Join Silk Road Learning Tours for its
EASTERN ANATOLIA IMMERSION
Explore vital crossroads of faiths and ancient civilizations. Enrich your knowledge of the many figures of Muslim piety who emerged from this region. Wander through the old streets of the heartlands of ancient Mesopotamia. Savor the flavors of the countless dishes of Anatolia's rich cuisine.
JULY 20-AUGUST 3, 2022
LED BY DR. FERYAL SALEM
KONYA – AKSARAY – HACIBEKTAŞ – NEVŞEHİR – NİĞDE – ADANA – ANTAKYA – GAZİANTEP – HALFETİ – BİRECİK – ŞANLIURFA – GÖBEKLİTEPE – MARDİN – MİDYAT – HASANKEYF – DİYARBAKIR – MALABADİ – BİTLİS – VAN – AKDAMAR – GEVAŞ
$3200 Double/Single $3650
International Flights to and from Istanbul not Included.
Local Flights Included in the Program.
15 Days/14 Nights.
Registration Deadline: March 25, 2022
Contact: tours@silkroadmusings.com
Trip Itinerary
Day 1 July 20
ISTANBUL TO KONYA
The Sahip Ata Mosque Complex was built by the Seljuk Vezir, Sahip Ata Fahreddin, in 1258. Upon his death, his mauseluem was incorporated into the complex and a bath house/hamam was also built as a part of the broader complex structure. After our morning visits, we will have lunch and learn about the food culture of Konya that was inherited from Ateşbaz-ı Veli. Fire, Hearth, and Clay pots have a special place in Turkish culture and thought. Inspired by the Prophet’s encouragement to feed people as a source of spiritual development (afshū al-salām, aṭʿimū al-ṭa ʿām, wa ṣalātu bi-l-layl wa al-nāsu niyām), the kitchen and feeding strangers in the community were the centers of Sufi lodges in Konya.

The aspirants on the Mevelevi Sufi path begantheir initiation through years of service in the kitchen before they were accepted by the students of Rumi as disciples. If we consider the kitchen as being among the most important section of the Mevlevi lodge, the headmaster of the kitchen, known as Ateşbaz-ı Veli, is among the most important figures in the Mevlevi order.
Rumi is known to have invoked the divine name “Ḥayy” or the Living when he named the headmaster by saying, “Ḥayy ateşbaz, Ḥayy!” The significance of the headmaster of the kitchen’s role is that it symbolizes the
state of inner surrender of the spirit and ego to God.
Activities:
- Rumi’s Mosque Complex
- Sahip Ata Madrasa and Mosque
- Alaadin Mosque
- Konya Museum of Archeology
- Mevlana Museum
Day 2 July 21
KONYA – SULTANHANI – YUNUS EMRE ÇİLEHANESİ – HECIBEKTAŞ
We will leave Konya after breakfast. About two hours after departing from Konya we will visit a magnificent artifact from the Seljuk era; the Sultanhani Caravanseray. After we have finished exploring the caravansaray, we will continue on the road for another hour and a half until we arrive at the Yunus Emre Lodge (Yunus Emre Çilehanesi) near the village of Sarıkaraman. After this visit, we will drive for another hour to the center of the Anatolian Bektaşi communities known as the town of Hacıbektaş. We will use this opportunity to learn about Bektaşi and Alevi communities in Anatolia. After dinner, we will spend the night in Hacıbektaş.

Activities:
- Sultanhan Caravanseray
- Yunus Emre Lodge
Day 3 July 22
HACIBEKTAŞ – NEVŞEHİR – NİĞDE – ADANA
Activities:
- Hasan Dede Mausoleum
- Altunhisar
- Şeyh İlyas Baba, Şeyh Güzel ve Bayram Gazi

Day 4 July 23
ADANA – ANTAKYA

Activities:
- Sabancı Mosque
- Hasan Dede, Sofu Dede and Erkaç Dede
- Hatay Archeology Museum
- St. Pierre Church
- Habib al-Najjar Mosque
- Şemun Sefa Hazretleri as well as Yahya and Yunus Hazretleri
- Herod Road
Day 5 July 24
ANTAKYA

Activities:
- Vespasianus Titus Tunnel
- Samandağ
- Beşikli Cave
- Vakıflı Armenian Village
Day 6 July 25
ANTAKYA – GAZİANTEP
Activities:
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum
- Kebapçı Halil Usta Restaurant
- Medusa Archeological Museum of Glass Works
- Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum
- Bey Mahallesi Old District
- Kahveci Tahmis Coffee House (Optional)
- Gaziantep Covered Spice Bazaar

Day 7 July 26
GAZİANTEP – HALFETİ - ŞANLIURFA
After we complete our boat ride, we will continue on the road to Şanlıurfa. Before arriving at this destination, we will pass through Birecik and stop by the center that houses this areasfamous Bald Ibis (Kelaynak) birds. We will visit the Museum here and learn about these unique creatures.

Activities:
- Halfeti
- Euphrates River Boat Ride
- Roman Fort
- Bald Ibis Museum
Day 8 July 27
ŞANLIURFA

Activities:
- Khalil al-Rahman Mosque and Pool
- Mawlid al-Khalil Cave
- Urfa City Museum
- Eyyubiye Old District
- Sipahi Bazaar
- Gümrük Hanı
Day 9 July 28
ŞANLIURFA – GÖBEKLİTEPE - MARDİN
Activities:
- Şanlıurfa Museum of Archeology
- Aleppo Garden Museum of Mosaics
- Amazon, Achilles, and Orpheus Mosaics
- Göbeklitepe

Day 10 July 29
MARDİN

Activities:
- Shahidiyya Madrasa and Mosque
- Sakıp Sabancı Museum
- Forty Martyrs Church (Kırklar Kilisesi)
- Latifiye Mosque
- Ulu Camii
- Girl’s Professional School
- Zinciriye Madrasa
- Monastery of Saint Ananias (Dayr al-Zafaran)
Day 11 July 30
MARDİN – MİDYAT – HASANKEYF –DİYARBAKIR
Activities:
- Midyat
- Mağara Yazidi Village
- Yazidi Temple (Depending on Availability)
- Dayro d-Mor Gabriel (Deyrulumur Manastırı)
- Mor Barsaumo Church
- Midyat Guesthouse (Midyat Konuk Evi)
- Midyat Market
- Hasankeyf
- Zayn al-Abidin Mosque Complex

Day 12 July 31
DİYARBAKIR

Activities:
- Tigris Bridge
- Hevsel Gardens
- Mardin Gate
- Goat Tower (Keçi Burcu)
- İçkale Museum Complex
- St. Giragos Armenian Church (Aya Yorgi Church)
- Lion Fountain (Aslanlı Çeşme)
- Amida Höyük
- Sulayman Mosque and the Graves of 27 Sahaba
- Mesudiye Madrasa
- Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı Museum House
Day 13 August 1
DİYARBAKIR – VAN
Activities:
- Malabadi Bridge
- Red Mosque (Kızıl Mescit)
- Pir Muhammed Küfrevi Hazretleri
- Van Fort

Day 14 August 2
VAN
Activities:
- Traditional Van breakfast
- Gevaş and Akdamar Island
- Halime Hatun Mausoleum
- Akdamar Church
- Çavuştepe
- Tuşpa Fort (Tuşpa Kalesi)
- Savat Silvermaking
- Van Cat House

Day 15 August 3
VAN – İSTANBUL
