From Trabzon to Van - 02/ 8 days - MeinReiseleiter.de

From Trabzon to Van - 02/ 8 days

General:.

This trip takes you from Trabzon (Trebizond) to Van, an area of beautiful lush nature, and to the steppes of Eastern Anatolia. You see the monasteries built like eagles' nests on steep slopes. In Erzurum you encounter the art of the Seljuks. Ani is known for the most beautiful works of Armenian history. The Urartians still shape the image of the city of Van - ancient Tushpa - to this day.

Day 1: Scheduled flight from your home airport ( via Istanbul ) - Trabzon. Hoş geldiniz!

Welcome at the airport by your qualified, knowledgeable and local tour guide from "PASSION" Reisen /Turkey.
Transfer to the hotel in the Trabzon area.
Over a welcome cocktail your tour guide gives you an overview of the details of the itinerary.
We wish you God's blessing for the entire course of your journey!

Dinner and overnight stay in/ near Trabzon.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Day 2: Trabzon - Rize

Our journey begins along the coastal road to Rize, where we will visit tea plantations and the Rize tea factory. With plenty of provisions for a picnic, the journey continues to Andon, the most popular excursion spot of the locals of Rize.

From the Rize region onwards live the so-called LAZ, as the locals are called. There are a great many jokes about the Laz. Much like the East Frisian jokes in Germany, they always conjure a smile on people's lips. Why?! You will understand that best on the spot. On this day we will visit an idyllic village in the middle of nature, and with luck a local will even open his house to the group...
In the late afternoon we drive back to Trabzon.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Trabzon.

Day's distance approx. 210 km

Day 3: Trabzon - Maçka; Sumela Monastery, Hagia Sophia, Atatürk Museum, Orta Hisar Camii

Today we head inland towards Maçka. Right through Trabzon's national park we come to the mountain on which Sumela Monastery sits enthroned like an eagle's nest. As the path up there is very steep, there is the option of going up by minibus. After visiting the monastery, we recommend walking back dow

Once at the bottom, we drive back to Trabzon to visit the local Hagia Sophia, the Atatürk House - an Art Nouveau villa (museum) - and the Orta Hisar Camii (former Cathedral of Panagia Chrysokephalos). There is time to pause for a moment or to explore further on a stroll through the town.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Trabzon.

Day's distance approx. 100 km

Day 4: Trabzon - Erzurum; Çifte Minare Medrese - Ulu Camii - Hatuniye Türbe

We set off for Erzurum in the morning.
On the way we cross Gümüşhane (formerly Argyropolis), Bayburt and other very high passes. Erzurum was the first capital of the Seljuks, where we will visit the Çifte Minare Medrese from the 13th century, the Ulu Camii (Great Mosque) from the 12th century and the Hatuniye Türbesi (mausoleum).

Dinner and overnight stay in Erzurum.

Day's distance approx. 260 km.

Day 5: Erzurum - Kars - Ani

This morning we drive to Kars and then visit the impressive old capital of the Armenians, Ani. The partly ruined churches of Ani house very remarkable frescoes and rich symbolism.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Kars.

Day's distance approx. 364 km

Day 6: Kars – Ağrı Dağ (Ararat) - Doğubayazıt; Ishak Paşa Palace - Van

On our drive to Doğubayazıt you will finally get to see Ağrı Dağ (Mount Ararat, 5,167 m), whose summit, however, is almost always shrouded in clouds.

The absolute highlight is the visit to the Turkish Neuschwanstein, the Ishak Paşa Palace. Our route continues to Van with a visit to the Fortress of Van (Tushpa) and our arrival at the hotel.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Van.

Day's distance approx. 372 km

Ishak Paşa Palace

Day 7: Full-day excursion around Van

Full-day excursion around Van

First we visit the fortress of Çavuştepe.

At Çavuştepe are the remains of the Urartian fortress Šarduriḫinili (city of Sarduri), built between 764 and 735 BC by King Sarduri II.

We then take the boat to the island of Akdamar. There we visit the Armenian monastery complex and church, which in Armenian art had an importance similar to that of the Pergamon Altar for the Hellenistic period. Today you can also bring your swimwear to swim in Lake Van. Afterwards we return to the mainland by boat.

The area around Van is known for its kilims, which are not only woven but also embroidered. In addition to wool, gold is also used to create these true works of art, as you can see for yourself.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Van.

Day's distance approx.: 120 km

Monastery complex on Akdamar Island:.

Day 8: Today it is time to say goodbye... Güle güle!

Transfer to the airport.
Flight from Van to Germany (stopover in Istanbul) - home airport.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Programme changes:

Please note that the actual course of the itinerary may change slightly due to differing opening hours (winter and summer, state visits etc.) of individual sights.

Changes to the itinerary without any reduction in services are reserved.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Would you like a beach extension? Gladly!

If you wish, you can book a beach and relaxation extension anywhere in the Antalya region.

For example: the Aydın and Izmir area; Kuşadası, Çeşme, Seferihisar, Gümüldür, Foça, Pamucak, Didim, Ayvalık, Sarımsaklı, Bodrum, Marmaris, Sarıgerme, Davutlar etc. and much more.

We will organise the transfers there and back for you.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Services included:

✦ No shopping stops: our promise

Visits to carpet, jewellery or leather businesses are expressly not part of this trip. Your time belongs to the biblical and historical sites and the content of your study tour, not to the sales rooms.

Only at the express request of the group or individual travellers do we organise such a visit separately and outside the programme. The shuttle or taxi is then paid for by the shop concerned.

Our advice: be careful with conspicuously cheap travel offers. They are often subsidised by commissions from sales visits – with compulsory shopping stops, sales pressure and often inflated prices. Never buy under time pressure, compare prices and ask for a receipt and a certificate of authenticity.

• Outbound flight: scheduled flight, home airport - with stopover in Istanbul - Trabzon
• Return flight: scheduled flight, Van - with stopover in Istanbul - home airport
• Travel insurance (insolvency certificate) in accordance with § 651 k BGB (German Civil Code).
• All airport and security fees (subject to changes in kerosene prices)
• Free baggage allowance 30 kg & hand luggage max. 8 kg
• Welcome cocktail: (non-alcoholic)
• Admission fees: ALL as per programme (no hidden extra costs!)
• Parking fees, tolls etc...
• All transfers, excursions and tours in Turkey in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach of local standard as per programme.
• 7 overnight stays in 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels with shower/bath/WC. (local category)
• 7 x open buffet breakfast & dinner (continental is sometimes also served).
• Vegetarians, vegans and people with allergies have a wide choice at the buffet!
• Tour guide: a knowledgeable (state-licensed), committed and motivated local tour guide throughout the entire tour.
• Minimum number of participants: 9 people, max. 35 people

Services not included:

• Personal expenses
• Tips: tour guide, driver, porter, waiters etc.

Bookable locally:

• Full board: locally you can upgrade to full board; 6 x lunch for a surcharge of €60 per person.
• With the large selection, vegetarians have no problems with their diet
• Travel cancellation insurance from as little as €17: >>> book travel protection online

Booking form:

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