Nemrut, Göbeklitepe & Mesopotamia

Meet at Adıyaman Airport; travel by minibus through the ancient Commagene Kingdom; Karakuş Tumulus, royal burial mound of the Commagene queens; Cendere Bridge (Severus Bridge), one of the best-preserved Roman bridges in the world; Arsameia, ancient Commagene capital with rock reliefs and underground passages; guided hike (~1 hour, moderate-difficult) to Mount Nemrut’s (2,150m) East & West Terraces and its monumental god statues, with panoramic Taurus Mountain views. Note: temperatures can vary significantly year-round — warm layers, a waterproof jacket and gloves are recommended. Overnight in Şanlıurfa.

Breakfast at hotel; Harran, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth, with its ancient walls, inner citadel, Grand Mosque (Anatolia’s first university) and beehive houses, plus a traditional costume photo opportunity; Bazda Caves & Han-el Barur Caravanserai, ancient stone quarry caves and a well-preserved Silk Road caravanserai; Soğmatar Ancient City, a sacred site dedicated to the Moon and Sun gods with active excavations; Karahantepe, a contemporary of Göbeklitepe and one of the most significant Neolithic sites known. Optional evening: traditional Sıra Gecesi, a 2.5-hour musical gathering with local folk musicians (extra charge). Overnight in Şanlıurfa.

Breakfast at hotel; Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum, tracing human civilization from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age; Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, featuring the Orpheus Mosaic; Göbeklitepe, the world’s oldest known temple complex (c. 10,000 BC), still under active excavation; Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham), a site sacred across monotheistic traditions, with Ibrahim’s Cave, Rızvaniye Mosque, Ayn Zeliha Lake and the Dergah Mosque complex; Gümrük Han, an Ottoman-era caravanserai with free time for shopping or traditional mirra coffee and menengiç. Transfer to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport. Tour ends.