Journey across Upper Mesopotamia on this ten-day Southeastern Turkey tour that begins in imperial Istanbul and traces the cradle of civilisation through Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Göbeklitepe, Mount Nemrut, Gaziantep, Antakya and Adana, planned in-house by Inca Tour, a TURSAB-licensed operator since 2007 and led by your own English-speaking guide.
From Istanbul you fly east to Mardin, a terraced city of sandstone mansions, monasteries and minarets that gazes over the plains of Mesopotamia. You continue to Şanlıurfa, revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham, and to Harran with its ancient walls and beehive-roofed houses, before standing before the astonishing standing stones of Göbeklitepe, the earliest monumental sanctuary ever found. The road then climbs to Adıyaman and Kâhta for the great funerary mountain of Mount Nemrut, where giant stone heads of gods and kings watch over the Commagene heartland.
The journey crosses to Gaziantep, Turkey's culinary capital, home to the dazzling Roman mosaics of the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and famous for its pistachios, baklava and copper bazaars. You reach ancient Antioch (Antakya) to see the Roman engineering of the Titus Tunnel and the silk-weaving gardens of Harbiye (Daphne), then finish in Adana with its grand Sabancı Central Mosque and legendary kebab before flying back to Istanbul. With domestic flights, a private air-conditioned vehicle, guiding and most meals included, it is a deep, comfortable immersion in the history, faith and flavours of southeastern Anatolia. Prices are per person and fall as your group grows.
Your full program, day by day — click a day to see every stop.
On arrival at Istanbul Airport your guide meets you and transfers you privately to your hotel. Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and the rest of the day is free to settle in and begin exploring. This evening you enjoy a welcome dinner. Overnight in Istanbul.
A full day in the old city. You visit Topkapı Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans with its Imperial Treasury and sacred relics, then the Blue Mosque, famed for its blue İznik tiles, and Hagia Sophia. You walk the ancient Hippodrome with the Obelisk of Theodosius, the bronze Serpentine Column and the Column of Constantine, and after lunch browse the Spice Bazaar. Overnight in Istanbul.
A morning flight takes you to Mardin, the jewel of Upper Mesopotamia. You visit the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, a seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church for centuries, then stroll the terraced old town to see the Kasımiye and Sultan İsa (Zinciriye) madrasahs, the Ulu Mosque, the Forty Martyrs Church and the historic stone mansions, meeting the region's long-mingled communities. Overnight in Mardin.
You drive to Şanlıurfa, ancient Edessa and revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham. You visit the sacred Pool of Abraham (Balıklıgöl) with its carp-filled waters and gardens, the cave of Abraham's birth and the citadel above the city, then explore the Sipahi covered bazaar with its traditional craft and textile workshops. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.
You drive to Harran, one of the oldest continuously inhabited sites on earth and named in the Old Testament, to see its ancient walls, ruined university and the distinctive beehive-roofed mud-brick houses built to defeat the heat. In the afternoon you visit Göbeklitepe, the astonishing temple complex some 6,000 years older than the pyramids, whose carved megaliths have rewritten the story of early humanity. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.
You travel to Adıyaman and Kâhta, the heartland of the ancient kingdom of Commagene. After lunch you explore the region's archaeological treasures on the approaches to Mount Nemrut, including monumental reliefs, the Karakuş tumulus and the Roman Cendere (Severan) bridge, before free time in the town centre. Overnight in Adıyaman.
You ascend Mount Nemrut to stand among the colossal stone heads of gods and kings raised on the summit by King Antiochos I of Commagene, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing west you reach Gaziantep, the gastronomic capital of Turkey, to visit the magnificent Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to the famous "Gypsy Girl" and one of the world's richest collections of Roman mosaics. You then drive on to Antakya. Overnight in Antakya.
Today you discover ancient Antioch (Antakya), one of the great cities of the Roman world. You visit the Titus Tunnel, a vast water channel hewn through solid rock by Roman engineers, and the gardens and waterfalls of Harbiye (ancient Daphne), long celebrated for its silk weaving. You stroll the old bazaars known for their spices and cold-pressed olive oil. Overnight in Antakya.
You drive to Adana on the fertile Çukurova plain, a crossroads of civilisations from the Hittites to the Ottomans. You tour the city's landmarks, including the vast Sabancı Central Mosque, the Roman Taşköprü (Stone Bridge) over the Seyhan River and the old quarter, and enjoy the city's world-famous Adana kebab for lunch before catching an afternoon flight back to Istanbul. On arrival you are transferred privately to your hotel. Overnight in Istanbul.
After breakfast you check out and your tour comes to an end. Depending on your flight time you are transferred to the airport for your onward journey. We wish you a safe trip home and hope to welcome you back to Türkiye.
Handpicked 3-, 4- and 5-star hotels along your route. Choose your category — the price adapts.
Exact hotels are confirmed on booking based on availability and your chosen category; equivalent alternatives may be offered.
Istanbul → Mardin → Şanlıurfa → Harran, Göbeklitepe → Adıyaman, Kâhta → Mount Nemrut, Gaziantep, Antakya → Antakya, Harbiye → Adana, Istanbul → Istanbul
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles — the same fleet we use on your tour.
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👥 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
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👥 16+1 Seats
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Extra day tours you can add along your route — Istanbul, Mardin, Şanlıurfa, Harran, Göbeklitepe, Adıyaman, Kâhta, Mount Nemrut, Gaziantep, Antakya, Antakya, Harbiye, Adana, Istanbul.
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Real, verified reviews from travellers who explored Turkey with us.
My husband and I chose Inca Tour for our honeymoon and we are so glad we did. The boutique hotel selection was beautiful and the Bosphorus dinner cruise was so romantic. Thank you for making our trip special!
It was important for us to have a guide who spoke Russian, and Ender was wonderful. He explained every detail at Dolmabahce Palace. The Princes Islands day trip was a beautiful break from the busy city.
Our guide Ender was incredibly knowledgeable about Turkish history. The hot-air balloon ride at sunrise in Cappadocia was the highlight of our trip. Everything was perfectly organized — from airport pick-up to the last d...
Ender was our Italian-speaking guide and we felt like family. He took us to local spots tourists never see. The hotel choice in Sultanahmet was perfect for walking everywhere.
10+ years later we still talk about our Cappadocia balloon ride and the Bosphorus sunset cruise. Some memories are timeless. Thank you Inca Tour!