ISTANBUL.
Meet and greet upon arrival at Istanbul Ataturk Airport and transfer to hotel in city centre for overnight.

ISTANBUL.
Full day city sightseeing.  Visits to Topkapi Palace (closed on Tuesdays), St. Sophia (replaced by Underground Basilica Cistern on Mondays) the Hippodrome, Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar.
 Overnight at hotel.  

Istanbul - VAN.
After breakfast transfer to Domestic Flights Terminal of Istanbul Ataturk Airport for a 2 hour morning flight to Van by TK 806 at 09:05 hrs. Van,the ancient Urartian capital is most famous for the protected specie,Van Cat and Lake Van, largest in Turkey.Take a boat ride to Akdamar Island,housing one of the most important historical monuments in the city, the Akdamar Church.  Later on drive to and visit the Urartian Hosap Castle, some 60 km from city centre and the Cavustepe Castle. Dinner and overnight in Van.  

Van - KARS.
After breakfast drive to Dogubayazit seeing the Muradiye Waterfalls en route. Visit the Ishak Pasa Palace, a spectacular monument overlooking the valley beneath. Built in 17^th-18^th centuries by two Ottoman governors, the Ishak Pasa Palace is a mixture of Seljuk, Ottoman and Persian architectural styles. After lunch, see the second largest meteor crater on earth (depth: 60 mts / width: 35 mts) as well as the remains of the Noah’s Arc, said to be found in the second half of the 20^th century. Continue to Kars and visit the Church of Apostles, Kars Archaeological Museum and the Kars Castle. Late afternoon check in hotel for dinner and overnight.  

Kars – ERZURUM.
Morning visit to the ruined medieval city of Ani. Proceed to Erzurum, the largest city of Eastern Anatolian region and sprawls on a high plateau. Visit the exquisite examples of the Seljuk’s architecture in the city centre: Rustem Pasa Caravanserai, Uc Kumbetler (a group of three tombs), Cifte Minareli Medrese and the Yakutiye Medresesi. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Erzurum.  

ERZURUM.
After breakfast drive to Artvin. During the Middle Ages the Artvin area came under  Georgian sovereignty, which makes it the best place for exploring remains of the Georgian past.Visit the Tekkale, Ishan and Dortkilise churches. See also the Cehennem Deresi Canyon en route.  Late afternoon return to Erzurum for dinner and overnight.

Erzurum – TRABZON.
Drive to Trabzon visiting the Karaca Cave en route. Recently discovered in 1987, the drop-shaped precious stone type cave has plenty of stalactite and stalagmite. Located beyond Mt. Zigana is the Sumela Monastery within the boundaries of  Macka Altindere village, on top of a black hill, built inside a natural stone cave.  The monastery, built in the 4^th century was expanded in the 6^th century.  During the Ottoman period, the monastery was honoured by orders for the protection of their foundation and rights. Finally visit the the Ayasofya Museum built in the 13^th century by King Manuel I as a church. Dinner and overnight in Trabzon.  

Trabzon – CAMLIHEMSIN.
After breakfast departure from hotel and drive along the scenic Black Sea coast to the second largest city of the region, Rize. Visit the botanical garden then drive along the Firtina River to the little town of Camlihemsin for lunch.  Hike to Zil Castle built during the Byzantine period in the 14^th century.  See also the Senyuva historical stone bridge.  Dinner and overnight in Camlihemsin.

Camlihemsin - BATUMI.
After breakfast depart from hotel and drive to Sarp, Turkish - Georgian Border.Cross into Georgia. After completing customs and immigration formalities continue to  Batumi, capital of Ajara. One of the ancient towns of Georgia. A settlement existed here in the 3^rd-2^nd cc BC. Ancient Greeks knew the site as “Bapus.  

Breakfast. Drive to village Ushguli, unique for it’s tower ensembles, via village Mulakhi and  Ugviri pass. Accommodation to the private houses in village Ushguli. Dinner.

Breakfast.  Ushguli. Excursion to the  Historical  museum of Ushguli. Walk to Lamaria church(12^th c.)with a view at the widely known summit Skhara. Lunch. After lunch return to Mestia, via village Kala and Ipari, visit Kvirike church  and Nakipri church. Dinner.

Breakfast. Drive to Kutaisi, Kutaisi sightseeing. The plot of the ancient epic by Apollonius of Rhodos is associated with the city -this concerns the legendary town of Colchis, to which the argonauts sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. Visit Bagrati(10^thc.), marvelous example of the domed-church architecture of the high Medieval period, , Sataplia Nature Reserve ancient Colchis woods of unique beauty and caves.

Sheki - BAKU.
Morning visit to the mosaic fronted Khan's Palace and the History Museum in Sheki, then proceed to Ismailly and visit the carpet manufacture centre then onto Shemakha. Shemakha, for so long the capital and trade centre for western Azerbaijan, is now a small town. Visit the Grand Mosque, a very large and attractive built in the late 19th century, the Gulistan Fortress (formerly enclosed the residence of the Shirvan and later the Shemakha kings, and the Yedi Gumbez 'Seven Tombs', yet only the three of these desecrated octagonal royal tombs remain reasonably complete. They are the 18th-19th century mausoleums of the Khans of Shemakha.Drive to Baku visiting the Diri Baba Mausoleum en route at Maraza.Diri Baba means 'Living Grandfather' and refers to the Sufi mystic whose body, entomed here in 1402, mysteriously refused to decompose, leading to a posthumous declaration of his sanctity. Evening arrival in Baku. Check in Old City Inn Hotel for overnight.  

BAKU.
Half day tour in the 'City of the Winds' with visits to the     Martyr's Cemetery,  located on the higher slopes of the city's west-end, this is the best place for viewing the city and the Bay of Baku. Proceed to the Old Town 'Iceri Sehir', which is also a fortress. See the highlights of Iceri Sehir including the Palace of the Shirvans (the most striking example of the Medieval palace structures in Azerbaijan, dating to the middle of 15th century); the         Maiden's Tower (the ancient, eight storey fortress originally built as a fire beacon) and the Carpet Museum (the impressive building located on the seafront - its collection was enriched with the carpets brought from Shusha Carpet Museum, evacuated before the Armenian advance). Afternoon free at leisure.  

Baku - DEPARTURE.
After breakfast drive Gobustan, the territory where the ancient carvings were made by primitive people. Such carvings on the cave walls, rocks and boulders can be observed worldwide - but the rock carvings of Gobustan are the most significant among them. These prehistoric art monuments reflect culture, economy, world outlook, customs and traditions of ancient Azerbaijan people. Following the visit to the Gobustan Museum visit the Mud Volcanoes that are the volcanoes which splutter forth cold mud - although not unique to Azerbaijan, the country has more of these odd natural phenomena than any other in the world. Continue to Iranian Border at Astara via Salyan, Lankaran.Completing emmigration and customs formalities and drive to Ardabil.

We drive back to Tehran, next we will visit Fin Garden in Kashan and from continue to Tehran.