b'IN THE FOOTSTEPS OFScan hereEASTERN TURKEY Scan here ALEXANDER THE GREAT for the fullCRADLE OF CIVILISATIONfor the full itinerary itineraryARCHAEOLOGY, BATTLES AND SIEGES IN TURKEY 1726 May 2025 Historical Background11 days Eastern Turkey is a rugged area comprising a mountainous north and a Expert Historian: high arid plateau of 600m in elevation towards the south. There is evidence 716 September 2025 Historical Background Terry Richardsonof habitation here from earliest times and by the Neolithic period several settlements had developed, most famously Gbekli Tepe. This is considered 10 days After subduing the rebellious Greeks, Alexander embarked upon a campaignActivity Level: 2 one of the first examples of man-made monumental architecture and is Expert Historian: against the Persians that took him to the edges of India in search of theover 5,000 years older than Stonehenge. In time trade networks developed Dr Andy Fear end of the world. In doing so he created one of the largest empires of thebetween the region and Mesopotamia to the south and by 1300 BC the ancient world and earned himself a place in legend. With an uncertain claimThe history and culture of eastern Turkey isHittites, with their base in central Anatolia, had extended their hegemony Activity Level: 2 to the throne, Alexander set out to liberate the region of Asia Minor fromsimply staggering. For millennia a complexover the Upper Euphrates. By the 14th century BC the rising power of King Darius III and reclaim the lost Greek territories of his forefathers. Thecrossing point of armies, traders, religionsAssyria, based largely in what is now northern Iraq, started to expand Our ten-day tour to Turkey explores the mythscampaign of 334-333BC saw some of Alexanders most spectacular andand travellers the region has hosted a rollcallnorthwards and by the 7th century BC held sway over vast areas of eastern and reality that surround Alexander the Greatmemorable moments, from the ingenious crossing of the Hellespont to theof ancient peoples and cultures, some onlyTurkey. Beyond Lake Van they came up against the Kingdom of Urartu. By as we follow in the footsteps of his army,defining and disputed battle of Granicus, from the mythical cities of Troy andnow being rediscovered by the discerningthe 4th century BC the Seleucid Empire began an expansionist policy which starting at Granicus, heading south alongHalicarnassus to the defiant cities of Aspendus and Termessus. traveller: Urartians, Assyrians, Babylonians,in time dominated the whole area before being eroded by the eastward the Ionian Coast and ending by tracing theMitannians, Commagenians, Armenians andgrowth of the mighty Roman Empire. The region became a buffer zone liberation of the Lycian Valley. We explore theOttomans to name a few. Their legacy is anbetween Rome, Parthia and the Kingdom of Armenia. With the growth of ruins of Alexanders metropolis of Miletus,extraordinarily rich trove of sites: from theIslam the region was dominated by the Umayyad Caliphate and became of the beautiful temples at Assos, Ephesus andworlds oldest megaliths at Gbeklitepe, andzone of conflict between Arab and Byzantine armies. By the 16th century AD Priene, the ancient harbours of Telmessosthe brooding stone figures of Mount Nemrut,the region was conquered by the Ottoman Turks and since 1923 has been and Phaselis, and the remote, atmosphericthrough to the outstanding mosaics at thesovereign territory of the Turkish Republic. This is indeed an area with a rich Patara and Termessus. We will see two of theZeugma Museum and beautiful medievaland captivating history. seven wonders of the ancient world as wellchurches of Lake Van, the region is a as spending time in Istanbul and Antalya. compelling destination. Day 1 Fly London to Gaziantep via Istanbul or make your own arrangements toDay 1 Outward Travel: Fly from London to Istanbul and check in to our hotel forjoin the tour at the hotel in Gaziantep1 night. (D) two nights or make your own arrangements to join the tour at the hotel.Day 2 Explore Gaziantepincl. Zeugma Mosaic Museum and bazaar.Introductory talk and pre-dinner drinks. (D). Afternoon drive to Adyaman. Lunch at own expense. Hotel inDay 2Istanbul: visit Archaeology Museum, Hagia Sophia and Byzantine Adyaman1 night. (B, D)walls. (B,L,D). Day 3 Visit Karaku Tumulus monument, Cendere Kprs Roman bridge andDay 3 Granicus and Troy: drive to battlefield of Granicus and Troy, continue toArsameia. Then to Nemrut Da - walk 600 metres to summit. Drive toanakkale. Hotel in anakkale1 night. (B,L,D) anlurfa. Hotel in anlurfa2 nights. (B, L, D)Day 4 Assos and Pergamon: drive to Assos, Pergamon, and Bergama.Day 4 Gbeklitepe, anlurfa museum. Evening at Abrahams CaveHotel in Bergama1 night. (B,L,D) and Pools. (B, L, D)Day 5 Ephesus: full day touring Ephesus incl. Temple of Artemis and Day 5 Karahan Tepe, Mardinincl. citadel, mosques and madrassas.Basilica of St John, return to Seluk. Hotel in Seluk1 night. (B,L,D) Hotel in Mardin2 nights. (B, L, D)Day 6 . Ionian Coast: Priene, Miletus, Didyma, continue on to Bodrum.Day 6 . Tur Abdin region. Midyat, Mor Gabriel monastery, Hah (Anit).Hotel in Bodrum1 night. (B,L,D) Return to Mardin. (B, L, D)Day 7 Halicarnassus and the Lycian Valley: Halicarnassus (Bodrum) incl. tomb Day 7 Drive to Tatvan. Ahlat Seljuk tombs. Hotel in Tatvan1 night. (B, L, D)of Mausolus, drive to Telmessos, Xanthos, Letoon and Patara. Continue Day 8 . Akdamar island and Holy Cross Cathedral. Continue to Vanvisit UrartianESSENTIALS to Kas. Hotel in Kas1 night. (B,L,D) ESSENTIALS Museum. Hotel in Van2 nights. (B, L, D)Day 8 . Limyra and Phaselis: Limyra, (Zemuri), Phaselis. Continue to Antalya.Day 9 . Vanincl. Rock of Van, Urartian tombs and ruined city. Drive to4-star or best available hotels, mealsHotel in Antalya2 nights. (B,L,D) 3-4-star hotels, meals as indicated, as indicated, drinks with dinner, allDay 9 . Antalya: Aspendos, Sillyion, Termessos. (B,L,D) drinks with dinner, all entrance fees,avutepe Kalesi fort. (B, L, D)entrance fees, tour manager and expertDay 10 Fly back to London from Antalya via Istanbul or perhaps extend your stay tour manager and expert historianDay 10 Free time in Van. Fly to London via Istanbul or perhaps extend yourhistorian throughout, all internal travel,in Turkey. (B). throughout, all internal travel, stay in Turkey. (B)optional travel from UK. optional travel from UK.18 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 www.theculturalexperience.com I info@theculturalexperience.com I UK0345 475 1815 I USA(toll-free) 877 209 5620 19'