Cilicia & Cappadocia
Day 1 - Welcome. Antalya / Side
Arrival at the airport of Antalya. Transfer to the hotel in Side, accommodation at the hotel, meeting and getting to know the guide, discussion of the program, dinner, free time.
Overnight in Side.
Day 2 - Konya / Cappadocia
Check-out from the rooms and check-out from the hotel.
Departure to Cappadocia.
En route stop for breakfast.
Arrival in the city of Konya. Konya was the capital of the state, where there was a huge concentration of thinkers, scientists, people of culture and art, and the city itself was a repository of works of art. It was the heyday of the Seljuk Dynasty and Alyaeddin Keykubat sat on the throne.
Museum "Mevlana" (Order of the Dervishes).
Mevlana Jalaleddin Rumi - philosopher, poet, founder of the order of Sufi dervishes. Here is his mausoleum.
Visit to Caravanserai "Sultankhan"
The Seljuks adorned the whole of Anatolia with mosques, madrasahs and caravanserais. Monuments of the Seljuk culture of the 11th-13th centuries are works of art.
Lunch (for an additional fee).
Arrival in Cappadocia is one of the important tourist regions of Turkey. As a result of volcanic activity, thousands of years ago, a very rare natural phenomenon occurred here. Due to its enchanting beauty, this place is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here you and I will witness stunning landscapes, with thousands of fabulous chimneys and interesting rock formations created naturally, with the help of lava and ash, which spread over an area of 25,000 km2, as a result of the eruption of volcanoes on Mount Erciyes, Gyulyudag and Hasandag, about 60 million years ago.This Earth is the most interesting and extraordinary place in the world. The first settlers of Cappadocia lived in caves carved into the rocks. With the advent of Christianity here, chapels, churches and monasteries began to appear in the rocks. In the areas of Derinkuyu, Mazy, Kaymakli and Ozkonak, entire cities were carved into the rocks and underground, with the possibility of protection from enemy attacks.
Stop at the panoramic platform - "Valley of Pigeons", which is one of the most unusual places. Its history is rooted in the distant past. An acute shortage of fertile soils led to the creation of numerous dovecotes. After all, it was from pigeons that they received the best fertilizer necessary for the successful growth of vineyards. The valley served as a home for birds. In its rocks you can see numerous tunnels and windows in which pigeons nested.
Our next stop is the Uchhisar Fortress, a one-of-a-kind rock settlement, absolutely original in its appearance with towers, white tuff spiers, fully perforated windows and doors of cave dwellings, grouped around the central peak on which the fortress rises.
Photo break in the valley - "Three Beauties". These bizarre rock sculptures - three amazing giant mushrooms, seem to have grown out of the ground. Their shape is so interesting and peculiar that it is impossible to pass or pass by without stopping near them. There are many legends about this extraordinary composition created by nature. Someone says that the Greek goddesses Aphrodite, Hera and Athena are forever frozen in these stones. Another legend speaks of the love of a poor man and a rich girl who had a child, but the girl's angry father longed for reprisals against the young man. The girl began to ask for help from higher powers, so that they would help them stay together forever. And then all three turned to stone. "Three Beauties" are considered a symbol of Cappadocia. Their photos can be seen in every corner of Turkey.
Arrival and check-in at the hotel, dinner, free time.
A trip to the evening program "Turkish Night" (for an additional fee).
This festive folk extravaganza will give you a sea of joyful emotions and leave the most colorful impressions in your memory for a lifetime! From the very beginning of this festive performance, you will be in a great mood for the whole evening. A joyful atmosphere of general fun will be created by incendiary performances of professional artists and masters of oriental dance.
Return and overnight at the hotel in Cappadocia.
Day 3 - Cappadocia - Land of beautiful horses
You can enjoy Cappadocia - the “Land of Beautiful Horses” - not only from the ground, but also rising high into the sky. The incredible beauty that opens before your eyes will not leave you indifferent.
Balloons Cappadocia
You can make such a trip in a hot air balloon! The amazing scenery, dozens of hot air balloons rising into the sky in the rays of the rising sun and the amazing picture of the awakening of Cappadocia will undoubtedly leave the most vivid impression. An hour-long flight will allow you to enjoy the fabulous valleys and see places that are inaccessible to walking.
Breakfast in the hotel.
Departure from the hotel for a tour.
Visit to the Goreme open-air museum.
In the very center of Cappadocia is Göreme and its valley, the most famous and most studied.
St. Paul found Goreme the most suitable place for the education of preachers.
Dwellings were knocked out right in the rocks, and when the first Christians appeared here, churches and monasteries began to be built in the rocks. From the 6th to the end of the 9th century, Goreme was one of the largest Christian centers, and there were more than 400 churches in its vicinity.
Panorama for photos - "Goreme Valley".
Stop at a workshop for processing precious and semi-precious stones.
Lunch (for an additional fee).
Next, we will admire the beautiful views of the "Valley of Love".
It is located in the heart of Cappadocia, between the cities of Goreme and Uchisar. The length of this valley is about four kilometers. Its name "Valley of Love" was due to the phallic shape of stone formations resembling reproductive organs.
A visit to a pottery workshop in the city of Avanos, a real city of potters.
Devrent Valley is known as Imagination Valley and is one of the must see places in Cappadocia. Located on the way to Avanos, about 15 minutes from Goreme.
There are no churches, no fortresses, no Roman burials in the valley, and no one lived there. Of interest are unusual rock formations, many of which resemble animals. The most famous and easily recognizable are the camel, lizard, dolphin and fur seal. You can also see the Virgin Mary, Napoleon's hat and much more, you just need to give free rein to your imagination.
A trip to the evening program (for an additional fee).
The Ceremonial Dervish Dance is a magical atmosphere, traditional Turkish music and costumes, where you completely forget about time and lose your sense of space.
Dervishes are Muslim monks with an extremely interesting life story and rituals. The dance of whirling dervishes is called “Sema” or “Mevleviian joys”. This dance has been practiced for years. The dance of the dervishes is not just a dance, here each movement has a special secret meaning within the framework of Sufism and consists of three rounds that tell about the creation of the world. The first tour will tell the audience about the sun and stars, the second is dedicated to plants, and the third, the key one, will bring us the truth about all living beings that have a soul.
Arrival at the hotel, dinner, free time.
Overnight in Cappadocia.
Day 4 – Cappadocia-Mersin / Kyzkalesi
Breakfast, check-out from the hotel, departure to Mersin/Kyzkalesi.
On the way to visit:
The underground city "Kaymakli" is one of the largest underground cities in Turkey. Located in Cappadocia, 18 kilometers from the provincial capital of Nevsehir. The underground city is a system of corridors and rooms hollowed out in soft volcanic rock. Translated from Turkish, "Kaymakli" means "Creamy" - this is the color of the volcanic tuff in which the underground city was dug. The first level of Kaymakli was built by the Hittites. Later, during the period of persecution of Christians, the area of man-made caves increased, reaching the size of an entire city. Underground cities were shelter from prying eyes, well-organized, safe and self-sustaining residential complexes. Kaymakli, one of the 40 underground cities discovered in Cappadocia, is the largest and most interesting, it consists of 8 floors and could shelter about 15 thousand people. We can say with confidence that you will be delighted with the dungeons of Cappadocia!
The Gumusler Monastery, located about 10 kilometers from the city of Niide in the South of Cappadocia, is carved into a large rock. Its stone church boasts impressive frescoes that rival even the famous church paintings in Göreme. The frescoes date back to the 7th-11th centuries, and among their subjects are the Annunciation and the smiling Mother of God with the Child, surrounded by the archangels Gabriel and Michael. In addition to the frescoes, there is an interesting labyrinth of tunnels to explore, recently restored and open to tourists.
Stop in the city of Niida.
Lunch (for an additional fee).
Arriving in Tarsus - one of the oldest cities in Turkey, it traces its history from the third millennium BC. Here Mark Antony met his fatal love - Queen Cleopatra, which is reminiscent of the carefully restored Cleopatra's Gate. The city will be of interest not only to lovers of history and antiquity, but also to Christian pilgrims. After all, it was in Tarsus that the Apostle Paul was born and lived. In the place where, according to legend, his house stood, now there is a well of St. Paul. According to legend, the water from it has healing powers. Under the glass roof is the foundation and parts of the walls of the house where the future saint was born and lived. And although there is no 100% evidence that this is exactly the house, pilgrims have been visiting this place for many centuries.
Arrival in Mersin/Kizkalesi, check-in at the hotel, dinner, free time.
Overnight in Kyzkalesi.
Day 5 - Kyzkalesi / Narlykuyu / Silifke
Breakfast, departure for an excursion.
Visits:
Caves "Hell and Paradise".
A lot of stories familiar to us from childhood, like the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, took place on the territory of modern Turkey. Traveling around this country, you can literally touch those creations of nature that inspired admiration and awe of the ancient peoples. One of these natural formations is located very close to Mersin - the caves "Paradise" and "Hell".
Transfer to the city of Narlykuyu.
Mosaic Museum "Three Graces", located in the complex of baths of the Roman Period. The floor of the bath is a mosaic. The mosaic depicts the Three Beauties: Aglaya, Euphrosyne and Thalia.
Visit to the church "Saint Thekla" in the town of Silifke. The underground church of St. Thekla is the ruins of a large church complex built in the Byzantine period. In the past it was a popular place of pilgrimage. And now both locals and tourists come here to see with their own eyes the cave where one of the first Christian saints named Thekla lived. Thekla was a disciple and follower of the Apostle Paul. She was deeply revered in the Byzantine period. She lived in the vicinity of modern Silifke and died here.
Return to the hotel, lunch, free time.
Dinner at the hotel, free time.
Overnight in Kyzkalesi.
Day 6 - Karaman / Kyzkalesi
After breakfast at the hotel, departure for an excursion to the city of Karaman.
Visit to the monastery "Alakhan" - a religious complex, included in the list of World Cultural Heritage by UNESKO. The complex consists of two churches, monastic cells carved into the rocks, and burials surrounding the monastery. It was built around 440-442 on Mount Taurus, at an altitude of 1200 meters above sea level. Church buildings are reminiscent of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Istanbul in their architecture, and the decorative elements amaze with the skill of stone processing. The monastery is one of the most valuable monuments of the first years of Christianity. In the Alakhan monastery, in addition to the images of Saints Paul and Peter, there are also bas-reliefs of the six-winged Seraphim, Saint Michael, striking a monster, a roaring lion, an eagle and a bull, evangelical writings and floral ornaments are carved on the walls. The complex includes covered long and narrow passages, where religious rituals are held, a gallery of arches, a colonnade, a baptistery - a room where baptism took place, a cruciform pool and tombs carved into the rocks.
Return to the hotel, lunch, free time.
Dinner at the hotel, free time.
Overnight in Kyzkalesi.
Day 7 - Anamur / Antalya / Side.
Breakfast, check out from the hotel, departure to Antalya/Side.
On the way to the city of Anamur, we will visit the Mamure Fortress The Mamure Fortress (Mamure Kalesi) in Turkey is one of the well-preserved fortifications. The majestic castle appears to modern tourists almost unchanged in the form in which it existed during the Middle Ages.
Arrival in Alanya, stop with a panoramic view of the city. Due to its convenient position on a small peninsula on the Mediterranean coast, near the Taurus Range, Alanya was a local stronghold for many Mediterranean empires. Alanya acquired the greatest political importance in the Middle Ages, when it was under the rule of Ala ad-Din Kay-Kubad I. The result of his construction campaign were many of the city's attractions, such as Kyzyl Kule "Red Tower", Tersane shipyard and Alanya fortress.
Lunch (for an additional fee).
Visit to the cave "Damlatash". A stalactite cave, the temperature inside which is +23 degrees with a humidity of more than 90. The cave was formed 15 thousand years ago, it is not at all large in size. Stalactites and stalagmites were formed from limestone, looking like a thick thicket of stones. The air in the cave is very healing and helps to cure asthma.
Arrival in the city of Side, check-in at the hotel, dinner, free time.
Overnight at the hotel in Side.
Day 8 - Side / Manavgat / Antalya
Breakfast, departure for an excursion.
Visits:
Perge
This is a perfectly preserved ancient city, one of the largest cities in Pamphylia! It was here, according to legend, that the Apostle Paul founded one of the first Christian communities in Anatolia. According to legend, the city was founded by the Trojans, led by the soothsayer Calchas, after the Trojan War. Some sources connect the foundation of the city with the Hittites, who supposedly called the city Parga, while others associate the foundation of the city with the resettlement of the "peoples of the sea" from the Aegean Islands to the Mediterranean coast. In Perge, the Amphitheater, Stadium, Agora and Roman baths are perfectly preserved.
Next, we will visit the Aspendos Antique Theatre.
It is located in the ancient city of Aspendos, on the slope of a small hill. The ancient theater is known throughout the Mediterranean world as one of the best preserved buildings with its stage. The gigantic theatre, which is one of the most outstanding works reflecting the architectural style of the Roman period, was built by Zeno. The theater, which welcomes its guests in a unique atmosphere where you can feel the golden age, the richness and splendor of the Roman era, has a capacity of about 20,000 people. Today, the Aspendos Antique Theater hosts many concerts, festivals and theatrical events, especially the Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival, which attracts art connoisseurs from all over the world.
Lunch (included).
Waterfall "Manavgat"
Manavgat Waterfall is one of the most beautiful and unusual waterfalls in Turkey. Manavgat is not a natural waterfall, but the threshold of the river of the same name, which appeared when a reservoir was built here. Its feature is only 2 meters high and as much as 40 meters wide. The Manavgat waterfall is located in the city of the same name.
Boat trip on the Manavgat River (1.5 hours). The Manavgat River, formerly known as Melas, originates in the Taurus Mountains and flows from Antalya to the Mediterranean Sea. The Manavgat River is about 93 kilometers long. And even in the midst of the heat, the water remains cold and refreshing.
On the shore of Side are the remains of the ancient Temple of Apollo. In the city of Side there is an ancient theater of the 2nd century AD. It can accommodate up to 15 thousand spectators. Nearby is the Side Antiquities Museum. It was built in the well-preserved cellars of the Roman baths built in the 5th century. Not far from the museum is another architectural and historical monument of the ancient period - the ruins of the Agora market. It was here that all the trade of the region took place in those days. All these monuments give us an idea of the magnitude of the ancient culture in the Pamphylia region.
Return to the hotel, dinner, free time.
Overnight in Side.
Day 9 - Side / Antalya Airport
This is our last morning in Side.
After breakfast, we will start packing, getting ready for departure, and making wishes...
After all, good dreams made in magical places have the ability to come true.
And Side is without a doubt one of those places!
By the appointed time, a comfortable transfer will pick you up from the hotel and bring you to the airport of departure.
As it is customary to say in Turkey "Göryushmek Yuzere"!
or
UP TO NEW MEETINGS!
Important information
What is included in the price?
Transfer by comfortable transport from
airport/hotel/airport only for our group
Transport maps and all transport along the route on a comfortable air-conditioned bus - only for our group.
All excursions and entrance tickets according to the program.
Assistance in the selection of air tickets
Professional guide in Russian
Accommodation in boutique hotels and 4 * / 5 * hotels, with breakfast and dinner.
***Price per person in a double room. For single occupancy, there will be a difference of EUR 150 per stay.
The price does not include:
Flights from your city to Antalya and back
Meals outside the program
All drinks
Medical insurance - highly recommended
Additional Excursions
Personal expenses
***Tips for guides and drivers (5 people and less 10 €/person/day; 6-9 people 8 €/person/day; 10 people and more 5 €/person/day)
Additional services
Excursions for extra charge:
Hot air balloon flight - 250 - 300 euros (per person)
Jeep safari - 55 euros (per person)
Dervish dance - Sema - 25 euros (per person)
Turkish night and belly dance - 45 euros (per person)
Quad bike safari - 50 euros (per person)
Horse riding - 40 euros (per person)
*** When the price changes, the announcement during the trip takes precedence.