Itinerary
Day - 1 - 11:00 a.m Departure from office or your hotel, we will transfer you to the main bus terminal of Istanbul
12:00 Departure from Istanbul on 5 hours bus ride to Safranbolu, once you arrive, the hotel manager will be at the bus terminal waiting, holding a sing that tell your names and he will transfer you to Hotel ( the hotel is an old ottoman house thats restored recently and turned into a guest room style hotel, all of the old styles, ornaments has been keeped in the building. After you check in , you can go and enjoy Safranbolu
Little about Safranbolu
Safranbolu is a cute little Black Sea town with the narrow streets and merchant shops,has many restored Ottoman dwellings because of it is important heritage, Safranbolu has been declared World Heritage Site.
In Ottoman times, the town lay on a major trade route. Its many handsome three-storey stone-and-timber konaks (mansions) were erected by whealthy merchants and craftsmen. In summer they lived in cool baglar district, and in the winter they moved down to the more sheltered Carsi (bazaar) quarter around the kazdagi mosque.
Day - 2 -
After breakfast, you will depart from your hotel for a day trip to Amasra, A beautifull 1 hour scenic drive through the mountains and little villages, once you get there you will have free time to discover Amasra, according to the wheather condition, you can hire boat for 15 Euros, and get a 40 minutes ride on the boat looking over the old city and castles, Late in the afternoon driver will take you from Amasra to Safranbolu, Overnight in Safranbolu
Day - 3 -
After the breakfast we will put you on the bus from Safranbolu to Amasya, ( Via Ankara )
Little about Amasra
In the 6 th century BC Amasra was called Sesamus, and it is inhabitants were known as megara. The town has a cute small harbour with its Roman bridge and watch tower, it is one of the cutest town of the black sea region. Interesting places to see in the town include the Fatih Mosque a former Byzantine church and 19 th century iskele mosque, Some portions of the Byzantine city walls are still standing, as is a Roman bridge in the Harbour.
Day - 3 -
After the breakfast we will put you on the bus from Safranbolu to Ankara , 3 hours bus ride, once you arrive you will have few hours free time, for those who want to stay in Ankara, ( we can extend the tour and add couple more night accomadation in Ankara. After a break, you will depart from Ankara bus terminal to Amasya ( 5 hours bus ride , once you arrive, you will be picked up at the Amasya bus terminal and transfered to hotel, Overnight in Amasya
Day - 4 -
Today is the free day for you to discover Amasya on your own.
Little about Amasya
In Amasya, one can see the remnants of the Hellenistic, the Roman, the Byzantine, the Seljuk, the Ilhanli, and the Ottoman civilizations, as well as many important remains belonging to the first years of the Republic of Turkey. The museums of this historical city contain cultural treasures, remained from many civilizations. Amasya is endowed with historical and cultural opulence, and the city is also very rich of natural beauties; thermal springs around Amasya are very famous. Amasya Yaliboyu Houses are the best instances of Ottoman architecture. These buildings usually have two storeys and they are now being restored by a foundation called AKTAV. (The Foundation of Protecting Cultural and Natural wealth).
Amasya is also famous for its apples, cherries, peaches and okra. If you would like to enjoy the beautiful nature with the city's deeply rooted cultural tradition, then Amasya is one of the most exciting places for you. Here, our friendly people will welcome you.
Day - 5 -
After breakfast, you will depart from Amasya to Trabzon, A beautifull bus ride cutting through the Black sea mountain ranges, ( Arrival in Trabzon & Check into you hotel, Overnight in Trabzon
Day - 6 -
After breakfast, you will depart from your hotel for a day trip to Sumela Monastry, and once we get there, you will have the free time to explore the site, -
Little about Sumela Monastry
It sits high up on the cliffs of mounth Mela, southeast of Trabzon. It was founded in the 4 th century by 2 grek monks, Barnabas and Sophronius, who were guided to the site by an icon of a "black" image of the Virgn, alegendly painted by St. Luke. After their deaths, sumela became a place of pilgrimage. It was decorated with frescoes, and its treasures included priceless manuscripts and silver plates. The monastry was built several times -the ruins seen by todays visitors date largely 19 th century. In the Ottoman era, sumela enjoyed the protection of the sultans, but it was abandoned and badly damage during the War of independence. In recent years, extensive restoration has been caried out.
Little about Trabzon
The earliest evidence of civilization in Trabzon dates from 7000 BC. Establishes as a Grek colony ( with Amasra and Sinop) the town benefited from its position on the bussy trade route between black sea and the Mediterranean. It grew quickly and was focal point for the Pontic kings. At the begining of the 13 th century, the Comnene dynasty established a Byzantine with its capital at Trabzon. During the Comnnene era, the city gained a reputation as a beautiful, sophisticated cultural center. The Genoese and the Venetians came here to trade as Trabzon was the terminus of a northern branch of the Silk Route. In 1461 Trabzon fell under Ottoman rule. Overnight stay in Trabzon
Day - 7 -
After breakfast we will transfer you to the airport, you will go on a 1 hour 30 minutes domestic flight back to Istanbul and arrival will be the end of this tour ,
Cost 480 Euro per person in double room and 590 Euro for single suppliment.
Price includes ; all of the transfers, bus tickets, 6 nights bed and breakfast hotel in Safranbolu, Amasya and Trabzon day trip to Amasra and Sumela monastry, domestic flight ticket back Istanbul.
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