Welcome to our 6 nights, 7 days Anatolian Culture Tour. We will be visiting more than 25 different places at 5 different cities. We will attend to local activities, ski, and taste traditional foods. We will enjoy with the charming Views of Anatolia, amazing natural beauties, cultural and historical areas

1. 2013
Isak UZUN
Tourism Traffic Services,
Faculty of Tourism and
Recreation - AWF Erasmus I.
Semester, Anatolian Culture
Tour.
[ANATOLIAN CULTURE TOUR]
[Welcome to our 6 nights, 7 days Anatolian Culture Tour. We will be visiting more than 25 different
places at 5 different cities. We will attend to local activities, ski, and taste traditional foods. We will enjoy
with the charming Views of Anatolia, amazing natural beauties, cultural and historical areas.]

2. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
Itinerary Information
Name of the tour:
Anatolia Culture Tour (6 Nights, 7 Days)
Dates:
5th of March – 11th of March 2013
(Tuesday) - (Monday)
Participants Age Group:
30 – 45
Participants Nationalites:
Any
Cities that will be visited:
In Order; Ankara, Çorum, Nevşehir & Aksaray, Kayseri.
Transportation:
Transfers are made by A/C vehicles. Depending on group size we use 4 to 40 seated vehicles. They are
all new and comfortable vehicles driven by experienced drivers in tourism. All these vehicles are
designed for maximum comfort.
Food:
We use either hotel restaurant or nearby restaurants. We try to have dinner at local, good quality
restaurants where available, instead of hotels. The meals at the restaurants are a la carte.
Accommodation:
We accomadate you minumum 4 star Fully Luxury Hotels. Every luxury is provided for your comfort.
Guide:
There will be a professional guide with the group from airport to airport. Our guides have license from
The Ministry of Turkish Tourism, they are all university graduate and professional on their subject.
7/24 Communication Information:
Agency Representative
Isak UZUN
+48 795 055 946
isakuzun@gmail.com
http://infinitygroupempowerment.blogspot.com/
Marymoncka 34D, Varşova, Polonya
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3. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
ANKARA, DAY 1
(5th of March Tuesday)
(Pick up from Airport 09:00, 10:00 Tour Starts )
Ataturk Mausoleum (Anitkabir) (Starts at 10:00, Ends at 11:30)
The Mausoleum of Atatürk was created as a result of the common desire of the Turkish people to build
a "monumental mausoleum" that would be befitting Turkey’s founder and first president, and its great
leader of the Turkish War of Independence. The site that was considered most appropriate was
Rasattepe, upon a hill overlooking Ankara, the Turkish capital.
Atatürk died at five past nine in the morning on November 10 1938 in Istanbul at Dolmabahçe Palace
(the nation comes to a halt to honor him each year at this time). Weeping crowds of all ages came from
near and far for over a week to pay their last respects to Atatürk. On November 19 the coffin was taken
in procession to Sarayburnu from where it was taken onto the battleship Yavuz so that it could be
transported to Izmit. From this city on the Asian shore of the Sea of Marmara, Atatürk’s coffin was
placed on a specially designated train which travelled at a slow speed throughout the country on its way
to Ankara to enable mourners to pay their respects.
More info attached
(11:30-12:30 Lunch break and free time, meeting infront of the museum)
The Anatolian Civilizations Museum (Starts at 12:30, Ends at 14:30)
The Anatolian Civilizations Museum is in two Ottoman buildings located near Ankara Castle, in the
Atpazarı district of Ankara. One of the buildings is Mahmut Paşa Bedesteni and the other is Kurşunlu
Han.
Anatolian Civilizations Museum reaching the present time with its historical buildings and its deeply
rooted history was elected as the first "Museum of the Year" in Switzerland on April 19, 1997.
More info attached
Augustus Temple (Starts at 14:45, Ends at 15:45)
This temple is of great importance with the inscriptions referring to the acts of Augustus. The
inscriptions relate to the same acts written in latin are found on psidia an tiochia in Yalvaç while the
Greek version was on the Phrygian Apollonin in Uluborlu.
The inscriptions on this temple are the best preserved bilingual texts quoting from the ruler's speeches.
The speeches delivered by Augustus himself are known as "Index rerum gestarum" and have been
inscribed bilingually, in Greek and Latin, on the walls known to be "Monumentum Ankyranum".
More info Attached
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4. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
Kızılcahamam- Soğuksu National Park (Starts at 16:00, Ends at 16:45)
The most important feature of this area making it a national park is variety of species. The importance of
this space which is rich as to plant and animal species increases with endangered birds. It is known that
one of the most crowded colonies of black vulture in Turkiye is in Kızılcahamam.
Black vulture is a bird species which is in danger of extinction. Besides black vulture, the rare bird
species such as sea eagle, booted eagle, steppe eagle, neophron, eagle owl, long-legged buzzard; the
passeriformers such as sylvia, wood warbler, emberiza cia, common rosefinch are observed here.
More info attached
Back to Hotel (Hotel Angora)
Tuz (Salt) Lake (On the way back to hotel 20 minutes Photograpy break)
Tuz Golu is a saline lake occupying a huge area in the arid central plateau of Turkey, about 65 miles (105
km) northeast of Konya. It is the second largest lake in Turkey lying at an elevation of 2,970 feet (905 m)
as a tectonic lake. Despite its huge area (580 sq miles or 1500 sq kms), for most of the year it is very
shallow (between 0.5 - 1 metres), especially during dry summer months when the water evaporates in
huge quantities leaving a crust of salt on the surface up to 30 centimeters thick.
More info attached
Accommodation at Ankara – Hotel Angora (Arrival to the hotel 18:00)
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5. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
ÇORUM, DAY 2
(6th of March Wednesday)
(Leaving Ankara at 06:00, Arrival to Çorum: 09:30)
Hattuşa-Boğazkale (Starts at 10:00, Ends at 11:15)
The study of ancient civilizations is often obscure, and the appreciation of the achievements of people
who are represented to us today through only what they have left behind is often difficult, requiring
considerable imagination even on the part of professional archaeologists, let alone the average tourist.
A visit to the site of the ancient Hittite capital of Hattusa (also spelled Hattusas orHattusha), however,
with its ruined temples and palaces, monumental sculptures and the 6.5 kilometers long circuit of its
ponderously constructed walls cannot fail to leave one with the conviction that this city was once the
cradle and home of a great imperial people. The site is at the Village of Bogazkale (formerlyBogazkoy),
laid out over a terrace and a large crag that rises above the area. Bogazkale is located near Sungurlu, to
the northeast ofAnkara at a distance of about 180 kilometers. Turn right off the newCorum road just
after passing Sungurlu to reach the site.
Hattusa was the capital of the Hittites both during the Old Kingdom period, which extended from 1750
to 1450 B.C. and the period of the Empire, 1450 to 1180 B.C. King Hantili I is thought to have been
responsible for the fortification of the city at the beginning of the 16th century BC. The Kaska
people were able to break through this early city wall, however, to sack the capital about a century later
during the reign of King Tudhaliyas III. The fortifications were soon rebuilt, and the city went through
various periods of building. The old city is that part which occupies the area between the Great
Temple and the Great Citadel known as Bogazkale.
More info attached.
Yazılıkaya Temple (Starts at 11:30, Ends at 12:45)
The reliefs found at the Hittite sanctuary of Yazilikaya are by far the most interesting sculptures to come
out of this civilization from both an artistic and a religious point of view. This rock shrine is in an
excellent natural setting where once a stream ran through the small valley. The sanctuary is a short
distance from the site of the capital,Hattusa, two kilometers to the northeast.
Most of the relief carvings at the sanctuary were done during the reign of King Tudhaliya IV who ruled
the empire from 1220 until the start of its decline in 1190 B.C. He was the last of the great Hittitekings
who attempted to strengthen Hittite control in Western Anatolia by warring with the local nobles. The
sanctuary was actually started during the reign of King Hattushili III, who ruled fromHattusa between
the years 1275 to 1250 B.C. Temple buildings that were built at the entrance to the open-air sanctuary
were done at three different periods. A mortuary temple found inside the small gallery was reserved for
royalty and was built by Tudhaliya.
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6. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
More info attached.
(Lunch Break – Free Time 12:45-14:00) Meeting point is entrance of museum
Alacahöyük (Starts at 14:00, Ends at 15:15)
Alacahöyük is located 45 kilometres south of Çorum and 17 kilometres northwest of the Alaca township.
The Alacahöyük village is 34 kilometres away from Boğazköy and 210 kilometres away from Ankara.
This tumulus, or mound, was first introduced to the world of science by W.C. Hamilton in 1835 and after
that time, it became a place frequently visited by scientists who came to Central Anatolia. In 1861, G.
Perrot stopped by this tumulus and discovered the plan of the square tower on the left and right of the
door as well as one of the orthostats. After this study, Perrot became the first to argue that these reliefs
belonged to the Hittite period.
Studies and excavations tell us that there were four layers of cultures that existed in Alacahöyük, which
was inhabited continuously since the Chalcolithic (copper) Age. These four layers are the Chalcolithic,
Old Bronze, Hittite and Phrygian ages, and each of them have 15 different architectural layers.
The Chalcolithic Age: 4000-3000 B.C., layers 15-9
Old Bronze Age: 3000-2000, layers 8-5
Hittite Age: 1800-1200, layers 4-2
Phrygian Age: Since 750 B.C. in the first layer .
More info attached.
Accommodation at Nevşehir Cappodocia - Argos in Cappadocia Hotel (Arrival to hotel at 19:30)
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7. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
CAPPADOCIA, Day 3
(7th of March Thursday)
(Departure From hotel at 09:30)
Derinkuyu Underground City (Starts at 10:15, Ends 11:00)
There are so many underground cities at Cappadocia area of Turkey. Noone can know how many
underground city there are. The biggest and deepest is Derinkuyu Underground City. There are eight
floors and extend at a depth of approximately 85 m.
The underground city at Derinkuyu has all the usual amenities found in other underground complexes
across Cappadocia, such as wine and oil presses, stables, cellars, storage rooms, refectories, and
chapels. Unique to the Derinkuyu undergorund city complex and located on the second floor is a
spacious room with a barrel vaulted ceiling. It has been reported that this room was used as a religious
school and the rooms to the left were studies. Between the third and fourth levels is a vertical staircase.
This passage way leads to a cruciform church on the lowest level.
More info attached
Photo break at Narlı Göl (Lake) (15 min.)
More info attached
Ihlara Valley (Starts at 11:45, Ends at 13:30)
Ihlara Valley, near Mount Hasan (one of the three volcanoes of Cappadocia) is a canyon with a depth of
approximately 100m and was formed by the Melendiz River thousands of years ago. It begins at Ihlara
village and ends at the village of Selime after making 26 bends along 14 kilometers.It is believed that the
valley housed more than four thousand dwellings and a hundred churches. It is estimated that around
eighty thousand people once lived here. It is very pleasant to walk through the Ihlara valley by the
vineyards, poplars and pistachio trees to the soothing sound if the rushing water and surrounded by a
rich wildlife of lizards, frogs, butterflies, birds and sometimes eagles and other mammals like lambs and
sheep.
In the middle of the Ihlara valley in Belisırma village there are good restaurants to be found.
The churches in the Valley can be divided into two groups: the Ihlara group, including the Ağaçaltı,
Pürenli Seki, Kokar, Eğritaş and Yılanlı churches that reflect Oriental influences, and the Belisırma group,
comprising Sümbüllü Church and others with Byzantine characteristics.
More info attached
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8. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
(Lunch break 13:30-14:30, meeting at “belisırma” Restaurant)
Selime Monastery (Starts at 14:40, Ends at 15:15)
Selime Monastery is an astonishing rock cut structure incorporating a vast kitchen and soaring chimney,
a church with a gallery all around it, stables with feeding troughs and other evidence of the troglodyte
lifestyle.
More info attached
Agzikarahan Ceravansarai (Starts at 15:45, Ends at 16:30)
Agzikarahan is located 15 km along Aksaray to Nevsehir highway in Cappadocia, it is mentioned as the
Hoca mesud han in the Ottoman sources. Building was started in 1231 under Alaattin Keykubat and was
completed under Giyaseddin Keyhusrev in 1239. It consist of a bath house (hamam), soup kitchen and
summer and winter residences. The entrance has all features of stonework and decoration peculiar to
the Seljuks.
More info attached
(Reaching to hotel at 17:15)
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9. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
CAPPADOCIA, DAY 4
(8th of March Friday)
(Pick up from hotel at 09:30)
Dervent Valley ( Starts at 09:45 - Ends at 10:10)
This is a place to let your mind run free in a seemingly lunar landscape with rock formations that look
like animals.
The Devrent Valley, also known as Imagination Valley, has none of the cave churches, Byzantine frescoes
or Roman citadel ruins that are famous throughout the rest of Cappadocia; but what it does have is an
extraordinary landscape shaped by nature to make you laugh and wonder and explore.
Only a 10 minute drive from Göreme, between Avanos and Ürgüp, the valley is like a rock-formed zoo.
Walk the trail and you’ll see a landscape filled with snakes, camels, seals and dolphins and whatever else
your mind chooses to make of the twisting curving rocks. Maybe even a dragon. There are also small
fairy chimneys, the rock pillars so distinctive of Cappadocia.
More info attached
Paşabağ (Monks Valley) (Starts at 10:15 – Ends at 10:40)
Pasabag in Cappadocia is located on the road to Zelve, coming from Goreme or Avanos. Highly
remarkable earth pillars can be seen here, in the middle of a vineyard, hence the name of the place
which means: the Pacha's vineyard. Pacha means "General", the military rank, in Turkish and it is a very
common nick name. This site is also called Monks Valley. The name was derived from some cones carved
in tuff stones which stand apart. Currently, there is a vineyard and a number of tuff cones standing right
next to the road.
More info attached.
Avanos (Starts at 11:00 – Ends at 12:00)
Avanos taking place at 18 km in the north of center of Nevsehir has been settled on the coast of the
Kizilirmak River. Its name from antique periods is Venessa. The most important feature of the region is
the manufacture of clay jugs, biscuits, and jars. The jar makers continuing since the period of the Hittites
are still continuing their traditions. At the archeological diggings made in the Zank Mound near the town
Sarilar of Avanos there has been discovered the ruins belonging to the different culturs from the Old
Bronze Age and until to Late Roman Period. Sarihan which is 5 km far away from Avanos is one of the
most beautiful examples of the classical Seljuk architecture.
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10. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
More info attached.
(Lunch break and free time between 12:00-14:00) Meeting is infront of the “Restaurant dayının yeri”
Göreme Open Air Museum (Starts at 14:15 – Ends at 16:45)
The Goreme Open-Air Museum resembles a vast monastic complex composed of scores of refectory
monasteries placed side-by-side, each with its own fantastic church. It is obviously the first sight to be
visited by any traveler in Cappadocia, standing as it does in the very center of the region with easy
access from all directions. It is only 15 minutes walk (1.5km, 1 mile) from Goreme village center. It
contains the finest of the rock-cut churches, with beautiful frescoes (wall paintings) whose colors still
retain all their original freshness. It also presents unique examples of rock hewn architecture and fresco
technique. The Goreme Open Air Museum has been a member of UNESCO World Heritage List since
1984, and was one of the first two UNESCO sites in Turkey
More info attached.
UçHisar Castle (Starts at 17:00 – Ends at 16:30 )
Uchisar is situated at the highest point in Cappadocia, on the Nevsehir-Goreme road, just 5 km from
Goreme. The top of the Uchisar Castle, provides a magnificent panorama of the surrounding area with
Mount Erciyes in the distance.
Many rooms hollowed out into the rock are connected to each other with stairs, tunnels and passages.
At the entrances of the rooms, there are millstone doors, just like the ones in the underground
settlements, used to control access to these places. Due to the erosion in places of this multi-leveled
castle, it is unfortunately not possible to reach all the rooms. Most of the rooms, located on the north
side of the castle are in use as pigeon houses (dovecuts) today. Farmers used these cave pigeon houses
to collect the droppings of pigeons which is an excellent natural fertilizer for the orchards and vineyards.
More info attached.
Arriving to hotel at 16:35
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11. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
CAPPADOCIA, DAY 5
(9th of March Saturday)
Leaving to Hotel for Baloon Tour at 05:15, Back to hotel at 08:45
The Standard Balloon Tour offers a minimum one-hour flight time in the air. You will be collected from
your hotel early in the morning, usually before sunrise and driven to the take-off site.While you are
having a light breakfast, you will watch the inflation of the balloon then get a passenger briefing which
explains basic rules & safety measures for the balloon flight.
Then it’s time to climb into the basket and highlight of your Turkey trip begins! The take off is gentle –
soon you’ll be taking hundreds of picturesover the valleys of Cappadocia. After the flight lands, there is a
small celebration with champagne and you will receive your flight certificate.
More info attached.
Free time between 08:50 to 15:50
Horse Riding (Leaving the hotel at 16:00, Back to the hotel at 18:30)
Cappadocia, known as the “Land of Beautiful Horses” is the ideal place to explore on horseback. Horses
have held a distinctive place in Cappadocia history for thousands of years and the unique landscapes
around Goreme are perfect for exploring on a native Anatolian or Arabic horse – with a real Turkish
cowboy!
Well away from the crowds, explore the fascinating valleys and breathtaking vistas around Goreme
during a 2 hours trail ride. We also offer all-day trail rides and multiple-day excursions on horseback.
More info attached.
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12. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
KAYSERİ, DAY 6
(10th of March Sunday)
(Leaving the hotel “Argos in Cappadocia” at 07:00 – Arriving to Kayseri at 08:20)
(Arriving to “Hilton Hotel” at 08:30, leaving the hotel at 09:30)
Mount Erciyes (Starts at 10:45 – Ends at 12:45)
Mount Erciyes (3917 meters) is one of the most fascinating volcanic mountains of the world. It is located
in Central Anatolia and ranks as the fifth highest summit in Turkey. Will be there for siing and enjoying
the amazing view of the Mount Erciyes and taste Delicious foods for Lunch.
With the new Regulations nowadays Mount Erciyes has became the skiing centre of the middle Anatolia
with its recreation areas, hotels, facilities and 160 km skiing path.
More info attached.
(Lunch break at Mount Erciyes Facility and Recreation area 12:45-13:45)
Hunat Mosque (Starts at 14:30 – Ends at 15:00)
Hunat Mosque was built not just as a Mosque but as a Complex and as a Madrasa in 1238 by “Mahperi
H
Hunat Hatun” wife of the great Sultan of the Anatolian Seljuks Alaaddin Keykubad. Hunat Mosque is the
biggest mosque that survived from past history to present day from Anatolian Seljuks.
The Mihrab and the Minbars are really important and has amazing historical value behalf of world
history and heritage.
More info attached
Kayseri Castle and Kapalı Çarşı (Starts at 15:15 – Ends at 17:15)
The walls flank what was once Kayseri Castle and is now the site of a sprawling bazaar selling cheap
clothes and electronic goods. This is now slated to be turned into an open-air museum.
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13. İsak UZUN, Tourism Traffic Services, Faculty of Tourism and Recreation - AWF Erasmus I. Semester, Anatolian Culture Tour.
More interesting is the Kapalı Çarşı (Covered Bazaar), slightly to the west. Like its İstanbul counterpart,
this is a multi-layered bazaar, its more atmospherically ancient sections tucked deep inside and selling
the kind of goods – smelly sheepskins and huge sacks of cotton - that can’t have changed much over the
centuries.
More info attached.
(Back to Hotel at 17:30)
KAYSERİ, DAY 7
(11th of March Monday)
Leaving the hotel at 10:45
Traditional Kayseri house visit and Traditional Cuisine (Starts at 11:00, Ends at 13:30)
At this day we will visit a Traditional Anatolian house which is used as a museum and nice panorama and
then we will be going to “Restaurant Beştepeler” to have lunch and taste amazingly tasty Anatolian
Turkish Cuisine.
More info attached.
Shopping (Starts at 13:45 – Ends at 17:40)
After lunch We will go for shopping to famous and huge shopping centres.
Back to the hotel at 18:00
Leaving the hotel at 20:30, Arriving to Erkilet Airport at 21:00 for Istanbul Flight which is at 22:00
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