Adventure of Mesopotamia
8 Days in South-East Turkey With the Local Guide
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Discover the Southeast Turkey where Kurds, Arabs, Armenians and Turks live together for centuries. This is the region named as Mesopotamia, the birth place of Euphrates and Tigers rivers, the cradle of civilizations, the region where the grain was farm for the first time and where the humans built the first temple as Göbekli Tepe. Visit the St.Piere Church of Antioquia where the Christianity had its first church carved into the Taurus mountain. Marvel the magical Balıklıgöl ( Holly Fish Lake of Abraham ) where fire turned into water and the wood to the fish as a miracle.
Enjoy the local cuisine which has been flavored by people's backgrounds and it is know as the best cuisine of Turkey. Discover the local markets where the iron and coper is shaped by the local craftsmen. Get lost in the local herbalist market where they have a cure for everything. |
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Start : Istanbul, Turkey
Finish : Istanbul, Turkey Destination : South East Turkey Theme : Explorer |
Physical Rate : 3/5
Age : Min 16 Group Size : Min 2, max 12 Appeals To : Travelers who like to explore attractions off the tourist trail, food lovers, history buffs and photographers. |
What make this trip unique ?
* Bilingual licensed local guide during the entire trip.
* No shared rooms ( if you book for 1 person you will have your own room).
* Stay at the selective boutique hotels converted from old houses.
* Trip to less visited places, rich in cultural, historic and traditions.
* Enjoy the delicious food of the region which own the best cuisine of Turkey.
* Visit many of the non touristy market and historical sites.
* See the rural and the urban life of Southeast Turkey.
* No wasting time in force classical touristy shopping.
Trip Highlights
Enjoy the eight days trip in southeast Turkey with the accompany of the local guide.
Learn about the local culture from from the natives.
Feel more special when you see yourself as the only tourist in most of the places you visit.
Learn about the Kurdish and Arab culture living in the region.
Explore Istanbul and enjoy the history of Byzantine and Ottoman.
Visit 6 century A.D Hagia Sofia, Blue mosque, Roman Hippodrome and enjoy their history from your licensed local guide.
Cruise on the Bosporus and enjoy the great view of the historic Mansions on European and Asian side at the same time.
Discover the 11.000 years old Gobeklitepe which is accepted as the first manmade temple ever built.
Marvel the giant heads of the Commagene kingdom gods on top of the Nemrut mountain in the height of 2.150 m.
Enjoy the best cuisine of Turkey from Antakya, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.
Accommodate at the boutique hotels converted from the caravansaries and old Armenian houses.
Visit the Balıklıgöl ( fish lake of Abraham) and marvel the story behind.
Marvel the Sogmatar ancient city where the temples were built to re-present the seven of nine planets in 2nd Century B.C.
Visit the beehive shaped houses and learn how the local lived in them until recent years.
Enjoy the rural life of Turkey and see the villages in farming culture and shepherds leading the herds in the pastures.
Enjoy the delicious farewell dinner in Urfa with local live music performance.
Learn about the local culture from from the natives.
Feel more special when you see yourself as the only tourist in most of the places you visit.
Learn about the Kurdish and Arab culture living in the region.
Explore Istanbul and enjoy the history of Byzantine and Ottoman.
Visit 6 century A.D Hagia Sofia, Blue mosque, Roman Hippodrome and enjoy their history from your licensed local guide.
Cruise on the Bosporus and enjoy the great view of the historic Mansions on European and Asian side at the same time.
Discover the 11.000 years old Gobeklitepe which is accepted as the first manmade temple ever built.
Marvel the giant heads of the Commagene kingdom gods on top of the Nemrut mountain in the height of 2.150 m.
Enjoy the best cuisine of Turkey from Antakya, Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.
Accommodate at the boutique hotels converted from the caravansaries and old Armenian houses.
Visit the Balıklıgöl ( fish lake of Abraham) and marvel the story behind.
Marvel the Sogmatar ancient city where the temples were built to re-present the seven of nine planets in 2nd Century B.C.
Visit the beehive shaped houses and learn how the local lived in them until recent years.
Enjoy the rural life of Turkey and see the villages in farming culture and shepherds leading the herds in the pastures.
Enjoy the delicious farewell dinner in Urfa with local live music performance.
Itinerary
Day 1: Istanbul
Tour starts at 09:00 am from your hotel lobby. It is time to meet the group members and your guide will have a meeting with you about the tour. It is the chance to met the other group members. After this, your guide will lead you to some highlights and some of secrets of Istanbul for a half day tour include a delicious local lunch. Free afternoon. It is the time to visit some of the highlights exclude the itinerary on your own or why not to relax at a Hamam (Turkish bath ) for a scrub and a massage at this historic bath houses or cruise in the Bosporus to enjoy the view while the Asia on one side and the Europe on the other side.
Day 2. Istanbul -Antakya
Early departure with your guide to the airport for the morning flight to Antakya, ( Antiochia ). Today we are visiting rock cut St Piere Church, the mosaic museum, and a walk in the old bazaar by the Asi river. Enjoy the aromatic herbalist market and a delicious lunch Tepsi kebabı ( lamb with spices, garlic baked in the wood fire oven serve with local bread ). Reminding you Antakya is famous for its Künefe dessert. Free afternoon. Meet in the evening for an optional dinner in the old city of Antakya at one of the old Antakya house.
Day 3: Antakya-Gaziantep
Today after a slow breakfast and a last wonder in the local market and narrow streets of Antakya we depart for Gaziantep for our four hours bus ride. This will be with the public 54 seats coach. Enjoy the great scenery and the free drinks and cakes serve on the bus. Arrival to Gaziantep late afternoon, orientation walk in the old city, visit of ancient underground water system, historical cafes. Dinner at a local restaurant. Enjoy the unique flavor of the Beyran soup and Pistachio kebap which are the local delicacy. Reminding you that Gaziantep has one of the best cuisine in Turkey.
Day 4: Gaziantep
Today we visit the Medieval castle of Gaziantep and learn about its history in 1920. Enjoy the view of the city from the castle and great photo opportunities. We follow with visiting the copper makers, spice sellers, local artisans of producing Yemeni leather shoes and more... Free afternoon to wonder in the local cafes and markets or you may go and visit the Zeugma mosaic museum for the famous Çingne kızı ( gypsy girl ) mosaic.
Day 5: Gaziantep-Nemrut-Urfa
An early departure after breakfast with the private van for 2-3 hours drive up to the Nemrut mountain to see the gigantic heads statues of the Commegene ( Persian/Greek kingdom ) Gods on the peak points of the Nemrut mountain. Enjoy the great history of kings of Mesopotamia from 2nd century A.D. Be ready to see an amazing rural life on the way and breath taking view of the Euphrates river over the mountains. Drive another 2-5hrs for Urfa. Arrival to Şanlıurfa and relax at your hotel which is converted from the Armenian priests home with a beautiful courtyard.
Day 6: Urfa
Today we visit the recently became famous 11.000 years old temple of Göbeklitepe which is accepted as the oldest temple every found. We follow further to the Sogmatar the ancient temples where the connection between the planets had been calculated in 2nd Century B.C. We follow with Harran town where it contains the ruins of the first Islamic university from 8th-Century. During the 8th and 9th centuries Muslim scholars At Harran translated and studied natural sciences, medicine, philosophy and astronomy here. Harran is famous for its beehive shaped houses built with mud breaks and have survived for centuries.
Day 7: Urfa
It is the day to visit Urfa old market where the iron is still shaped in the old style in the small shops, the tailors courtyard where local clothes being sews, and have a lunch break at the 15 century custom caravansary for a delicious local lunch of kebabs. Later wonder around the holly Abraham fish lake where the locals see the fish as sacred. Get ready for a great night with the local traditional live music performance with an excellent traditional home cooked dinner.
Day 8: Urfa-Istanbul
Today we fly back to Istanbul in the afternoon ( duration 1.45 minutes ). A farewell dinner at a restaurant organized by your guide.
Day :9 Departure day.
Your guide can help you with your transfer to airport if needed.
Inclusions
Meals
8 breakfast, 1 dinner, 1 lunch
Transport
Plane, Private van, Public bus
Accommodation
8 night ( 6 nights in high class boutiques hotels and 2 night in 4 star hotels )
Exclusions
* Departure airport transfer after the tour end on day 9.
* Tipping to the guide. Suggested amount 5 euro per day per person.
Included activities
* Complementary Airport Arrival transfer.
* Professional licensed tour guide during the entire trip.
*Istanbul -Walking tour to Hagia Sofia, Blue mosque, Roman hippodrome, Grand bazaar, Suleymaniye mosque complex, Rüstem pasha mosque and spice Bazaar.
*Antakya-Visiting St.Piere Church, Mosaic museum Habibül Neccar mosque, local market.
* Antakya- Old houses
* Antakya- St. Piere museum church
* Antakya- Mosaic museum
* Gaziantep- Medieval castle of Gaziantep
* Gaziantep- Pişirici Kasteli (Ancient water cisterns )
* Gazianatep- Spice market, local art schools and handicrafts.
* Gaziantep- Bedestan historic market
* Gaziantep baklava tasting
* Urfa- Guiding and private A.C van to visit old sites outside the city
* Urfa- Göbeklitepe Neolithic temple site
* Urfa- Sogmatar ancient site
* Urfa- Harran ruins and first Islamic university
* Urfa- guided old Urfa market and Balıklıgöl ( holly fish lake)
* Urfa- Street Tailors
* Urfa- Guiding in old city and coper makers
* Urfa-Live music with traditional dinner ( Urfa Sıra gecesi )
* Entry fees to: St Pier church museum, Antakya Mosaic museum, Nemrut national park, Göbeklitepe ancient temple.
* Return domestic flight tickets in economy class.
Dates & Availabilities |
Departure date |
Finishing date |
Monday 9 May 2022 |
Tuesday 17 May 2022 |
Monday 23 May 2022 |
Tuesday 31 May 2022 |
Monday 6 June 2022 |
Tuesday 14 June 2022 |
Monday 20 June 2022 |
Tuesday 28 June 2022 |
Monday 12 Sep 2022 |
Tuesday 20 Sep 2022 |
Monday 26 Sep 2022 |
Tuesday 4 Oct 2022 |
Monday 10 Oct 2022 |
Tuesday 18 Oct 2022 |
Monday 24 Oct 2022 |
Tuesday 1 Nov 2022 |
Monday 7 Nov 2022 |
Tuesday 15 Nov 2022 |
Monday 13 Mar 2023 |
Tuesday 21 Mar 2023 |
Monday 1 May 2023 |
Tuesday 9 May 2023 |
Monday 15 May 2023 |
Tuesday 23 May 2023 |
Monday 29 May 2023 |
Tuesday 6 June 2023 |
Monday 12 June 2023 |
Tuesday 20 June 2023 |
Monday 11 Sep 2023 |
Tuesday 19 Sep 2023 |
Monday 25 Sep 2023 |
Tuesday Oct 3 2023 |
Monday 9 Oct 2023 |
Tuesday 17 Oct 2023 |
Monday 23 Oct 2023 |
Tuesday 31 Oct 2023 |
Important notes
1. This trip includes domestic flights. The luggage allowance is max 15kg for check in luggage and 8kg for carry on. You can store excess luggage at the start point hotel.
2. This trip includes a complementary arrival airport pick up from Ist and SAW airports. Please make sure you have sent us your flight information during the booking.
3. There will be available laundry service at the hotel in Gaziantep.
4. This trip start at 10 am after the breakfast from on Day 1 in Istanbul with a short group meeting and will continue with an included guided tour of Istanbul.
5. If you are a vegetarian you will always have food options as salads and grilled vegetables but the options will be limited compare to big cities since the region is not very familiar with the vegetarian
2. This trip includes a complementary arrival airport pick up from Ist and SAW airports. Please make sure you have sent us your flight information during the booking.
3. There will be available laundry service at the hotel in Gaziantep.
4. This trip start at 10 am after the breakfast from on Day 1 in Istanbul with a short group meeting and will continue with an included guided tour of Istanbul.
5. If you are a vegetarian you will always have food options as salads and grilled vegetables but the options will be limited compare to big cities since the region is not very familiar with the vegetarian
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