South-eastern Turkey lies in Upper Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and the Euphrates where farming, temples and some of the first cities appeared. This six-day private journey crosses the region from west to east, starting in Gaziantep and finishing in Mardin, with a licensed English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, entrance fees and five nights of hotel accommodation in Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Adiyaman and Mardin. Breakfast is served daily and dinner is included on five evenings, while flights from and back to Istanbul are arranged separately.
In Gaziantep you visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to one of the world's largest collections of Roman mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma, then explore the castle, the copper market and a baklava shop in the city where the pastry is a point of pride. The following day takes you to Sanliurfa, revered as the City of Prophets and traditionally the birthplace of Abraham, to Gobeklitepe, whose carved megaliths were raised around 12,000 years ago, and to Harran with its beehive houses, ancient mound and early Islamic Great Mosque, ending with a traditional sira night. On Mount Nemrut the colossal stone heads of gods and of King Antiochus I of Commagene guard his burial mound, reached via Arsameia, the Karakus tumulus and the Roman Cendere Bridge.
The longest day crosses the Ataturk Dam to Diyarbakir, with its Grand Mosque, its basalt city walls inscribed on the UNESCO list, the Suluklu Han and the four-legged minaret of the Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque. From there the route continues through Batman and the relocated monuments of Hasankeyf to Midyat, renowned for Syriac silver filigree, the Mor Gabriel Monastery, Nusaybin and the rock-cut tombs and cisterns of Dara. The last full day is devoted to Mardin, where honey-coloured stone houses overlook the plain, with visits to the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, the Kasimiye and Sehidiye madrasas, the Grand Mosque and the old post office building, plus free time in the bazaar.
| Tour type | Private Β· multi-day tour |
|---|---|
| Duration | 6 Days 5 Nights |
| Price | From β¬1,890 per person |
| Departures | Every day |
| Guide | Licensed guide in your language |
| Stops | 15 |
| 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.
An early transfer takes you from your hotel in Istanbul to Istanbul Airport for the flight to Gaziantep, where your guide and driver wait at the exit with a name sign. A short drive brings you to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which displays some 1,450 square metres of Roman mosaics together with frescoes, fountains, columns, sculptures, a bronze statue of Mars and sarcophagi from the ancient city of Zeugma. After a break for lunch you visit Gaziantep Castle, wander through the copper market and stop at a baklava shop to learn why the city is famous for this dessert. Dinner is included. Overnight in Gaziantep.
After breakfast you travel east to Sanliurfa, the City of Prophets. The highlight of the day is Gobeklitepe in the Tas Tepeler region, an open-air sanctuary of carved stone pillars built some 12,000 years ago in the Neolithic period, whose discovery transformed archaeologists' understanding of early human history. You continue to Harran, a settlement inhabited since the 6th millennium BC, to see its conical-domed mud-brick houses, the Harran mound and the ruins of the Great Mosque founded by the Umayyad caliph Marwan II. In the evening you return to your hotel and enjoy dinner at a traditional sira night. Overnight in Sanliurfa.
Following breakfast you drive towards Mount Nemrut via Kahta. On the way you stop at Arsameia, the summer capital of the Commagene kings, the Karakus tumulus built for the royal women of the dynasty, and the Roman Cendere Bridge. The final stretch to the summit is covered by minibus, followed by a steep walk to the top. On the eastern terrace stand the giant statues of Zeus, Apollo, Heracles, Antiochus I, the goddess Commagene, an eagle and a lion, and you also see the altars and sculptures of the western terrace beside the king's tumulus. After the visit you descend to Adiyaman. Dinner and overnight in Adiyaman.
After breakfast you cross the Nissibi Bridge over the Ataturk Dam lake and reach Diyarbakir in about three hours. You visit the Grand Mosque, one of the oldest in Anatolia, walk along the UNESCO-listed city walls and pause for coffee in the historic Suluklu Han. Further stops include the Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque with its minaret on four pillars, the tombs of the Companions of the Prophet and the Prophet Suleiman Mosque. After a lunch break in Batman you see the El Rizk minaret, the Suleyman Mosque minaret and the Zeynel Bey Tomb, moved to New Hasankeyf. In Midyat you browse silver filigree workshops and enjoy the view from the Midyat Guest House terrace, then visit the Mor Gabriel Monastery, Nusaybin and the Beyazsu recreation area before exploring the cave tombs and cisterns of ancient Dara. Dinner and overnight in Mardin.
After breakfast you visit the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, seat of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate for more than a thousand years, including its ancient underground sanctuary, church and baptistery. Back in town you begin your walk through Old Mardin at the Kasimiye Madrasa, then continue to the Grand Mosque and its minaret, the Sehidiye Madrasa and the historic post office building, a fine example of Mardin's carved stone architecture. Free time lets you shop for natural soaps, almonds and almond sweets, dried fruits, rosaries and other handmade souvenirs. Dinner and overnight in Mardin.
After breakfast your driver takes you to Mardin Airport to board the domestic flight back to Istanbul, from where onward international connections are easy. This brings our services to a close. We hope this journey through the cradle of civilisation has left you with lasting memories, and we look forward to welcoming you back to Turkey.
Gaziantep β Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe, Harran β Arsameia, Mount Nemrut, Adiyaman β Diyarbakir, Batman, Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mor Gabriel, Nusaybin, Dara, Mardin β Mardin
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 Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Gobeklitepe, Harran, Arsameia, Mount Nemrut, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Batman, Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mor Gabriel, Nusaybin, Dara, Mardin, Mardin.
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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 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!