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Itinerary
for Eastern Turkey & Black Sea Tour - October 2009 |
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Included meals are indicated as B =
Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner |
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| 10.10.09 |
Depart Sydney at
9.20pm & Brisbane at 11.20pm on MH 140, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at
5.45am the next morning. |
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| 11.10.09 |
Australia - Kuala Lumpur
Depart Melbourne at 1.15am (Check in by 11.00pm) on 10.10.09, arriving
in Kuala Lumpur at 6.25am. Both flights will be met at the airport and
transferred to your hotel in central Kuala Lumpur. The rest of the day
is free in this great shopping city. |
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12.10.09
(B/L) |
Kuala Lumpur
This morning there will be a Kuala Lumpur City tour followed by lunch.
Visit the National Mosque or in Malay the Masjid Negara, which is the
most distinguished mosque in Kuala Lumpur. Another must see is the Tugu
Negara or War Memorial, where we honour those who perished in the war.
Chinatown, located in Petaling Street is full of good bargains and
deals, food of sorts and rich Chinese culture. You will also pass the
Moorish-styled Federal Court, the old Railway station which is a
striking piece of Mohammedan architecture, the Tudor-styled Cricket
Club and the King's Palace. Visit the Thean Hou temple situated in
Robson Heights, which is the home to patron Goddess Thean Hou of the
Hainanese community, This striking six tiered temple is regarded as one
of the biggest Chinese Temples in South East Asia. |
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13.10.09
(B/D) |
Kuala Lumpur - Istanbul
Morning free in Kuala Lumpur. Early afternoon departure for the Royal
Selangor Pewter Factory & Showroom. Then we depart for Kampung Tour
and Firefly Watching. Kuala Selangor is only 1 1/2 hours drive from
Kuala Lumpur and yet it has much to offer, especially to those who wish
to take a peek at Malaysian rural life. Fishing and farming are main
occupations here, although a large part of the area has also been
cultivated with both palm oil and rubber. Upon arrival you will visit
Bukit Melawati, an ideal site for monitoring shipping in the Straits of
Melaka, Bukit Melawati once contained two forts. continue your tour to
Taman Alam Kuala Selangor. With almost 150 sighted species of birds,
makes this an ideal nature park for bird watching. This is followed by
a sumptuous local seafood dinner, after which you will be treated to
the highlight of the evening - firefly watching. You will be rowed
upstream to watch thousands of fireflies flickering like Christmas
lights in mangrove trees which line the banks of the river. After this
tour, you will be driven back to the airport. Depart Kuala Lumpur
at 11.59pm on MH 30, arriving in Istanbul at 8.10am the next morning.
(14.10.09) |
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14.10.09
(D) |
Istanbul
You will be met and transferred to your hotel. there will be time to
relax before the guide takes you for dinner at a local restaurant. |
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15.10.09
(B/D) |
Istanbul - Ankara
The next morning we will drive to the capital of Turkey since 1923, we
will visit the magnificent Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, which is
also known as Hittite Museum. This museum presents relics from Catal
Hoyuk, one of the earliest known human communities that existed through
the Hittite and the Roman Classical period. We will also pay a visit to
the Mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of modern Turkey. |
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16.10.09
(B/D) |
Ankara - Amasya
We will drive to the Hittite ruins at Yazilikaya to see the private
temple of Hittite kings and then to Hattusas, the capital city of the
Hittite Empire which is the one of the UNESCO's world heritage sites of
Turkey. At this site we will follow the ancient city wall constructed
nearly 3,400 years ago and see the ruins of the Great Temple of the
Storm God, the Lion Gate, the King Gate (guarded by a relief of the
Hittite War God) and the Great Fortress. Afterwards, we will depart
Hattusas and continue to Amasya, the one time capital of the Pontic
Empire. It is a lovely little town nestled in a small mountain valley
formed by the Green River. Some of the most striking features of Amasya
are the tombs of the kings of Pontus carved into the high cliffs
surrounding the city. Here, we will explore the old streets of Amasya
and attend a local bazaar. |
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17.10.09
18.10.09
(B/D) |
Amasya - Trabzon
Today is a driving day. We will travel from Amasya to the beautiful
wooded coast of the Black Sea, following the coastline to Trabzon. The
scenery on this drive is unbelievable. Trabzon is an ancient Silk Road
Black Sea Port, with its recorded history dating back to 746 BC. With
lush, green vegetation throughout the region, this area is a very
unique part of Turkey. hazelnut and tea plantations are the major
contributors to this region's agricultural exports. The following day,
we will visit the Sumela Monastery, which is from the Byzantine era,
and enjoy a lovely picnic by a rushing stream there. One of the
remarkable features of this site is that it is carved into a cliff face. |
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19.10.09
(B/D) |
Trabzon - Erzurum
From Trabzon we will drive five hours to Erzurum, with many stops along
the way. This is a very beautiful drive, which follows various rivers.
Erzurum rests at the base altitude of 2000 meters and although it is
somewhat remote, it is one of the largest cities in eastern Turkey.
Despite its size, the people maintain quite a conservative outlook.
Here, one will frequently encounter more women waring veils than in
other cities. While in Erzurum we will have lunch in a restaurant
converted from old Ottoman houses decorated with antiques everywhere.
We will visit Ulu Cami (the Great Mosque) and an old Selcuk Medrese
(schoolhouse) as well as see several Kurdish villages in the area. |
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| 20.10.09 |
Erzurum - Kars
An early morning departure from Erzurum will take us on a beautiful
drive to Kars. We will arrive in Kars to visit Ani at the Turkish
Armenian border. A 45 minute drive will take us to the medieval
Armenian City of Ani, which lies mostly in ruins. Impressive fortified
walls still encircle the ruins of numerous churches, mosques and
caravanasaries. Walking around the ruins, we will be able to see a
beautiful view of Armenian across the Arpa River, which creates the
border between turkey and Armenia. Other attractions in the city of
Kars are the immense citadel, its old bridges and an Armenian church
(the Church of the Twelve Apostles) |
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21.10.09
(B/D) |
Kars - Van (Mt Ararat)
Early in the morning, we will drive along the beautiful yet rugged
border between Turkey and Armenia and arrive in Dogubeyazit. On the
way, we will stop for photo opportunities, especially of the beautiful
flowers in this region (depending on the season). We will also have the
opportunity to see mt Ararat, where Noah's Ark is believed to be, and
visit the spectacular Isah Pasa Palace. This complex is a combination
of mosque, fortress, and 17th century palace. We will then drive 2 1/2
hours to Van, stopping again for various photo opportunities. one of
the stops will be by a gorgeous waterfall. When we arrive in Van, we
will first visit the 3,000 year old fortress built by Urartians, who
inhabited the region between the 9th and 6th century BC and called
their capital city, Tushba. |
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22.10.09
23.10.09
(B/D) |
Van - Mardin
Early in the morning a short ferry ride will take us to Akdamar Island.
there is a wonderful 10th century Armenian church here called the
church of the Holy Cross. the outside walls of the church are decorated
with wall relief's depicting various well known tales from the Bible
and the Old testament. This church, recently restored to its former
glory, is a true gem. We then continue our drive to batman where we
will visit the incredible and ancient city of Hasankeyf
nearby.Hasankeyf is on the banks of the Tigris River and is located in
an area of the Fertile Crescent where animals were domesticated and
grains were cultivated over twelve thousand years ago. After driving
ninety minute, we will arrive in Mardin, capping a long but spectacular
day with many stops. Mardin is a very unique and lovely city with many
old Arabic style houses. It is a city that played an important role in
the early development of Christianity. We will take time to visit, walk
in its busy streets and bazaars and take superb photographs. just
outside of town, we will visit the monks in the Monastery of Deyraz
Zaferan, which was founded in 4th century AD. It was the seat of the
Syrian Orthodox Patriarch for almost 800 years. This monastery is built
on top of a 4,000 year old temple originally used by sun worshipers. |
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24.10.09
(B/D) |
Mardin - Urfa
Today we will drive three hours to Urfa, the birthplace of the prophet
Abraham. We will visit nearby Harran and see the incredible beehive
houses. Harran, according to the Bible, was the site where the prophet
Abraham lived with his family for several years before moving to
Israel, the Promised Land. We will also visit the holy sites at
Ainzelha, a lake with domesticated fish. There are exceptional photo
opportunities in this area. |
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25.10.09
(B/D) |
Urfa - Mt Nemrut
From Urfa we will drive 2 hours to Adiyaman Kahta. On the way, we will
stop to see Ataturk dam, the fourth largest dam in the world built on
the Euphrates River. We will drive through the Pistachio orchards and
stop to pick them (depending on the season). We will check into our
hotel. Soon after, we will hire small mini buses to drive up Mt Nemrut.
Resting at an elevation of 2150 meters this extraordinary mountain top
features a funerary temple complex composed of two flattened areas
strewn with huge statues and fallen heads of Greco Roman gods. Each
head measures 2 - 3 metres high, belonging to the likes of Zeus,
Hercules, Fortuna, Apollo and the King Antiochus, who considered
himself a god. There is also a mound of broken gravel that makes
perfect false peak of crushed rock. Antiouchus built the entire complex
2050 years ago as a monument to his 'divine ancestry'.
Please note: The hike to Mt Nemrut consists of 20 to 40 minutes
of a 30% uphill hike, mostly with stairs. There is no time limit and
most can do the hike. There are also donkeys or mules available for
hire. |
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26.10.09
(B/D) |
Mt Nemrut - Hatay (Antioch)
Today, we will drive to Antakya, ancient Antioch. Throughout the
Hellenistic and Roman periods, Antioch stood out as one of the most
influential and enduring cities. it was here that Peter preached his
first sermon and founded the first Christian community. Just outside
the town we will pay a visit to the Grotto of St Peter, erected in the
13th century by the Crusaders. We will visit the Hatay Museum which
houses one of the finest collections of Roman mosaics in the world. |
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27.10.09
(B)
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Hatay - Istanbul
This morning we will fly from Hatay to Istanbul. The rest of the day is
at leisure. Overnight is in Istanbul. |
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28.10.09
(B) |
Istanbul - Kuala Lumpur
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport. Depart
Istanbul at 12.00 noon on MH 31, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at 6.00am the
next morning. |
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| 29.10.09 |
Kuala Lumpur - Australia
Sydney & Brisbane passengers depart Kuala Lumpur at 9.00am on MH
141, arriving in Sydney at 7.55pm and Brisbane at 9.50pm.
Melbourne passengers depart Kuala Lumpur at 9.55am on MH 129, arriving
in Melbourne at 8.35pm. |