CASTLES OF CILICIA, ADANA, TIGRANAKERT, AYNTAP, URFA
Visit wonderful Cilicia and explore legendary castles of Cilicia and Western Armenia where You can discover rich Armenian cultural and historical heritage. Hamshen Tour is a professional travel agency focused on tours to Historical Armenia and our company is doing its best to provide quality service, the best in Armenia. We have English-speaking experienced guides.
6:00AM, Arrival: 11:00PM, Starting point: 8 Tumanyan
Accommodation in 3 and 4 star hotels
Transportation in new minibuses (up to 18 seats, Mercedes Sprinter/ Volkswagen Crafter)
2 meals in a day (1st day: lunch and dinner, 2nd and 3rd days: breakfast and lunch)
Tour guide service in Armenian (English summaries also can be provided, for further information contact our office)
Entrance Fees for all sights
Ferry ticket.
– Visa Fee for Turkey,
– Travel Insurance,
– Additional tours.
Detailed Program
DAY 1 | FROM KARS TO MUSH
Passing through Gyumri and Javakhk, we will enter Ardahan region. Here Tsovakn Hyusiso Lake awaits us, along the shores of which we will go to the mighty Kars. In Kars we will see the fortress of Kars and the famous Church of the Apostles, then we will go through the Vardan bridge to the place we call Charents House. After Kars, our way to Mush will pass through Sarighamish forests.
passing Gyumri and Bavra, then Javakhk (Georgia)Tsovakn Hyusiso (Childir) Lake
Kars: Kars Fortress, St Apostles Church, Vardan Bridge, House of Yeghishe Charents
Sarighamish Forests
dinner in Mush hotel in Mush.DAY 2 | HROMKLA AND EUPHRATES
We will start our day from Mush, then we will pass through the heroic Khulp region of Sasun, then to Ayntap, and we will have a unique stop to sail along the Euphrates and see the legendary Hromkla, which was not only known as a defense structure, but it was also a catholicosate, where Nerses Shnorali's grave is.
Breakfast at hotelPassing Khulp in Sasun
Hromkla Fortress and Euphrates River
Dinner in Ayntap Overnight: Ayntap.DAY 3 | BAGRAS, PAYAS, AYAS AND LEVONKLA
And here begins the day of mighty fortresses. We will start with the Bagras fortress, which will impress any visitor immensely. Next, Payas awaits us with its fortified walls. On the other side of the Armenian Gulf is Ayas with its sea and land fortresses, which are also waiting for their discoverers. And here is Levonkla, one of the most powerful and impressive structures of Cilicia, which is not only extremely impressive in its appearance, but simply captivates with the view from its tall towers.
Breakfast at hotelBagras (Buhras) Fortress
Payas Castle
Ayas Land Fortress
Ayas Sea Fortress
Levonkla Fortress
Dinner in Adana Overnight: Adana.DAY 4 | SIS, TUMLU, VAHKA
We will visit Sis fortress, which was one of the capitals of Cilicia. After fully enjoying Sis, we will go to discover Vahka, one of the famous fortresses of Cilicia, and after that we will visit Anarzaba Fortress by hiking. We will not only see the city of Anarzaba, but also climb the fortress of the same name. At the end of the day, the fortress of Tumlu awaits us, another impregnable fortress in Cilicia.
Breakfast at hotelSis (Kozan) Fortress
Catholicosate of Sis
Vahka (Feke) Fortress
Anarzaba (hiking)
Tumlu Fortress
Dinner in Adana Overnight: Adana.DAY 5 | ANAMUR, SELEUCIA, KORYKOS
Today is the day of the seaside fortresses. We will start with the impressive Anamur fortress. Then we will visit the fortress of Seleucia, from the top of which we will enjoy breathtaking views, and the rest of the day is for Korykos, not only to explore, but also to have a rest on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
Breakfast at hotelMamure (Anamur) Fortress
Seleucia (Silifke) Fortress
Korykos Land fortress
Korykos Sea fortress
Dinner in Korykos Overnight: Korykos.DAY 6 | LAMBRON, GUGLAK, TIL HAMTUN
Another legendary fortress is waiting for us in the Taurus mountains, the mighty Lambron. And after the Lambron, another beautiful place is waiting for us: the fortress of Guglak, from where a breathtaking view of the gates of Cilicia opens. But this is not all. We will visit Til Hamtun fortress.
Breakfast at hotelLambron Fortress
Guglak Fortress: Gates of Cilicia (hiking)
Til Hamtun Fortress
Dinner in Ayntap Overnight: Ayntap.DAY 7 | URFA AND TIGRANAKERT
On the way back, we will visit Ayntap and Urfa Fortresses. In Diyarbekir-Tigranakert, the active Armenian church of St. Kirakos is waiting for us, as well as the strong fortress walls of this ancient city.
Breakfast at hotelAyntap Fortress
Fortress of Urfa (Edessia)
Diyarbekir-Tigranakert: St. Kirakos Church and Walls
Dinner in Mush Overnight: Mush.DAY 8 | MUSH AND BASEN
The last day of our visit we will start by exploring Mush, seeing the local Armenian houses and St. Marine Church, then in the heart of the Mush plain we will see the Sulukh Bridge, built on the Aratsani River. After Mush we will go to Basen, where we will already see the Shepherd's (Hoviv) Bridge, built on the Araks River. Then we will return to Yerevan.
Breakfast at hotelMush: Old Armenian Quarter, St. Marine Church
Aratsani (Eastern Euphrates) River, Mush Valley, Sulukh Bridge
Basen: Araks River and Hoviv Bridge
Lunch in Kars Back to Yerevan.