5-Day Eastern Anatolia Journey: Diyarbakır to Gaziantep via Göbeklitepe & Mt. Nemrut

(Lunch, and Dinner included)

Our 5-day Mesopotamia tour begins at Diyarbakir Airport, where you will meet our guide. We'll first enjoy a delicious breakfast at a local restaurant (not included) before visiting Diyarbakır Castle and the ancient city walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site believed to have been built around 2000 BC. Highlights include the four-legged minaret and the Diyarbakır Great Mosque, one of Islam's Harem-i Sharifs. Next, we will stop by Martom Church, built in 639 AD, and see the sundial created by Al-Jazari in the Ulu Mosque garden.

We’ll take a coffee break at the historical Hasan Pasha Inn, established in 1575, and explore the Diyarbakir Kaleici Bazaar, a local shopping hub. After a kebab lunch at a local restaurant, we’ll drive towards Mardin.

Zerzevan Castle: On the way, we will visit the 3,000-year-old Zerzevan Castle, a candidate for the UNESCO World Heritage list, located in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır. This castle was a military settlement during the Roman Empire and housed the Temple of Mithras, a site dedicated to the Roman mystery religion. Rites performed in this temple were conducted secretly. Today, many mysterious visitors visit the Mithras Temple and perform religious rituals.

Mardin has a rich cultural mosaic with its architectural structure that gives the city a mystical Muslim, Syriac, Turkish, and Arabian atmosphere. We will walk through its charming streets, visit the Mardin Museum, Latifiye Mosque, and the Great Mosque of Mardin, and then enjoy free time shopping, where you can find Mardin’s famous almond candy and local jewellery. Finally, we will explore Kasimiye Madrasah, known for its remarkable architecture,

Dinner and accommodation in Mardin.  

(Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)

After breakfast visit Deyrul-Zafaran Monastery and Dara Ancient City.

Deyrul-Zafaran Monastery was constructed in the 5th century and became a significant religious centre for the Syriac community. It features notable structures, including the Mor Hanonya Church, the Sun Temple, the Virgin Mary Church, and the House of Saints, all exemplifying Mardin's renowned stonemasonry. The monastery served as the official seat of the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church until 1932.

Dara, also known as Anastasiopolis, is one of Mesopotamia's ancient cities and the most important trade centres on the Silk Road. Its ruins consist of structures carved into the rock, including water channels, cisterns, rock tombs, Arasta, and many others.

Continue toward Sanliurfa 210 Km / 3:20 Hr. First, visit Gobeklitepe Temple.

Gobeklitepe is the oldest temple in the world, with a history of 12,000 years dating back to the Stone Age. One of the most important archaeological discoveries of our time, Göbeklitepe is thought to be the first pilgrimage centre of the world, as it rewrites history. During our tour here, our guide will answer the following questions surrounding the area: Who built Göbeklitepe 12,000 years ago and why? Why was Göbeklitepe, the oldest temple in the world, abandoned and buried with soil on purpose? The technology and mathematical knowledge used to build the Temple with rock megaliths weighing 16 tons is still a mystery.

Lunch break in a local restaurant in Sanliurfa.

Visit the Urfa Archeology Museum, which has an indoor area of 29,000 square meters and exhibits many historical artefacts from Anatolian civilisations. Stroll the Sanliurfa Sipahi Bazaar, Kazzaz Market, Hacı Kamil Han, Naccar Bazaar, Gümrük Inn, and Ulucami (Grand Mosque).

Dinner and overnight stay in Sanliurfa.

*** Optional Sıra Gecesi musical program with traditional music, highly recommended

(Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)

After breakfast at our hotel, we will embark on a tour of Sanliurfa, also known as the City of the Prophets. This city is believed to have been home to several prophets, including Adam, Eyyüp, Ibrahim, Hazrat Shuayip, and Elyasa.

Explore the holy area in the Sanliurfa city centre, which features Balikli Gol (Fish Lake), also referred to as Halil-Ül Rahman Lake. We will also see Ayn-ı Zeliha Lake, said to have been formed from the tears of Zeliha, the daughter of King Nemrut. Additionally, we will visit the cave where Abraham is believed to have been born. Lunch break at a local restaurant,

Visit the 4300-year-old historical city of Harran, an important stopping point for caravans on the Silk Road. Harran is famous for its conical-shaped houses made of mud brick. B.C. Assyrians, Hittites, Medes, Persians, Alexander the Great, Romans, Arabs, and Turks contributed to Harran's history and culture, which was founded around 2100 BC. Afterwards, continue towards Adıyaman and visit Perre, the ancient city.

Dinner and overnight stay in Adıyaman.

(Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included)

Today we are making the most exciting discovery of the 5-day Mesopotamia tour program.

We leave the hotel at 04:00 in the morning for the magnificent sunrise view of Mount Nemrut, and after a one-hour drive, we arrive at the summit.

Mount Nemrut is 2150 metres high. There is the Tumulus, the monumental tomb of Antiochus I, king of Commagene, and huge statues of gods. The mesmerising sunrise and sunset views offer a visual feast.

After a challenging climb, we will see the Zeus, Apollon, Heracles, Antiochus, Commagene, Eagle, and Lion sculptures on the eastern terrace of the Nemrut summit. The tumulus of the Commagene King Antiochus I is at the top. We will also see the altars and sculptures on the western terrace.

It is impossible not to be impressed by the magnificent view and the beauty of the colossal statues at the top of Mount Nemrut. Enjoy the delight of the enchanting sunrise view on the endless horizon among the impressive giant God statues on the summit of Mount Nemrut. Don't forget to make a wish during this enchanting visual feast. Afterwards, visit Arsemia, Karakus Tumulus, and Cendere Bridge (Roman Bridge).

Arsameia is located on the Nemrut Mountain road within the borders of the Kahta district. It was founded in the 2nd century BC as the summer capital and administrative centre of the Commagene Kingdom.

Karakuş Tumulus was built 2000 years ago on the slopes of Mount Nemrut. There are the tombs of the Kommegena Queen and the King's Sister.

The Cendere Bridge was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus over the Cendere Stream, a tributary of the Euphrates River, in the Kâhta District from 193 to 200 AD. This bridge still in use today, is one of the finest examples of Roman architecture.  Departure to Halfeti, lunch break on the way.

Halfeti district is also known as the hidden paradise of the Southeast with its historical stone houses, black roses, and natural beauties. Next, we will visit the underwater Savaşan Village on a boat called "the sunken city".  During the Halfeti boat tour, we will see Rumkale, which is said to have reproduced the Gospel of St. Paul, the apostle of Jesus, from the boat, accompanied by a magnificent view. Architectural ruins in Rumkale have Late Roman and Medieval characteristics, and the Greek castle, which has the ruins of structures such as old water cisterns, St. Nerses Church, and Barşavma Monastery, has a magnificent visual view.

Dinner and overnight stay in Gaziantep.

(Breakfast and Lunch included)

After breakfast, we will start our day with a visit to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the second-largest mosaic museum in the world. The world-famous Gypsy girl mosaic and the God of War ARES bronze statue are also exhibited here.  Afterwards, we will go for a shopping trip to Bakırcılar Bazaar, Almacı Bazaar, and Zincirli Bedesten, where you’ll have free time to lunch at local restaurants. We strongly recommend you try Gaziantep's world-famous baklava and delicious regional dishes.

End of the tour. Transfer to Gaziantep Airport for your domestic flight to Istanbul Airport, where you can connect to your onward flight to your next destination. Hope to see you on another Turkiye holiday.