An Authentic Tour of Black Sea & Eastern Turkey(sm) (14 days)

Arrive at Ankara Esenboga International Airport in late afternoon. Meeting and assistance at the airport and transfer to the hotel for overnight stay. "Welcome Cocktail" and dinner at the hotel.

Tour of the Museum of Ancient Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara for an overview of the vast history of Asia Minor; then, a visit to the Mausoleum of Ataturk. After lunch, stop to see some Roman ruins, such as The Temple of Augustus, the Column of Julian and the Baths of Caracalla. Dinner is at a restaurant in an authentic setting. Overnight stay is  in Ankara.

Transfer to Ankara Esenboga International Airport for the flight* to Kars in Northeastern Turkey. After a short city tour of Kars, drive to Ani, which is one of the four or five most spectacular archaeological sites in Turkey, due to both natural settings and the monuments. The ruins of Ani are situated on a triangular bluff, where two deep gorges meet; impressive city walls and medieval Armenian churches still remain to this day. Afterwards, continue to Dogubeyazit, near the foothills of Mt. Ararat, for dinner and overnight stay.

Visit Ishak Pasa Palace, built in the late 18th Century on a desolate but spectacular setting on the outskirts of Dogubeyazit. Offering a magnificent view of the plain and the surrounding mountains, the Palace is of high construction, and originally had some 360 rooms and halls, built in various architectural styles. Overnight stay is in Dogubeyazit.

Depart from Dogubeyazit in the morning for the drive to Erzurum, one of the largest cities in Eastern Anatolia. Visit Sarikamis, a small town which has a few Czarist Russian buildings, and enjoy your lunch at a pleasant mountain inn. Also stop to admire a magnificent Mongol bridge with six arches, called "Grandfather Shepherd Bridge", dating from the 13th Century. Overnight stay in Erzurum.

Tour the ancient city of Erzurum, which has had a very turbulent history, especially in the last couple of centuries, with attacks from Russia. Visit the Yakutiye Medresesi (religious school) built in 1301, the Medrese With Twin Minarets, the Ulu Cami (the oldest mosque in town, dating back to 1179) and the Lala Pasa Mosque, designed by the famous architect Sinan. Stop at the "Bazaar", a street featuring jewelry stores that specialize in "Erzurum Stone" (a black gem polished to a high sheen) as well as antique stores. Overnight stayis in Erzurum.

Drive through a scenic route to Artvin, with stops en route to enjoy spectacular scenery, including a view of the largest waterfall in Turkey. The area around Artvin is full of old Georgian churches. Overnight stay is in Artvin.

The most spectacular scenery is in store today, after departing from Artvin and reaching the Black Sea Coast of Turkey. The drive will proceed through Hopa, by forested mountain slopes not far from the Turkish-Georgian border, Rize (a charming Black Sea town known for its of tea plantations), and other seaside villages and hamlets, arriving in Trabzon in mid- or late- afternoon. Overnight stay in Trabzon.

Trabzon, ancient Trebizond, is one of the most interesting cities of ancient Anatolia, with monuments dating from a number of civilizations. The tour includes some of these interesting ruins, starting with the Town Square; Marco Polo stayed here and reportedly lost all of his luggage! Then, visit the Church of St. Sophia from the 13th Century, as well as some Ottoman mosques. The highlight will be a visit to the Sumela Monastery, a 14th Century Byzantine monastery carved on the face of a steep cliff on forest-covered mountains. Also stop at a little village called Hamsikoy, to eat the best rice pudding (Sutlac) in the world. Overnight stay is in Trabzon.

Continue driving along the Black Sea coast through the town of Giresun, the "Hazelnut Capital of the World", from where Roman General Lucullus took the first cherry tree to introduce it to Europe. Also on the itinerary are Giresun Island (where Jason and his Argonauts had the adventure with the Amazons), Ordu (from where the last survivors of Xenephon's "Ten Thousand" embarked to go West), and Unye, a charming little port where the purple tint of the rocks contrasts with the blue sky and the green of the hazelnut plantations. Arrive in Samsun for overnight stay.

Morning departure from Samsun for the charming city of Amasya, built on the narrow center of a deep canyon. Yesil Irmak (Green River) flows through the middle of the city, separating Amasya into two sections connected by a series of bridges that seem to be squeezed between the banks of the river and the towering mountains on either side. [Julius Caesar uttered his famous words, "Veni, Vidi, Vici", just south of Amasya. This is also where the famous geographer Strabon was born in 64 B.C.] A visit to ancient monuments in Amasya is scheduled, before stopping for lunch at a restaurant with a view of the river. Drive on to Çorum for overnight stay.

Early morning departure from Corum to drive to Safranbolu. [The timber houses of Safranbolu provide some of the most beautiful examples of old Turkish architecture]. In the afternoon, visit Bolu, hometown of the famous chefs of Ottoman Palaces. Dinner and overnight stay will be at an authentic mansion in Safranbolu.

After sightseeing in Safranbolu, drive back to Ankara on a scenic route, balance of the day is at leisure. Farewell Dinner and overnight stay in Ankara.

Morning is at leisure. Transfer to the Ankara Esenboga International Airport in the afternoon for return flights.