Turkey is not just about the famous Istanbul-Cappadocia-Mediterranean coast triptych. From the giant statues of Nemrut Dagi to Lake Van, via the bazaar of Urfa, the Turkish Southeast is full of sites still little explored by tourists. Immediate boarding for a journey of more than 3,000 km in a region that will one day perhaps be the easternmost in the European Union.
Day 1 – Istanbul, Mount Nemrut National Park, Adiyaman
Catch your flight from Istanbul to Adiyaman Airport in the morning. You will meet with your guide and driver at Adiyaman airport and start touring right away. Our drive will take around an hour to begin the tour of the Mount Nemrut National Park. We will first stop by the Karakus mound called Blackbird because of the black eagle statue standing on top of an ancient column. After a short walk around the mound, we will drive to Cendere Bridge, built to honor the Roman emperor Septimius Severus. Closed for traffic but open for pedestrians, we can walk on the ancient stones used by the Romans and the people of Kommagene in the past. A scenic 45-minute drive will take us to the top of Mount Nemrut. The top of the mountain is actually a tomb for King Antiochus I Teos of Kommagene. The shrine is flanked by tall statues around 5-9 meters of Greek, Armenian and Persian gods and goddesses. We will walk around 1,968 feet to arrive at the shrine on the mountain top, and after a loop around the peak, we will be able to enjoy a memorable sunset over the Anatolian mountains. After the sunset, we will drive around 1,5 hours back to Adiyaman city overnight. [L]
Day 2 -Adiyaman, Gobeklitepe, Sanliurfa
After breakfast at our hotel, we will start driving to the south. The first stop will be at the Ataturk reservoir to see the Middle East's biggest dam and enjoy a cup of tea overlooking the Euphrates River. Our next stop is Gobeklitepe, an archaeological site dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic, between c. 9500 and 8000 BCE and comprising a number of large circular structures supported by massive stone pillars that are the world's oldest known megaliths. Now we ask the question; did civilization spark religion? After a short walk around the excavation site under Mesopotamia's strong sun, we will drive to nearby Sanliurfa city for a break and have lunch by the holy Abrahams pool. Lunch will be followed by a short walk in Abraham's sanctuary to visit the cave where Abraham was born and see the lake where he was thrown into the fire, which makes the city holy for many religions. Since the Armenian language is believed to be invented in Sanliurfa city, the city is considered holy by the Armenians. We will be able to explore the Sanliurfa bazaar before we return to our hotel. After a good rest, we will go out to enjoy traditional Kurdish folk music and dances whilst tasting the spicy southeast Anatolian kitchen. Overnight in Sanliurfa. [B/L]
Day 3 – Sanliurfa, Zeugma, Gaziantep, Istanbul
After breakfast at the hotel, a two-hour drive will bring us to Gaziantep city, which is world-famous for its baklava and the mosaic museum housing a beautiful collection of Zeugma excavation site mosaics. We will first visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum to see the best-preserved mosaics of the Ancient Roman Empire before Christianity. Zeugma, meaning bridge in Greek, was established around the two banks of the Euphrates River. Because of the Roman legions and high ranked officials, a sophisticated life was developed in the city, which can be observed on the Gaziantep Mosaic Museum's mosaics. After enjoying the Hellenistic and early Roman art, we take a little walk for our lunch to taste the beautiful kebabs of Gaziantep city. A stroll will follow our lunch to Gaziantep's old city to taste the world-famous baklava and hear the rhythm of coppersmiths’ hammers. After a Turkish coffee break in a historical tea house, we will drive to Gaziantep airport to catch your afternoon flight back to Istanbul or your next destination. [B/L]
[L] = Lunch | [B/L] = Breakfast and Lunch
