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Southeast Anatolia & Mesopotamia

Ancient Mesopotamia meets Anatolia in Turkey’s southeast — stone-carved Mardin, the historic walls of Diyarbakır, and the world-changing site of Göbeklitepe. Below are the programs we currently offer for this region.

Classic Grand Tour
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14 DaysMax 12 GuestsHistory · Culture · Gastronomy

A comprehensive 14-day journey through Mesopotamia’s ancient heartland — Diyarbakır’s city walls, Mardin’s stone streets, and the world-changing site of Göbeklitepe, beginning with Eastern Anatolia’s Kars, Ani and Lake Van, and ending among the god statues of Mount Nemrut.

Day 1 — Istanbul
Arrival; overnight stay.
Day 2 — Kars
Baltic-style Russian-era old town; Kars Castle; Church of the Apostles; Kars Archaeology Museum.
Day 3 — Kars & Ani
Caucasus Front Military History Museum; UNESCO-listed ruins of Ani, once a medieval Armenian capital.
Day 4 — Doğubayazıt & Van
Village visit near Kars; views of Mount Ararat; İshak Paşa Palace; onward to Van.
Day 5 — Van
Traditional Van breakfast; Van Cats Villa; Van Archaeology Museum; Van Castle; Savat silverwork & Van carpet workshops.
Day 6 — Akdamar & Nemrut Volcano (Tatvan)
Boat trip to Akdamar Island and its Armenian church; crater lake atop Nemrut Volcano. Overnight in Tatvan.
Day 7 — Diyarbakır
Historic city walls, the longest surviving after the Great Wall of China; Surp Giragos Armenian Church; the Great Mosque; Tigris riverbanks; Hevsel Gardens (UNESCO).
Day 8 — Midyat & Mardin
Silver filigree ateliers; Mor Gabriel Monastery; Roman ruins of Dara Ancient City; onward to Mardin.
Day 9 — Mardin
Deyrulzafaran Monastery; Kasımiye Madrasah; Mardin's stone-carved old streets.
Day 10 — Mardin
Free day at leisure.
Day 11 — Göbeklitepe & Şanlıurfa
Neolithic site of Göbeklitepe (UNESCO); Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum; Balıklıgöl; Cave of Abraham.
Day 12 — Mount Nemrut (Adıyaman)
UNESCO-listed summit (2,150m) with colossal god statues on the eastern & western terraces; Karakuş Tumulus; Roman Cendere Bridge.
Day 13 — Gaziantep
Zeugma Mosaic Museum; old town cuisine; castle; copper bazaar; katmer & baklava tasting.
Day 14 — Departure
Flight home via Istanbul.
More programs coming soon

Additional Southeast Anatolia & Mesopotamia itineraries (shorter routes, different starting points) will be added here.