DAY 01, ….. / ISTANBULCity tour to discover the classical highlights of Istanbul: the Hippodrome, Egyptian Obelisks, Underground Cistern adorned with classical columns, the magnificent St.Sophia, Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. Free time will be provided to explore the labyrinth tunnels of the Grand Bazaar that houses more than 4, 000 shops. Overnight in Istanbul.DAY 02, ISTANBUL-ANKARADepart for Ankara with approximately 5 hours drive. Arrive the capital of Turkey and visit of the Anitkabir Museum, a vast mausoleum built for Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Next stop is the Anatolian Civilizations Museum, with the finest collection of Anatolian works and remains. Overnight in Ankara.DAY 04, ANKARA-HATTUSAS-AMASYAMorning visits to the Hattusas, the old capital city of the Hittites with Yazilikaya and Lions Gate. Proceed to Amasya. Visits of Hazeranlar Mansion, Amasya Castle, Rock Tombs and the nature along Yesil River with water walls belong to a legend of Ferhat and Sirin's love story. Dinner and overnight in Amasya.DAY 05, SAMSUN-ORDU-GIRESUNDepart for Samsun which is one of the biggest city of Northern Black Sea. Sightseeing in Samsun with visit of the Archaeological Museum especially the mosaic floor that was discovered at Amisos (ancient city of Samsun). Drive to Ordu. Enjoying the impressive scenery en route, consisting the nature, forest and black sea. Visit of the church which was built by the order of King of the Pontus Farnakes I. The Amazons has been used the church as a temple. Later watch the city from bird's-eye view at Boztepe (485m). Dinner and overnight in Giresun.DAY 06, GIRESUN-MACKA-SUMELA-GUMUSHANE-ZIGANAVisit Giresun Castle, then proceed through the spectacular scenery of the Pontic Mountains inland up a narrow valley to the Sumela Monastery. Seeming to cling to a sheer rock face high above steep and heavily wooded slopes, the monastery was founded in the 6th century to house an icon of the Virgin Mary, supposedly painted by St. Luke the Evangelist. The monastery was inhabited by Greek Orthodox monks until 1923. The monastery still contains many frescoes of Biblical scenes. Drive to Zigana Mountain and proceed to Gümüshane to visit Karaca Cave, considered the most beautiful in Turkey for its colors and formations. Dinner and overnight in Zigana.DAY 07, ZIGANA-TRABZON-UZUNGOLDepart for Trabzon, the birth place of Ottoman Sultan Suleyman the Magnificent. In the 13th century, Trabzon was the centre of a prosperous Christian empire and contains some beautiful churches, including the beautiful church of Hagia Sophia, built in the mid 13th century as a monastery church and later converted into a mosque after the Ottoman conquest of 1461. It was also used by the Turks as a military storehouse and a fever hospital, it is now a museum with magnificent frescoes covering its walls. Outside the city, visit Ataturk's beautiful summer mansion situated high on a hillside overlooking Black Sea. Then drive to Uzungöl. It's a hidden paradise in the Pontic Alps. Dinner and overnight in Uzungöl.DAY 8, UZUNGOL-RIZE-CAMLIHEMSIN-AYDERMorning short break at Rize for the panoramic view of the city from the Botanic Garden, and proceed to Firtina (Storm) Valley which takes us to Ayder Plateau. En route to Ayder, visits to Camlihemsin and Senyuva Bridge. Upon arrival, a gentle trekking to the Gelintülü Fall which is the most beautiful in the region. Dinner and overnight in Ayder.DAY 9, AYDER-SARP-TRABZONFree time to explore the beautiful Alpine Plateau until noon. Traditionally dressed village ladies, thermal spring, waterfalls dropping down from hundreds meters and beautiful plateau houses are major sights. Drive by the Turkish - Georgian border on Eastern Black Sea coast, view Georgia from Sarpi Gate, drive along the Black Sea coast back to Trabzon Airport. Flight back to Istanbul and proceed to your hotel.DAY 10, ISTANBUL/HOME…Flight back home…Leaving the footsteps of St. Paul in Turkey, you will jo
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