7 days · Southeastern Anatolia
Mesopotamia from Gaziantep to Mardin
The Zeugma mosaics, Halfeti, Göbeklitepe, Harran, Mount Nemrut and the stone lanes of Mardin: a week full of history and flavour.
- Day 1
Gaziantep
- 09.00–10.30 · Şehitkamil, GaziantepZeugma Mosaic MuseumOne of the world's great mosaic museums, famous for the Gypsy Girl mosaic.
🚗 3,6 km · 4 min
10.34–12.34 · Şahinbey, GaziantepGaziantep CastleA historic castle on the mound in the heart of the city.
The castle was damaged in the 2023 earthquake; check whether it is open.
🍽️ What to eat: Baklava, Katmer, Beyran
📍 Where to eat:- Baklava: Pistachio baklava.
- Katmer: A cream and pistachio pastry eaten in the morning.
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Gaziantep: historic mansion hotels
- Day 2
Halfeti and Rumkale
🚗 83,4 km · 76 min
10.16–12.16 · Halfeti, ŞanlıurfaHalfetiA partly submerged town on the Euphrates; boat trips.🚗 51,1 km · 84 min
13.40–15.40 · Nizip, GaziantepRumkaleA historic fortress on sheer cliffs above the Euphrates.
🍽️ What to eat: Urfa kebab, Şıllık, Çiğ köfte, Baklava, Katmer, Beyran
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Şanlıurfa
- Day 3
Şanlıurfa
🚗 139,7 km · 160 min
11.40–13.40 · Haliliye, ŞanlıurfaGöbeklitepeOne of the oldest known temple sites in the world; UNESCO World Heritage.🚗 29,9 km · 53 min
14.33–15.18 · Eyyübiye, ŞanlıurfaBalıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham)A pool associated with the Prophet Abraham, with fish held sacred.
🍽️ What to eat: Urfa kebab, Şıllık, Çiğ köfte
📍 Where to eat:- Urfa kebab: Kebab of hand-chopped meat.
- Şıllık: Walnut dessert in syrup.
🛏️ Where to stay: Central Şanlıurfa: mansion hotels around Balıklıgöl
- Day 4
Harran and Karahantepe
🚗 47,6 km · 40 min
09.40–11.40 · Harran, ŞanlıurfaHarranA very ancient settlement with conical beehive houses and a castle.🚗 67,2 km · 104 min
13.24–15.24 · Haliliye, ŞanlıurfaKarahantepeA site of the same era as Göbeklitepe, with structures cut into the bedrock.
🍽️ What to eat: Urfa kebab, Şıllık, Çiğ köfte
🛏️ Where to stay: Kahta, for an early start to Nemrut
- Day 5
Mount Nemrut
🚗 107,5 km · 133 min
11.13–13.13 · Kahta, AdıyamanCendere BridgeA single-arched Roman bridge over the Cendere stream.🚗 0 km · 0 min
13.13–15.13 · Kahta, AdıyamanMount NemrutA UNESCO-listed mountain crowned by the giant statues of a Commagene king.
Plan to be at the summit for sunset and stay the night in Kahta.
🍽️ What to eat: Adıyaman çiğ köfte
🛏️ Where to stay: Kahta or Adıyaman
- Day 6
Mardin
🚗 243,4 km · 202 min
12.22–14.22 · Artuklu, MardinZinciriye (Sultan İsa) MadrasaAn Artuqid-era madrasa in the upper part of the old city.🚗 7,1 km · 10 min
14.32–16.32 · Artuklu, MardinKasımiye MadrasaAn Aq Qoyunlu-era madrasa with a courtyard overlooking the plain.🚗 10,5 km · 14 min
16.46–17.31 · Artuklu, MardinDeyrulzafaran MonasteryA monastery near Mardin that long served as the seat of the Syriac Patriarchate.
🍽️ What to eat: Stuffed lamb ribs, Sembusek
📍 Where to eat:- Stuffed lamb ribs: Lamb ribs stuffed with rice.
- Mırra: A strong, bitter coffee.
🛏️ Where to stay: Old Mardin: stone mansion hotels
- Day 7
Dara and Midyat
🚗 30,3 km · 26 min
09.26–11.26 · Artuklu, MardinAncient City of DaraA Roman-Byzantine frontier city with rock tombs and underground cisterns.🚗 112,2 km · 98 min
13.04–13.49 · Midyat, MardinMor Gabriel MonasteryA Syriac monastery known as one of the oldest still-active monasteries in the world.
🍽️ What to eat: Stuffed lamb ribs, Sembusek
📍 Where to eat:- Stuffed lamb ribs: Lamb ribs stuffed with rice.
- Mırra: A strong, bitter coffee.