A culinary journey along the Silk Roads of Anatolia In the great cities of the world, fashionable chefs vie to produce innovative dishes for jaded pallets. The result has not only been the proliferation of ethnic restaurants in most major cities around the world, but the attempt to take it all a step further […]
Eastern Anatolia
The East Anatolia Region is mountainous, rugged and formed by volcanic activity. There are a number of volcanos (dormant) that dominate the region and which form the regional “back bone.” To the region`s north there are Mt. Ararat (a classic stratovolcano with a permanent ice cap) and the extraordinary landscapes formed by Mt. Tendurek, a shield volcano. To the south there is a ring of dormant volcanos circling Lake Van: Suphan (stratovolcano) Artos and Nemrut, a caldera with hot and cold lakes on the interior floor.
Regional temperatures may drop to – 43 C/ -45 F in winter, and rise to 38 C/100 F in summer.
During the winter one can ski at Palandöken just outside Erzurum, Sarıkamış near Kars and on Artos or Nemrut Caldera around Lake Van, a significant endorheic soda lake at about 2000 m/ 6500 ft in elevation.
Rainfall is 560 mm/22 inches. Agriculturally the region is fairly marginal but does produce wheat, fruit and nuts in a short growing season. The mainstay is pastoral with sheep and goats predominating.
This tour takes in prehistoric and megalithic sites of Armenia and Eastern Anatolia. The tour links together the Ancient Urartian cities of Yerevan and Van by circumnavigating the Biblical Mountain of Ararat, which takes it name from Urartu. The tour will visit major military sites of this extraordinary 9th and 8th Century B.C. civilisation. At […]
Visit Göbekli Tepe and feel the pulse of time… Here at Göbekli Tepe lie the remains of the earliest religious structures built by man yet to be discovered. At about 11000-13000 years old this site pre-dates both pottery and writing and is far older that either Stonehenge in England or the great Egyptian Pyramids. In fact, less […]
The region of Lake Van really is a tour of romance. Starting with the romantic palace of Ishak Pasha in its splendid location and ending with the breathtaking and uplifting panorama of Nemrut Crater with so much to inspire along the way…
Comprehensive tour of all the principle civilisations of Eastern Turkey.
What is the Silk Road? The Silk Road, or as the Turks referred to it, Uzun Yol (Long Road), is an ancient trade route connecting the occident and the orient; running between China and Europe it has been an important conduit of commerce and knowledge since Classical times. The expansion of the Macedonian Empire under Alexander the Great probably provided the […]
Comprehesive tour incorporating Eastern Turkey, Georgia and Armenia.
An exceptional tour of the Megalithic sites of Turkey. Experience a rich cultural heritage, where you can literally get close to the stones
Mount Ararat is a standard four day trek, although some people manage to climb to the top in three. All measurements are estimates because distance and elevation markers do not exist. We arrange all equipment for the climb including tents, sleeping bags, pickaxe, hand lamp, mountaineering clothing and shoes. You will have a professional and […]
This is a four day (five nights) tour of Armenian churches and monasteries south and east of Lake Van. Explore Lake Van and its surroundings, from Varakavank (The Seven Churches) to St. John’s church on Gduts (Carpanak) island and taking in Garmir Vank and, St. Thomas’ church near the village of Kanzak (Altinsac), before finishing […]