Southeastern Anatolia (GAP) Tour - Mount Nemrut, Şanlıurfa, Halfeti, Mardin, Diyarbakır

Our tour begins at 19:00 with departure from the designated pickup points. We travel overnight toward Gaziantep via Sakarya, Bolu, Aksaray, Pozantı and Adana, enjoying onboard refreshments along the way while our guide shares background information about the region.

After a roadside breakfast we reach Gaziantep around midday. Our first stops are the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and the Panorama 25 December Gaziantep Defense and Heroism Museum. After a panoramic view and photos of Gaziantep Castle, we walk through the Bakırcılar (coppersmiths') Bazaar, Almacı Pazarı, and the Zincirli Bedesten, then take a break for milky menengiç coffee at the historic Tahmis Kahvesi. At Tütün Hanı we see the Kastel, an underground water distribution system, before a long stretch of free time to try local specialties like baklava, katmer and beyran soup and to shop for copperware, spices, and pistachios. In the evening we check into our 4-star hotel in Gaziantep, where dinner and accommodation are provided.

After breakfast we travel to the partly submerged town of Halfeti and take an enjoyable boat trip on the Euphrates, seeing the ruins of Rum Kale along the way. Leaving Halfeti, known for its black roses, we continue to Harran, home to the world's first university, where we see the traditional conical-domed houses, the ruins of the Ulu Mosque, the mound, and the city walls, and visit one of the Harran houses. We then visit the Pool of Abraham (Halil-ür Rahman Lake and Mosque), Ayn-ı Zeliha Lake, the Station of Prophet Abraham, and the Rızvaniye and Mevlid-i Halil mosques, followed by free time to shop at the covered bazaar and the Gümrük Han. In the evening we transfer to our hotel in Şanlıurfa, and after dinner those who wish can join a traditional Sıra Gecesi evening with local music, mırra coffee, and çiğ köfte.

After breakfast we visit Göbekli Tepe, discovered by chance by a farmer in 1963 and believed to contain the world's oldest known temple. We then travel to Mardin, famous for stone architecture that blends Syriac, Arab and many other cultural influences, and explore the protected old town, including the Kasımiye Medrese with its courtyard pool and Selsebil fountain. After lunch we walk through narrow stone streets to the Ulu Mosque, the city's largest, then see the Şehidiye Medrese and the PTT building before stopping for tea and coffee overlooking the Mesopotamian plain. Following a short rest, dinner and accommodation are at our hotel in Mardin.

After breakfast we leave Mardin to visit the ancient city of Dara, a key Roman military base known for one of the world's earliest dam and cistern systems, exploring its cave houses, cisterns, and necropolis, then stop for tea and coffee in the scenic Beyazsu Valley. We continue to Midyat to see the Konukevi, a well-known filming location and fine example of local civil architecture, and have free time to shop in the silver filigree bazaar. From there we head to Hasankeyf, largely submerged by the Ilısu Dam, for a panoramic view of New Hasankeyf, then travel via Batman to Diyarbakır. There we see the Hevsel Gardens and the Ten-Eyed Bridge before checking into our hotel for dinner.

After breakfast we enter Diyarbakır's walled old city through the Mardin Gate, visiting Deliller Han, the Four-Legged Minaret, the Ulu Mosque, one of Anatolia's oldest, the Hasanpaşa Han, and the inner castle. We then travel to Eğil on the shore of the Dicle Dam Lake to visit the tomb of the prophets Zülkifl and Elyesa, whose remains were moved there. Continuing via Siverek toward Kahta, we pass the Atatürk Dam, Turkey's largest, and the Nissibi Bridge, then switch to minibuses at Kahta to reach Mount Nemrut, passing the Karakuş Tumulus and the Cendere Bridge along the way. At the summit we see the giant statues and altars on the East and West Terraces before descending in the evening for dinner and accommodation at our hotel in Adıyaman.

After an open buffet breakfast we head to Adana, where we explore the old town and visit the famous Stone Bridge and Sabancı Mosque. We then begin our return journey via Pozantı, Aksaray and Ankara, bidding farewell to our guests with hopes of meeting again on a future tour.