Eastern Turkey & Georgia: Legacy of Empire
The rugged sunburnt Anatolian Plateau of Eastern Turkey and the
steep-sided green valleys of Georgia are brilliantly paired on this
unusual back-road exploration. Begin among the folded hills of out-ofthe-
way Anatolia, rich with the traces of early civilizations, and continue
along the balmy Black Sea Coast to the unfamiliar little country of Georgia,
where guests are welcomed at tables laden with some of the finest food and
wine on earth.
Days 1-3: Gazientep, Mt. Nemrut, Diyarbakir
Arriving in southeast
Turkey, admire the intricate Roman mosaics in Gazientep, rescued shortly before
they were flooded by a new dam on the Euphrates. Make an early morning pilgrimage
to Mt. Nemrut to see the beautifully carved stone heads in the luminous glow of
sunrise. Inspect the medieval black basalt walls of Diyarbakir and visit its flourishing
Kurdish quarter.
Days 4-7: Van, Kars
Explore Van, capital of the ancient Urartu Empire, crossing
blue-green Lake Van to Akhtamar Island to admire the spectacular carvings on its
10th century Armenian Church. Stop in Dogubayazit, a Kurdish town surrounded
by towering mountains. Admire the old Citadel of Kars, and visit the remains of the
medieval Armenian capital of Ani, at its zenith larger than any European city.
Days 8-10: Erzurum, Trabzon
Explore the Kurdish Ishak Pasha Palace, a tiny
gem set in the looming shadow of Mt. Ararat, before driving through the rugged
Pontic Mountains to Trabzon to visit the astonishing Greek Orthodox
Monastery of Sumela, clinging tightly to a steep forested cliff.
Days 11-15: Batumi, Mestia, Ushguli (Svaneti), Kutaisi
Skirt the
palm-lined Black Sea coast to the Georgian resort of Batumi. Venture up to the
mountainous Svaneti region, known for its UNESCO-listed medieval watchtowers.
Explore Ushguli, the highest continually inhabited village in Europe. Tour the commanding
UNESCO-listed Gelati Monastery near Kutaisi and visit a master potter in
his private workshop.
Days 16-20: Borjomi, Bakuriani, Vardzia, Gori, Tbilisi
Drive to alpine
Bakuriani and enjoy the beauty of Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park. Pay a visit to
the fascinating cave town of Vardzia and to somber Gori, Stalin's hometown. Savor
an authentic "Georgian Table" in the capital, sophisticated Tbilisi.
Trip Details
| Length of Trip: |
20 Days |
| Departures: |
1 |
| Dates: |
August 21-September 9, 2012 |
 |
| Land Tour Cost: |
|
| 4-16 travelers |
$6,895 |
| Single Supplement |
$1,195 |
| |
| No Hidden Costs! |
| |
|
MIR Signature Experiences
- Watch the rising sun illuminate the
monumental stone heads of Nemrut Dag
- Learn about Svaneti culture over a meal in
a private home
- Savor an authentic "Georgian Table,"
featuring an abundance of local specialties
Map
| |
| Days 1-2: |
Gazientep, drive to Khata |
|
| Day 3: |
Khata, Mt Nemrut, drive to Diyarbakir |
|
| Day 4: |
Diyarbakir, drive to Van |
|
| Days 5-6: |
Van, drive to Kars via Dogubeyazit |
|
| Days 7-8: |
Kars, drive to Erzurum |
|
| Days 9: |
Erzurum, drive to Trabzon |
| Day 10-11: |
Trabzon, drive to Batumi |
| Day 12: |
Batumi, drive to Mestia |
|
| |
|
|
|
| Days 13-14: |
Mestia with day trips to Ushguli |
|
| Day 15: |
Mestia, drive to Kutaisi |
|
| Day 16: |
Kutaisi, drive to Bakuriani via Borjomi |
|
Day 16: |
Bakuriani, day trip to Vardzia |
|
| Day 17: |
Bakuriani, drive to Tbilisi via Gori and Uplistikhe |
|
| Days 18-20: |
Tbilisi |
|
|
| Van |
Van Castle, Van Museum, Hosap Castle, boat ride on Lake Van to Akhtamar Island, 10th Century Church of the Holy Cross |
| Kars |
Views of Mt. Ararat, Ishak Pasa Palace, Kars Old Citadel, 10th Century Church
of the Apostles |
| Erzurum |
Seljuk and Mongol monuments, Cifte Minare Madrassah, Great Mosque, Eth-#
nographic Museum, Yakutiye Madrassah, Kop Pass |
| Trabzon |
Sumela Monastery, Aya Sofia Church, local market |
| Batumi |
Performance of Ajaran folk music |
| Kutaisi |
Imereti Region, Gelati Monastery (UNESCO World Heritage Site), mythical
site of Jason's quest for the Golden Fleece |
| Bakuriani |
Mt. Kokhta |
| Borjomi |
Mineral springs, Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park |
| Gori |
Birthplace of Joseph Stalin, Stalin House Museum |
| Uplistsikhe |
Cave town |
| Tbilisi |
Narikala Fortress and Mother Georgia Monument, Anchiskhati Basilica, Sioni Cathedral with the Cross of St. Nino, Metekhi Church of the Virgin,
Rustaveli Avenue and Old Town |
Suggested Extensions
Istanbul or add on a post-tour of either Baku or Yerevan. From there, connect to our Ancient Persia: Modern Iran tour. Contact us for details.
Some images on this page courtesy Yavuz Tugcu
|
