In order to gain a thorough comprehension of the ancient Silk Road, you should travel the whole length of this journey from Beijing to Istanbul. However, we have divided the trip into three sections, thereby allowing those with limited time an opportunity to experience a portion of this significant route .
SECTION-3
Day 35 Mary/Mashad After breakfast drive to the border check point at Serahs. Continue to Iran, driving to the Holy city of Mashad. This is the holiest city in Iran, containing the pilgrimage site of the Shrine of Imam Reza, who was martyred here in the 9 th century. B/L/D
Day 36 Mashad Today we have a full day to see the sights of Mashad, including the complex of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza, one of the most comprehensive and elegant architectural complexes in the Islamic world at the present time. We will also visit the old city of Toos and the tomb of greatest Persian epic poet Ferdousi. B/L/D
Day 37 Mashad/Bidokht Drive to city of Bidokht and visit the Mosque and Mausoleum of Saleh Ali Shah. B/L/D
Day 38 Bidokht/Tabas Drive to Tabas visiting a caravanserai en route. Tabas is a pretty oasis city between the Dasht-e Lut and Dasht-e Kavir deserts. Here you will visit the Bagh-e Golshan garden with its variety of tropical trees, pools and cascades, and the ruined 11th century citadel of Tabas. B/L/D
Day 39 Tabas/Yazd Drive to the city of Yazd, with its winding lanes, wind towers and mud-brick Old Town. This relaxed city, with Iran's largest Zoroastrian community, is famous for its bagdirs (or wind towers) sitting atop the roofs of the houses, circulating even the smallest breeze to cool the homes inside. B/L/D
Day 40 Yazd Today we will have a full day of sightseeing in Yazd. Visit the Zoroastrian fire temple (Ateshkadeh) – it is said that the eternal flame here has been burning since around AD 470. Take a tour of the old city, one of the oldest towns in the world according to UNESCO. Enjoy seeing the courtyards, ornate wooden doors, and pretty adobe architecture. Also visit the Jameh (Friday) Mosque dominating the old city with its beautiful turquoise- tiled domes. Later, take a short drive to see the Zoroastrian Towers of Silence. B/L/D
Day 41 Yazd/Isfahan Drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Isfahan, the most beautiful city in Iran. Isfahan is one of the finest cities in the Islamic world; a place for savouring the high refinements of Persian culture. En route, visit of the old city Naeen with its Jameh Mosque, ruined fire temple and caravanserai. Isfahan. B/L/D
Day 42 Isfahan Full day of sightseeing in this magnificent city with its bridges, palaces and mosques. B/L/D
Day 43 Isfahan/Tehran Drive to Tehran, the capital city of Iran. En route visit the cities of Ntanz, Kashan, and Qom. B/L/D
Day 44 Tehran Full day sightseeing in Tehran. B/L/D
Day 45 Tehran/Zanjan Leave Tehran and drive to the city of Zanjan, the capital of Zanjan province. En route visit city of Ghazvin with its mosque and palace, and continue on to visit the 3rd biggest Tomb of Soltanieh (a 14 century Moughal Tomb), before arriving in Zanjan. B/L/D
Day 46 Zanjan/Tabriz Today, drive from Zanjan to Tabriz. B/L/D
Day 47 Tabriz/Van We will have a short tour of the city visiting places such as the museum and mosque before driving to the Turkish border. Cross into Turkey, and drive on to Van. B/L/D
Day 48 Van/Diyarbakir The day begins with the tour of Van. Van was the Urartians capital. An imposing 9th century B.C. citadel overlooks the town. Visit the ancient Urartians site of Austere, Hosap Castle, and the famous Citadel of Van. Drive to Lake Van. This lake is the largest in Turkey and lies at an altitude of 1720 m. The first site en route is the Akdamar church, which is built on an island in the lake. We will take a small boat across the lake to see the church. After lunch in Akdamar, we will continue to the walled city of Diyarbakir. B/L/D
Day 49 Diyarbakir/Sanliurfa Today we visit the Ulu (Great) Mosque from the Seljuk period and possibly the third century Aramaic Church of the Virgin Mary. Drive to the city of Mardin, with its golden stone houses that blend into the hills. The houses are often decorated with intricate carvings. This is a very lively trading centre with people coming from surrounding villages to buy and sell. We will have a fantastic view of the Plain of Mesopotamia and visit the Syriac-Jacobite Monastery of Deyrulzaferan. Continue to Sanliurfa. B/L/D
Day 50 Sanliurfa/Harran/Sanliurfa Visit to Mevlid Halil Mosque and the Cave of Prophet Abraham, then the sacred fish pool. Drive to Harran - city of the prophet Abraham. See the fortress, Islamic school and curious beehive-shaped adobe houses. Return to Sanliurfa for your overnight stay. B/L/D
Day 51 Sanliurfa/Adiyaman Drive to Nemrut Mountain via Kahta, on the way visit the huge Ataturk Dam and the Cendere Bridge. Nemrut Mountain is a significant attraction, with thousands of people coming at sunrise and sunset to see the stones in the best possible light. Drive to Adiyaman. B/L/D
Day 52 Adiyaman/Cappadocia Drive to Cappadocia via Kahramanmaras. Visit the Coppersmith's Bazaar in Kahraman Maras and continue to Cappadocia. B/L/D
Day 53 Cappadocia Full day in Cappadocia. Visit to the enchanting "fairy chimneys" (conical and unusual rock formations) in Devrent Valley. We continue to the Goreme Open Air Museum, where we will see the finest examples of religious rescoes in rock-cut churches from the 10th to the 13th centuries. Enjoy Pasabag Valley, and then continue to Avanos, centre of terra cotta work. Afternoon visit Derin kuyu underground city. In the evening, we shall enjoy a whirling dervishes show. B/L/D Day 54 Cappadocia/Konya/Pamukkale This morning, you may take an optional hot air balloon tour. Drive to Pamukkale via Konya. On the way visit Obruk han (Lake Obruk). Continue on to Pamukkale B/L/D
Day 55 Pamukkale/Kusadasi Visit the ancient site of Hierapolis (nearby Pamukkale), and its calcium terraces. This is a magical and pectacular natural site, unique in the world; it is a fairyland of dazzling white, petrified castles. Thermal spring waters laden with calcareous salts running off the plateau's edge have created this fantastic formation of stalactites, cataracts and basins. Later, drive to Kusadasi. B/L/D
Day 56 Kusadasi Today we shall explore the ancient city of Ephesus. First we will visit the Temple of Artemis, and then drive to the Ephesus Ruins and visit the Theatre, Celsius Library, Agora, Odeon, Domitianus Temple, and Trajan Fountain. In the afternoon visit a traditional old Ottoman Village. Return to Kusadasi. B/L/D
Day 57 Kusadasi/Canakkale Drive to Canakkale via Pergamum (Bergama) and Troy (Truva). Visit the acropol at Pergamum, and after visiting Troy continue on to Canakkale. B/L/D
Day 58 Canakkale/Istanbul Today, we shall explore the Gallipoli peninsula on the way to Istanbul. The Gallipoli area is known for the war cemeteries and memorials dedicated to the Turkish and foreign soldiers killed during the Canakkale Sea and shore battles in 1915. There are sunken ships, trenches, castles, towers and hundreds of remains of the war. In total, there are graves and memorials of around 250,000 Turkish soldiers, and 250,000 from Australia, New Zealand, England and France. Thousands of people visit the war cemeteries every year, and it is one of the most famous sites in Turkey. Continue to Istanbul. B/L/D
Day 59 Istanbul In the morning visit the Blue Mosque, built in 1616 unequalled for its mosaics, and the Haghia Sophia dedicated in 536 AD during the reign of Justinian, we will also visit Topkapi Palace, which was built by Mehmed the Conqueror. In the afternoon tour the Grand Covered Bazaar. This evening we shall have a memorable dinner on a boat in the bosphorous. B/L/D
Day 60 Istanbul End of this fantastic tour experience.
This tou has 3 sections.You can join to whole 60 days program or choose a section.
