THE MYSTERY OF SOUTHEASTERN TURKEY

  Our team will meet you at Istanbul Airport. Transfer to your hotel and check-in, overnight at the hotel.

You will be driven by the shores of the Golden Horn, to reach the first stop of the day: The St. Saviour in Chora, a former Byzantine church, a magnificent museum of golden mosaics and frescoes with biblical images, then visit the Mosque of Soliman the Magnificent, one of the best works of the famous Ottoman architect, Sinan. After the lunch, you will indulge yourself at the Spice Market with its exotic aromas then walk through the pulsating streets of Beyoğlu district from ‘Tunnel’ area to Taksim square, discovering, fish market, flower passage, catholic, Greek and Armenian churches, markets and coffeehouses. Overnight at the hotel (B,L)

You will start your journey with a discovery of Istanbul's historical heart. You will first visit the Topkapı Palace, the court and the residence of Ottoman Sultans, and home to the imperial treasury, then visit the Hagia Sophia ‘The Church of Holy Wisdom’, the marvelous basilica built in the 6th century, as the masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. It was the largest church in the world for 1000 years; and its interiors are decorated with stunning golden mosaics. After the lunch you will visit the Blue Mosque, with six elegant minarets and a striking indoor with blue Iznik tiles with intricate patterns. You will then take a take a stroll through the ancient Hippodrome, significant for being the center for sports and entertainment in the old Constantinople as well as very important political spot. The last visit of the day will be the visit the Basilica Cistern, impressive underground water reservoir from 6th century. (B,L)

  Transfer to airport for Istanbul-  Mardin flight. Upon arrival to this poetic city of Mesopotamia that combines rich mystical and historical heritage, our first visit will be the Deyrulzafaran Monastery. A Syriac Orhodox (Assyrian) monastery located in the Tur Abdin (Mountain of Servants of God) region. After then we will discover the Kasımiye Madrasa, old theological school from 15’th century one of the finest building of old Mardin city. After the lunch, we will discover the old Mardin’s streets. First we will visit the Kırklar Kilise (Church of Forty Martyrs) built in the 6th century to commemorate Cappadocian martyrs, old Assyrian patriarchate centre, then we will cross the Republic Square and see the Latifiye Mosque from 14’th century and we will continue to beautiful Mardin bazaars, jewellery shops, admire the stone work houses and Mardin’s Ulu Camii, located at the historical core of monumental gate of Mardin Girls Vocational School, originally built at 13’th century and today, one of the symbol of Mardin with its glorious stone work. Then we will continue to Zinciriye Madrasa from 14’th century with its imposing recessed doorway and magnificent tea garden. After free time for shopping in the city historical centre. We will have dinner in a local restaurant and we will continue to our hotel. Overnight in Mardin. (B,L,D)

After breakfast we will drive to Midyat, centuries old Hurrian town demonstrating cultural wealth of the region with its silver jewellery known as ‘telkari’ and with its elegant and historic houses. Our first visit will be the Mor Gabriel Monastery surrounded by hills and olive groves, the oldest surviving Syriac Orthodox Monastery from 4’th century located on the Tur Abdin plateau. We will discover Mor Bavsavmo Church, Midyat Konuk Evi, historical and beautiful guest house located at the heart of Midyat, old Midyat Bazaar. After the lunch we will drive to Hasankeyf. Ancient town and surrounding limestone cliffs along the Tigris river, one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in the world, spanning some 10 000 years. Hasankeyf Castle, the tomb of Zeynel Bey, a key figure in the early Islamic Ak Koyunlu State and the Artuklu Bridge. After then we will return to Mardin . After having dinner in the city, overnight at the hotel. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, we will stop at the Old Post House and Sehiddiye Madrassa from 13’th century then, we will visit the Sakıp Sabancı Museum magnificent multicultural city museum and we will drive to Dara antic city. Located on Nusaybin Silk Road, Dara was the first city in the history that had the irrigation channel and dam. We will see cisterns, dungeons and rock tombs. Then we will drive to Kıllıt, one of the rare places on earth that has both Catholic, Syriac and Protestant churches. Then we will continue to Savur where we will have lunch. After the lunch, we will drive to Diyarbakır. Biggest Kurdish city of Turkey, in Diyarbakır we will do a panoramic tour and see Keçi Burcu, (Goat bastion) the biggest of the long walls of the city and On gözlü Köprü (Ten- eyed bridge), symbol of the city, then we will continue to Diyarbakır Airport for our return flight to Istanbul. Transfer to our hotel. (B,L)

In the morning, you will visit the Grand Bazaar, the largest and most attractive covered bazaar in the world then you will visit a carpet production center to learn about this prestigious Turkish Art, after the lunch you will do a boat tour along the European and Asiatic shores of Bosphorus. You will just relax and let the beauty of forests, palaces, mosques, picturesque Bosphorus villages, Ottoman summer mansions, fortresses carry you away. The last visit of the tour will be visit a leather shop where you will attend to fashion show and appreciate leather goods. Overnight in Istanbul. (B,L)

After breakfast, transfer to the Istanbul International Airport and your return flight home. (B)