Istanbul & Southeast Anatolia – 7 Days

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST or SAW) and meet-and-greet with our representative. After a short welcome briefing, private transfer to your hotel and check-in. Depending on your arrival time, you will have free time to rest, get to know the area around the hotel or enjoy your first taste of Turkish cuisine.

After breakfast we start exploring Istanbul’s historic peninsula. In the former Hippodrome square we see the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpent Column and the Walled Column, silent witnesses of Byzantine chariot races and ceremonies.
We then continue to the Blue Mosque (interior/exterior visit depending on current regulations) and, just opposite, Hagia Sophia, an icon of the city that encapsulates centuries of Byzantine and Ottoman history.
In the afternoon we visit the courtyards of Topkapi Palace and its terraces overlooking the Bosphorus and the Sea of Marmara (entrances according to the program). Depending on time and opening days, we may also visit the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Bazaar. Return to the hotel and evening at leisure.

After breakfast, and depending on the flight schedule, we may enjoy a short Bosphorus panorama or some free time around the Spice Bazaar. We then transfer to the airport for our domestic flight to Şanlıurfa.
On arrival, we transfer to the hotel and, after a short rest, if time allows we take an evening walk around Balıklıgöl for a first glimpse of the ‘City of Prophets’. The ponds, mosques and bazaars already reveal the distinctive atmosphere of Southeast Anatolia.

After breakfast we drive to Göbeklitepe, where T-shaped pillars with animal reliefs and circular enclosures have reshaped our understanding of early human settlements. Your guide will explain the archaeological context and leading theories about the site.
We then continue to Harran, famous for its mud-brick beehive houses and biblical references. We see remains of the old city walls and madrasa, while the landscape evokes the proximity of Mesopotamia.
In the afternoon we return to Şanlıurfa to visit Balıklıgöl, the cave associated with the prophet Abraham and the bustling local bazaar. In the evening, those who wish may join an optional ‘sıra gecesi’, a traditional Urfa night with live music and local cuisine.

After breakfast we leave Şanlıurfa and head towards the Adıyaman/Kahta area, travelling through landscapes shaped by the Euphrates River and modern dams. After entering the national park, we continue by vehicle to the highest possible point and then hike up to the summit of Mount Nemrut (rocky path with incline; moderate walking level).
At the top we find the funerary mound of King Antiochus I of Commagene and the famous colossal stone heads. Weather permitting, we aim to be there around sunset or at the best light to enjoy the panorama and take photos. We then descend and return to Adıyaman/Kahta for overnight.

After breakfast we drive to Gaziantep, one of the gastronomic capitals of Turkey. On arrival we visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, home to one of the world’s most important collections of Roman mosaics from ancient Zeugma.
We then walk around the castle area, the coppersmiths’ bazaar (Bakırcılar Çarşısı) and historic streets, where copperwork and other crafts are still very much alive. There will be free time for lunch to sample local dishes and Gaziantep’s famous baklava.
In the afternoon we transfer to the airport for our domestic flight back to Istanbul. On arrival, transfer to the hotel and free evening.

Breakfast at the hotel (depending on flight time) and final free moments in Istanbul. You may take a short farewell walk or simply relax at the hotel until your transfer. At the agreed time, transfer to the airport for your international departure flight.
After this 7-day journey linking Istanbul with Southeast Anatolia, you leave not only with photos but with the stories of the imperial capital and the gateways to Mesopotamia.