ARYA TAILOR-MADE CLASSICAL TOURS

You can combine any of the programs we offer below in any way you choose.

ON THE WAY TO THE COAST

This tour is intended for our guests who want to visit Istanbul and the classical sights of Western Turkey before or after their gulet cruise. Normally this tour is carried out with one of our licensed guides; but you can also follow this program on you own, driving a rented car.

WEST ANATOLIA & CAPPADOCIA

A tour combining Western and Central Anatolia. We have operated both of these tours frequently in recent years, and we would be glad to send you the detailed program on request.

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ARYA TAILOR-MADE BIBLICAL TOURS

Asia Minor has served as a bridge between the East and the West and has a rich legacy in Christian history. After Israel, the lands of the present day Turkish Republic host the greatest number of the most frequented locations in the Old and New Testaments.Saint Paul of Tarsus has accomplished most of his missionary work within the geographical boundaries of Turkey. Asia Minor has been the center of the growing and spreading of the Christian faith during the first millenium, and after 1000 AD the inhabitants of this land have gradually turned to the Muslim faith with the increasing number of Turkish settlements in Anatolia. During this period Islamic mystic philosophies such as those of the Bektashi and Mevlevi orders have flourished in Asia Minor as well.

Here are some possible combinations for expeditions to these locations and accompanying sights from these regions. If you contact us we can design a program best suited to your areas of interest and budget.

2000 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY

Departing from Ankara, this 14-day program takes you to the famous rock churches of Cappadocia, Tarsus the birthplace of St. Paul, Konya and centers such as Perge, Derbe, Lystra, Kolosse, Laodiceia, Milet, Ephesus, izmir (Simyrna), Pergamon, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Sardes in Western Anatolia, and the tour terminates in Istanbul. The program may be shortened to 10-12 days depending on your group's time limitations.

CHURCHES IN THE MOSAIC OF CULTURES IN ISTANBUL

A stroll of 3 to 7 days walking the paths of the Christian faith in Istanbul with a combination of Greek Orthodox, Armenian, Syrian, Bulgarian and even Turkish Orthodox churches along with Roman Catholic and Protestant churches of the Levantines.

In addition, we will of course visit the essential spots of the city like the Topkapi Palace, Mosques, The Covered Bazar and a cruise on the Bosphorus.

7 CHURCHES & CHRISTIAN SITES OF WEST ANATOLIA

A week-long tour which covers the seven cities of Laodiceia, Milet, Ephesus, Izmir (Simyrna), Pergamon, Thyatira, Philadelphia, Sardes in St. John's letters.

TUR ABDIN MONASTERIES & CHRISTIAN SITES OF EAST ANATOLIA

A journey from Antiochien (Antakya) to Van in 7-10 days. Highlights are: Antiochien, one of the most essential Christian centers in the establishing centuries of Christianity, the Nemrud mountain, Tur Abdin, that is the area around Mardin-Midyat, Urfa, Diyarbakir and Van.

THE GEORGIAN ATHOS & ALONG THE BLACK SEA COAST

7 to 10 days in the North Eastern Turkey (Trabzon - Artvin - Erzurum) with hikes in a marvelous landscape. Mainly Georgian churches and monasteries are visited, but also examples of the Armenian and Greek Orthodox faith in the nearby surroundings can be added to the program.

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ARYA TAILOR-MADE SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS

SPECIAL TOURS FOR DRAWERS, PAINTERS, PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sights like the extraordinary silhouette of Istanbul or the amazing natural formations in Cappadocia invite the perceptive onlooker to capture those visions in some form such as drawing, painting or photography.

However the pace of normal tours are designed to cover a lot of ground in as short a time as possible not allowing such leisurely artistic endeavors. By a slower rhythm and lengthened stops at places of interest for your party we hope to offer you a more flexible program and the opportunity to record what you see in whichever technique you choose.

Below is a tour that maybe of interest.

MEVLANA, THE WHIRLING DERVISHES AND ANATOLIAN MYSTICISM

This is a one-week tour in central Anatolia to the strongholds of the Islamic mystics. Main points are Konya with the monastery of Mevlevi; the Whirling Dervishes and Hacibektas with the monastery of the Bektasi / Alevi tradition.

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ARYA YACHTING TAILOR-MADE BUSINESS TOURS

In the past years we have organized several tours for professional groups who wanted to learn more about Turkey in their related career fields. Most of these groups were composed of judges, attorneys of state, lawyers and legal advisors. We have also prepared a few tours for groups of architects, stonemasons and labor unionists.

In such tours, our guests have both visited the places in Turkey in which they operate and have formed new contacts among their Turkish colleagues.