This is the most complete way to get to know Diyarbakir and its hinterland. Over six days and five nights you combine the landmarks of the walled old city with a cooking class, a traditional bath and an excursion to Zerzevan Castle, a Roman frontier fortress in the Cinar district whose underground Mithras temple ranks among the most intriguing archaeological discoveries in southeastern Turkey. Every activity is guided in English, transfers from Diyarbakir Airport are arranged, and you keep the same hotel for the whole stay.
Your first full day concentrates on the city's heritage. The basalt City Walls run for roughly 5.5 km at a height of 7 to 8 m, decorated with inscriptions and reliefs and renewed by the Byzantines in 349 AD. Cayonu near Ergani, around 9,000 years old, ranks among the oldest permanent settlements yet discovered. The Great Mosque, originally the church of Mar Toma and a mosque since 639, is honoured as the fifth Harem-i Serif; its dark stone courtyard and fountain were restored in Seljuk times. The Behram Pasha Mosque shows Ottoman craftsmanship at its finest in its carved pulpit, while the Sheikh Matar Mosque, raised by the Akkoyunlu ruler Kasim in 1500, is known for its minaret balanced on four columns.
The following days slow the pace: a restaurant chef teaches you local Diyarbakir recipes with salads and desserts, and you enjoy the lunch you cooked; then a hamam visit lets you experience cold, warm and hot rooms and a traditional scrub. On day five you travel to Zerzevan Castle, the Roman garrison known in antiquity as Samachi, which watched over a whole valley and an ancient trade route. Below ground lies a temple of Mithras, a sun god of Persian origin worshipped mainly by Roman soldiers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, whose secret, men-only cult led initiates through seven stages. Five breakfasts, one lunch and all entrance fees in the programme are included.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days 5 Nights |
| Price | From β¬1,649 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 9 |
| Entrance fees | Included |
| Booking | Instant request online, confirmation within 24 hours Β· TΓRSAB-licensed operator (A-5751) |
Your full program, day by day β click a day to see every stop.
Our driver greets you at Diyarbakir Airport and takes you to your hotel, which will be your home for five nights. After check-in the day is open. You can unpack, rest after the flight or take a short walk to start getting your bearings in this historic southeastern city. There are no further arrangements for this evening. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
Start early after breakfast at the basalt City Walls, an imposing work of medieval military engineering about 5.5 km long, up to 8 m high and decorated with inscriptions and reliefs. Then discover Cayonu near Ergani, a polished stone age settlement of roughly 9,000 years and one of the first places where people settled for good. In the old town, visit the Great Mosque, the church of Mar Toma turned mosque in 639, built in black stone with an elegant fountain in the courtyard. Admire the ornate pulpit of the Ottoman Behram Pasha Mosque and conclude at the Sheikh Matar Mosque, famous for its four-legged minaret; locals say a wish is granted if you pass between the columns seven times. Return to the hotel. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
After breakfast, travel to a local restaurant for a cooking class with its chef, while your guide explains every detail. You prepare a lunch menu of Diyarbakir dishes inspired by Turkish cuisine, along with salads and desserts, and then eat it together at the restaurant. Afterwards you are taken back to the hotel. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
Following breakfast, you are picked up and driven to a hamam. The Turkish bath descends from Roman bathing customs and is laid out with cold, warm and hot sections. The traditional scrub is carried out by specially trained attendants: a tellak for men and a natir for women. Spend a calm few hours relaxing before you return to the hotel. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
After breakfast you set out for Zerzevan Castle, ancient Samachi, a strategic Roman border garrison that commands the surrounding valley and controlled a large stretch of an ancient trade route. Here you visit the underground temple of Mithras. Of Persian origin, Mithras was a sun god associated with agreement and friendship, light, justice and faith. His cult spread widely among Roman soldiers in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and faded as Christianity grew in the 4th century. Its rituals were secret, open only to men, and held in caves and underground sanctuaries, with followers passing through seven stages of initiation. Return to the hotel afterwards. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
Have breakfast, check out and transfer to Diyarbakir Airport for your flight home.
Diyarbakir β Diyarbakir, Ergani, Cayonu β Diyarbakir β Zerzevan Castle (Cinar) β Diyarbakir
Modern, comfortable and fully-equipped vehicles β the same fleet we use on your tour.
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats (2+1 VIP)
π₯ 55 Seats
π₯ 54 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 50 Seats
π₯ 46 Seats
π₯ 37+2 Seats
π₯ 37 Seats
π₯ 35 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 16+1 Seats
π₯ 12+1 Seats
π₯ 6+1 Seats
Extra day tours you can add along your route β Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Ergani, Cayonu, Zerzevan Castle (Cinar).
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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 β 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!