from excavations of local late Hittite sites, as well as Hellenistic and Roman remains from in and around the city. A highlight is the natural and Roman Stone Bridge (Tas Kopru), the graceful 14-arch Roman Stone Bridge over the Seyhan River is 319m long. Transfer to Adana airport for a short flight to Istanbul. Dinner and overnight in Istanbul.

Istanbul - Troy - Canakkale

We leave Istanbul early morning and drive along the scenic shore of the Sea of Marmara. After lunch at modern Gelibolu town, we cross the Dardanelles by ferry to the Asian side, drive to Hisarlik to visit the legendary city of Troy. Dinner and overnight in Canakkale.

Canakkale - Gallipoli - Istanbul

After early breakfast we cross the Dardanelles once more and drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula battlefields. We visit the Turkish and the British war memorial monuments, the War Museum, Morto Bay, and Ertugrul Bay (where the British and French forces landed). Then we drive north through Alcitepe to visit Anzac Cove, Ari Burnu Bay and cemetery, North Beach, the beach cemetery, Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Brighton Beach, the Turkish 57th Regiment Cemetery and memorial and finally the Lone Pine Memorial and Cemetery. We visit the War Museum at Kabatepe then return to Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.

Istanbul - Melbourne