Program

Day 1: LARNACA - ATHENS - ISTANBUL - ANTAPAZARI
Gathering at Larnaca airport and flight to Istanbul via Athens. Arrival, pick-up by our local Greek-speaking tour guide and departure by road, after crossing the Bosphorus suspension bridge and crossing Nicomedia, we will arrive early in the afternoon in the riverside town of Antapazari. Check-in at the hotel and rest. In the evening we will have dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: ANTAPAZARI - SAMSONDA
Breakfast and departure for Samsonda, after passing through the lush green Bolu (ancient Bithynia), the historical city of Merzifunda, with intermediate stops we will arrive in the afternoon in Samsonda (ancient Amisos). We will tour its Greek quarter, where it had four old Greek schools, old mansions of the 20th century AD, which belonged to Greeks. Check-in at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

Day 3: SAMSONDA - FATSA - ORNDOU - KERASOUNDA - TRAPEZONDA
Breakfast and departure for Trabezonda after passing through the ancient city of Themiskyra or Tsarsamba, homeland of the Amazons according to mythology, stop for coffee. After Unye we continue crossing the Black Sea coast, passing through Fatsa and arriving at Kotyora (Ordu), where we will see the metropolitan church of Ypapanti at the entrance to the city. Then we pass through the famous city for the production of cherries and hazelnuts Kerasounta. Stop and tour of the city and visit the church of Agios Nikolaos which is today a museum and the exceptional mansions that have been declared preserved. Then via Tripoli and Platani we arrive at Trabzon. Arrival at the hotel, check in. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: TRABZOUNTA
After breakfast we will have a first acquaintance with the city. Visit - guided tour of the church of Hagia Sophia, now a mosque with its amazing architecture and paintings, the Trebizond School, the largest school in the East, the mansion of the banker Kapagiannidis, today Ataturk Kiosk located on the hill of Souk Sou (Kryoneri). Then we will see Panagia Chrysokefalou, which was the metropolitan church of Trebizond, the house of Merimna Pontian Kyrion, the buildings of the Kapagiannidis and Fostiropoulos banks. We will have the opportunity to climb on our own to Mithrian Mountain, Boztepe hill from where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city, as well as the Theoskepastos Monastery, which is located at its foot. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 5: TRAPEZOUTA - PANAGIA SOUMELA - TRAPEZOUTA
After breakfast departure for Mount Mela. We follow the path that the monks Varnavas and Sofronios walked to find the cave they had envisioned to place the icon of the Virgin Mary. After a beautiful route in the lush forest and passing through Matsouka, we arrive at Mount Mela (SOUMELA) where the cave is which evolved into an important monastery. The monastery of Panagia Soumela was the center of all the Orthodox people of Pontus thanks to the miracles of the Virgin Mary. Thanks to the offerings and donations of the common people, as well as various emperors of Byzantium and later emperors of Trebizond, the monastery was renovated, a four-story guesthouse with 70 rooms and a library was built, and small churches dedicated to various saints were rebuilt around the Monastery, as well as a wall - fortress to protect the Monastery from various raids. Optional visit by van to the villages of Matsouka, here you can taste the famous rice pudding of Hapsikion. Late in the afternoon return to our hotel and free time in the beautiful market of Trebizond. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 6: TRABEZONDA - PLATANA - SAMSUNDA - AMASEIA
After breakfast we take the return route. Passing through Platana (formerly Hermonassa), Kerasounta, and Kotyora, we arrive at Amasya. Arrival at the hotel and check-in. Dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: AMASYA - CONSTANTINOPLE
Breakfast and we begin with a guided tour of Amasya, the birthplace of the “father of historical geography”, Strabo, and the capital of the Mithridatic Kingdom of Pontus. During our tour of the city, we will see the Kemal monument, which is the place where the 174 leading figures of Pontic Hellenism were hanged, who were summarily convicted in the “Courts of Independence of Amasya”. Directly opposite the northern bank of the Iris River, rise the royal carved tombs of Mithridates, the historic castle and the city walls. In this northern part of the city was the quarter of the Greeks and Armenians of Amasya. Then departure for Constantinople. Arrival late in the evening and check-in at the hotel. Overnight.

Day 8: ISTANBUL - LARNACA
After breakfast we will have a tour of Constantinople. First we will visit the Patriarchate, continue to the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Basilica Cistern or Aqueduct and finally free time at the Covered Market. With unique experiences and priceless images, our trip will end with our transfer to the Istanbul airport where we will take the return flight to Larnaca via Athens.