ATHOS on the Black Sea coast - 01/ 8 days - MeinReiseleiter.de

ATHOS on the Black Sea coast - 01/ 8-day trip:.

Sümela Monastery, Maçka, Trabzon, Turkey

General:.

With the trip "ATHOS on the Black Sea coast" you experience Turkey from a different side. As the roots of this travel company come from precisely this region, it is particularly important to us to give you an unforgettable experience through insider tips. Anyone who knows Turkey and has come to love it will experience further highlights on this trip and understand why Turkey is worth many more journeys!

Day 1: Scheduled flight from your home airport ( via Istanbul ) - Trabzon. Hoş geldiniz!

Welcome at the airport by your qualified, knowledgeable and local tour guide from "PASSION" Reisen /Turkey.
Transfer to the hotel in the Trabzon area.
Over a welcome cocktail your tour guide gives you an overview of the details of the itinerary.
We wish you God's blessing for the entire course of your journey!

Dinner and overnight stay in/ near Trabzon.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Day 2: Sumela Monastery - Hagia Sophia - Atatürk Museum - Orta Hisar Camii

In the morning we wind our way through the valley to Maçka to Sumela Monastery (Turkish: Sümela Manastırı, Greek: Παναγία Σουμελά, English: Mother of God of Sumela).

The monastery complex is one of the most important of the Greek Orthodox Church and was built as early as the 5th century. Only in 1916 was the monastery abandoned by the monks as Russian troops advanced. We will visit the monastery complex, still well preserved or restored today, and admire its well-preserved frescoes.

Sümela Monastery, Maçka, Trabzon, Turkey

Even from afar we see the Ishak Paşa Palace, which we will visit first. It sits enthroned like an eagle's nest high up on a mountain.
Not far from the Ishak Paşa Palace, the 5,167-metre-high Ağrı Dağ (Mount Ararat) stretches out before us.
We continue to Kars - our destination for the day (Armenian Ղարս = Ghars or Կարս, Azerbaijani Qars).

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Kars.

Day's distance approx. 100 km

Hagia Sophia, Trabzon

Day 3: Trabzon - Erzurum; Çifte Minare Medrese - Ulu Camii - Hatuniye Türbe

Early in the morning we drive towards Erzurum.

We pass through Gümüşhane (Greek Αργυρούπολης. αργύρος argyros "silver" + πολης (polis) city), Bayburt (Armenian Բաբերդ, Բաբերձ, Բայբերդ, Papert, Baberc, Baybert) and cross many a very high pass along the way.

Çifte Minare Medrese, Erzurum, Turkey

Erzurum (Azzi, Erzen, Arze, Erzenu'r Rûm) was the first capital of the Seljuks, where we will visit the Çifte Minare Medrese from the 13th century, the Ulu Camii (Great Mosque) from the 12th century and the Hatuniye Türbesi (Hatuniye Mausoleum).

Dinner and overnight stay in Erzurum.

Day's distance approx. 260 km

Hatuniye Türbesi (Hatuniye Mausoleum)

Day 4: Erzurum - Doğubeyazıt - Ishak Paşa Palace - Ağrı Dağ (Ararat) - Kars (Ani)

Today we drive to Doğubayazıt ( Armenian Դարոյնք, Դարենից, or Պակովան, transliteration: Daroynk‘, Darenic‘ or Pakovan), always along the Armenian border, and perhaps we can even catch a glimpse of the capital of Armenia – Yerevan.

The Ishak Pasha Palace, Turkish İshak Paşa Sarayı, is a castle-like palace built in 1685-1784[1] by the Ottoman emir of Doğubeyazıt Çolak Abdi Paşa and his son İshak Paşa II.

Even from afar we see the Ishak Paşa Palace, which we will visit first. It sits enthroned like an eagle's nest high up on a mountain.
Not far from the Ishak Paşa Palace, the 5,167-metre-high Ağrı Dağ (Mount Ararat) stretches out before us.
We continue to Kars - our destination for the day (Armenian Ղարս = Ghars or Կարս, Azerbaijani Qars).
Day's distance approx. 469 km
Dinner and overnight stay in/near Kars.

Day's distance approx. 469 km

Ararat, Turkish Büyük Ağrı Dağı, also traditionally Persian كوه نوح, DMG Kūh-e Nūḥ, 'Mountain of Noah'), is a dormant volcano in the Armenian Highlands in Eastern Anatolia. At 5,137 m above sea level it is the highest mountain on Turkish territory.

Day 5: Kars - Yusufeli - Artvin - Ishan Church - Özkvank Church

Early in the morning we head to Ani (Armenian Անի), the old capital of the Armenians.
The partly ruined churches of Ani house very impressive frescoes.

The Cathedral of Ani

We then drive towards Hopa, where we make a detour to Yusufeli. This area is also called the Georgian Athos, referring to the large number of churches that have survived to this day. Near Yusufeli/ Artvin we hike to the Ishan Church (İşhan Manastırı) and the Özkvank Church.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Artvin.

Day's distance approx. 300 km

Ishan Church (İşhan Manastırı), Yusufeli, Artvin, Turkey

Day 6: Artvin - Rize (swimming) - Fırtına Valley (Vadisi) - Çamlıhemşin - Zilkale Castle

Today you have a very restful day.
You can go swimming until midday. Afterwards we drive along the coastal road inland, through a natural wonder – the Fırtına Valley – and arrive in the village of Çamlıhemşin. The highlight of this day is Zilkale Castle.
Finally, we drive to Rize.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Rize.

Day's distance approx. 200 km

Zilkale is a medieval castle in the Fırtına Valley (literally: "Stormy Valley")

Day 7: Rize - Trabzon - tea plantations and tea factory

Today we visit the tea plantation and tea factory of Rize (Ancient Greek Ριζαίον/ Rizeon, Greek Ριζούντα/ Rizunda, Laz რიზინი/ Rizini).
Your tour guide will give you the opportunity to pick tea yourself.

Tea plantation

Another highlight is the visit to the botanical garden in Rize and the view from the fortress. Finally, we drive to Trabzon.

Dinner and overnight stay in/near Trabzon.

Day's distance approx.1 80 km

Rize: the town called Rhizous (Greek Ῥιζοῦς, Latin Rhizus, German Rhizäum) belonged to the ancient region of Colchis.

Day 8: Today it is time to say goodbye... Güle güle!

Transfer to the airport.
Flight from Trabzon to Germany (stopover in Istanbul) - home airport.

Day's distance approx. 15 km

Programme changes:

Force majeure may lead to slight changes to the programme.

• Please note that the actual course of the itinerary may change slightly due to differing opening hours (winter and summer, state visits etc.) of individual sights.
• Changes to the itinerary without any reduction in services are reserved.

Would you like a beach extension? Gladly!

If you wish, you can book a beach and relaxation extension anywhere in the Antalya region.

For example: the Aydın and Izmir area; Kuşadası, Çeşme, Seferihisar, Gümüldür, Foça, Pamucak, Didim, Ayvalık, Sarımsaklı, Bodrum, Marmaris, Sarıgerme, Davutlar etc. and much more.

We will organise the transfers there and back for you.

Kaputaş Beach, Turkey

Services included:

✦ No shopping stops: our promise

Visits to carpet, jewellery or leather businesses are expressly not part of this trip. Your time belongs to the biblical and historical sites and the content of your study tour, not to the sales rooms.

Only at the express request of the group or individual travellers do we organise such a visit separately and outside the programme. The shuttle or taxi is then paid for by the shop concerned.

Our advice: be careful with conspicuously cheap travel offers. They are often subsidised by commissions from sales visits – with compulsory shopping stops, sales pressure and often inflated prices. Never buy under time pressure, compare prices and ask for a receipt and a certificate of authenticity.

• Outbound flight: scheduled flight, home airport - with stopover in Istanbul - Trabzon.
• Return flight: scheduled flight, Trabzon - with stopover in Istanbul - home airport
• Travel insurance (insolvency certificate) in accordance with § 651 k BGB (German Civil Code).
• All airport and security fees (subject to changes in kerosene prices)
• Free baggage allowance 30 kg & 1 piece of hand luggage max. 8 kg (please note the safety instructions
• Welcome cocktail: (non-alcoholic)
• Admission fees: ALL as per programme (no hidden extra costs!)
• Parking fees, tolls etc...
• All transfers, excursions and tours in Turkey in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach of local standard as per programme.
• 7 overnight stays in 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels: shower/bath/WC. (local category)
• 7 x open buffet breakfast & dinner (continental is sometimes also served).
• Vegetarians, vegans and people with allergies have a wide choice at the buffet!
• Tour guide: a knowledgeable (state-licensed), committed and motivated local tour guide throughout the entire tour.
• Minimum number of participants: this offer is private. You decide how many people take part in your trip.

Services not included:

• Personal expenses
• Tips: tour guide, driver, porter, waiters etc.

Bookable locally:

• Full board: locally you can upgrade to full board; 6 x lunch for a surcharge of €60 per person.
• With the large selection, vegetarians have no problems with their diet
• Travel cancellation insurance from as little as €17: >>> book travel protection online

Book the trip:

ATHOS on the Black Sea coast - 01/ 8 days