5 Nights Hotel Accommodation Eastern Anatolia Tour Departing from Bursa

EASTERN ANATOLIA TOUR DEPARTING FROM BURSA

(7 NIGHTS 8 DAYS)

(5 NIGHTS HOTEL ACCOMMODATION)

(STARTS IN SIVAS, ENDS IN MALATYA)

Departure and Overnight Journey

21:30 In front of Bursa Kent Meydanı Mall              

Sivas – Gök Medrese - Ulu Camii - Sivas Square - Madımak Hotel - Erzincan- Copper Bazaar- Tercan - Erzurum - Üç Kümbetler - Taşhan - Yakutiye Medresesi

After our overnight journey, we arrive in Sivas early in the morning and stop for breakfast. After breakfast, we begin touring Republic City Sivas with our guide. Our first stop in Sivas, one of the most important cities of the Republican History and the Seljuk period, will be Gök Medrese. After obtaining information from our guide at Gök Medrese, built in 1271, we see Ulu Camii. After seeing Ulu Camii, famous for its minaret that has leaned over time and remains standing crookedly; we continue our tour of Sivas Square with visits to Buruciye Medresesi, Çifte Minareli Medrese and Şifaiye Medresesi. After learning from our guide about the Sivas Congress Building, which was used as a high school for years and later as a Congress Building, and completing our visit, we give free time at Republic Square. During the free time, you can see Madımak Hotel and have coffee at the famous Çerkezin Kahvesi. After our free time ends, we depart for Erzincan. Upon our arrival in Erzincan, we stop for shopping at the Copper Bazaar. During this shopping break, you can buy copper items unique to Erzincan. Then, after having our lunch in Erzincan, we head to Tercan to visit the Mamahatun Complex. After completing our tour of the Mamahatun Complex, consisting of a tomb, caravanserai, bath and mosque, we set off for Erzurum. Erzurum is one of the largest cities in Eastern Anatolia and also the highest city center in our country with an altitude of 1900 meters. We begin our Erzurum tour with Çifte Minareli Medrese, one of the finest examples of Seljuk architecture. Then we visit Üç Kümbetler, dating back to the Saltukids period and among the finest examples of monumental tombs found in Anatolia. We then visit Taş Han, one of the city’s favorite spots of Ottoman architecture and also home to Erzurum’s famous Oltu Stone shops, and Yakutiye Medresesi, which stands out with its striking tiles, and then head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be taken at a roadside rest facility (Extra)

Lunch: Will be taken as free time in Erzincan. (Extra)

Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation Hotel: Grand Çatalkaya Hotel, Esedaş Hotel, Dedeman Hotel, Polat Renaissance Hotel, etc. Hotels

Çobandede Bridge - Sarıkamış Martyrs' Memorial - Kars - Kars Castle - Ani Ruins - Cathedral (Church of the 12 Apostles) - Caucasian Night

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we set off towards Kars. On our route, we take a short photo break at the 800-year-old Mongol work, Çobandede Bridge. Then, as our journey continues, we see the Obsidian Beds. After seeing the Obsidian Beds, in Sarıkamış, where 78,000 of our total martyrs, 60,000 of them by freezing, were lost in 1914, we visit the Sarıkamış Martyrs' Memorial overlooking Mount Allahuekber. After our memorial visit, we arrive in Kars. Kars, located in the far east of our country, is actually a city in the far west of the Caucasus. In other words, with both its eastern and western characteristics, it is a city very different in cultural terms from the provinces around it such as Erzurum, Ağrı, and Iğdır, and its streets are full of life. Kars is the center where Baltic architecture can best be seen in our country. Streets that intersect each other at 90 degrees, ornate façades, cut-stone buildings, and more will leave you amazed by its structure. We visit Kars Castle, which overlooks the city center of Kars from above, the Church of the 12 Apostles known as the Cathedral, the Stone Bridge, and the house where one of our famous poets, Namık Kemal, lived for a period. Then we visit the Great Mosque, built in 1643 by Kars Governor-General Dilaver Pasha, but damaged after the Ottoman-Russian War when Kars fell under Russian occupation, and we see the Governor's Palace panoramically. After having our lunch in central Kars, we take a shopping break for the famous Kars cheese and local shopping. After our break, we head to the Ani Ruins, one of the most important meeting points of Armenian and Seljuk culture located on the Turkey-Armenia border. In this historic ancient city, we see works such as the Walls, Gates, Surp Pirgiç Church (Keveli Church), Surp Kirkor Church (Tigran Honents Church), Cathedral (Church of the Virgin Mary), Small Bathhouse, Ebul Muhammeran Mosque, Sultan's Palace, the Menucehr Mosque, the first Turkish mosque in Anatolia, and the Silk Road Bridge, and tour them with explanations from our guide. After our visits, we bid farewell to this magnificent historic city and head to our hotel located in Central Kars. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel.

* With our guests who wish, we participate in the Caucasian Night event, an important part of Kars culture. (Extra)

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.

Lunch: Will be taken at leisure in Kars. (Extra)

Dinner: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.

Accommodation Hotel: Kars Kale Hotel, Kars Park Hotel Winter City, etc. hotels

Iğdır - Iğdır Plain - Mount Ararat - Ishak Pasha Palace - Tendürek Pass - Çaldıran Plain - Muradiye Waterfall - Van - Lake Van - Van Castle - Van Cat House

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we reach Iğdır via the Digor-Tuzluca road, following the border with Armenia. Iğdır Plain is called the Çukurova of the East. Since it is located among high mountains, it has a much milder and softer climate around it, so all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and even cotton are grown in the plain. We stop to photograph Mount Ararat, 5137 meters high, which Iğdır leans against. Then we go up to Ishak Pasha Palace. The 220-year-old Ishak Pasha Palace has been a symbol of all Eastern Anatolia since the day it was built. After touring Ishak Pasha Palace with its 116 rooms, overlooking the entire plain, and its unique monumental stone-carved gates, we take a lunch break after taking beautiful photos. After our break, we head to Van. As we pass through the Tendürek Mountain Pass (2644 m), we will see the solidified lava, and as we pass through Çaldıran Plain, we will see the areas where the famous battle took place. Upon our arrival in Muradiye district, we will take a photo break seeing Muradiye Waterfall and the Devil’s Bridge on the Bendi Mahi Stream. Then we reach Van, built on the shore of Lake Van, which the local people call Van Sea and is the largest lake in our country. We go to Van Castle, known as Tuşpa, whose actual name is Sardurihinili due to King Sarduri I. We tour the fortifications, the Castle Mosque, the rock tombs of the Urartian Kings, and the Castle Gates, receiving information from our guide. After the photo break we will have at the castle, we head to the Van Cat House. After seeing and photographing the Van Cats, one of the cutest and most famous creatures of the region, we head to our store where we can see and purchase handwoven carpets unique to the Van region. Here, after receiving information about handwoven carpets and completing our shopping, we head to our hotel. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be taken during free time in Kars. (Extra)

Dinner: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation Hotel: Grand Hotel Van, Hotel Royal Milano Hotel, Büyük Urartu Hotel, Rönesans Hotel, etc. hotels

Urartu Museum - Lake Van - Akdamar Island - Akdamar Church - Ahlat - Emir Bayındır Tomb - Nemrut Crater Lake

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we proceed to the Van Urartu Museum, one of the most beautiful and special museums in our country. We carry out our visit to the Van Museum, where we can see the heritage of all civilizations that left their mark on the thousands-year history of the ancient city of Van, and which allows us to get to know the Urartians more closely and in all aspects. After our museum visit, we head to Akdamar Island and Church, one of the first places that comes to mind when Van is mentioned (extra). After a half-hour boat ride on Lake Van, we arrive at Akdamar Island and Church. After listening to our guide about the sad story of the lovers who could not reunite and the history of King Gagik’s magnificent church, we have lunch on the shore of Lake Van. Our guests who wish may taste the local Van delicacy, inci kefal. After lunch, we bid farewell to Akdamar Island and visit the Carpet-Rug Cooperative to learn about carpets and kilims, which are among the most important elements of Anatolian and Iranian culture. Then we continue to Ahlat via Tatvan. We will see the Seljuk Cemetery, full of monumental gravestones, and Emir Bayındır Tomb, the most interesting of the many tombs built in different styles around it. Then, with our guests who wish, we go up Mount Nemrut to see Nemrut Crater Lake. (Extra) After our excursion, we head to our hotel in Tatvan. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be served on Akdamar Island. (Extra)

Dinner: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation Hotel:Tatvan Kardelen Hotel, Karaman Hotel, Tatvan Park etc. Hotels

Bingöl - Floating Islands - Tunceli - Munzur Valley National Park - Ovacık - Elazığ - Harput Castle - Harput Mansions - Virgin Mary Church - Arab Baba Mosque and Tomb

After having breakfast at the hotel, we head toward the Bingöl Floating Islands. Discovered by the local people, the Floating Islands are a completely natural formation. The lake is a crater lake located on flat land surrounded on three sides by mountains and hills. After free time for photography on the Floating Islands, which cover an area of 300 square meters, we head toward Tunceli. Tunceli, located in the Upper Euphrates region, is an area known for Munzur Valley National Park. After completing our city tour of Tunceli, we travel through Munzur Valley and arrive in Ovacık. During our tour in the district, while listening to the legends of Munzur Baba and Düzgün Baba from our guide, we reach Munzur Springs. After the free time we will spend here, we bid farewell to Ovacık and arrive in Elazığ via Hozat and Pertek. After a short visit in Harput, our first stop, we tour Harput Castle, which has a 400,000-year history. Then we visit the Harput Grand Mosque, famous for its leaning minaret, known as the Pisa Tower of the East. After seeing the historical houses of Harput from the outside, we go to the Arab Baba Mosque and Tomb and listen to the story of Arab Baba from our guide. Then we visit the Virgin Mary Church, located east of Harput Castle. After receiving information from our guide about the Virgin Mary Church, one of the oldest places of worship in Anatolia, we head to our hotel in Elazığ. Dinner and accommodation at our hotel.

Breakfast: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Lunch: Will be free in Ovacık or served as a menu (Extra)

Dinner: Will be served at the hotel and is included in the tour price.

Accommodation Hotel:Akgün Elazığ Hotel, Park Dedeman Hotel, İlbey Hotel etc. Hotels

Hazar Lake – Karakaya Dam - Kömürhan Bridge - Malatya - Battalgazi - Grand Mosque - Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai - Darende - Tohma Canyon - Somuncu Baba Tomb - Fish Pits

After the breakfast we will have at the hotel, we set off toward Hazar Lake. After free time at Hazar Lake, a tectonic lake also known as Gölcük Lake, we head to Malatya. On our route, after seeing and photographing Karakaya Dam, we arrive at Kömürhan Bridge. Kömürhan Bridge, also known as İsmet Paşa Bridge, located between Elazığ and Malatya, is situated over the Euphrates River. Then we arrive in Malatya and begin our Malatya tour with Aslantepe Mound. After visiting the 5,500-year-old temple at Aslantepe Mound, one of the largest mounds, and receiving information from our guide, we move on to old Malatya, namely Battalgazi. In Battalgazi, which has hosted all kinds of tribes of Malatya throughout history and bears the traces of history, we carry out our visits to the Grand Mosque and the Silahtar Mustafa Paşa Caravanserai, taste Malatya’s famous apricots, and head to the Malatya Apricot Exchange where you can do your shopping. After a shopping break here, we move on to Darende, which means “City of Thirty-Petaled Roses.” During our tour of Tohma Canyon in Darende, we will see the Tohma Stream and the Kudret Pools. Then we visit the Somuncu Baba Tomb, who lived during the early years of the Ottoman Empire. After our tomb visit, we also see the Fish Pits, say goodbye to Darende, and conclude our Eastern Anatolia tour and begin our return journey.

Breakfast: Will be taken at the hotel and is included in the tour fee.

Lunch: Will be taken as free time in Malatya. (Extra)

Dinner: Will be taken freely at a suitable facility on our route. (Extra)

Accommodation Hotel: There will be no hotel accommodation tonight.

BURSA

Dear Guests, we are continuing toward Bursa. When we arrive in Bursa, we bid farewell by dropping you, our valued guests, off at the pickup points where we collected you in the morning, to meet again on another Tatil Avcısı Turizm organization.

CANCELLATION AND REFUND GUARANTEE PACKAGE

From the tour departure day; if a reservation cancellation request is made up to 72 Hours (3 Days) in advance, or in the event of a change, an unconditional 100% uninterrupted refund guarantee is offered. For tours with accommodation, the insurance fee is 250 TL for accommodations up to 3 days and 350 TL for accommodations of 4 days and above.