Göbekli Tepe & Sanliurfa City Tour 2 Days 1 Night
€890.00
Region Guide
About Southeastern Anatolia
Southeastern Anatolia spreads across the plains of Upper Mesopotamia, fed by the Euphrates and Tigris, and tells the story of humanity's shift to settled life. Göbekli Tepe near Şanlıurfa is counted among the oldest known monumental structures and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as are the colossal statues on Mount Nemrut in Adıyaman. Mardin's stone houses overlooking the Mesopotamian plain, Midyat's Syriac churches and the half-submerged old quarter of Halfeti reveal other layers of the region. Gaziantep, a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, carries its culinary reputation.
Classic GAP tours, named after the regional development project, start in Gaziantep with the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and Halfeti, continue to Şanlıurfa for Balıklıgöl, Göbekli Tepe and Harran, then finish in Mardin and Midyat. Many programs add a night in Adıyaman or Kahta to catch sunrise on Mount Nemrut. Boat trips in Halfeti, walks through Mardin's lanes and food tours in Gaziantep are favorite experiences. Five to seven days is a good length for the region. On TurTalebi you can weigh up tours from local firms and book securely by card.
Tours and Activities
Southeastern Anatolia Tours
Tours run by local firms in the area. Pick a date, see the price and book securely by card.
1 tour shown
Highlights
Top Routes in the Region
01
Göbekli Tepe
This Neolithic sanctuary near Şanlıurfa, with T-shaped pillars carved with animals, ranks among the oldest known monumental structures. The site sits under a protective roof and is best seen with a guide.
02
Şanlıurfa and Harran
Şanlıurfa's Balıklıgöl, the sacred fish pools linked with the Prophet Abraham, and its old bazaars pair with Harran's beehive mud-brick houses and Great Mosque ruins. A traditional sıra gecesi evening is a local highlight.
03
Halfeti
Partly flooded by the Birecik Dam, Halfeti is best explored by boat, gliding past a minaret rising from the water to the clifftop fortress of Rumkale. It is also home to the rare black rose.
04
Gaziantep and Zeugma
The famous Gypsy Girl mosaic in the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the coppersmiths' bazaar, historic inns and dishes like baklava, beyran and katmer make Gaziantep one of the region's richest stops.
05
Mardin and Midyat
Mardin's stone houses climb a hillside above the Mesopotamian plain, with the Zinciriye Madrasa in town and Deyrulzafaran Monastery nearby, while Midyat adds Syriac churches and silver filigree workshops.
06
Mount Nemrut
Giant stone heads surround the tomb of King Antiochus I of Commagene on this summit in Adıyaman, a UNESCO site best seen at sunrise or sunset. A short uphill walk leads to the terraces.
Planning
Plan Your Trip
When to Go
Summers in Southeastern Anatolia are extremely hot and dry, and July and August heat makes sightseeing at open-air sites hard work. April and May, when the plains turn green, and September and October, with warm, pleasant days, are the best times to go. Snow usually limits access to the summit of Mount Nemrut outside late spring to mid-autumn. Winter is cool but fine for culture and food trips in Gaziantep and Mardin, with few crowds.
Getting Around the Region
Airports in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Mardin and Adıyaman make it easy to fly into one city and out of another. Intercity roads are good and buses are frequent, but a tour or rental car is more practical for Göbekli Tepe, Harran, Halfeti and Mount Nemrut. The classic route runs from Gaziantep through Halfeti, Şanlıurfa and Göbekli Tepe to Mardin and Midyat, with an extra night in Adıyaman for Mount Nemrut.
Practical Tips
- In summer, visit open-air ruins first thing in the morning, carry a hat and plenty of water, and retreat to shade at midday.
- Sunrise trips to Mount Nemrut leave in the dark and the summit is cold even in summer, so pack a warm jacket and a flashlight.
- Pace yourself in Gaziantep by spreading katmer, beyran, kebabs and baklava across different meals instead of trying everything at once.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Five to six days covers Gaziantep, Halfeti, Şanlıurfa, Göbekli Tepe, Mardin and Midyat. Add a day for sunrise on Mount Nemrut, and allow seven or eight days if you prefer a slower pace with time for food and markets.
Göbekli Tepe is more than 11,000 years old and counts among the oldest known monumental structures. The fact that hunter-gatherer communities built it before farming took hold has reshaped ideas about the origins of civilization. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Wander the stone lanes and historic bazaar, visit the Zinciriye and Kasımiye madrasas and the Great Mosque, and take in sunset over the Mesopotamian plain. Deyrulzafaran Monastery and ancient Dara are easy side trips, and Midyat with Mor Gabriel Monastery is about an hour away.
Both are memorable. Sunrise is more popular, as first light hits the statues on the east terrace, but it means leaving in the dark. Sunset on the west terrace suits a more relaxed schedule. Either way, the summit is chilly, so dress warmly.
Most of old Hasankeyf now lies under the Ilısu Dam reservoir. Several historic monuments, most famously the Zeynel Bey Tomb, were moved to a cultural park in the new town on the Tigris, which makes a short add-on to a Mardin and Midyat route.
Keep Exploring