Southeastern Anatolia Tour 5 Days

he exciting Southeastern Türkiye tour 5-days begins with your arrival at the airport.
Flight 07:45 am Istanbul  Airport (IST), or 08:40 am Sabiha Gokcem Airport (SAW)  early flight to Adiyaman Airport.

Meet your guide and mouving tuvards Mt. Nemrut.  We take a short break for breakfast in Kahta or Adiyaman.

First, visit the Arsameia ancient city excavation area, Karakus Tumulus, the burial mound of the women of the Commagene Royal family, and the Roman Bridge (Cendere Bridge), one of the oldest bridges in the world. It was built by the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus (193-211) in the name of his two sons and his wife. This 120-meter-long, 30-meter bridge was built with cut stones without mortar.
After parking the car on Mount Nemrut, you can reach the summit by climbing a challenging 2 km steep road (35 - 45 Minutes). It is recommended that you take comfortable, non-slip shoes and warm clothes.
After an arduous climb, we will reach the house of gods on the summit of the mysterious and magnificent Mt. Nemrut. On the eastern terrace of the Nemrut summit, we will see the Zeus, Apollon, Heracles, Antiochus, Commagene, Eagle, and Lion sculptures. 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.
Accommodation is at the Euphrat Hotel, located on the slopes of Mount Nemrut, 8 km away from the God statues at the top and close to the stars. ( Dutluca Village )
Dinner and overnight in Mt. Nemrut  ( Dinner )

After breakfast at the Mt Nemrut slops, we are moving towards Diyarbakır (160 Km)
Our tour will kick off with a visit to the Diyarbakir city walls and 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 a lunch break at a local restaurant with a grilled kebab. Afterwards, drive towards Mardin.
Visit on the Mardin Way the 3,000-year-old Zerzevan Castle, a candidate for the Unesco World Heritage list, in the Çınar district of Diyarbakır.
Zerzevan Castle: 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.
Mardin: Arrive and start our 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. 
Dinner and accommodation in Mardin  (Breakfast – Dinner )

After breakfast, 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.
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 At Sanliurfa.
Sanliurfa city tour: Visit Halil-Ür Rahman Mosque, the old and new Mevlid-i Halil Mosque, Ayn-el Zeliha Lake, and the Balıklıgöl, Halil-Ür Rahman Lake, where Prophet Abraham is said to have been thrown into the fire. The burning logs turned into fish, whereas the fire turned into water. We will also visit the cave where Prophet Abraham was born.
Afterwards, we will have a lunch break at a local restaurant (not included)

Next, we will visit the Urfa Archeology Museum and the Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, which has an indoor area of 29,000 square meters and exhibits many historical artefacts from Anatolian civilisations.
We will have a lunch break at a local restaurant (not included) and visit the Sipahi Bazaar, Kazzaz Market, Hacı Kamil Han, Hüseyiniye Bazaar, Naccar Bazaar, Gümrük Inn, and Ulucami (Grand Mosque).
Dinner and overnight stay in Sanliurfa.   (Breakfast – Dinner )
** We will have dinner in Sanliurfa with a traditional musical program called Sıra Gecesi.

Today's departure towards Gaziantep ( 390 KM) First visits to Ancient Harran.
Harran: Harran is an ancient city that has been continuously inhabited since the 6th millennium BC. It was once the capital of the Assyrian and Umayyad civilisations. We will be welcomed by its conical domed houses and historical sights, such as the Konik Harran Houses, Harran Mound, and El Firdevs Mosque. Umayyad Caliph Mervan built the mosque, also known as Cennet Mosque, after the Harran's trip and arrived at the Halfeti dam.
Halfeti: Halfeti has a rich history dating back to 855 BC. It was once ruled by cultures such as the Assyrians, Byzantines, Romans, Armenians, and Ottomans. One of its unique features is that it's the only place in the world where black roses grow. We take a boat trip to visit old Halfeti, now submerged by the Euphrates River due to the Birecik Dam. Along the way, you'll see Rumkale, the former center of the Armenian Bishopric, the half-submerged village of Savaşan, and the sunken minaret, all offering exciting and beautiful views.
We have a lunch break at Halfeti Dam after the boat trip. Next, visit the ancient Zeugma.
Zeugma: Zeugma is an ancient city in the Belkıs village of the Nizip district of Gaziantep. The city was founded by Seleucus I, one of Alexander the Great's generals, and was initially named Nicator Selevkeya Euphrates. It later became a city in the Kingdom of Commagene. In the first quarter of the 1st century BC, it became part of the Roman Empire and was renamed "ZEUGMA."
Throughout history, Zeugma was an essential point for trade caravans and armies crossing the Euphrates River, dating back to the Age of Assyrian Trade Colonies. Unfortunately, most of the ancient city was submerged under the waters of the Birecik Dam, completed in 2000.
Arrival and overnight stay in Gaziantep.  (Breakfast – Dinner )

After a delicious breakfast in Gaziantep, visit the Zeugma Museum and take a city tour.
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is the second-largest mosaic museum in the world, featuring 1700 square meters of mosaics. Visitors can marvel at ancient artefacts and mosaics discovered in the ancient city of Zeugma. The museum exhibits 2748 square meters of mosaics, 140 square meters of wall paintings, 4 Roman fountains, 20 columns, 4 limestone statues, bronze statue of Mars, funerary steles, sarcophagi, and architectural pieces of Roman and Late Antique significance. The famous Gypsy Girl Mosaic is exhibited here.

Then, there will be free time for shopping and lunch while visiting Bakırcılar Bazaar, Almacı Bazaar, and Zincirli Bedesten. Don’t forget to sample and buy Gaziantep’s famous baklava and pistachios!
Gaziantep gastronomy is world-famous. On the last day of the tour, we have a lunch break with delicious Gaziantep dishes and pistachio baklava.
At the end of the tour, a private transfer to Gaziantep Airport.  Hope to see you on another holiday in Turkey.( Breakfast )

Customised Tours
We can create a tour program on your request and offer an itinerary that suits your personal, educational, cultural, and budgetary requirements. Don't hesitate to contact us with your requests.