Ankara / Hattusas / Cappadocia
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ITINERARY - 7 NIGHTS / 8 DAYS
| May 9-16 2009 | |
| Day 1 May 9 TK1980/144 LHR-Ist-Ankara 1125-1720 1900-2005 |
FLY TO ANKARA VIA ISTANBUL AIRPORT Fly to Esenboga Airport (Ankara), meet your guide and driver upon arrival and transfer to Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. Orientation drive through the modern city and the old town before reaching your hotel. Check into Hotel Aldino. Welcome drinks and dinner at the hotel. |
| Day 2 May 10 |
ANKARA Start discovering Ankara, first drive to the old town (Angora), visit the 15th Century Haci Bayram Mosque and the Temple of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Then on to the Museum of Anatolian Civilisations - the building is a restored old bazaar. The Museum holds unique and priceless collections dating back to the Prehistoric era. You will see relics of Hittites, Assyrians, Phyrgians, Urartians and the Selcuk Turkish period in a wonderful display. In the afternoon walk through the narrow streets of old Ankara and enjoy the local market and central Anatolian lifestyle with visits to the Alaattin Mosque of 1178 and 13th Century Aslanhane Mosque. We will also visit the Mausoleum of Kemal Ataturk, revered Godfather of all Turks. This magnificent structure serves as a tribute to him as founder of modern Turkey. In the evening, dinner will be taken at a well known restaurant. |
| Day 3 May 11 |
ANKARA - Hattusas - Yazilikaya - SUNGURLU Depart early in the morning for Hattusas. This ancient city was the capital of one of the earliest Hittite Empires in Asia Minor. The Hittites reigned from 1750 BC to 1180 BC. Their empire stretched from the Black Sea to Syria. We will drive first to Kirikkale and Sungurlu to check in at the Mavi Ocak hotel. After lunch we will visit the ancient city of Hattusas: the city walls, gates and settlements and then the local Museum. During the afternoon we will also visit the outdoor shrine of Yazilikaya. This is the site where Hittite gods marched across the cliff face. Overnight at Mavi Ocak hotel in Sungurlu close to Hattusas. |
| Day 4 May 12 |
SUNGURLU - Kirsehir - Hacibektas - CAPPADOCIA Leaving Sungurlu, we drive over the Central Anatolian plateau to the town of Kirsehir. This town was the centre of the Ahi brotherhood. We have planned a visit to the Cacabey Mosque dating from 1272 which was an astrological observatory followed by the Ahi Evran Mosque. Continue to Hacibektas, the town where Haci Bektas Veli settled and established his Bektas Sufi Order in the 14th Century. Drive on to Cappadocia and check in to Dinler hotel and dinner. (A lunch stop will be made at a suitable place on the route at extra cost.) |
| Day 5 May 13 |
CAPPADOCIA - Goreme Valley - Cavusin - Zelve - Avanos After breakfast start discovering the region with a climb up to the natural citadel of Uchisar, then Pigeon valley before driving to the Goreme Valley. Here we will visit the monasteries and churches with their marvellous frescos carved into rock by exiled early Christians. This region was formed out of the volcanic lava from Mt. Erciyes and Mt. Hasan. The tufa, lava, ash and mud which covered the area, was eroded by the rain and wind creating a spectacular landscape. We will see the rock cones, fairy chimneys in Cavusin village and Urgup town. Lunch will be taken at a special restaurant where we taste local dishes. In the afternoon a walk to the Zelve Valley with possibly the most interesting examples of fairy chimneys and the earliest monk's chapel followed by a drive to Avanos. Here we will see the ceramic production from the clays of the Kizilirmak River. Dinner and overnight at the Dinler hotel. |
| Day 6 May 14 |
CAPPADOCIA - Kaymakli - Ihlara Valley In the morning drive to the village of Kaymakli. Here we visit the underground city, carved by early Christians, 9 floors underground, with numerous connecting tunnels between cave dwellings. These were used as a refuge in early Byzantine times. En route to the Ihlara Valley we will stop at Nar Gol, a lake created by the volcanic crater. We then walk down into a canyon at the Ilhara Valley, famous for its rock-cut churches decorated with frescos in a unique style. The whole landscape is quite wonderful. A lunch stop will be taken at a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight at the Dinler hotel. |
| Day 7
May 15 Optional Extra Early morning Balloon ride over the region |
CAPPADOCIA - Sultansazligi - Soganli - Sinasos - Sobesos After breakfast we will visit the best example of cool-air storage in Cappadocia where the lemons, quinces, oranges and other locally grown produce are stored. Then we will drive to Sinasos, an old Greek town with spectacular old Greek houses and fine architecture where we walk through the streets of this beautiful town. Then on to Keslik monastery near Cemil that hides its frescos behind a very thin smoke layer that can only be seen by torchlight. At Sahinefendi we will visit Sobesos, a recently discovered Roman city. In the afternoon we visit Soganli, a spectacular valley with numerous chapels, churches and houses in a wild natural setting. Before returning to our hotel we will visit a producer of delicious Cappadocian wines, which will include a wine-tasting. A Turkish evening with dinner will be taken at a typical cave restaurant. |
| Day 8 May 16 |
Depart for London Heathrow from Kayseri via Istanbul Turkish Airlines TK261 0940-1110 TK1991 1310-1515 |
| Optional Extra: Early morning hot air balloon journey over Cappadocia which can be fitted in either on Day 6 or 7. | |
| PRICE | *£1250 including return scheduled flights with Turkish Airlines. Single Supplement £125. |
The price includes all hotel accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis (2 nights in Ankara, 1 night in Sungurlu and 4 nights in Cappadocia); all transport and transfers in a private vehicle; all meals and beverages as listed in the itinerary and the Turkish evening on May 15; an English speaking guide; all meals and travel expenses of the driver, guide and tour manager; all entrance charges to museums and local taxes.
| HOTELS: | ANKARA – www.hotelaldino.com SUNGURLU - www.maviocak.com.tr CAPPADOCIA – www.dinlernevsehir.com |
The hotel at Neveshir has been chosen for its central location and medium price. It is a new hotel, not a 'cave' hotel.
Jenny Day will be travelling with the group from London as Tour manager.
* Please note that the fares on Turkish Airlines are based on booking and payment within 7 days at the time of booking. Fares fluctuate and those booking at a later date could incur a surcharge, as appropriate, to cover any increase in fares.
Reference Books for further background:
The Rough Guide - Ancient Anatolia by Seton Lloyd (A Traveller's History of Anatolia)