Göbekli Tepe: the oldest temple ever uncovered, and the biggest archaeological find since Tutankhamun? Great stone heads long-lost then rediscovered 7,000ft up Mount Nemrut? Turkey's southeastern backwaters are a veritable treasure trove of beautifully-preserved antiquity and creation-myths that backdate the story of Humanity in ways almost unimaginable. Perhaps nowhere else on Earth can the story of Man be so accurately re-enacted as in Anatolia's southeast, on frontiers that follow the curve of the ancient Fertile Crescent. Besides its keystone archaeology, it's the people and the landscape that make this habitat of southeastern Turkey so very distinctive.
Some snapshots make for timeless images, and this 7-day tour is no different. We take you on an abridged version of a longer tour that incorporates everything from Roman strongholds perched above biblical rivers to megalithic structures that make the Sphinx look brand new; and from magical museums to a prophet's last refuge.
Gaziantep - Zeugma - Rumkale - Urfa - Göbekli Tepe - Karahan Tepe - Sogmatar - Harran - Mount Nemrut - Istanbul
On this travel day, you'll first fly into Turkey's capital city, Istanbul, for a late connecting flight to Gaziantep. Arriving at your hotel in the early hours of the second day, rest before commencing commencing the first full day of activity.
Overnight in Anadolu Evleri, Gaziantep
Meal plan: Breakfast
A night's rest and a hearty breakfast should energise you for the day ahead. A busy schedule sees you first visiting the renowned Zeugma Museum, home to arguably the world's finest mosaic art, dating from the Roman period. In the afternoon we go out and about on a city-wide tour of Gaziantep. This city of some 2 million people is lauded as a major culinary capital of a nation lauded as one the world's top places to eat. In the evening you'll return to your Antep hotel.
Overnight in Anadolu Evleri, Gaziantep
Meal plan: Breakfast
There is much on offer today. Starting out from Antep, we leave the city limits for, firstly, the ancient Hellenistic ruins at Zeugma, which under Roman occupation was known as Commagene. Having explored the Lost City of Zeugma and its unforgettable mosaic floors, we head on to Halfeti, from where we take a boat ride over to the bird's nest Roman citadel of Rumkale. Rumkale sits on a promontory overlooking the mighty Euphrates, ever watchful for invading tribes. It is an evocative site: hard to miss and even harder to forget. Overnight in Urfa.
Overnight in Hilton Garden Inn, Urfa
Meal plan: Breakfast
From our base in Urfa, we fan out toward - some reckon - the world's pre-eminent archaeological site at Göbekli Tepe. Only revealed in 1963, and not excavated until the 1990s, Göbekli Tepe's megalithic structures are about 6,000 years older than Stonehenge. This would place Göbekli Tepe in that liminal space between Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, characterised by the single most important event before the industrial revolution, that of the agricultural revolution. So significant is this place, that it is here Eurasian Man ceased to be hunter-gatherer and instead became farmer. Later, we return to the Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum in Urfa. By recreating the Neolithic world through exhibitions, this remarkable establishment is where the period that gave rise to Göbekli Tepe can be vividly re-imagined. Evening and overnight in Urfa.
Overnight in Hilton Garden Inn, Urfa
Meal plan: Breakfast
Another ancient history-packed day sees us leave our Urfa base for Karahan Tepe, another megalithic site. This early Neolithic site is considered by some even older than Göbekli Tepe. Afterwards, we move on to the ruins of Soğmatar, where Moses was suspected to have met his father-in-law, the prophet Shu'ayb. After lunch back in Urfa, we progress to Harran, a 4,500 year-old refuge for traders from Ur, Gilgamesh's kingdom in ancient Sumer. This village, known for its strange, beehive-shaped dwellings was also reputed to have offered shelter to none other than the father of monotheistic religion: Abraham. We shall stay through the late afternoon to see the slanting sun illuminate the beehive houses. Back to Urfa in the evening, to overnight.
Overnight in Hilton Garden Inn, Urfa
Meal plan: Breakfast
From Urfa we head out to see one of ancient history's more famous vanity projects and, moreover, one of the high points of this tour: Mount Nemrut. En route, we shall be stopping at the Romanesque Cendere Bridge (Severan Bridge), and beyond that the funerary monument of Karakus Tumulus. After swallowing the breathtaking views from the top of Nemrut, we continue to your mountain-side hotel where you'll overnight.
Overnight in Hotel Euphrat, Mount Nemrut
Meal plan: Breakfast
Our leaving day. Starting out from our hotel near Nemrut, we drive down to the regional airport at Adiyaman to catch the lunchtime flight to Istanbul. From Istanbul you'll fly onward, or perhaps you'll stay on and enjoy the capital's infinite charms.
Meal plan: Breakfast
All accommodation subject to availability. Final accommodation choices will be confirmed after booking.
Located in the city centre of Gaziantep, Anadolu Evleri hotel features a restored, stone built structure with a courtyard and a wine cellar. The hotel offers unique rooms with authentic interiors and air conditioning. The restaurant serves regional cuisine so you can enjoy local delicacies with a relaxing glass of wine.
Located in an area known as the ''Fertile Crescent'' where a great deal of traditional architecture has been preserved, the Hilton Garden Inn is within walking distance of the city center and Urfa's main historical sites. Comfortable en suite rooms feature AC, satellite TV, tea/coffee making facilities and a minibar.
A basic hotel located close to Mount Nemrut. All rooms are en-suite and come fitted with an LCD TV, minibar, air conditioning and free wireless Internet. The on-site restaurant serves a range of local delicacies.
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Cynthia Bishop , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyI went on this trip rather than all the other interesting possibilities in the world because I wanted to go to Gobekli Tepe. Being there was all I could have hoped for. It was a stunning experience and I was moved to tears. Thank you so much for the opportunity. Regarding the food, the olives were the best I`ve ever tasted. And the yoghurt is fabulous. Also the cheese and pistachios and apricots. Oh yes, and the watermelon : ) Thanks to David too for being so patient with my endless questions
Marion McCallum , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyA great way to travel to some of the more remote and interesting places in the world. It was a very interesting area and we saw a lot that we would never have managed on our own. I would recommend the holiday to others.
Johanna, Shiree, & Madelein , Tailormade TurkeyWe were fortunate to book a private trip to Turkey with Travel the Unknown. All aspects exceeded our expectations: booking the trip, the guides and personalized tours, transport, accommodation and the food! Our tour operator on the ground was the best! She went out of her way to ensure a wonderful and special experience of Turkey and the private gulet cruise.
Neil , Ancient Anatolia & Eastern TurkeyTravel the Unknown is an excellent company to chose for a real travel experience. It was a fabulous holiday where we felt we saw a different side to Turkey and saw sights and had experiences that were once in a lifetime events. I would certainly recommend them to anyone wanting to have new experiences and see the true side of a country.
Stephen Kamin , Eastern Turkey ExplorerThis was my third trip with Travel the Unknown and I was just as fully satisfied as on our previous trips. Rahul and his staff are extremely responsive and knowledgeable. Our original itinerary involved areas that were affected by the recent earthquake in Turkey, so the itinerary had to be modified. Rahul accomplished this in a seamless fashion and created a trip that was as interesting, and more varied, than the original one. Kudos for that.
Tessa Skola , Tailormade Eastern TurkeyAs a worldwide traveller, explorer & author travelling through COVID times, my trip with Travel The Unknown was a perfect choice for my adventure in Turkey. As a solo booking , I didn’t need the usual tourist bling. I knew what I wanted to see and the company chose the best guide I could have wished for. No fuss. Dealing with my preferences. This company know exactly what they are doing with complete knowledge of their guests, countries and Travel passage. I highly recommend Travel the Unknown.
John Colligan , Eastern Turkey Snapshot & archaeology extensionTravel the Unknown were very responsive to my personal wishes, and flexible enough to make this a fantastic tour- we covered a lot in a limited time. Guides were pleasant and informative, and the transport was excellent.
Joy Lawley , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyThis trip was an amazing and very exhilarating experience. We had high hopes of Gobekli Tepe, which were totally fulfilled- it is utterly amazing, but we had not anticipated some of the other gems to be so exceptional as well. We were a small group, which made the trip very personal. Altogether it was a marvellous week, helped by having a caring guide and an excellent driver.
Caroline & Peter , Eastern Turkey Snapshot, TurkeyCharming people organising the trip and acting as guides. An inspirational visit taking us to out of the way places we would never have had the chance to visit. The personal touch Travel the Unknown brings sets them apart.
Jane Kimberley , The Magic of Cappadocia, TurkeyI had a lovely time in Turkey. Both of the tours that were part of the package were fabulous, both tour guides were very knowledgeable and made the trips very interesting providing plenty of information, and the places where we went for lunches as part of the trip were superb. David McGuinness is a credit to Travel the Unknown, he goes that `extra mile` to keep customer happy. I`d like to say a huge `thank you` for all the help you gave me organising and planning my trip. I certainly will recommend anyone to use you for planning their `unknown` destination holiday. The emails, telephone calls were all spot on, well done :-) :-)
Jane Neild , Eastern Turkey Explorer, TurkeyThis was a very exciting itinerary including fantastic historic and prehistoric site visits, as well as visits to wonderful towns, restaurants and markets. The attentiveness of the guide ensured that everything went smoothly, even in very out-of-the way places. It was possible to fall in love with the drama of the landscape, the character of the architecture, the colour, sights and sounds of the towns, the friendliness and honesty of the people - and I did!
Michael Wilson , Archaeology of Western Turkey, TurkeyWe greatly enjoyed visiting the ancient sites of Western Turkey with an experienced guide and seeing the remains of so many different periods and cultures. The scenery was spectacular and we felt that the tour gave us a wonderful introduction to the country.
