Compare Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to Istanbul, Turkey by African Trails vs Walking the Ancient Trails of Cappadocia - Premium Adventure by Exodus Travels

Kyrgyzstan – Weeks 1…
A land of high mountain passes, grassy plains, alpine lakes & yurts, all in the Celestial Mountains. A strong Chinese influence.

Highlights - High altitude mountains and lakes

As big as England with just 5 million people; there is space to wander. We start in the capital Bishkek and travel on to Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan – Week …1
One of the larger countries in Asia - it extends into Eastern Europe; the people are a mix of Mongolian and Russians. The capital Almaty; is named after apples, which is where they first grew.

Highlights – the size of the place; the 9th largest country in the world

We cross to Kazakhstan and Aksu-Dzhabagly Nature Reserve the oldest nature reserve in Central Asia; stunning scenery of green valleys, rushing rivers and snowcapped peaks. Look out for the Himalayan brown bear.

Uzbekistan – Week 2 - 3
The heart of the ancient Silk Road

Highlights – the beautiful cities of Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand are the main highlights not only in Uzbekistan but in of the whole of Central Asia

Onto the capital Tashkent and east; after transiting Kazakhstan.

We cross the desert and the Amu Darya River, (known in ancient times as the Oxus), to Bukhara. Its old center with easy to get lost in narrow winding streets, mosques, medieval royal fortress and a bazaar complex; it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Samarkand was once the most populous city in the world; its 2,500 years of history old rivaling Rome in importance; now its attractions are really big colorful mosques, markets and the impossibly big public square called ‘Registan’ or sandy place in Persian. This was made when public squares were for public announcements and executions.

Khiva town is one of the best preserved of the in Central Asia the Old Town is within a massive mud-brick fortress. Climb the towering minarets and sit in the tranquil old mosques.

Turkmenistan – Week 4….
The recently passed dictator had the capital city Ashgabat made in white marble. The rest of the country is a beautiful empty dessert, with nomads in their yurts.

Highlights - Ashgabat, Darvaza Gas Craters, Konye-Urgench

The economy is run off its vast reserves of oil and gas which lies beneath Central Asia’s largest desert; the Karakum or Black Desert.

Kanye-Urgench on the northern border is a ruined town with old monuments. It was the scene of one of the biggest massacres in human history by Genghis Khan; his massacres started here and led to the death of over 70 million people; some 17% of the world population at the time.

We visit Darvaza Gas Craters or the ‘Doors to Hell’, it’s a drilling operation gone wrong, which opened a massive hole in the desert; from which the natural gas came out – it was lit to get rid of the dangerous gas and it’s been burning for 40 years.

Last stop; the capital Ashgabat with enormous monuments and extravagant buildings made entirely of white marble.

Iran - Week …4 – 5
Iran; the Persia Empire is today the Islamic Republic of Iran. Though women do need a form of chador (covering) to enter Iran, it does not have to be black. A colorful scarf and trench coat are good enough……Though this country it's often thought of by some westerners as an ominous anti-western state; the people are friendly; they like talking to tourists and within live many religious groups. Not everyone is actually Persian; there are; Turks, Baluchi, Arabs, Kurds, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Baha’i, Nestorians and others, all living amicably. The architecture is some of the best in the world

Highlights - Esfahan, Shiraz, Persepolis, Yazd, Great Salt Desert, Caravanserais, Mashed

In the north of Iran we visit the holy city of Mashed after leaving Turkmenistan Before crossing Dasht-e-Kavir; the almost uninhabited Great Salt Desert to Kermin and visit the castles in the desert.

The Silk Road follows in the footsteps of Marco Polo to Yazd. The fourth largest ethnic group in Iran after Muslims, Christians, and Jews are the Zoroastrians - Yazd is their hometown. Here there is a Tower of Silence and a Fire Temple, which has had its fire burning for two and a half thousand years. Zoroastrians bury their dead in the ‘sky’; leaving the bodies out in their Towers of Silence to be eaten by birds. The city is built mainly from adobe mud bricks and is the best example of old Persian architecture; with wind catching towers cooling the houses and an ancient network of underground canals bringing water to the town from mountains

In the south is Shiraz; considered to be Iran’s best city with; mausoleums, the colorful covered Vakil Bazaar. Shiraz has a large Christian and Jewish population

Just outside of town are the ruins of Persepolis; the ancient capital of Persia. It was burnt to the ground by Alexander the Great - in a typical Macedonian evening of drunken debauchery. That’s how the Macedonians behaved in ancient times

Heading north, we pass through; Qom, Kasham, and Abyaneh on the way to Isfahan. Here we’ll spend a few days in the old capital of Persia - beautiful mosques, squares, the stone arched Khaju Bridge with its royal pavilion in the middle, palaces with gardens and caravanserais

Tehran is one our route; big and smoggy. The best things to see here are the Treasury of the National Jewels with diamonds, the Peacock Throne and the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini

To Qazvin with massive domed Cisterns, this once stored and cooled the city’s water. Relax in one of the subterranean bathhouses.

Towards Turkey, we enter north western Iran to Tabriz. Mosque and Elgoli Park.

Armenia – Week 6
From Tabriz, we head north to Armenia. Over the next two weeks, we will cross this small former Soviet republic and its neighbor, Georgia. For this section the trip will be exploratory in nature, being the first time we have traveled this route in this way, so expect the unexpected and be ready for an adventure.

Armenia, a country of just over 3 million people, the size of Belgium. In the South Caucasus; stunning mountains, rich verdant landscapes, rich and varied history, and a unique and strong sense of nationhood with an international importance that belies its small size and location, almost ‘hidden’ amongst larger neighbors in Turkey and Iran.

After crossing into Armenia we continue north past the Shikavogh Reserve and following a bush camp we reach the country’s capital Yerevan. This will be our base for three nights; strolling the streets of the city’ central area the combination of Armenian and Soviet architecture shows the country’s more recent history while the nineteenth-century Blue Mosque reminds us that we are still in a part of the world where Islamic influences and cultures are prevalent. There is also the option of a day trip to view Mt Ararat a stunning snow-capped volcano to the southwest of the city. Though the volcano itself is in Turkey, we are able to see it and explore the beautiful mountainous Ararat region while still in Armenia. It is also possible to visit Yerevan’s famous brandy distillery for a tour and of course to sample the national drink!

Leaving Yerevan we head to Sevanavank, a monastery complex on the shores of Lake Sevan that dates back to the ninth century. Formerly situated on an island, following the draining of the lake as during the time of Stalin’s rule, the monastery is now sat at the end of a small peninsula and is a picturesque spot well worth a short detour. Leaving Sevanavansk we continue north to Georgia.

Georgia – Week 7
After a bush camp in rural Georgia, we arrive in the capital, Tbilisi. Sat on the River Mtkvari and surrounded by mountains on three sides with a combination of modern and historic architecture, this calm and photogenic city is our base for the next couple of days. Strolling the streets and people-watching in the many imperious squares of the city, with their mix of Russian, Classical and Soviet architecture, peppered with churches and cathedrals, is a pleasant way to spend at least one of our days here.

Leaving Tbilisi our next stop is Telavi, a decent-sized town to the north-east, sat on a hilltop with views across a wide valley with towering, snow-capped peaks visible in the distance. Telavi is the principal town of the Kakheti region, famous for its vineyards and wineries. The wine has been produced in Georgia since 4000BC and the industry has played a significant role in the country’s history ever since, as wine plays an important role in Georgian culture and society. Here we have the option of taking a wine tour to find out more about the history of the area, why wine production has been so important, and of course to try some ourselves!

Telavi itself is a fascinating and relaxing place to spend a couple of nights with many good restaurants and cafes, and not far from the town there are other sites well worth a visit, such as the monastery of Akhali Shuamta, and the small village of I kata and its Church of the Transfiguration which dates from the 8th Century BC.

We then drive west towards Gori stopping on the way at the Uplistsikhe Caves, a remarkable subterranean complex of buildings built into the hillside, with origins as a religious and trading center just off the Silk Road. At one point its population is estimated to have reached as many as 20,000, living and working in and around the caves. We have some free time to scramble across the rocky paths and find our way through the long-abandoned buildings and try to imagine what it would have been like living in such a unique and unusual place all those years ago.

Gori is a small city that played an important role as a military stronghold with strategic significance throughout the Middle Ages and has been occupied at various points by many different powers throughout its history, giving the city a blend of flavors and influences that have by now become a recognizable feature of our Caucasus adventure. The city is famous as the birthplace of the Soviet leader Josef Stalin; the main avenue running through the city center and the main town square bear his name. It is possible to visit the Stalin Museum and see the house where the former dictator was born and grew up. This makes for an intriguing experience, with Stalin’s rule and its consequences still very much within living memory.

From Gori, we reach Vardzia, a remarkable monastery built into the hillside with great importance in Georgian history through its association with the revered Queen Tamar who ruled over its construction in 1185 AD. The site was only used and populated for a relatively short period, being ravaged and then disused following an earthquake in 1283 and then attacked by first the Persians in 1551 and then the Turks in 1578, and subsequent earthquakes and flooding have seen much of the original site lost, but it remains a fascinating site and well worth visiting; carved into the side of a steep cliff Vardzia is a great place to explore and take some memorable and unusual photos!

Continuing west our next stop is the Safari Monastery, a still-functioning seminary of the Georgian Orthodox Church constructed in the 10th Century AD, with Byzantine-style frescoes and a dramatic location on the edge of an imposing gorge. Leaving southern Georgia we then return to the country’s more populated central region and drive to Kutaisi where we can rest up after some bush camps and enjoy a bed for the night, as well as check out the local cafes and restaurants. We then make our way to the Black Sea coast and follow it to our final stop in Georgia, Batumi. We will spend a couple of nights in this port city that has had an important role as a trading post from the second century BC when it was used by the Ancient Greeks as a commercial base. Now a modern city, with glitzy hotels constructed on the seafront.

Leaving Batumi we cross the border into Turkey as we leave the Caucasus.

Turkey - Weeks 8 – 9
Highlights Istanbul, Gallipoli Battle Fields, Troy, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Cappadocia.

We enter Turkey near Dogubeyazit you can see Mt Ararat; where it’s suspected Noah’s Ark docked after the biblical flood; people are still looking for it, must be somewhere there! We spend a couple of days in the Kars area, close to the Armenian border.

Near Lake Van, we visit Van Castle.

Continuing west we spend a day on the shores of Lake Van, the largest in Turkey. Time can be spent relaxing, or for those interested in the history of the area, take the ferry to Akdamar Island to see the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross (10th Century).

At Nemrut Dagi you see the huge statues scattered on the mountain. These huge statues were carved from solid rock by King Antiochus.

In central Turkey is Cappadocia, a region formed from volcanic ash. In the region, the large village of Goreme has churches and monasteries carved into the rock with Christian frescoes and valleys full of chimney shaped houses.

Derinkuyu is a massive underground city, five story’s deep and miles wide, tunneled beneath the plains it is large enough to hold 15,000 people. Here you can buy some of the best value Turkish carpets and pottery in the world.

Pamukkale is an ancient flow of mineralised water that has created a hillside of white limestone curtained terraces, with ancient spa pools.

Ephesus is the largest and best-preserved Roman city on the Mediterranean coast. Nearby are the remains of the Temple of Artemis, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, though only a few columns remain.

Troy. The city was made famous by; Helen of Troy, Paris, and Achilles plus the Trojan Horse with a wooden replica now on site – it’s worth a look, though nothing like the one in the film

We cross the Dardanelles by ferry from Asia to Europe and Gallipoli; famous for the allied Anzac WWI invasion, a sea landing designed by Winston Churchill to sail through the Dardanelles waterway to Istanbul. The plan was to run the royal navy ships up the Dardanelles to bombard Istanbul, forcing Turkey out of the war, hopefully shortening WWI. You can wander the bleak remains of the battlefields and trench networks.

We finish the trip in Istanbul, old Constantinople on the Bosporus. Must sees are; the Covered Bazaar, the biggest and oldest covered market in the world, the Topkapi Palace, home of the Sultans and harems of the Byzantium & Ottoman Empire, the Blue Mosque, and Santa Sophia; a beautiful church converted into a beautiful mosque.

Day 1 Arrival in Istanbul

Welcome to Turkey. Today you arrive in Istanbul, one of the most important and inspiringly beautiful cities in the world. We have no activities scheduled for today, so you are free to arrive anytime. Premium accommodation: Kent Hotel, Istanbul (four-star)

Day 2 Morning calligraphy lesson; fly to Kayseri

We start our Turkish experience with a calligraphy lesson, where we learn the secrets of creating rich patterns on handmade marble paper and experience the sensuous flow of Ottoman calligraphy in the company of our highly skilled artist-craftsperson. Participation enables the school to generate the funds to continue supporting the retention of this ancient skill. For lunch, we have arranged a fabulous introduction to Turkish food, with a meal of Ottoman cuisine at the centrally located Matbah restaurant, which also has excellent views of Istanbul. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our 1hr 15min flight to Kayseri. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 3 Visit to the Goreme Open-Air Museum; walk through the colourful Rose Valley

Our first day in Cappadocia we start with a gentle climb up through the tunnels of Uchisar rock for a striking panoramic view, then continue to the extraordinary Goreme Open-Air Museum to see painted churches and troglodytic monastic dwellings. This afternoon, we drive to the rabbit warren-like village of old Cavusin and walk through the colourful Rose Valley, which is home to rock-cut churches, viewpoints, and stunning vistas to end at Sunset Point. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 4 Tour of Pigeon Valley; explore the cellars at Kaymakli Underground City; cooking class experience

We set off on foot along the scenic Pigeon Valley trail, walking downhill from Uchisar to Goreme. Pigeon Valley is named after the many dove cotes carved into the dwellings. From Goreme, we drive to Kaymakli to explore the cellars, stables and houses of this underground city, before continuing to the beautiful Soganli Valley for a taste of lesser-known Cappadocia. For lunch, we visit a local family for a cooking experience. Discover regional home-cooked food in a shared experience. The leader will be on hand to help with translations and demonstrations. We return to our hotel mid-afternoon. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 5 Optional balloon ride; walk through White Valley; discover Love Valley; afternoon at leisure

This morning is our chance to take part in the most iconic activity in Cappadocia – an early morning hot-air balloon ride. We have pre-booked slots for each group member, but to allow for possible weather-related delays or even cancellations, we will arrange final confirmation and payment through your leader for those who wish to take part. It's an early start and a short transfer, but the ride lasts for approximately 1h 15min, and ends with a cold glass of champagne. After a late breakfast, we continue our programme for the day, with a walk through the White Valley. It is a little more challenging than the other hikes, but it is one of our favourites. From Uchisar, we descend into a valley of smooth snow-white rock faces and follow an uneven riverbed along the valley floor before entering Love Valley, which offers archetypal Cappadocia views and fairy chimneys. The original name of this valley was Valley of the Vines, but it’s not hard to work out why it has been nicknamed Love Valley. After lunch, the afternoon will be at leisure. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 6 Visit the former monastic complex of Zelve; explore Sword and Red valleys; Jeep safari; late afternoon Whirling Dervishes performance

After breakfast we explore the former monastic complex of Zelve, then drive to Pasabagi – one of the most famous valleys in Cappadocia We drive to Goreme to begin our hike through the Sword and Red valleys to the rock-hewn Kizlar Kalesi monastery. The path takes us through more jaw-dropping scenery, past the giant shards of rock that give Sword Valley its name, and on to the richly coloured rock formations that make Red Valley so remarkable. After lunch, we take a Jeep safari and go a little further afield to hidden corners as the drivers take you through narrow canyons and to viewpoints. In the late afternoon, we visit the historic Saruhan Caravanserai to see the Sema Ritual performed by Whirling Dervishes. This traditional performance has a deep cultural significance in Turkey and is a spectacular, spiritual and often-moving experience. The evening is free to make your own choice of dinner venue. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 7 Day tour to Ihlara Valley; visit Avanos

After breakfast, we start our day tour to Ihlara Valley and one of the prettiest trails in Cappadocia. At 8.5mi (14km) long and up to 394ft (120m) deep, it is the largest historically inhabited canyon in the world. Ihlara has hundreds of churches and shelters made by the easy excavation of the rocks surrounding the valley plus the classic fairy chimneys. We finish with a visit to Selime Cathedral when we exit the valley. The last stop today is Avanos, the Cappadocia town established by the Hittites on the banks of Halys River. Making use of the red clay obtained from the shores, the Hittites created outstanding examples of pottery ware and used potters’ wheels as early as the second millennia BCE. We visit the studio of a local potter-artist and enjoy an interactive presentation on how to create masterpieces of pottery and ceramics. In the evening, we have a farewell-to-Cappadocia dinner at Elai restaurant, near the stone-carved Uçhisar Castle, where all the tables overlook the green valleys. Premium accommodation: Nino Cave Suites, Cappadocia (four-star)

Day 8 Fly to Istanbul; optional Turkish bath experience

This morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Istanbul. We arrive in Istanbul and transfer to our central hotel. There will be an option for a Turkish bath experience at the luxurious 16th-century Hurrem Sultan Hamam. If you wish to explore the more classic sights of Istanbul, our leader will offer walking maps and suggestions, or can help you book guided experiences. In the evening, we enjoy our last group dinner at Hamdi Restaurant, revered for its traditional southeastern kebabs: it is the place to go for this much-loved Turkish dish. The popular restaurant is situated in the historic Eminönü district (West of Sultanahmet) and offers stunning views over the Golden Horn. Premium accommodation: Kent Hotel, Istanbul (four-star)

Day 9 End Istanbul

After breakfast, we say our goodbyes and start our return journeys home. If you’d like more time to explore magnificent Istanbul, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.