Arrive early at Madrid Airport on your morning flight and meet your guide at the exit. If necessary, have a decadent breakfast of local delicacies in a restaurant.
We start the Mardin tour by walking through the narrow streets of Mardin, the cradle of Mesopotamian Civilization. Where people from different religions and sects live together in peace, you’ll see many door knockers and beautifully carved old doors, each with a history of their own. The small passages built under the houses to create narrow streets are called Abbara, and they are the characteristic features of the city. Next, we will visit the Mardin Museum, Latifiye Mosque, the Great Mosque of Mardin, and the old Post Office Building, which reflects the best examples of the region’s stonework.
Afterwards, you’ll have free time for shopping in the city. You may visit the local market, where you can find the famous almond candy of Mardin, local desserts, and jewellery made of silver, gold, and precious stones. Finally, we will visit the Kasimiye Madrasah (Mosque Kebir), which had extraordinary architecture and provided university-level education in the Seljuk period.
Visit the Deyrul-Zafaran Monastery, 10 km from the centre of Mardin. Built in the 5th century, it was one of the important religious centres of the Assyrians. Within the monastery complex are structures such as the Mor Hanonya Church, the Sun Temple, the Virgin Mary Church, and the House of Saints, which are built with the best examples of Mardin stonemasonry. Deyrul-Zafaran Monastery was the official seat of the patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church until 1932. Afterwards, visit Dara's ancient city.
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.
Dinner and accommodation in Mardin.
Distance : 140 Km
Meal : Dinner
After breakfast, we depart towards Diyarbakır. First, visit the 3,000-year-old Zerzevan Castle, a candidate for the Unesco World Heritage list, in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır.
Zerzevan Castel: Visit the 3,000-year-old Zerzevan Castle, a candidate for the Unesco World Heritage list, in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır. In Zerzevan Castle, which was used as a "military settlement" during the Roman Empire, there is the Temple of Mithras, the mystery religion of Rome. Mithras is the Sun God who controls the entire universe. Rites in the temple were always held in secret. Thousands of people come here every year and perform rituals secretly.
Our tour will kick off with a visit to the Diyarbakir city walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site believed to have been built around 2000 BC. One of the most captivating structures we will explore is the four-legged minaret. We will also visit the Diyarbakir Great Mosque, which is recognised as one of the five Harem-i Sharifs of Islam. Martom Church was built in 639 AD after being converted into a mosque. It is highly recommended that you see the sundial the scholar Al-Jazari created in the Ulu Mosque garden.
We will take a coffee and tea break at the historical Hasan Pasha Inn, constructed in 1575. Caravans coming from the Silk Road used to stay there. Additionally, we will visit Sülüklü Han and the Bridge with Ten Eyes.
Diyarbakir Kaleici Bazaar is the local people's shopping centre, so you will have the opportunity to get a closer look at the people and lifestyle of Diyarbakir.
Take lunch at a local restaurant with a grilled kebab. Afterwards, drive towards Sanliurfa.
Our first stop in Sanliurfa will be Göbeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 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.
Karahantepe: Excavations are going on. It is not open to official visits
Karahantepe is located in the Taştepeler region, 38 km from Göbeklitepe. It is one of the most important settlements of the Neolithic period and the oldest ritualistic area. In April 2024, a pig statue with a red mouth was found in Karahantepe's excavations.
We’ll go to our hotel and check in at the end of the tour.
Accommodation in Sanliurfa. ( Breakfast – Dinner )
Traditional Sıra Night: On our Urfa trips, we attend Sıra Nights (Sıra Gecesi), which is a dinnertime entertainment with music and dances that is synonymous with Şanliurfa.
Distance: 300 Km
Sanliurfa is known as the "city of prophets" in Southeastern Turkey. After breakfast, we will visit Halil-Ür Rahman Mosque, Rızvaniye Mosque, and the Balıklıgöl, Halil-Ür Rahman Lake. Prophet Abraham is said to have been thrown into the fire, and the burning logs turned into fish, whereas the fire turned into water. You will visit the cave where Prophet Abraham was born. The Sipahi Bazaar, Kazzaz Market, Naccar Bazaar, Gumruk Inn, and Ulucami (Grand Mosque) are other historical places.
The Urfa Archeology Museum and the Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum have an indoor area of 29,000 square meters and exhibit many historical artefacts from Anatolian civilisations.
Harran: We will take a road trip to Harran, passing through one of Mesopotamia's most fertile agricultural lands. The 3000-year-old Harran houses with conical roofs, designed specially to keep cool in the extreme heat in summer months, were built with adobe and stone masonry techniques. We will visit a Harran house in the village. The first university in the world, Harran University, was also established here.
We arrive in Halfeti after a pleasant journey through pistachio gardens with a delightful view.
Lunch break is in a local restaurant on the road or in Halfeti.
Halfeti, currently situated in Rumkale, was built in 2000 BC by the Assyrian King III. It was founded by Salmanassar and was called Şitamrat at that time. Due to the Birecik dam, many parts of the city, including the Savaşan village, are submerged underwater. We will take a boat cruise tour around Halfeti Dam Lake, where we will see the Sunken Mosque and Roman Castle, mostly submerged and described as a "sunken city." After that, we will visit the ancient city of Zeugma.
Zeugma was founded by Alexander the Great's general, Seleukos Nikator I, in 300 BC. At that time, it was called Selevkeia and Euphrates. It was a city of great wealth and splendour during the Roman and Commagene Kingdom eras. However, in 256 AD, the Sassanid King Shapur I invaded, burned, and destroyed it. The world's richest and most beautiful original mosaics, including the world-famous Gypsy girl mosaic, were found in the ancient city of Zeugma.
Arrival and overnight stay in Gaziantep. ( Breakfast – Dinner )
Distance: 330 Km
After breakfast, we will visit the second largest mosaic museum in the world, Zeugma Mosaic Museum, where the mosaics unearthed in the ancient city of Zeugma on the Euphrates, the world-famous Gypsy Girl mosaic, and the statue of the god of war, Ares, are exhibited. The Sassanid completely destroyed the ancient city of Zeugma on the Euphrates, which lived its heyday around 256 AD during the Roman period.
Gaziantep is the largest and most modern city in the Southeast, and the Gaziantep City tour is hectic and shopping-focused. We will visit the Naib Bath, the Monument to the 14 Martyrs, the replica of the Orkun Inscriptions (with Turkish and Göktürk writings), and the Gaziantep Castle.
Then, we will take a shopping break at Zincirli Bedesten, Almacı Bazaar, and Bakırcılar Bazaar to buy handicrafts made of mother-of-pearl inlay, wire crushed and copper, spices, pistachios, baklava, and other handicrafts known for Gaziantep.
At the end of the Gaziantep tour, you’ll be transferred to Gaziantep Airport. (Breakfast.)
Distance: 80 Km
Meal: Breakfast
| People | Per person in Double |
Single Room | Extra Bed | Children Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Pax | 1915.00 | 2109.00 | 1915.00 | 7 - 11
1818.00 3 - 6
606.00 |
| 3 Pax | 1433.00 | 1628.00 | 1433.00 | 7 - 11
1336.00 3 - 6
445.00 |
| 4 Pax | 1188.00 | 1382.00 | 1188.00 | 7 - 11
1091.00 3 - 6
364.00 |
| 5 Pax | 1099.00 | 1294.00 | 1099.00 | 7 - 11
1002.00 3 - 6
334.00 |
| 6 Pax | 1009.00 | 1203.00 | 1009.00 | 7 - 11
912.00 3 - 6
304.00 |
| 7-9 Pax | 922.00 | 1117.00 | 922.00 | 7 - 11
825.00 3 - 6
275.00 |
| 10-14 Pax | 788.00 | 983.00 | 788.00 | 7 - 11
691.00 3 - 6
230.00 |
| 15-19 Pax | 719.00 | 914.00 | 719.00 | 7 - 11
622.00 3 - 6
207.00 |
| 20-24 Pax | 691.00 | 886.00 | 691.00 | 7 - 11
594.00 3 - 6
198.00 |
| 25-29 Pax | 659.00 | 853.00 | 659.00 | 7 - 11
562.00 3 - 6
187.00 |
| 30-40 Pax | 637.00 | 832.00 | 637.00 | 7 - 11
540.00 3 - 6
180.00 |
| People | Per person in Double |
Single Room | Extra Bed | Children Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Pax | 2023.00 | 2217.00 | 2023.00 | 7 - 11
1872.00 3 - 6
936.00 |
| 3 Pax | 1541.00 | 1736.00 | 1541.00 | 7 - 11
1390.00 3 - 6
695.00 |
| 4 Pax | 1296.00 | 1490.00 | 1296.00 | 7 - 11
1145.00 3 - 6
572.00 |
| 5 Pax | 1207.00 | 1402.00 | 1207.00 | 7 - 11
1056.00 3 - 6
528.00 |
| 6 Pax | 1117.00 | 1311.00 | 1117.00 | 7 - 11
966.00 3 - 6
483.00 |
| 7-9 Pax | 1030.00 | 1225.00 | 1030.00 | 7 - 11
879.00 3 - 6
440.00 |
| 10-14 Pax | 896.00 | 1091.00 | 896.00 | 7 - 11
745.00 3 - 6
373.00 |
| 15-19 Pax | 827.00 | 1022.00 | 827.00 | 7 - 11
676.00 3 - 6
338.00 |
| 20-24 Pax | 799.00 | 994.00 | 799.00 | 7 - 11
648.00 3 - 6
324.00 |
| 25-29 Pax | 767.00 | 961.00 | 767.00 | 7 - 11
616.00 3 - 6
308.00 |
| 30-40 Pax | 745.00 | 940.00 | 745.00 | 7 - 11
594.00 3 - 6
297.00 |
Shall we call you?
