Arrive at Van Airport, meet the assistant guide, who will be waiting for you, and transfer to the hotel.
In your free time, explore this beautiful city of the East. Visit the Van Cat House, a unique white breed with two different eye colours.
Overnight stay in Van. (Dinner)
After breakfast, travel along Lake Van and take a short boat ride to Akdamar Island. Visit the Church of the Holy Cross (Akdamar Church), a medieval Armenian church known for the biblical and historical scenes carved into its exterior stone walls.
After breakfast, travel along Lake Van, take a short boat trip to Akdamar Island, and visit the Akdamar Church, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List. The Akdamar Church (Church of the Holy Cross) is a medieval Armenian church whose exterior is covered with rich stone reliefs depicting biblical and historical scenes.
Continue to Tatvan for lunch with delicious Püryan Kebap. Then, head for Nemrut Caldera
Nemrut Caldera, at an altitude of 2,247 meters. The main crater lake is 4.9 km long, 2.1 km wide, and 160 meters deep. It is the world's second largest volcanic caldera.
(Note: Roads may be closed due to snow in April, May, and October, and visits to the Nemrut Caldera will not be permitted during these months.)
Later, explore Ahlat, an important medieval Turkish-Islamic center known for its monumental Seljuk-era cemetery and distinctive stone tombstones decorated with inscriptions and geometric motifs.
Overnight in Tatvan
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 270 km
After breakfast, depart Tatvan and travel through Bitlis, a historic Eastern Anatolian city set among steep mountain valleys and known for its traditional stone architecture, mosques, madrasas, and old houses. Bitlis honey was chosen as the world's best natural honey in 2022 and won the "Golden Honey" award. Next, visit the ancient Hasankeyf and Midyat.
Hasankeyf is an ancient settlement along the Tigris River where cave dwellings, rock-cut structures, and the remains of a medieval bridge reflect the area's long history.
Arrive in Midyat and have lunch at a local restaurant.
Explore Midyat, known for its traditional stone mansions, Syriac churches, historic streets, and strong Syriac Christian heritage. Take time to walk through the old town and local bazaar before continuing to Mardin.
Overnight in Mardin
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 330km
Spend the morning exploring Mardin Old Town, known for its limestone architecture and views across the Mesopotamian plains. Walk through its narrow streets and traditional abbaras, and visit the Great Mosque of Mardin, Latifiye Mosque, Kasımiye Madrasah, and the historic bazaar.
Mardin is the cradle of Mesopotamian Civilization. Where people from different religions and sects live together in peace. Take free time to shop at the old Mardin bazaar for delicious almond candy, local desserts, handmade natural soap, and jewellery made of silver, gold, and precious stones. Continue to Deyrulzafaran Monastery and Ancient Dara
Deyrulzafaran Monastery, an important historic centre of the Syriac Orthodox Church and the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate until 1932.
Visit Dara, an important Late Roman frontier city with rock-cut tombs, cisterns, and other archaeological remains.
Return to Mardin with free time in the old town.
Overnight in Mardin
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 80 km
After breakfast, depart Mardin for Diyarbakır, stopping at Zerzevan Castle, an important Roman frontier garrison strategically positioned along an ancient route between Anatolia and Mesopotamia.
Explore the remains of the military settlement and its underground Temple of Mithras, associated with the Roman mystery religion of Mithraism. Afterwards, continue to Diyarbakır.
Diyarbakır has been one of Northern Mesopotamia's most important cities throughout history.
Discover Diyarbakır's City Walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the historic Great Mosque; and the three-legged minaret of Sheikh Muhattar Mosque, and Hasan Paşa Han. Take a coffee and tea break at Hasan Pasha Inn, constructed in 1575. Caravans from the Silk Road once stopped here. Diyarbakir Kaleiçi Bazaar is the local shopping centre, so you can get closer to Diyarbakir's people and lifestyle.
Overnight in Diyarbakir
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 130 km
After breakfast, we leave Diyarbakır and set off towards Mount Nemrut. On our way to Mount Nemrut, we stop at the Karakuş Tumulus and the Roman Cendere Bridge, both connected to the ancient Kingdom of Commagene.
Karakuş Tumulus was built in Arsemeia, the summer capital of the ancient Kingdom of Commagene, for the wife, daughters, and granddaughters of King Antiochus I of Commagene.
Cendere Bridge (Roman Bridge) was built by Emperor Septimius Severus without the use of mortar. This 2000-year-old stone bridge, 120 meters long and 7 meters wide, is still in use today. Continue to Mt.Nemrut.
Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the monumental sanctuary built by King Antiochus I of Commagene in the 1st century BC.
We'll have lunch in Kahta.
From the upper access point, walk uphill to the summit terraces to see the colossal statues and monumental stone heads representing Antiochus, Zeus, Apollo, Heracles, Commagene, the eagle, and the lion, set around the royal tumulus.
Depending on the tour schedule, experience sunrise or sunset from Mount Nemrut before descending and continuing to Adıyaman.
Important: Reaching the summit terraces requires a demanding uphill walk on uneven and rocky ground at an altitude of over 2,150 meters. Comfortable walking shoes are essential. The summit can be cold and windy at sunrise and sunset, even during warmer months, so a warm jacket or layered clothing is recommended.
Overnight in Adıyaman
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 290 km
After breakfast, head from Adıyaman to Şanlıurfa. First, visit the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum. The artefacts on display will help you explore and understand Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe. Have lunch at a local restaurant with Urfa kebab. Then, visit Göbeklitepe.
Explore Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back approximately 12,000 years. Examine its monumental walls and distinctive T-shaped limestone pillars, many adorned with carved animals and symbolic figures, and learn about the site's importance in understanding early Neolithic communities.
Karahantepe, another important Neolithic settlement in the Stone Hills archaeological site. This archaeological site, dating back approximately 12,000 years, is known for its T-shaped pillars, carved human figures, rock-cut structures, and monumental communal structures. Ongoing excavations continue to provide new evidence about the communities that lived in this region during the early Neolithic period.
After visiting the archaeological sites, continue to Şanlıurfa and check into your hotel.
In the evening, enjoy a traditional Sıra Gecesi dinner with local music and regional cuisine.
Overnight in Şanlıurfa
Meal: Breakfast - Dinner / Distance: 250 km
After breakfast, depending on your flight time, explore the historic center of Şanlıurfa, traditionally known as the City of Prophets.
Visit Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham), Halil-ür Rahman Mosque, Ayn Zeliha Lake, and the cave traditionally associated with the birthplace of Prophet Abraham. Continue through the historic bazaar, where traditional hans, narrow market streets, and local shops reflect the city's long trading heritage.
At the scheduled time, transfer to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, where your 8-Day Silk Road Journey in Türkiye concludes.
| People | Per person in Double |
Single Room | Extra Bed | Children Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Pax | 4550.00 | 5180.00 | 4550.00 | |
| 3 Pax | 3346.00 | 3976.00 | 3346.00 | |
| 4 Pax | 2884.00 | 3514.00 | 2884.00 | |
| 5 Pax | 2520.00 | 3150.00 | 2520.00 | |
| 6 Pax | 2310.00 | 2940.00 | 2310.00 | |
| 7-9 Pax | 2100.00 | 2730.00 | 2100.00 | |
| 10-14 Pax | 1890.00 | 2520.00 | 1890.00 | |
| 15-19 Pax | 1638.00 | 2268.00 | 1638.00 | |
| 20-24 Pax | 1582.00 | 2212.00 | 1582.00 | |
| 25-29 Pax | 1498.00 | 2128.00 | 1498.00 | |
| 30-40 Pax | 1414.00 | 2044.00 | 1414.00 |
| People | Per person in Double |
Single Room | Extra Bed | Children Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Pax | 4676.00 | 5684.00 | 4676.00 | |
| 3 Pax | 3472.00 | 4480.00 | 3472.00 | |
| 4 Pax | 3010.00 | 4018.00 | 3010.00 | |
| 5 Pax | 2646.00 | 3654.00 | 2646.00 | |
| 6 Pax | 2436.00 | 3444.00 | 2436.00 | |
| 7-9 Pax | 2226.00 | 3234.00 | 2226.00 | |
| 10-14 Pax | 2016.00 | 3024.00 | 2016.00 | |
| 15-19 Pax | 1764.00 | 2772.00 | 1764.00 | |
| 20-24 Pax | 1708.00 | 2716.00 | 1708.00 | |
| 25-29 Pax | 1624.00 | 2632.00 | 1624.00 | |
| 30-40 Pax | 1540.00 | 2548.00 | 1540.00 |
Travel through Eastern and Southeastern Türkiye on this 8-Day Silk Road Journey from Van to Şanlıurfa, following historic routes that connected Anatolia and Mesopotamia for centuries.
Beginning on the shores of Lake Van, the journey takes you through Ahlat, Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mardin, Diyarbakır, Mount Nemrut, Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, and Şanlıurfa. Along the way, explore the heritage of the Urartians, Armenians, Romans, Seljuks, Syriac Christians, and Mesopotamian civilisations.
Visit Akdamar Church, the monumental Seljuk tombstones of Ahlat, Nemrut Caldera, the stone streets of Mardin, Roman Zerzevan Castle, the colossal statues of Mount Nemrut, and the early Neolithic sites of Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe.
With over 30 years of experience, Alsero Tours designed this Eastern Türkiye journey with realistic driving times, carefully planned routes, experienced licensed guides, and the local operational knowledge needed to travel across the region.
Akdamar Church - Van
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