Upper Mesopotamia

The Kingdom of Commagene's most lasting visible remains in Mount Nemrut, where sunrise or sunset becomes a ceremony. Diyarbakir, the City of Faith situated around a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris river. Mardin, under the protection of UNESCO, with its Artuqid architecture. The world's oldest known monumental temple, Gobeklitepe, was built 12,000 years ago, an archeological treasure yet to be fully discovered. Gaziantep is one of the magical stops of the historical Silk Road. Hatay, the city where three dive religions unite in harmony, is the queen of the East. Welcome to Mesopotamia.  
Visit of 8 cities in 17 days (4 nights in Istanbul – 1 night in Adıyaman – 1 night in Diyarbakır – 3 nights in Mardin – 2 nights in Şanlıurfa – 2 nights in Gaziantep – 2 nights in Hatay – 1 night in Adana).  
With this 16-night & 17-day program, you'll have the chance to explore the historic city of Istanbul by visiting all the must-see locations and travel through the country, witnessing the melting pot of cultures in the Southeast part of Turkey, called Mesopotamia in history.     

Arrive at Istanbul airport, meet your guide, and transfer to the hotel. Have a short rest and set off to the Old Town of Istanbul. Visit Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmet Square, the German Fountain, the Hippodrome, the Million Stone, the magnificent Hagia Sophia, and Sultan Ahmet Mosque, known as Blue Mosque. Discover Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, and enjoy strolling in the Egyptian Market known as Spice Market. The daily tour finishes at Galata bridge. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul. Overnight Istanbul.  

Breakfast in the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby at 9:00 am and set off for an approximately 30-minute drive to Eminönü. Bosphorus Tour's boat departure time is at 10:20 am. You'll get a panoramic view of the Bosphorus, the waterway which separates Istanbul into two parts, the European continent and the Asian continent. During the Bosphorus cruise, you'll see Dolmabahçe Palace's ornate seaside entrance gate, which the sultans used. Maiden tower, Çırağan Palace, Beylerbeyi Palace, the fortress of Rumelihisarı, and old wooden villas (called Yalı) along the seaside are some of the pearl grains adorning the strait which joins Marmara and the Black Sea. The boat trip will take approximately 90 minutes. You will have two hours in a cozy fisherman village called Kavak to walk around and have lunch. Take the boat, and our trip will end at Eminönü. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  

Kindly note that group visit's to Dolmabahçe Palace is organized by reservation; according to our reservation schedule, the morning program might switch to the afternoon program.
Breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby, and set off for an approximately 30-minute drive to Dolmabahçe Palace, an ornate blend of European and Ottoman architecture that rests along the banks overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. The Armenian architect Balyan family built the palace in the 19th century. Discover eye-popping rooms that once hosted sultans and their royal guests, stroll into pristine marble rooms, and gaze up at twinkling crystal chandeliers. All the clocks in the palace were set at 9:05 am, the exact time of the death of the first president of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who passed away on 10 November 1938 in this palace. Arrive at Taksim Square, the city's heart, and have lunch. In the afternoon, discover the Beyoğlu district, where during the Ottoman period, Jews from Spain, Arabs, Greek, and Armenians settled in communities. The pedestrian street, Istiklal Street, once known as Grande Rue de Pera, is lined by late 19th-century apartment blocks and European embassy buildings. It's an impressive variety of grandiose gates and façades with art deco and modern architectural styles. While getting around, you'll see many churches, mosques, the Fish Market, the Mevlevi Lodge, art galleries, cafés, bookstores, shops selling handicrafts, and jazz bars. An old-fashioned tram travels the length of Istiklal Street. The daily tour will end in front of the Tunnel, the underground funicular system. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  

Breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide in the lobby and set off to an old neighborhood called Cibali. Cibali was a trade center, and its harbor had a flourishing business life thanks to the Ottoman warehouses and caulkers along the Golden Horn. The Cibali Tobacco Factory, founded in 1884, was an important institution that changed the neighborhood socially and economically. Visit the Rezan Has Museum, enriched with documents and objects belonging to Cibali Tobacco and Cigarette Factory. The museum site connects the past to the future with its Byzantine cistern, dated the 11th century to its Ottoman structure style, dated the 17th century. After the visit to the museum, our walking tour of Fener & Balat starts. Balat was home to Greek-speaking Jews from the Byzantine era; Sephardic Jews from Spain joined them in the 15th century. Fener became a Greek enclave in the early 16th century. There are several important churches and mosques in the district. You'll see Teodosya Church, which was converted into a mosque with the name Gül Cami as it was ornate with roses. Visit the Ecumenical Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, which has a basilica-style church dating back to 1720. Yet the church contains much older relics and furniture. To give you an idea, the Patriarch's throne isconsiderede Byzantine. Lunch in Balat. In the afternoon, visit the Church of St Mary of the Mongols (Kanlı Kilise), the only Greek Orthodox church in Istanbul which remained continuously in the hands of the Greek community since the Byzantine era. Another district symbol is the imposing Greek Orthodox High School in red bricks. The daily tour will end after the visit to the Church of St Stephen of the Bulgars; the entire church, internal columns, and galleries included were cast in iron in 1871 and shipped from Vienna to the Golden Horn coast, where it was assembled. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Istanbul.  

Early breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the airport to Adıyaman (90-minute flight). Arrive at Adıyaman airport, and set off to Kahta, a 30-minute drive. set off to Atatürk Dam. Have a delicious lunch along the dam lake at Neşet's Place Restaurant. In the afternoon, set off to Karakuş Tumulus, surrounded by groups of three Doric-style columns, each about 9 meters (30 ft) high. It is a memorial tomb belonging to the women of the Commagene Kingdom Family, the equine, and two princesses. set off to Cendere Bridge, the Severan Bridge is a late Roman bridge built in the 2nd century, located near the ancient city of Arsameia. set off to Arsameia, the old town where the ruins dated BC. 3., built by Arsames, a Commagene descendant. It is estimated that the city was built as the capital of the Commagene civilization. After the visit to the ancient city, you'll have an approximately 30-minute hike to the summit of Mount Nemrut, which is listed among the World Heritage sites. The massive stone heads on the summit of Mount Nemrut (Nemrut Dağı) were built by King Antiochus I Epiphanes, who ruled the Commagene kingdom between 64 and 38 B.C. To glorify his rule, the king had three enormous terraces (East, west, and north) cut into the mountaintop. Colossal statues of himself and the major gods (Greek and Persian) of the kingdom were placed on the terraces, and the summit became a sanctuary where the king was worshipped. Today's visitors can still see the remains of the east and west terraces (not much is left of the north terrace). You'll witness a magnificent sunset view between the colossal size statues and heads of the kings and Gods. Your guide will tell you the true story of Theresa Goell, known as "the quine of the mountain," the American archaeologist who directed Mount Nemrut's excavations. Transfer to your hotel; dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight Karadut (Euphrat Hotel at 12 km /7 miles, below the summit of Mount Nemrut).  

Today's program will start with the sunrise view from Mount Nemrut. Leave the hotel early in the morning (your guide will let you know the exact time of departure as the sun rises and changes depending on the month) to catch this fantastic experience of your life. We will recommend you be prepared for the cold weather situation early in the morning. You are hiking Mount Nemrut and watching the sunrise beyond the giant statues. Have a snack and set off to Diyarbakır (a 2-hour drive). Diyarbakir, the City of Faith, is home to 9 prophets and 33 civilizations. The old city of Diyarbakır is surrounded by the City Walls, which are 12 m (39 ft) high and more than 5 km (3 miles) in length. Constructed from blocks of black basalt, the walls are pierced by four main gates (Harput, Yenikapı, Mardin, and Urfa) and studded with 72 towers. Have a delicious and traditional breakfast/brunch at the Hasan Pasa old Caravansary Palace in the ancient city while being informed about the daily itinerary. The walking tour (approximately two hours) starts by visiting essential places inside the City Wall, such as the Syrian Orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary, the Armenian Apostolic Church of St George, Great Mosque (Ulu Cami) (an 11th-century mosque built by Seljuk Turkish Sultan Malik Shah, made of black basalt and white limestone), Four Footet Minaret (4 Ayaklı Minare). Please note that some buildings will be seen only from the outside. Have the traditional lunch, grilled liver. In the afternoon, visit Hevsel Gardens, the seven hundred hectares of cultivated fertile land which links the city with the Tigris river while supplying the town with food and water. The gardens became a World Heritage Site in 2015, along with the walls of Diyarbakır Fortress. Atatürk Köşkü, the mansion that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk used as his headquarters when he was the Corps Commander in Diyarbakır during the First World War, is a must-see place. Then you will relax and drink coffee or tea along the magnificent Ten-Eyed Bridge, built in the 11th century, with the waters of the Tigris (Dicle) flowing onwards to Iraq. The Tigris River is one of the four rivers in the Garden of Eden. The Tigris appears twice in the Old Testament. First, in the Book of Genesis is the third of the four rivers branching off the river issuing out of the Garden of Eden. The second mention is in the Book of Daniel, wherein Daniel states he received one of his visions "when I was by that great river the Tigris." Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Diyarbakır.  

Early breakfast and leave. On the road to Mardin, stop by the Zerzevan Castle, a one-hour drive, also known as Samachi Castle. The Castle was an Eastern Roman military base and a strategic garrison settlement, dominating the entire valley and controlling the ancient road between Amida (now Diyarbakır) and Dara (now Mardin). The Castle played a key role due to its location on the easternmost border protecting the Roman Empire. Archaeological excavations at the site revealed the existence of underground structures such as a secret passageway, a Mithraic underground temple, and a subterranean sanctuary. It is the first and the only Mithras temple on the eastern border of the Roman Empire. The religion of Mithras was a religion of mystery widely popular among Roman soldiers. set off to Mardin, a one-hour drive, where you'll spend three nights. Mardin is a genuinely romantic town. The Castle towers above the old city on a rocky crag. Have lunch, and the walking tour starts at Oldtown Square, Cercis Konağı. Admire the beautiful stone carvings of the Artuqid dynasty's grand mosque, Ulu Cami's minaret, the finest stonework of the 19th-century villa, Post Office building. Zinciriye Medresesi is an old medrese (theological college) founded in 1385. It's one of Mardin's best-preserved buildings, where you'll adore the view of the entire town and the Mesopotamian Plains below. The complex comprises a domed mosque, a mausoleum, and two tranquil inner courtyards—free time in the Bazaar, a fascinating place for a stroll. Transfer to the hotel and rest for dinner. Overnight Mardin.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel to set off to Deyrulzafaran Monastery, built on top of an ancient sun temple and once the patriarchal Center of the world's Syriacs. The Syriac-Orthodox Christian monastery dedicated to Ananias, its complex contains three churches, which adjoin the rear facade of the arcaded courtyard, all surrounded by high fortress-like walls. Then you'll be heading off to the ancient Roman City called Dara (30-mn drive) where Alexander the Great and Darius the Persian king had fought. The ancient city of Dara (Anastasiopolis) was one of the significant settlements of Mesopotamia in ancient times. It was a military garrison on the Silk Road in the Eastern Roman period. Back to Mardin for lunch. In the afternoon, there will be old churches visits, Mor Behram Kırklar Kilisesi (Forty Martyrs Church), a 4th-century church ornated with beautiful icons and paintings, the 160-year-old Mardin Protestant Church, one of the oldest Protestant churches in the Middle East; and finally the visit of the Mardin Museum. You'll have free time before the transfer to your hotel. Overnight Mardin.

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to Midyat (80 km-50 miles, 1.5-hour drive). It is a small town composed of narrow streets. The ancient city is the Center of a centuries-old Hurrian town in Upper Mesopotamia ruled by many different empires such as the Mitannians, Assyrians, Yezidis, Armenians, Medes, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Abbasids, Seljuks and Ottomans. You'll be informed about Syriac and Yezidis' cultures and lifestyles. Walking tour in the town, you'll admire the steeples of nine Syriac Orthodox churches peeping up above the old sandstone houses. Visit Mor Gabriel Monastery, a 5th-century monastery with several churches and memorial chambers. The monastery is currently the seat of the metropolitan bishop of Tur Abdin. The monastery has produced many high-ranking clerics and scholars, including four patriarchs, a Maphrian, and 84 bishops. Have lunch, and you may visit shops selling handmade filigree silver jewelry in your free time. The filigree work of Midyat is one of the most basic artisan styles of the province. You may try homemade Syriac wine, which is very tasty. Visit Kıllit, a small Syriac town, one of the rare centers with churches belonging to Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox denominations. This old Syriac village, consisting entirely of stone houses, has been a ghost village for many years. Visit the 162-year-old Hacı Abdullah Mansion in Savur, one of the most beautiful structures in the region. Its 22 rooms have been restored, and the mansion has been converted into a museum. Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Mardin.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. Visit Kasımiye Medresesi; it's a 15th-century medrese complex consisting of a theological college and a domed mosque. set off to Şanlıurfa, where you'll spend two nights (190 km-120 miles, 2-hour drive). Şanlıurfa is commonly called the Prophets' City because legends say that Prophet Abraham was born in a cave here. As a result of its settlement at the crossroads of routes to Europe, Asia, and Africa, you'll witness all the old cultures, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Seljuk Turks, who lived and passed from the region. Sightseeing places of the city are Balıklıgöl (Fish Pool), at the Center of the religious pilgrimage area; Abraham's Birth Cave; the Throne of Nimrodfortress. The Pool of Abraham is said to be the site where the biblical prophet was saved from the vengeful Assyrian king, Nimrod (Nemrut). The small cave nearby is said to be the birthplace of Abraham. Have lunch and discover the stone-covered Bazaar. Visit the Archelogy Museum, where you'll see the Neolithic period's remainings fund in Göbeklitepe and 3rd- to 5th-century late Roman and Byzantine mosaics. Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Şanlıurfa.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to Göbeklitepe. Göbeklitepe temple, dated to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, between c. 9500 and 8000 BCE, comprises several large circular structures supported by massive stone pillars, the world's oldest known megaliths. Many of these pillars are richly decorated with abstract anthropomorphic details, clothing, and reliefs of wild animals, providing archaeologists with rare insight into prehistoric religion and the period's iconography. Have lunch, and in the afternoon, visit Harran. It was one of the major ancient cities in Upper Mesopotamia, which the Mongols destroyed in the 13th century. The city was the chief home of the Mesopotamian moon god Sin, under the Assyrians and Neo-Babylonians/Chaldeans and even into Roman times. The archaeological remains are in the ancient Harran, a central commercial, cultural, science, and religious Center first inhabited in the Chalcolithic Age (6th millennium BCE). Being one of the world's first scientific centers, Harran is where you can see the remains of the world's first university buildings. Harran is also famous for its traditional "beehive" adobe houses, constructed entirely without wood. The conical design of the cottages ensures the cool climatization of the interior area. At the historical site, the ruins of the city walls and fortifications are still in place, with one city gate standing along with some other structures. Return to the city center and have free time in the Bazaar. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Şanlıurfa.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. On the way to Gaziantep, you'll have two stops. The first one is the town of Birecik, known for its bald-ibis (Kelaynak) birds. Visit the protection farm of endangered kayak birds in their natural environment. The second one is Halfeti village. Set on the banks of the Euphrates, Halfeti's history dates back almost 3000 years. The town has the potential to become one of the world's most interesting slow cities with its historical heritage, traditional cuisine, unique culture, and unusual geography. Have a boat tour of the dam lake for about an hour and have lunch. set off to Gaziantep, where you'll spend two nights (a 2-hour drive). Gaziantep is one of the magical stops of the historical Silk Road. The city is known for its local cuisine, one of the cities in Unicef's cultural heritage program caused gastronomy), pistachios and baklavas. We will recommend you try the thin phyllo "yufka" pastry stuffed with cheese, pistachios, and sugar, "katmer," and the sweet pie "baklava," which became the first Turkish product with a European-protected designation of origin and geographical indication in 2013. Food in Gaziantep is different from the cuisine in other parts of Turkey because of the influence of Armenians, Turks, and Kurds and the culinary traditions of nearby Aleppo, an important regional administrative center of the Seljuk and Ottoman empires. Walking tour in the city center, visit the Coppersmith bazaar and Zincirli Bedesten (the Ottoman-era covered Bazaar), see some of the Historical Inns (Anatolia Inn, Kürkçü Inn, Tobacco Inn, and so on), drink the traditional coffee and transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Gaziantep.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. It is one of the most prominent mosaic museums in the world. The museum's mosaics focus on the ancient city of Zeugma, which is said to have been founded by a general in Alexander the Great's army. Mosaics displayed in the museum are about 2000 years old and unique in design, color, and perfection. The world's famous Gypsy Girl mosaic is exhibited in the museum. Have a traditional lunch and taste some "küşleme" and "lokum" at Halil Usta's place, close to the museum. In the afternoon, visit the Mevlevi Lodge Foundation Museum; the dervish lodge is part of the mosque's külliye (Islamic-Ottoman social complex centered around a mosque). It was built in the 17th century. The Mevlevi Lodge Monastery is entered via a courtyard that opens off the mosque's courtyard. Visit Emine Göğüş Cuisine Museum, a historical stone house built in 1904 which has been restored and turned into the Emine Göğüş Cuisine Museum. Visit Hamam Museum (Turkish Bath Museum). Free time to explore the old city, eat some more baklava and do some shopping. Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Gaziantep.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to Hatay (a 3-hour drive). Hatay, the city where three dive religions unite in harmony, is known as a queen for the East. Antakya was founded as Antioch in the 4th century B.C. by Seleucus Nicator, one of the four generals of Emperor Alexander the Great. The city is the 3rd largest Roman Empire city and an important Christian center. The city has a reputation as a center for all kinds of moral excess, causing St Peter (St Petrus) to choose it as the location of one of the world's first Christian communities. Indeed, the patriarchy of Antioch became one of the five senior official positions in the organization of the early Christian Church. The city is split in two by the Asi River, known in ancient times as the Orontes. The eastern bank is home to old Antakya, a maze of narrow streets that still offer glimpses of traditional Turkish life. Have a traditional lunch in the city center. Visit St Peter's Grotto. This cave church is thought to have been founded by St Luke. It is named after Peter, who was at the forefront of the early church movement from his headquarters in Antioch. Rebuilt by the Crusaders, it is partially floored with mosaic, and the remains of frescoes can be seen. A tiny spring in the church was used for baptisms. The church was repaired in the 19th century by Capuchin monks, now its custodians. A festival is held here annually on 29 June. This cave church is where St Peter preached for the first time, and the congregation used the Christian name for the first time. Visit the Archeological Museum and a walking tour of the city, and notice mosques, churches, and a synagogue close to each other. set off to Harbiye waterfalls (a 30-minute drive). Anciently called Daphne, it is a beautiful gorge where the Romans built Apollo's temple. Dinner at Harbiye waterfalls. Transfer to your hotel. Overnight Hatay.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. Start exploring the area. Visit Vakıflı köyü, which consists of 35 households; it is the only town in Turkey whose entire population is Armenian. Visit St Simon Monastery. This monastery, constructed in the 6th century A.D., is recognized as the place where Saint Simon of Antioch had lived on top of a column for 40 years. There are remains of cisterns, houses, kitchens, and cellars. set off to the Mediterranean Sea coast, and have lunch at a seaside restaurant. Visit Vespasianus -Titus Tunnel. It is an ancient water tunnel built for Seleucia Pieria, the port of Antioch (old Hatay), in the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D. It was made by digging the rocks using the workforce only. The construction began in Vespasian's period and continued during his son Titus' time. The Tunnel was added to the tentative list in the UNESCO World Heritage Site cultural category in 2014. Walking tour in the Tunnel and see rock graves, Beşikli Mağara. Transfer to the city center and free time in the Bazaar to discover the narrow streets, watch the preparation of local desert "künefe" and taste it, stroll in shops selling daphne soaps, etc... Overnight Hatay.  

Have an early breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to Bakras Castle (a 30-minute drive). Bakras Castle is believed to have been founded in the 10th century A.D. by the Byzantines. set off to Payas, a fortress settlement during the Crusader period. Visit the Sokullu Mehmed Pasha Complex, Mimar Sinans's best works built in the 16th century. set off to Anavarza Castle, a 1-hour drive. The Castle had been made to control the ancient city with the same name. The remains of the town (on the plains) lie between the village and the Castle. The Crusaders built the donjon in the 12th century. set off to Adana (1-hour drive). Adana lies in the heart of Cilicia. It's an agriculturally productive area with the fertile plain of Çukurova. The Seyhan River (formerly called the Sarus) passes through Adana, and the Seyhan reservoir surrounds the city's north. Have lunch. Adana cuisine is influenced mainly by Yörük, Arabic, and Armenian cuisine. Spicy, sour, and fatty dishes made of meat (usually lamb) and bulghur are common. You are walking tour of the old town. Taşkoprü is a stone bridge spanning the Seyhan River, built-in 120-135 AD by the Romans, and has 21 arches. The historic Clock Tower, located in the old town, was designed by two Armenian architects and constructed during the Ottoman era. Ulu Cami, built in the 16th century, is the most interesting medieval structure. Its windows are made of black and white marble and Iznik tiling ornaments. In the old town, there are Armenian, Greek, Catholic, and Roman Catholic churches. St. Paul Church is a Roman Catholic Church. The church was built as an Armenian Apostolic Church in 1870 and handed over to the Apostolic Vicariate of Anatolia in 1915. The church currently serves the Catholic and Orthodox communities of Adana. The 2.5-meter-high bronze statue of Mary resembled a baby to the people walking by, and the church became known as the "Church with Baby" (Bebekli Kilise). Transfer to your hotel and rest before dinner. Overnight Adana.  

Have breakfast and leave the hotel. set off to famous writer Yaşar Kemal's Cultural Center. The Center comprises two theatre halls, a conference hall, and three exhibition halls. Transfer to the Adana airport for the Istanbul flight. The flight duration is 1 hour.