2014 October – Ultimate Turkey Photo Tour

Turkey is a photographer’s paradise with its historical sites, friendly people, sunny sparkling coastlines, curious geological formations, stunning architecture and truly unique photo opportunities. This means a picture around every corner …

Our 4th fantastic tour to this country is designed to offer you the best of western and eastern Turkey. It is inclusive of most travel expenses from accommodation, to most meals, internal flights and other details as per the tour itinerary. We are using a combination of high quality 3/4 Star hotels and small boutique type charming hotels for this unique photo adventure. Turkey is the home of legends and history taught in classrooms the world over. Homer’s Troy; exotic Constantinople; Ephesus, best preserved ancient site in the world; Gallipoli Battlefields and Dardanelles; Rivers Euphrates and Tigris; Whirling Dervishes; Best Greek and Roman ruins; hospitality of the people.

You can add a few days exploring Gallipoli and nearby ancient sites to Istanbul. Please confirm your interest with Julia for this optional adventure.

Have we mentioned the food yet?
This is another highlight of this tour and the unique region we visit. Join this great ‘life experience’ adventure …

CONTACT – Julia for a print friendly PDF itinerary.

ITINERARY TO ADVENTURE …

DAY 1 – EASTERN TURKEY – ISTANBUL
October 21
Meet at hotel reception at 12pm for tour information and lunch. (Note: you must be at this meeting time.) The food is fantastic! Short walk in town with mini workshop on shooting conditions for the tour. In the evening, we will photograph the whirling ritual of the “whirling dervishes.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 2 – ISTANBUL
October 22
Early departure for the other side of the Golden Horn to take pictures of the Suleymaniye Mosque with the early light, with boats and the Golden Horn in the foreground. We will then photograph the New Moque. Return to the hotel for breakfast and then off again to photograph the Spice Bazar and the eerie Underground Cistern, a water reservoir with 360 columns from the 6th century. Reflections of the columns on the water makes for great images. We take a break around the middle of the day and in the late afternoon, drive to the Asian side of Istanbul to photograph the mosques in silhouette, at the sunset.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 3 – KARS
October 23
We fly to Kars this morning and new adventures. Kars is a beautiful city full of old Russian houses and churches. We offer quality time shooting and exploring the impressive castle and the old part of the city.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 4 – DOGUBEYAZIT
October 24
Early start, we will visit and photograph the ruins of the old Armenian city of Ani, located right on the border between Turkey and Armenia. Here, we will see the old Armenian churches and the ruins of this unique settlement. In the afternoon, we drive to Dogubeyazit and target Mount Ararat. In Dogubeyazit, we will not only shoot Mount Ararat, but also the impressive Ishak Pasa Palace from the 18th century. We will also visit a meteor hole near the Iranian border and the ‘Noah’s Ark’ mark. What an amazing day!
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 5 – VAN
October 25
In Dogubeyazit, we start the day photographing the Ishak Pasha Palace and Mount Ararat. We then drive to Van with a stop at a Muradiye to photograph the Muradiye waterfalls. We will then shoot Van Castle, which is an old Urartian settlement from 8th century BC. A mixed day of landscapes and stunning ancient relics …
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 6 – VAN
October 26
In the morning we drive to the 18th century Hosap Castle and the ruins of old Urartian settlement 7th century BC at Cavustepe. Lunch near Lake Van and then a boat ride to the Akdamar Island to photograph the famous Armenian Church which is unique for its reliefs.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 7 – MARDIN
October 27
After a sleep in, we start to drive to Mardin, enjoying short stops to take pictures in Hasankeyf with old cave dwellings and an impressive castle near the River Tigris. Unfortunately, this beautiful site will soon be under the reservoir of a dam which will start to be built on the Tigris. Arrival in Mardin and photograph the headstones in an old graveyard with a beautiful scene of the city in the background.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 8 – SANLIURFA
October 28
In the morning, a short stop at the 4th century Syrian Orthodox Christian Monastery of Dayrulzefaran which is still active, and then we will photograph the old bazar area, offering medieval scenes with its narrow streets. A chance to take fantastic pictures of people and vendours. We then drive to Sanliurfa to Sanliurfa, known as the city of prophets, as Abraham was born here, Job, Jethro, Moses lived here. In Sanliurfa, we will first photograph the old bazar with people playing chest, dominos and coppercraftsmen, saddle makers and etc.. then a special shoot in the Anraham’s pond area, a holly place and a great site to shoot. We will also see Abraham’s pond with holly carps.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 9 – ADIYAMAN
October 29
Early departure to go to Harran, to photoraph the ruins of the oldest mosque in Anatolia, as the sun rises. We will then see the ant hill like mud brick domed houses of Harran. In the afternoon, we will drive to Adiyaman and along the way, stop at the bridge on the river Euphrates. The history of this tour will blow you away. Our guide is a world expert on the right information to help your interest.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 10 – ADIYAMAN
October 30
We will leave the hotel (very) early in the morning and drive to Mount Nemrut – a special highlight of the tour. A tough but short hike (about half an hour) gets us to the mountain top where we will see a beautiful sun rise and photograph the giant statue heads of an open air temple built in the 1st century BC by the King Antiochus of Commagene. We have breakfast in a mountain cafe on the way back and the chance to shoot great landscape with mountains and villages. The afternoon offers a chance to rest.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 11 – CAPPADOCIA
October 31
We drive to Cappadocia through fields and mountains offering great landscapes. In the late afternoon, in Cappadocia we will photograph the interesting rock formations and canyons. What amazing place and our accommodation is unique.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 12 – CAPPADOCIA
November 1
Early in the morning, an optional 1 hour balloon ride (It is around US$150). This is one of the most incredible experiences on earth! A must do for adventure lovers! Those not keen on heights – you can shoot from the ground. After this adrenalin adventure, we visit the rock cut churches at Goreme with 10th century frescoes. In the afternoon, we will continue exploring the amazing landscape of Capadocia.
Accommodation: Hotel.
DAY 13 – PAMUKKALE
November 2
Early departure for Pamukkale, where we will photograph the calcium terrace pools, which are very interesting, with unique and impressive formations. A relaxing day exploring Turkey.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 14 – KUSADASI
November 3
We drive to Kusadasi, with stops on the way to photograph an interesting villagers market. Here, the ladies often wear very colourful dresses on market day. We arrival in Kusadasi and shoot in the late light.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 15 – ISTANBUL
November 4
Early in the morning we will visit and photograph the world’s best preserved roman city of Epheus. We aim to be the first at the best location, this offering you unique images. In the early afternoon, we drive to Izmir Airport and catch our flight back to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul in the late afternoon and transfer to the hotel. Final group dinner tonight and the chance to tell a few tall stories from our amazing adventures.
Accommodation: Hotel.

DAY 16 – TOUR ENDS
November 5
Transfer to the airport and flight back.

INCLUDED
* 15 night accommodation in double rooms. A combination of small boutique type hotels and 4 hotels will be used.
* All breakfasts.
* All dinners. Water is included at the dinner.
* Water on the bus during travelling.
* All admission fees to the museums and historic sites mentioned in the itinerary.
* English speaking licensed local tour guide experienced in photo tours.
* Comfortable A/C mini bus.
* Admission fee to the whirling dervish ceremony.
* Airport transfers as in the itinerary.
* Boat ride to the Aktamar Island.
* 2 domestic flights as Istanbul – Kars and Izmir – Istanbul.

 

ULTIMATE TURKEY
PHOTO TOUR PRICE

AU$8,995 Twin Share per person

As per itinerary, with local guide/driver and professional photo guide.

EVENT DEPOSIT REQUIRED – AU$1,500 pp.

Please read our terms & Conditions and fill in our booking form. Julia can offer travel insurance, including deposit protection insurance.

TO BOOK: Please ask for our booking form, or you can down load it from our website.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT – AU$1,590 pp.

We will try our best to find someone to share with you. However, part of the booking conditions is that a single supplement is applicable if no one is available to share.