Five-Day Heritage Post Conference Tour to Mysterious Mesopotamia

As a special add-on to the conference, we are offering a special tour to the Southeast of Turkey, and the borders of ancient Mesopotamia.

Full details are below.

Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights – Gaziantep, Mount Nemrut, Sanliurfa, Göbekli Tepe, Mardin, Harran

Dates: 1-5 May, 2026

Cost: Single room 960 Euro. Twin room (two beds) 800 Euro person.

Book the tour here (scroll down).

There is a maximum of 40 people and booking will close on 20 February.

See details of internal flights here.

Day 1- Explore Gaziantep

• Fly from Istanbul to Gaziantep

• Meet the guide and receive assistance at the Gaziantep airport

• Start the tour with Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum to see the mosaics extracted from Zeugma (Belkıs)

• Head to the Antep Castle and the panoramic time tunnel of the Antep War of Independence, where there were copper products factories widely used in the past in the city

• Go to the historical Coppersmith Bazaar, and see the other historical sites of Zincirli Bedesten, Tahmis Coffeehouse, Gümrük Inn, and Gaziantep Hamam Museum

• Overnight in Gaziantep

Day 2: Hike Mt. Nemrut For A Beautiful View

• Have breakfast and move to Kahta by minibuses for the magnificent sunset. After visiting the Karakuş Tumulus built by Antiochus I for his mother, Isias

• Go towards the Cendere Bridge built by the Romans. Then we go to the entrance of Kâhta Castle, take photos, visit Arsemia, the summer capital of the Commagene Kingdom, and after all, drive to Mt. Nemrut

• Hike to the top of the mountain in about 15 minutes with the stairs. See the tumulus and god statues built by Antiochus, the young and powerful King of the Komagene Kingdom. See the sunrise and set again, and get information from our guide. You will never forget the sunset in this magical place where the sun sets with the most beautiful view in the world

• Drive to Sanliurfa

• Overnight in Sanliurfa

Day 3: Visit the Historic Sites of Sanliurfa

• Have breakfast in the hotel and depart for Harran

• See the earthen Harran houses with conical roofs, the ancient ruins of the Harran University, considered the first university in the world, and the historical Harran fortress from the time when Harran was the capital of the Umayyads and the Harran walls surrounding Haran

• Drive back to Sanlıurfa and visit the Archeology and Mosaic Museum in the city center

• Go to the Ayn Zeliha Lake (Balikli Gol), Hali-ur Rahman Mosque, Rizvaniye Mosque and the cave where Prophet Abraham was born, Sipahi Bazaar, Naccar Bazaar, historical Gümrük Inn, and Culinary Museum later in the afternoon

• Overnight in Sanliurfa

• (Optional: Traditional SiraGecesi with dinner)

Day 4: Witness the Archaeological Site of Göbeklitepe

• Take the road to Göbeklitepe, one of the most important archaeological discoveries in human history, dated 12,000 years ago, which is thought to be the first pilgrimage center that deeply shakes the truths of known written history. Göbeklitepe, one of the oldest temples known as a result of the studies carried out so far, is located in the Mesopotamia region. It offers important data on religious beliefs in hunter-gatherer societies. Göbeklitepe, which we will consider socio-economically in architecture and later, can live the beliefs of the people of the period. It gives information about how to create a sanctuary for people and enlightens us about their religion, religious symbols, technology and sciences

• Drive to Dara, which is called Ephesus of Mesopotamia, after the sightseeings arrive in Mardin, and check in to the hotel

• Overnight in Mardin

Day 5: Offer Your Prayers at the Mosques in Mardin

• Have breakfast at the hotel. Our first stop is Mor Behrem Kırklar Church. Following the information, we will get from the church office, walk through the narrow streets of Mardin to see the Mardin Museum, Latifiye Mosque and the Ulu Mosque, one of the most important structures in the region, and photograph them

• Visit the PTT building, which has hosted many TV series and films, and after we visit the Şehidiye Mosque and Madrasa, we pass the Abbaras, one of the symbols of Mardin

• See the Kasımiye Madrasa

• Transfer to the airport for your onward flight

What's Included

• 4 nights hotel accommodation at 4* or heritage hotels

• Airport transfers

• All transportation between the cities mentioned in the itinerary

• Museum and historical sites' entrance fees

• English-speaking and Russian-speaking guides

• Sira Night in Urfa (dinner included)

• Round-trip plane ticket (from and to Istanbul)

What's Excluded

• Lunch

• Dinner

• Personal expenses

Additional Information

• Climbing Mount Nemrut starts after May because before this month, there is snow on the mountain. Therefore, no matter what season you are going out in autumn, spring or summer, make sure to take something suitable for the season with you so that the cold weather does not overshadow your enjoyment

• Please note you will have to climb about 300 stairs. Those with shortness of breath, pacemakers and blood pressure patients should be careful while climbing Mt. Nemrut. (if the weather is ver harsh we may not be able to climb there

• The Mardin city center tour will be almost entirely on foot. Since our Mardin itinerary will include hills and slopes, I recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes

• If you have an umbrella, be sure to bring it with you

• Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat

The neolithic archaeological site, Göbekli Tepe