THE supposed resting place of Noah's Ark, the point where Cleopatra arrived in her gold and silver barge to meet Mark Anthony, a mosque that today seats 20,000 worshippers and a hippodrome that once drew crowds of 100,000 or more, camel markets and vast bazaars are just some of the many highlights of Far Horizon's 36-day journey from Muscat to Istanbul departing 25th March 2013.
There's also a twilight cruise by traditional wooden dhow and a drive through a desert oasis in Oman, a journey along a section of the ancient Silk Road, and visits to grand palaces, emperor's spectacular tombs, museums featuring everything from ancient glass and ceramics to carpets and priceless jewels, grand gardens contrasting with arid deserts and homes of hillside cave-dwellers, archaeological sites – and for animal lovers, the chance to see some of Turkey's legendary fluffy white Van cats which strangely have one blue eye and one green eye.
This fascinating tour begins in Muscat and travels through northern Oman to Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman in the United Arab Emirates, then by air to Shiraz for a 12-day coach journey through Iran visiting Persepolis, Isfahan, Tehran, the Caspian Sea and Tabriz. From Mt Ararat and Lake Van in eastern Turkey, the tour continues to Istanbul via the funerary tumulus at Nemrut Dagi, the ancient walled city of Diyarbakir, historic Gaziantep and the 'fairy chimney' houses of the Cappadocia Valley.
The tour price starts from $24,700pp twin-share including return airfares from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane or Perth, best available accommodation, all meals, extensive sightseeing, local guides and a Far Horizons escort throughout, all taxes and gratuities. Details 1800 083 141, (02) 9955 0444 or info@farhorizons.com.au
