Syria and Turkey
The Road to Antioch and Eastern Turkey

April 13 - 31, 2009

$3970
per person, double occupancy, land only

Apr 13: Arrive in Damascus where you will be met and assisted to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Apr 14: Venture out of Damascus to Ezraa and Shahba, founded by Philip the Arabian (Roman Emperor 232-237). Shahba is famous for its Mosaics andmonuments from the 3rd century AD. Also visit Qanawat, with its impressive Roman ruins, particularly the temple of Zeus (2nd century), and some early Christian buildings. You will also visit Sweida, and Bosra, black basalt cities. Bosra is home to the largest Roman amphitheater in the world. It became one of the leading Nabateancities before becoming the capital of the Roman province of Arabia in 106 AD. Return to Damascus for overnight.

Apr 15: Enjoy a city tour of Damascus, which vies with Aleppo for the distinction of being the "oldest continuously inhabited city of the world', and was once the capitol of the Islamic world under the Umayyad Caliphs. Explore the famous Umayyad Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the "Street Called Straight" where St. Paul received his vision. Then tour the Damascus museum to learn about the ancient history of this country. Overnight in Damascus.

Apr 16: Head north to Seydnaya and Ma'aloula, the village where Aramaic, the language of Christ is still spoken, followed by a visit to St. Sergius's and St. Taqla's Mountains. Enjoy a leisurely drive through the countryside of St. George Monastery, continuing past groves of pistachios, to Palmyra, Queen Zenobia's city. Overnight in Palmyra.

Apr 17: Wake up early today to see the sights of Palmyra with the sunrise. Visit the museum, the ancient ruins and views of the oasis from the Arab fort high on top of a nearby hill. Later in the afternoon you will depart for Homs. There you will have an introduction to the city. Overnight in Homs.

Apr 18: Spend today in Homs then head to Crac De Chevaliers, the 12th century fortress that was occupied by the crusaders in 1110 B.C. The fortress was the key to defending the surrounding area as it guarded an important pass and has magnificent views of miles and miles of territory. After exploring this impressive castle travel to Hama where you will be able to see the water wheels, or norias. Continue on to Apamea, which was a major military garrison and city in the early Bronze Age. Also visit the Bronze Age city of Ebla (Tel Mardika) and the Crusader castle of Sahyunan. Continue on to Aleppo (Haleb), which has been inhabited continuously for over 10,000 years, for overnight.

Apr 19: Enjoy a full day tour of Aleppo (Haleb, which means milk, and is named from a story of Abraham, which you will no doubt hear once you arrive in Aleppo), touring the restored citadel, the old city, the National Museum and the souk - the best place for shopping for hand crafts by local artisans, and it is still used by the local inhabitants who buy kitchen wares, coffee, spices, material, perfumes, and much more there. Overnight in Aleppo.

Apr 20: After breakfast, travel to the basilica of St. Simeon where the monk St. Simeon settled in 412. In his devotion and worship, he lived on the top of a column for nearly 42 years, surrounded by pilgrims. After contemplating the ingenuity that must have been put in to practice to accommodate the basic needs of a human living for such a great length of time on top of a column about 5-6 feet in diameter, head back to Aleppo for overnight.

Apr 21: Go to the airport in the morning for flight to Trabazon. Arrive in the Black Sea costal city be met at the airport and taken to your hotel for overnight

Apr 22: Trabzon / Erzurum. Trabzon, the major city of the region, was founded in the 7th century B.C. Visit the jewel of Trabzon's monuments: the restored 13th-century Byzantine church, used for centuries as a mosque and now as the Ayasofya Museum. Wooden houses fill the old quarter nestled in the ancient fortifications, which still retain the spirit of a medieval town. After visiting the sites in Trabzon, head inland through spectacular mountain landscape and on to Erzurum for dinner and overnight.

Apr 23: Erzurum / Kars. Erzurum, the largest city in eastern Anatolia, sprawls on a high plateau at an altitude of 1,950 meters (approximately 6,337 feet). As you enter the city, the large Aziziye monument commemorating the Turkish-Russian war will catch your eye. The city has an immensely rich past and a unique architectural style. The city walls and fortress are reminiscent of the period of Byzantine rule. Of particular importance are the remaining Seljuk buildings. While wandering around the city, notice the local black stone (Erzurum Oltu Tasi) which is used in jewelry. The shops on the upper floor of the Tashan (Rüstem Pasa Caravanserai) offer the best selection. After seeing some of the sites, travel to Kars for dinner and overnight.

Apr 24: Kars / Dogubeyazit. Kars stands at an altitude of 1,750 meters (approximately 5,687 feet) and has played an important role in Turkish history. It was at the center of the Turko-Russian War. The Russian legacy can still be seen in much of the town's architecture. The lower city unfolds at the foot of an impressive Seljuk fortress from the 12th century. The Archaeological Museum houses beautiful wood carvings, an excellent collection of coins found in the surrounding region, as well as many ethnographic items relating to eastern Turkey. Kars is particularly known for its distinctive kilims and carpets, and it retains a strong heritage of folk dancing. Travel to Dogubeyazit for dinner and overnight

Apr 25: Dogubeyazit / Van. One of the most spectacular sites to visit is the Ishak Pasa Palace, only 6 km from Dogubayazit. Ishak Pasa, Ottoman governor of the province constructed the palace in the 17th century with a mixture of architectural styles. Near Dogubayazit, Turkey's most scenic natural monument, Mt. Agri rises to a height of 5,137 meters (approximately 16,695 feet). Travel on to Van for dinner and overnight.

Apr 26: Van. Van is an important city set in a verdant oasis at the foot of a rocky peak and on the shores of Lake Van, the biggest lake in Turkey. An imposing 9th century BC citadel overlooks the new and old parts town.

Apr 27: Van / Diyarbakir. Travel to Diyarbakir, located on the shores of the Tigris River. The basalt walls of Diyarbakir, which are more than 5 kilometers in length, have the distinction of being the longest city walls in the country. Some sites to visit include the Harput Castle. The castle, which is on the south-east of historical Harput City, was conquered by the Roman Empire, Byzantium and Arabs, and has been restored three times since 1115. Another fascinating sight in the city center is the Ulu Mosque, one of the oldest mosques in Turkey. Dinner and overnight in Diyarbakir.

Apr 28: Diyarbakir. We will fly out to Istanbul in the morning. Be met at the airport and taken to the hotel for check in, If it is an early flight we will start the tour after check in by going to see St Sophia, Underground Citern and Sultanahmet Mosque. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Apr 29: After breakfast we will go and visit the famous Spice Bazaar, situated in a historical Ottoman building from the 16th centruy; one can find there all kinds of spices, healing plants as well as caviar. Afterwards, we get on a regular ferry to cruise along the Bosphorus. The shore is lined with modern hotels, as well as "yall" old wooden villas, palace of marble, fortesses and small fishing villages. After our lunch, we drive to Faith district where we will visit Kariye Museum (St Chora Church). Here you will find a quiet carefully tended garden facing old wooden houses where you can enjoy apple tea or coffee. Finally, we will finish our tour by visiting the Suleymaniye Imperial Mosque. The mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent where he and his wife Hurrem Sultan are buried, is considered the most beautiful of all imperial mosques in Istanbul. Built by a famous architect Sinan. Return to the hotel for overnight.

Apr 30: Departure. Transfer to the airport from the hotel.
 

Included:
Applying for visas.
Full-board accommodation in 3-5 star hotels, breakfast at hotels, lunch and dinner at best available local restaurants, or hotels.
All land transportations in A/C coach.
All transfers to/from airports, from/to hotels.
All portages and entrance fees for main sites and excursions.
Highly-qualified English-speaking national guide.
Domestic flight.

Not Included:
International air
Personal expenses such as room service, telephone/fax calls, laundry, dry cleaning, etc.
Optional tours or entrance fees not shown on the itinerary
Refreshments, snacks, etc., en route or during meals, caviar at any meals, tips
Fuel surcharges, if any

Single Supplement: $750