CONSTANTINOPLE-PONTUS

CONSTANTINOPLE-PONTUS

Tour Program

1^st Day: Thessaloniki-Constantinople-Trebizond(Pontus)

Our excursion to Pontussets off by departing from our offices in Thessaloniki early in the morning. We make a stop at Xanthi and cross the borders of Greece and Turkey.Next,we visit the duty free shops.Then we leave for Turkey via Kessanis, Malgara and Raedosto,where we stop for lunch. Then we travel through Iraklia, Marmaras and Sylivria.

We arrive at Constantinople airport to depart for Trabzon by air. We transfer to the hotel for dinner and overnight. Leisure time is offered for more activities.

2^nd Day:Trebizond

After having breakfast we depart to the Μonastery of Panagia Soumela.We attend the Divine Liturgy for the feast of Our Lady (Virgin Mary).By returning to Trebizond, we see the Myrthion Mountain, to which the Myriads of Xenophon arrived.In Trebizond, we visit the church of Agia Sofia, Saint Eugene, Virgin Mary the Chrysochephalus (with the gold head) and admire some old mansions.We,also,see the first Pontos School, the well-known Tutorial School. We can optionally dine in Platanas. Then we visit, in the Soğuk Su area, the villa of Banker Kapayannidis. We return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

3^rd Day:Trebizond

Our route leads us today to the area of Ofeos in Lake Uzun Gul, with the glorious Pontic Alps being around. There, we will walk around and have the time to have a meal.

Continuing our journey we stop at Sourmena, a coastal town known for the Mitsak Knives. We return to Trabzon where there is free time to walk around in the city market.

Dinner and overnight stay at our hotel follow. It is suggested to those who wish, to have fun in the nightclubs of the city.

4^th Day:Trebizond – Kerasunda – Kotyorra – Oinoi – Samsun

We have our breakfast and leave for Kerasunda. We visit the Metropolitan Church of Saint Nikolaos and we see the only fixed extend island.

We continue on to ancient Kotyora and we reach Oinoi, a city that was the western border of the Empire of Trebizond. We visit Iasoneio Αkrotiri(Cape), where the church of Panagia or else called St. Nicholas is located. We continue to Samsun, the Amazon region. We arrive to the hotel for settling down, dinner and overnight staying.

5^th Day:Samsun – Amasia

We have our breakfast and go to the port of Samsun. The port of Samsun is famous for being the place with the most of the Greek tobacco shops and the largest tobacco export. Here, by walking in the city we see the ruined buildings, the boys’ school, the girls’ school and many mansions, as well as the former Bank of Greece building.

We continue to reach the city of Amasya crossed by the Iris River and was the birthplace of the father of historical geography-Stravonas. We see the graves of the Mithridates and the monument from the courts of independence. We arrive at the hotel to settle. Dinner and overnight follow.

6^th Day: Amasia – Saframpol (Euchaita) – Constantinople

We set off on Castamoni, the city of ancient Paphlagonia. Castamoni was the place of origin of the Great Family of Komnenos. We visit the fortress of Komnenos and we continue for the city of Saframpol.Then, We arrive in Constantinople and we settle in the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay follow.

7^th Day:Constantinople

We depart for Hagia (Saint) Sophia, the Vlachernon Monastery, the Patriarchate – St. George and the Monastery of Balouklis. In the afternoon, an optional cruise ship is proposed in the Bosphorus. We continue with optional fun at a well-known belly dancing club. We return to the hotel for overnight stay.

8^th Day: Constantinople – Thessaloniki

We have our breakfast and then we take the way back.On the way back, stops for food and coffee occur. We cross the border and stop outside of Xanthi for having lunch. We arrive in Thessaloniki late in the afternoon.

Included:

• Return ticket from Thessaloniki to Istanbul
• Air Ticket from Istanbul to Trebizond
• Airport taxes
• 7 overnights with half-board in hotels, (7 breakfasts, 7 dinners included)
• Luxury air-conditioned bus for excursions
• Escort / Tour guide during the entire tour

Not included:

• Entrances to museums, historic archaeological and religious sites.
• That is not explicitly mentioned in the program or referred to as optional or proposed.