Day 4: After breakfast, we drive today to Ani, via Kars. Ani dates back as far as the 5th c AD; and beginning from 806, it serves as the capitol of Armenia. Then we drive to Sarikamis, once a favourit eretreat of the Tsars of Russia, to spend the night. Overnight: Sarikamis.

Day 5: Today we head on to further South to Van, via Dogubeyazit where we visit the legendary Ishakpasha Palace. Then we drive further, visiting the Muradiye Waterfalls and Noah s Arc, we arrive at Van. Overnight: Van.

Day 6: After a leisurely breakfast, we visit the Fortress of Van, and the museum. After lunch at a local restaurant, we head on to Hoþap and then to Cavustepe. Overnight: Van.

Day 7: Taking an early departure, we first visit Ahtamar Church, then drive further West to Diyarbakir, via the 12th c Malabadi Bridge. Overnight: Diyarbakir.

Day 8: We leave Diyarbakir, and drive South to Mardin, via the Tigris Bridge. On the outskirts of Mardin, we visit the still practicing Monastery of Mar Gabriel. As we drive back, we stop for lunch at Mardin, then drive further to Urfa to spend the night. Overnight: Urfa.

Day 9: Genesis refers to Harran as Terha taking Abraham his son, and his wife Lot to there. It is difficult to believe that this small settlement on the edge of the desert, was once a major economic, religious and cultural centre. Harran means crossroads and has been occupied since at least 2000 BC. The next place we visit is the pool and the birthplace of Abraham. Overnight: Urfa.

Day 10: We leave Urfa for Kahta following a spectacular road, having lunch at Adiyaman. We stop for a refreshment on the skirts of Mt Nemrut before we go for our 500 mts hike to the sanctuary. This is the magnificent funerary monument of the Commagene Antiochus I Theos. Overnight: Adiyaman.

Day 11: A long but pleasant drive today, to Cappadocia, the land of the fairies. Overnight: Cappadocia.

Day 12: Our day begins with a short drive to Devrent Valley, where your guide introduces you to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. Driving between the strange rock formations another 5 minutes, we arrive in Zelve Open Air Museum, and visit the Iconoclast churches, a mill, and a house. After a photo stop in Pasabag Fairy Chimneys valley, we head on to Avanos, the ancient Venessa for lunch at a local restaurant. We are now heading on to Goreme. Goreme is probably the climax of our day, with its churches, as old as Christianity, its colorful frescoes, and its interesting landscape. We end our day on top of the Uchisar Castle. The biggest fairy chimney in Cappadocia, which enables us to see Cappadocia from one end to the other Overnight: Cappadocia.

Day 13: Today we drive a little further to the outskirts of Cappadocia, first to descend to the centre of the earth at Kaymakli Underground City. As we drive further SouthWest, we pass through the Mt Hasan, and then we start hiking at Ihlara Valley. After a while we arrive at Belisýrma Village where we can have our lunch in a local restaurant, in the middle of the valley, nearby a little stream. Then we can hike further or we can drive back to our resort, giving an en route visit to Agzikarahan Caravanserai, where the medieval merchants used to stay overnight. Overnight: Cappadocia.

Day 14: Leaving the land of fairies, we drive following the Salt Lake to the capitol of Turkey: Ankara. First we drive to the old district of the city to visit the Anatolian Civilisations Museum. Lunch will be served at the heart of the modern city, then we visit Ataturk s Mausoleum, which is where, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic is buried. We spend the rest of the day at leisure; we may stroll the streets of Ankara. Farewell dinner will be at an old mansion at the Ankara Citadel. Overnight in Ankara.

Day 15: Transfer to the airport for the homebound flight.