Istanbul to Damascus - OLD Itinerary

Day 1  Depart Australia

Day 2  Arrive in Istanbul
Welcome to Istanbul. On arrival we will be met at the airport by our friendly Turkish guide and transferred to our hotel.  The rest of the day is at leisure before tonight’s welcome dinner. [D]

Day 3  Istanbul
Today’s tour of Istanbul includes the magnificent Topkapi Palace, the unique Blue Mosque whose interior walls are covered with 20,000 blue Iznik tiles, the famous Hippodrome and the incredible Basilica of St Sophia. Constructed in 326AD by Constantine the Great, the Basilica has been a cathedral, a mosque and is now a museum. Our day ends with a visit to the colourful Spice Bazaar.  [B]

Day 4  Istanbul - Ankara
This morning we visit the 11th century Chora Church before continuing on to the Turkish capital, Ankara. [B,D]

Day 5  Ankara - Cappadocia
Our morning tour of Ankara includes the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations and the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. We then drive on to Cappadocia. [B,D]

Day 6  Cappadocia
A fascinating day as we explore the unique lunar landscape of the Goreme Valley, where thousands of years of erosion have created a land of ‘fairy chimneys’.  In the afternoon we visit Cavusin and the nearby Church of St John the Baptist. [B,D]

Day 7  Cappadocia - Gaziantep
En route to Gaziantep we visit an amazing underground city, plus the village of Avanos which is famous for its colourful pottery. [B,D]

Day 8  Gaziantep - Sanliurfa
This morning we visit the Citadel, Ethnography Museum and Archaeological Museum of Gaziantep before continuing on to Sanliurfa. [B,D]

Day 9  Sanliurfa - Kahta
Today we visit Harran, the Cave of Abraham and the Sacred Pool before driving on to Kahta. [B,D]

Day 10  Mount Nemrut
Today we explore one of Turkey’s most amazing sites, the World Heritage-listed ruins on top of Mount Nemrut. The mountain is 2,134 m high and is famous for the vast statues surrounding a 1st century BC tomb on its summit. [B,D]

Day 11  Kahta - Hatay
Our last day in Turkey. We travel to Hatay and visit the Hatay Archaeological Museum, renowned for its sensational mosaic collection and Roman statues. [B,D]

Day 12  Hatay - Aleppo
This morning we cross the border into Syria, travelling to Aleppo. Here in Syria we will see a contrast in culture.  [B]

Day 13  Aleppo
Today we visit the Citadel of Aleppo, a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, in northern Syria. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC. We then spend time wandering through the colourful bazaar and visit the Grand Mosque. This afternoon we explore the ruins of St Simeon Monastery. [B]

Day 14  Aleppo - Homs
We drive to Homs via the archaeological treasures of Ebla and Apamea and the picturesque city of Hama. [B]

Day 15  Homs - Palmyra
Our sightseeing today includes a visit to Krak des Chevalier, the world’s greatest Crusader fortress.  We travel into the desert dunes to explore the pristine ruins of ancient Palmyra, including the Temple of Bel, the Grand Colonnade, the Theatre and the Valley of the Tombs. Palmyra was an immensely wealthy city until the 3rd Century BC when Queen Zenobia turned against the Romans. It ended badly for the city! [B]

Day 16  Palmyra - Damascus
We visit the Qalamoon Mountains, home to the Christian pilgrimage sites of St Sergius Monastery, the St Thecla Convent and the Seydnaya Convent of Our Lady. [B]

Day 17  Damascus
Today we enjoy a full-day tour of Damascus, including the National Museum, the Tekkiye Mosque and the lively Souq al-Hamidiyeh Bazaar. Our tour ends with a drive up Qasyoun Mountain for a beautiful view of Damascus. [B]

Day 18  Depart Damascus
Today we are transferred to the airport for our flight home. [B]

Day 19  Arrive in Australia

Istanbul to Damascus - OLD

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