Great Western Black Sea Tour ✈️

EARLY MORNING FLIGHT ANTALYA – ANKARA WELCOME BY GUIDE AND DRIVER AT THE AIRPORT TRANSFER TO THE CITY OF ANKARA for breakfast (extra)

The following visits are scheduled for this day:

ANITKABİR: is the imposing mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Turkey. The complex, completed in 1953 and situated on a hill, contains, in addition to Atatürk’s tomb, an extensive museum about the Turkish struggle for independence and the grave of the second president, İsmet İnönü. The changing of the guard at the mausoleum is also impressive.

HAMAMÖNÜ: is one of the most atmospheric and historic districts of Ankara. While the rest of the city is dominated by modern skyscrapers and wide boulevards, a walk through Hamamönü feels like a journey back in time to the Ottoman Empire.

ANKARA CASTLE: The castle was not built by one specific people, but is a kind of “history puzzle.” The foundations were likely laid by the Hittites or the Phrygians, after which the Galatians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans all left their own mark on it. This is reflected in the walls: you often find recycled fragments of old Roman columns and inscriptions that were simply used as building material.

THE MUSEUM OF ANATOLIAN CIVILIZATIONS: is one of the most respected archaeological museums worldwide. Where Ankara Castle offers you a view of the city, this museum gives you a glimpse into the deep roots of humanity.

Overnight in Ankara.

After breakfast, heading towards Kızılcahamam and Bolu. Kızılcahamam:

ABACI FAIRY CHIMNEES: just like their famous counterparts in Cappadocia, these are natural rock towers formed by thousands of years of erosion by wind and rain on volcanic rock (tuff). The harder top protects the softer layer underneath, creating these characteristic “mushroom shapes” or chimneys.

Bolu:

SEVEN LAKES DISTRICT (YEDİGÖLLER): is one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Turkey. There are well-maintained hiking trails connecting the lakes. Along the way, you will encounter small wooden bridges, small waterfalls, and drinking water sources (such as the ‘Wishing Fountain’). Here is an extensive hike through this nature reserve. The hike will take approximately 3 hours, including rest breaks.

GÖLCÜK NATURE PARK (this hike can also take place on day 3): this is one of the most photographed places in Turkey, located about 13 km from the center of Bolu. The lake is artificially created and is surrounded by dense forests of pines and beeches. There is a flat walking path of about 1.3 km around the water, making it perfect for a relaxing walk.

Overnight Bolu

After breakfast you’ll drive to the Black Sea coast to visit the pitoresque town Amasra but just before arriving Amasra you will have a visit to:

The Kuşkayası Road Monument, located on the Bartın-Amasra highway, is a historical resting place and monument, the only example of its kind in Anatolia, built between 41-54 AD during the reign of Roman Emperor Tiberius Germanicus Claudius by Gaius Julius Aquila. Situated on the Silk Road, this ancient structure features a human figure carved into the rocks

You’ll visit in Amasra:
The Amasra castle was built in Byzantine Period and repaired in Genoese and Ottoman eras.
It consists of two main parts, Sormagir Castle on Boztepe Island and Zindan Castle at the mainland. They are connected by “Kemere Bridge” and reached through a vaulted gate called “Dark Gate” adjacent to the bridge. After the Dark Gate, the way to left leads to the Small Harbor (or the Ancient Harbor) and the other to the Hacıdeniz (Pilgrim’s Sea). The east wall has a length of 65 meters and the south wall is almost300 meters. There are no walls at the north and northwest since the rocks are naturally too steep and make it impossible to access the castle from thisside.
Amasra Museum, which is the first and only museum of Amasra with its 3000 years of history, contains many historical artifacts from Byzantine to Ottoman. Due to Amasra’s richness of historical artifacts, the artifacts exhibited both indoors and outdoors provide information about the history of Amasra.
Çekiciler Çarşıs (Charming Bazaar)ı: The Charm, which gives the bazaar its name, is a wood carving ornament art. Wood carving, dating back to the 17th century, continues today in Amasra and its villages. Especially in Amasra, this handicraft has developed considerably with the effect of the natural structure of the region. These small items were made by processing and carving the suitable trees in the region on hand looms. Cekiciler Bazaar, where artisans gather, is just one of Amasra’s most visited historical bazaars.
Amasra Bakacak Hill: Bakacak is a vantage point where you can watch the historical and natural beauties of Amasra. With binoculars in the area, you can watch Amasra Marina, sailing ships and fishing boats much more closely.
It is the place where Mehmet the Conqueror called out to Lala and said, “Lala Lala Çeşhm-i Cihan Bu Mu Ola?” (The Pupil of the World’s Eye). Overnight in Amasra

After your breakfast you’ll follow a scenery route into the direction of Safranbolu. Before you’ll visit this picturesque old ottoman town which is on the list of UNESCO World heritage, you’ll visit:
Yörük köyü: Yörük Village, one of the oldest villages in the region, where traces of Bektashism can still be seen. In the free time we will give in the village, we will be able to sip our tea in the village teahouse and wander among the mansions. After visiting Yörükköy, we’ll reach the historical Safranbolu and go to the Governor’s Mansion, which was completed in 1893 and will attract you with its view. During our mansion tour, we visit the Hayat, Harem and Selamlık sections. While walking towards the city center from the streets where you can see the traces of Safranbolu history, you can see the old Semerciler, Manifaturacılar, Bakırcılar and Demirciler bazaars, the Akçasu Canyon, which is one of the canyons we see from afar around the city but where you will witness its splendor in the center of the city, and the İzzet Mehmet Pasha Mosque, which will surprise you with its story, and today it is also used as a hotel. We see the historical Cinci Han after seeing the Köprülü Mehmet Pasha Mosque and the sundial in its garden during the walk we will take in the historical bazar, we pass to the Yemeniciler Arasta. After our free time in the bazaar, where you can see local handicrafts and taste İmren Turkish delight, which is at least as famous as Safranbolu itself you’ll go to the hotel.
Overnight in Safranbolu

After breakfast, the longest ride of this tour awaits you. A beautiful route through nature to one of the most beautiful towns in Turkey, Amasya. Amasya idyllically located on the Yeşil Irmak is rich in history and Ottoman mansions. It was not for nothing that it was the city of the Ottoman princes.First, we start our trip by visiting the mansion houses. Then, we visit the Amasya Museum, Hazeranlar Mansion and the II.Beyazit Complex, which sheds light on History with the narrations of our guide. Afterwards, the Clock Tower, which was built in 1868 by the governor of Amasya, Ziya Pasha, is among the places to see. We give free time for shopping and lunch in the city where the world’s most beautiful lilac and cherries are located. Afterwards, we pass to the Sabuncuoğlu medicine and surgery museum (hospital) built for the purpose of healing the patients during the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, and at the end of our tour, Ferhat and Şirin pass to the lovers park.
Overnight in Amasya

We take our breakfast and leave our hotel. A stunning journey through mountains and unspoilt nature to Samsun is waiting for you. On our way to Samsun you will visit the open air museum Ambarköy. Ambar Koy,  an open air concepted museum, reflects the daily life in a village with its water mill, observation tower, wooden playground, wooden and chain bridges and other facilities. The village also exhibits historical artifacts, tools and items that people used in their daily lifes which became history today.Ambarhan, located inside the Ambarkoy with its historical architecture, serves as a restaurant today. A small zoo and an old village school is also planned to be built nearby the facility. In Samsun you’ll visit the Monument of Honor and visit the Bandırma Ferry, which is the boat (now a museum) with Atatürk arrived in Samsun on the 19th of May 1919. Then we go to our restaurant for lunch. After our meal, we go to Amisos hill to watch the Black Sea. Here we will have free time to take photos and have a tea break. After our free time, we end our Black Sea tour and we’ll have our transfer to Samsun airport for our flight to Antalya and we say goodbye to meet again in another ETD-TRAVEL organization.