An independent group of like-minded people will explore the Turkish Arab border region taking in evocative cities, sights and sounds along some of the ancient trade routes of the eastern part of Anatolia.

The duration of this flexible tour will be between fourteen and eighteen days starting with a flight from London to Istanbul, then on to Trabzon on the Black Sea; thereafter, our journey will point towards the east, visiting Kars, formerly a Russian city; Ani, on the ancient Silk Route, then along the foothills of Mt Ararat and to Lake Van and region; travelling south we then arrive at Diyarbakir, a Kurdish city, the walls of which can be seen from the moon. Finally, we come into Sanliurfa, the birth place of Abraham and then on to Haran an ancient Mesopotamian city, where people still live in mud bee-hive houses; this area lies between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates, the site of the GAP project and the new Ataturk dam. Return flight is from Sanliurfa to Istanbul and then to London.

Throughout, you will be accompanied by Dr Clifton Stockdale who has been a visiting lecturer at Kars University and also on many of the classical sites of Anatolia; he is also Reader at All Saints Church, Hurworth. The itinerary weaves its way through at least sixteen civilisations and has been compiled on the basis of research carried out in May 2001.Then, it was a fascinating experience, however, it is not for those who expect five star facilities in any respect; moreover, please bear in mind, the unexpected can happen, it is an ADVENTURE.

Overland travel is by excellent but cheap local transport, superb for sight seeing; sometimes we shall use the dolmus -  a kind of collective taxi, but be prepared to share your seat with a lamb or perhaps a boxful of chickens. Accommodation and transport costs are very low and shall be reserved as required. Group size is limited to ten participants only.  Illustrations on this page show some of the sites to be visited (in order of travel).