Turkey's Sacred Lands & Ancient Civilizations (2012)

The fascinating thing about our OAT trip through Eastern Turkey was its tremendous "discovery" aspect-finding every day a new and surprising city, or historic ruin, or Biblical site. The climate was incredibly varied: we hiked through snowdrifts and under palm trees. On one memorable day of driving, we passed through snow-covered mountains to bare mountains, to treed mountains, to forests, and finally to palm trees (in Trabzon, on the Black Sea)! We were at the guarded border of Armenia and-at one point-were 12 mile from Syria.

Highlights for us were the ancient walled "ghost city" of Ani; our fine home-hosted dinner and school visit in the tiny village of Bogazkoy; our climb (with hard-hats!) to a 4th-century monastery clinging to a cliff in Sumela; and our very pleasant hike along a 1st-century Roman tunnel-and-aqueduct near Antakya. And, had we not signed onto this tour, we'd never have discovered spectacular art museums in Erzerum and Gazientep, nor the hospitality of the family whose cozy "fairy-chimney" interior brought us in and up close to the wonders of Cappadocia.

The tour was generous both in scope and time (20 days) and we were, frankly, tired at the end of it. It could be effectively shortened (and improved) by cutting out the flight to and long ride back from Ankara (its Hittite museum not on a par with other museums we visited).

Traveler: Gerald Smolinsky from Austin, TX traveled on March 27, 2012

It was a great trip and especially for anyone interested in History or Archaeology and Anthropology. The amount of history and pre-history is amazing. Okan was a tantastic trip leader and did a marvelous job. I strongly recommend this trip.

Traveler: Robert Dean from Tustin, CA traveled on March 29, 2012

One of the most wonderful aspects of our trip was our guide, Nurdan Onat. This was OAT's first trip to this region, so on some days she was flying by the seat of her pants as she worked on the itinerary or figured out where to take us for lunch; she had way more challenges than the average tour guide. She was bright, funny, and very flexible (want to visit the place where the Van cats are bred, even though that wasn't in the plan? -- no problem!). I also appreciated having a woman guide in a country where women are conspicuously absent from civil life, especially in these remote provinces, and learning from her perspective on women's role in Turkey today.
Another wonderful aspect of this trip is that the sites are seldom visited by tourists (Eastern Turkey having yet to be discovered by the hordes), so often we would have an exquisite place all to ourselves. Examples are Antiochus' summer palace site en route to Nemrut; Nemrut itself (in spite of its fame); the ancient city of Ani; even the breathtaking
Akdamar island and church, as well as pretty much all the (wonderful) museums. The only exception was the Goreme outdoor museum, a UNESCO heritage site, and we couldn't get out of there fast enough because of the severe crowding.
We traveled in April, and the weather was pretty much perfect. 'We followed OAT's clothing recommendations, which were spot-on, including being prepared for snow! (Mt. Nemrut)
This is likely to be the most unusual trip you have taken. Enjoy!

Traveler: Jane Epstein from Stow, MA traveled on April 12, 2011

This was a fabulous trip in every respect. I was surprised at the high quality and interesting variety of hotels. I especially loved the hotel in Trabazon with the multi-storied interior courtyard and the hotel in Antioch that was a former olive oil-soap factory.

The food experiences were exceptional and if a town was known for a particular specialty, our guide made sure we would taste it. This included a restaurant where they specialized in goose meat, a place where vats of rice pudding were made, the best place for baklava, and numerous other variations in Turkish food.

Our guide, Volkan, was the best I've ever had in my whole life of travel. He constantly added personal touches and extra cultural experiences that personalized this trip. He was there to answer every question we had and he talked to us about all aspects of Turkey so we understood the history of the country and their challenges. We learned about the education, social aspects, religion, politics and so much more.

This was only my second OAT trip. I felt that there was flexibility in what composed each day. If an interesting opportunity came up, such as us passing sheepherders on the road or someone selling 40-lb cabbages, Volkan offered to stop so we hear what life is like for that person.

The Sumela Monastery hanging on a cliff, the hike to see the Mt. Nemrut heads, the new Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, the boat trip to Aktamar Island, the lunch in a Kurdish village near the city of Kars were some of the highlights. Be sure to take the optional hot air balloon ride in Cappadokia.

The weather in October was variable. A warm thick pullover to slip on under my regular clothes, plus tights to wear under long pants and a fleece band to wear over my ears all made the cold days tolerable, especially on the hiking days.

If you are thinking of buying a Turkish rug, I suggest you measure the floor area of your home so you will know what size to buy.

When you are in Adana, be sure to buy the spice mixture that makes their kebobs famous because you won't find that exact mixture anywhere else. On the same block of the hotel in Adana, be sure to visit the small, but interesting cinema museum that features all the actors and directors that come from Adana.

Our guide took us to the memorialmausoleum for the founder of Turkey, Ataturk, when we flew into the capital of Ankara. This is a must, although it's not officially on the itinerary for this trip. It is so much more than you would think. I think of it as several of the Washington, D.C. Memorials all combined and you need quite a bit of time there to see all the different parts.

You may contact me with any specific questions. mayer01@pacbell.net

Traveler: Marsha Mayer from Millbrae, CA traveled on October 11, 2011

If you decide to take this trip, prepare yourself for an interesting and varied experience. I enjoyed it from the first day in Istanbul where we saw the 1500 year old Hagia Sophia all the way to Tarsus, the birthplace of St. Paul. Of course, a good trip becomes a special trip if there is also an excellent guide like Aykut Uzun to bring the historical and cultural information to life with knowledge, enthusiasm, and sensitivity - you would be very fortunate to travel with him.

There are many good descriptions of the places you would be visiting, so I will just mention a couple of my favorites.

With its strangely beautiful rock formations, Cappadocia has often been called "surreal," and that is exactly what it is. On one of our late afternoon hikes we had the trail almost to ourselves as the sun began to set over the valley, reinforcing this impression. The houses, churches with frescos, and underground cities, all built in to rock, were fascinating.

Gaziantep is a lovely town. Our hotel was an old stone house renovated to preserve its character. There was also a charming courtyard especially good for enjoying a glass of wine with friends in the evening, We were only minutes away from the markets in Old Town and, what luck, right next door to a restaurant-bakery where some of the world's best pistachio baklava (it really is!) was made fresh every morning. Not to be missed is the Gaziantep Mosaic Museum featuring 1st and 2nd century Roman mosaics. In it you will find the fabled Gypsy Girl mosaic who I think just might be the Mona Lisa of Turkey.

Eastern Turkey also has alot to offer those of you who enjoy being outdoors and hiking. Many of the sites, like Karatepe, the 8th century B.C. Hittite City near Adana, could be classified as "open air museums." In other words, they are outside. All the people in my group were able to do most of the hikes, but keep in mind that if you try to increase your fitness level before you come you will definitely enhance your enjoyment.

I would also highly recommend the post-trip Turquoise Coast gulet cruise. When we were not doing such things as exploring the Greek "ghost town" in Karakoy or river cruising on the Daylan River, we could swim in the Mediterranean, take a nature hike, or simply relax on board surrounded by the beauty of the coast. After the cruise comes Ephesus, which is indescribable.

I would like to close with a few comments about practical matters:

Unlike other OAT trips, hotels do not exchange money, at least not in significant amounts. Money exchanges are not always nearby and or a little difficult to find, but I'm sure your trip leader will help you (ours did). ATMs are almost everywhere. I used dollars only for tipping.

It is incredibly easy to get your Turkish visa for $20 when you arrive at the airport in Instanbul. The visa purchase area is clearly marked, there are no long lines, and no forms to fill out - just show your passport and give them your money.

If you are planning to wash some of your own clothes bring a vanity sink plug, as most hotels do not have them.

Bottled water is not supplied on this trip. My group pooled a small amount of money from each person whenever we changed buses to make an unlimited supply of water, which we kept on the bus, available to everyone. This was convenient and worked very well for us.

If you go, I hope your trip will be as enjoyable as mine was.

Traveler: Janet Omer from Chicago, IL traveled on September 30, 2011

What a spectacular trip! It was all I expected and more. We had the same wonderful guide,Mustafa Kemel, on the entire trip including the post trip on the Turquoise Coast. He was special beyond words. The highlight of my trip was the hot air balloon flight over Cappadocia. I felt like I could reach out and touch the fairy chimneys. I traveled with my family, but we also met some other wonderful people on the trip-Marge from Maine and Pauline from California. I would reccommend this trip to anyone interested in ancient civilizations.

Traveler: Carol Young from Farmington, ME traveled on October 07, 2011

I had high expectations for this trip and they were exceeded in every way. Our trip leader, Aykut, excelled in every way. If he discovered an interest or desire of a trip member he found a way to fulfill this interest. His knowledge and understanding of the culture was presented to us a method that was both interesting and memorable. I would recommend this trip to anyone who wants to experience a new culture with old history attached. Eleanor Siebert

Traveler: Eleanor Siebert from Richland Center, WI traveled on September 30, 2011

Fascinating area with Civilizations I was unaware of and some spectacular sites. The one negative which couldn't be helped were the long bus rides between locals. We, personally could have done without Antakya and Tarsus. It was as vigorous as described. Our guide was fabulous and the accommodations and food were excellent. Mt.Nemrod was fascinating, a tough climb but worth it, Should had stayed closer than Gaziantep by skipping Antakya. Cappadocia is spectacular. Trip well worth while but would skip Antakya and Tarsus.

Traveler: Donald Kaufman from Haslett, MI traveled on September 13, 2011

This itinerary exceeded our expectations and we were happy to have our guide, Selahattin, broaden our knowledge of the history and culture of Turkey.

We found the prepared materials about the trip to be right on target with regard to what to expect, what we would see and do, and what to pack.

Selahattin played DVDs of the various sights, people, and the history before we experienced them. That really set the context and helped us maximize our stops along the way.

He also provided many Learning & Discovery moments from Turkish ice cream to Van cats that made each day an adventure.

We would highly recommend the hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia as a trip highlight. The pre-trip to Istanbul gave us time to rest up and also do quite a bit of exploring on our own including going to a Whirling Dervish Ceremony.

Anyone with walking issues should seriously think about whether this trip is right for them. It is a very active itinerary and the climbing was challenging for most of our group. Donkeys were for hire for the climb on Mt. Ararat and several in our group took advantage of having them help with the ascent.

Traveler: Patricia Carberry from Plano, TX traveled on September 20, 2011

This was a marvelous trip! We started in Istanbul, which we had visited in a prior OAT trip, and it was great! The Grand Bazaar was wonderful. The eastern part of Turkey was really quite something. Not many western tourists go to this part of Turkey so in many cases the OAT group was by ourselves. Visiting Van and Kars was just amazing, seeing the ancient Armenian City Ani on the border of Armenian was simply spectacular. We had most of the site to ourselves so we could explore the ruins at our leisure. Visiting Mt Nemrut was breathtaking. We had seen pictures of the "heads " at the site but did not fully appreicate that the site was on top of a mountain with spectacular views of the surrounding area, including the Euphrates River. Truly, a trip on the road less traveled! To top it off, our guide Ayberk, was one of the best we had in our 8 OAT trips!

Traveler: Gary Spinks from De Witt, MI traveled on September 20, 2011

I have been waiting for a trip like the above for a long time and it came I signed up right away. This is trip is unique for the unusual cities and locations that show the variety and richness of Turkey's cultures, It was extremely fascinating. Of course Istanbul is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city but Trebizon, Guzientiep and other cities we visited are very different and they offer such rich cultures abd old civilizations. I did not expect to have so much physical activities but I managed to do most of them. I found out one should have several hiking shoes because it is very important not to be hindered by painful feet. I recommend this trip highly and I am telling many of my friends about it.

Traveler: Violette Yacoubian from Bethesda, MD traveled on September 02, 2011

Take a look at Pacha's "Eastern Turkey" trip. That is what this should have been, particularly including Gobekliteppe and Urafa and Harran. And we also skipped a number of places on our trip, such as the waterfall near Ankara and the Armenian village near Antakya. Overall, too much free time and a number of disappointments. The climb to Mount Numrut we a highlight. The monastery was good, but not a great as it sounds in the brochure. The food was very varied and excellent, the best of any trip we've ever taken with any group.

Traveler: Frank Simon from West Palm Beach, FL traveled on August 30, 2011

Our guide, Aykut, ;and the varied ssites in Turkey, made this trip memorable! We did not realize before this trip that Turkey held the key to many ancient civiliztions, previously unknown to us! In addition, Turkey offers more Greek and Roman ruins than found in their own countries. And, we saw Crusader cadtles! Our greatest discovery was the impact of a democracy in a Muslim nation. It rekindled hope for the world. What a great leader (though flawed) was Ataturk, who forced Turkey into the 20th century!

Traveler: Cooper Blanton from La Quinta, CA traveled on August 19, 2011

What makes for a fantastic trip? A superb destination, an extraordinary guide, and wonderful traveling companions. And that is exactly what we experienced with this OAT travel experience.

The itinerary for this trip was excellent, taking us to less traveled but historic and beautiful regions of Turkey. We especially enjoyed our time climbing to the top of Mount Nemrut to see the colossal statues of the King Antiochus and the some of the gods of ancient Persia and Greece.

Our guide was the best we've had on any tour. He was knowledgeable, fun, flexible,
and attentive to the needs of all of the travelers.

Hotel accommodations were great, especially in Trabzon and in Gazientep. Many of the hotels were boutique hotels which were both comfortable and unique and most were in ideal locations for side trips during "rest time".

Our small group of 13 was well traveled and congenial.

The discovery trips which were not identified in our itinerary (Gemusler monastery, baklava factory, trip to the pasture area of Trabzon, [I could go on and on]) were some of the highlights of our stay.

OAT put together the best group travel trip we've ever been on and considering we have traveled to nearly 90 countries and all seven continents, that is definitely a compliment!

Traveler: Judy Dillon from Valley Springs, CA traveled on July 26, 2011

I had never been to Eastern Turkey. But I had lived in and near to Istanbul for three- plus years, 45 years ago. I had loved the Turkish people then, and wanted to see more of the country as it is now during these times of roiling change.

This trip was a mind-blower. Gorgeous, strange, sometimes quite physically challenging, intellectually enriching, and just long-enough to dig deep into the cultural nuance. And, foodies: summer in Turkey is a wonderful treat. Do not expect to lose weight.

I had too many clothes for the cities in the East. One skirttop or dress would do it. And the pace is brisk and the days long, so I, personally, had little interest in dressing-up, but in a shower and food at the end of a day. It was very hot, and dusty, so some were two-shower-days.

Our OAT guide was creative, thorough, funny, prepared, and flexible. I swear that sometimes it seemed that he pulled sights and events out of his ever-present busy smartphone. He also filled us in on a daily basis about what events were going on in the country, and in the discrete areas we were to visit.

Eastern Turkey has history and roots of civilizations that are very different from the USA. I felt that immersion in the culture and experiences were essential for me to really get a feel for the country as it is today. OAT advertised just what I was looking for, and I got it.

Traveler: Virginia Reiber from Roslindale, MA traveled on August 19, 2011

Visiting Eastern Turkey was fascinating. This trip explores a variety of regions, some certainly "off the beaten track", with a focus on history. For such travel to be informative and memorable requires a well prepared Trip Leader. While my wife and I have found most OAT leaders meet this standard our Trip Leader, Akin Aykurt
was outstanding. Not only did he have an extensive background in the history and archaeology of the sites we visited; he was most articulate, patient, caring and fun!. A wonderful travelling companion.

Traveler: Erwin Miller from Worcester, MA traveled on August 02, 2011