EasternTurkeyTours Lake Van Region

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Pierce Hutchinson
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1 EasternTurkeyTours Lake Van Region Exceed your expectations

At 1640 metres above sea level, Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East.

Depending on what you are looking for a person can visit any time of year. Ski tours are available across the surrounding mountains in January to March.

2 Why Go? Van Lake District is a unique volcanic landscape in eastern Turkey comprising Mt Ararat, Mt Suphan, Mt Nemrut Volcano, Mt Artos and incomparable Lake Van itself. At 1640 metres above sea level, Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey and the second largest in the Middle East. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding snow capped mountains. When to Go? Depending on what you are looking for a person can visit any time of year. Ski tours are available across the surrounding mountains in January to March. However spring, April to June is the best time because of the astounding and joyful display of wild flowers carpeting mountain meadows and pastures and the profusion of life reborn after the austere winter months. The 3000 year old Urartian citadel atop Van castle rock overlooking the city and the lake. How to Go? There are regular daily flights from both Ankara and Istanbul to Van

With the rim topping out at 3050 metres and an expansive crater bottom frequented by nomadic herdsmen, bears and occasionally wolves Nemrut is like another world.

3 Best for Volcanoes Lake Van is ringed by a number of extinct volcanoes the principal one being Mt. Nemrut, Containing a series of hot and cold lakes Nemrut is one of the largest complete calderas in the world. With the rim topping out at 3050 metres and an expansive crater bottom frequented by nomadic herdsmen, bears and occasionally wolves Nemrut is like another world. Best for Trekking There are many trekking opportunities from the arduous trek to the summit of Biblical Mt Ararat or the frozen lake in the cone at the summit of Mt Suphan to the gentler vistas of Artos on Lake Van s southern shore there are avenues for every outdoor enthusiast.

Best for History & Culture Van Castle Today, Van is the provincial capital of Van province and a part of Turkey s Kurdish heartland with its vibrant culture, music and food.

Around the Lake you can visit the stunning 10th century Armenian church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, the evocative Seljuk cemeteries and funerary monuments at Ahlat or Hosap Castle,

Anatolia. Witness the celebration of Van s Armenian heritage Church of the Holy Cross (Sourp Khatch) on Akdamar Island (Aghtamar), Lake Van.

4 Best for History & Culture Van Castle Today, Van is the provincial capital of Van province and a part of Turkey s Kurdish heartland with its vibrant culture, music and food. Van is the capital of the ancient Kingdom Urartu- the Chaldeans of the Old Testament- and the city is crowned with the ancient castle mount and its Urartian citadel from 850BC. Around the Lake you can visit the stunning 10th century Armenian church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, the evocative Seljuk cemeteries and funerary monuments at Ahlat or Hosap Castle, originally a Urartian fortress of the 8th century BC but later the 17th century fortress of a Kurdish chieftain revelling in the name of Blonde Suleiman, built to guard the ancient Silk Road into Anatolia. Witness the celebration of Van s Armenian heritage Church of the Holy Cross (Sourp Khatch) on Akdamar Island (Aghtamar), Lake Van. 10th century Newroz, The Kurdish New Year celebrations marking the start of spring on March 21st and accompanied by folk dancing festivals and celebrations across Van. At the end of June the Van Music Festival celebrates the singing and dancing traditions of the region. Religious services at the Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island in September celebrate Van s Armenian heritage. And all year round Van s famous breakfast on Kahvalti Sokak (Breakfast Street) a veritable cornucopia of honey in the comb, jams, cheeses, fruit and heavenly bread and pastries.

Eat & Drink Van is known for its wild honey, produced by itinerant bee keepers that can be seen

Fabulous cheeses and a host of fresh farm produce from the villages around Van.

Accommodation Cats From private pensions to 5 star lake side hotels and city centre luxury

5 Eat & Drink Van is known for its wild honey, produced by itinerant bee keepers that can be seen from early spring in the mountain valleys and pastures. Fabulous cheeses and a host of fresh farm produce from the villages around Van. Kebabs and more varieties of fresh bread than you could ever imagine. Accommodation Cats From private pensions to 5 star lake side hotels and city centre luxury hotels- Van has accommodation for every taste and pocket. The famous Van Cat known for its thick lustrous coat, its love of water and its remarkable eyes; blue, amber or sometimes one of each!

Recommendations Pleasure Palace of Ishak Pasha Stunning Van Citadel at sunset overlooking Lake Van. Akdamar Island with its beautiful 10th Century Armenian Church.

6 Recommendations Pleasure Palace of Ishak Pasha Stunning Van Citadel at sunset overlooking Lake Van. Akdamar Island with its beautiful 10th Century Armenian Church. Mt Ararat, Turkey s highest mountain at 5137 meters, the mysterious and elusive resting place of Noah s Ark, towering over the Plains of Ararat and the exotic Pleasure Palace of Ishak Pasha. EasternTurkeyTours Lake Van Region Exceed your expectations info@easternturkeytour.org Visit:

EasternTurkeyTours Treasures of Eastern Turkey

EasternTurkeyTours Treasures of Eastern Turkey Exceed your expectations Email: info@easternturkeytour.org Nemrut Day 1: CAPPADOCIA KAHTA (Nemrut) We leave the Land of Beautiful Horses and weird rock formations