7 NIGHTS \ 8 DAYS EXPLORE EASTERN TURKIYE

ARRIVAL TO ISTANBUL AND CATCH YOUR GAZIANTEP FLIGHT

According your arrival to Istanbul catch your Gaziantep flight. (Please inform your Istanbul arrival flight code when you will booked) Below options of Gaziantep flights included:

Turkish Airlines TK 2224, Istanbul (IST) to Gaziantep (GZT): 08:50 – 10:25 am
OR Turkish Airlines TK 2222, Istanbul (IST) to Gaziantep (GZT): 12:20 – 14:00
OR Turkish Airlines TK 4962, Istanbul (IST) to Gaziantep (GZT): 18:55 – 20:30

Welcome at airport and private transfer to your hotel.
Overnight in Gaziantep at Anadolu Evleri Hotel or similar for 2 nights on bed and breakfast basis.

PRIVATE GAZIANTEP TOUR

Gaziantep city of gastronomy also with famous baklava shops besides its history. We will be visiting new Zeugma Mosaic Museum – 2nd biggest in the world after Hatay Archeology Museum. Our exploring the city will continue with old city and copper makers bazaars and Gaziantep War Museum.

DRIVE TO ŞANLIURFA ON THE WAY VISITING RUMKALE AND HALFETI

After breakfast we will head to Şanlıurfa with visit Rumkale hopefully we will also see Bald Ibis’, then an amazing stop on the way at Halfeti at the banks of river Euphrates , a boat trip on the village sunken under the dam waters and arrive to Şanlıurfa.

Overnight in Şanlıurfa at Elci Konagi Butik Otel for 2 nights on bed and breakfast basis.

PRIVATE URFA, GÖBEKLİ TEPE AND HARRAN TOUR

We will visit Urfa Museum, city tour with Abraham’s pool, Harran plateau and finally Gobekli Tepe the oldest temple of the world a game changer in archeology world. What a researcher would find in the books and articles about Neolithic Age until 15-20 years ago as the most popular idea until a German archaeologist, Klaus Schmidt discovered Gobekli Tepe within 18 km. distance of Urfa, one of the renowned mystic cities of human history. The world was dazzled with this surprising discovery because Gobekli Tepe was not only the earliest sanctuary on Earth, it was the oldest architectural monument too. It was dated to 10.000 B.C. to Pre-pottery Neolithic age miraculously predating the earliest settlements in Mesopotamia by 5000 years, Stonehenge in England 7000 years, Egyptian pyramids 7.500 years and Ggantija Temples in Malta 6.500 years. This fact indicates that humans had already achieved an unexpected level of imagination and complex thinking at a time they were thought to be simple hunter-gatherers without any sign of agriculture yet. Back to Urfa (Şanlıurfa) for overnight. We will experience the Sira Night (Sıra Gecesi) in Urfa.

DRIVE TO DİYARBAKIR ON THE WAY VISITING Mnt. NEMRUT

We will check out and head up to Mt. Nemrut passing through still functioning Cendere Bridge built by Septemus Severus on the 2nd Century, Tumulus Tomb of Karakus, and Arsemeia and continue driving to the peak to get to the top of Nemrut for the stunning Sunset visiting East & West galleries.

Drive to Diyarbakır. Diyarbakir and another ancient settlement; at 5000 years old is one of the oldest cities in the world. An overwhelmingly Kurdish city Diyarbakir is famed for its ancient city walls; constructed by the Romans, the current walls, built of massive black basalt blocks is, after the Great Wall of China, the longest continuous defensive wall in the world.

Overnight at Anemon Hotels similar for 1 night on bed and breakfast basis.

DRIVE TO MARDIN & PRIVATE MİDYAT TOUR

After leisure and relaxing breakfast; we start with Midyat, a district of Mardin city. The ancient city is the epicenter of a centuries-old Christian Assyrian/Syriacs enclave in Southeast-Turkey, widely familiar under its Aramaic name Tur Abdin. Several Assyrian citizens of the city are living in Western countries today but their legacy is preserved although they are not in use. Deyrulumur Monastery also known as Mor Gabriel Monastery still has Assyrian residents. These Christians only avoid visitations when they are worshiping.

Overnight at Zinciriye Hotel similar for 1 night on bed and breakfast basis.

MORNING DRIVE TO HASANKEYF & TATVAN

After breakfast we will drive to Hasankeyf now submerged under the flood waters of a new dam on the Tigris. From here we will continue to Batman and then up the Bitlis River Gorge to Tatvan on the western shore of Lake Van. End of the tour drive back to the hotel.

PRIVATE TRANSFER TO AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME VIA ISTANBUL

Below options of Istanbul flights included.

Turkish Airlines TK 2675, Mardin (MQM) to Istanbul (IST): 09:20 – 11:30 am
OR
Turkish Airlines TK 2677, Mardin (MQM) to Istanbul (IST): 19:50 – 21:55
End of the services.