Your private journey begins in Adana, a lively city shaped by the fertile Çukurova plain and the Seyhan River. After arrival, meet your assistant guide and transfer to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, explore the city’s principal landmarks and absorb the atmosphere of southern Turkey.

Places to discover

Adana Clock Tower: A prominent historic timepiece in the old commercial quarter, the tower offers a sense of the city’s civic development and its enduring bazaar culture. Kazancılar Bazaar: Wander through traditional lanes where metalwork, food stalls and everyday trade preserve the feel of an old Anatolian market. Adana Ulu Mosque: This important historic mosque reflects the region’s Islamic architectural heritage and the city’s place on historic routes. Taş Köprü (Stone Bridge): Spanning the Seyhan River, this ancient bridge is one of Adana’s signature landmarks, connecting the city’s modern rhythm with its long history of movement and commerce. Sabancı Central Mosque: With its six minarets and commanding riverside presence, this modern landmark has become a defining feature of Adana’s skyline.

Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay in Adana. If your arrival is late, sightseeing may be shortened or moved according to the final arrangements.

After breakfast, travel to Hatay and Antakya, a region whose history brings together Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and later Anatolian traditions. The area’s position near the eastern Mediterranean made it a meeting point for people, languages and faiths over many centuries.

St Pierre Church

Visit the rock-cut St Pierre Church on Mount Starius, a sacred site associated with the earliest Christian community in Antioch. Its cave setting gives the visit a powerful sense of intimacy: rather than a monumental cathedral, this is a place connected to the beginnings of a faith that later spread across continents. The tradition that the followers of Jesus were first called Christians in Antioch adds to the site’s historical resonance.

Continue to Gaziantep, a city celebrated for its culinary traditions, lively bazaars and archaeological heritage. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep. The supplied document notes that the Hatay Archaeological Museum remained closed following the February 2024 earthquake; confirm current access and local conditions before travel.

Begin with Gaziantep, a historic trading centre where regional food culture is inseparable from the city’s identity. At the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, encounter finely crafted mosaics recovered from the ancient city of Zeugma. The celebrated “Gypsy Girl” mosaic is especially memorable for the expressive face and gaze that have made it an emblem of the collection. These mosaics reveal the domestic tastes, mythological stories and artistic sophistication of the Roman-era communities that flourished along the Euphrates.

Spend time in Bakircilar Bazaar, Almaci Bazaar and Zincirli Bedesten, traditional market spaces associated with copperwork, regional produce and long-standing commercial life. If time permits, sample local baklava and pistachios.

Halfeti and the Euphrates

Continue to Halfeti, known for its old stone houses and the landscape transformed by the waters of the Birecik Dam. A boat excursion, subject to operating conditions, offers views of partly submerged Savaşan Village, the Sunken Mosque and the remains commonly called the Greek Castle. The meeting of water, architecture and steep hillsides gives Halfeti its distinctive, contemplative atmosphere.

Harran

In Harran, see the region’s iconic conical-roofed houses, adapted to local climate and materials, along with Harran Mound and the El Firdevs (Cennet) Mosque area. Harran’s long history as a settlement and centre of learning makes it a fitting place to reflect on Mesopotamia’s interconnected past. The source itinerary includes a traditional Sıra night with local music; confirm availability and the final overnight plan in Şanlıurfa.

Discover Şanlıurfa, often called the city of prophets, where religious traditions, old bazaars and archaeological discoveries create an unusually rich cultural landscape. At Balıklıgöl (the Pool of Sacred Fish), local tradition connects the waters with the story of Prophet Abraham. Nearby Halil-ur Rahman and Rizvaniye Mosques frame the pool with elegant religious architecture, while Ayn-el Zeliha Lake adds another layer to the area’s stories and atmosphere.

Explore the Bedesten and Gümrük Inn, historic market spaces where craft, trade and social life meet. Enjoy a taste of Urfa kebab, known for its regional seasoning and charcoal-grilled character. The itinerary also lists the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum and Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, offering context for the region’s ancient settlements and artistic heritage; opening schedules should be checked.

Göbeklitepe

Visit Göbeklitepe, a landmark in the study of early human societies. Its monumental T-shaped pillars, some decorated with animal reliefs, belong to a ritual complex dating to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period, more than twelve thousand years ago. The site challenges simple assumptions about the relationship between settled life, shared belief and monumental architecture, making it one of the most thought-provoking stops on the journey.

Karahantepe

Continue to Karahantepe, another remarkable Neolithic site within the wider Taş Tepeler landscape. Carved stone features and human imagery illuminate the symbolic world of communities living thousands of years before written records. Archaeological interpretation continues to develop, so the experience is as much about asking new questions as it is about seeing ancient remains. Overnight in Şanlıurfa as indicated in the supplied itinerary.

Travel toward Mount Nemrut, the spectacular summit sanctuary associated with King Antiochos I of Commagene. The royal tumulus crowns the mountain, while enormous sculpted heads and seated figures once formed part of a carefully planned setting linking the king with divine and heroic figures. Weathered by centuries of exposure, the statues retain a dramatic presence against the wide eastern Anatolian sky.

En route through the Kahta area, visit Arsemia, the former summer capital and ceremonial centre of the Commagene rulers, known for its archaeological remains and inscriptions. At the Karakuş Tumulus, explore a royal burial monument marked by surviving columns, a reminder of the dynasty’s distinctive funerary traditions. The Cendere Bridge, a Roman-era stone bridge crossing a narrow gorge, demonstrates the engineering skill that connected settlements and military routes in the region.

Ascend by local minibus where required to the terraces of Mount Nemrut. Allow time to absorb the scale of the sculptures of Zeus, Apollo, Heracles and Antiochos, alongside the eagle and lion figures. The summit can be cold and windy even when the lowlands are warm; bring an extra layer. Descend for dinner and overnight in Adıyaman or Kahta, as assigned in the final booking.

Head to Diyarbakır, one of northern Mesopotamia’s most historically significant cities. Its dark basalt walls encircle the old city and create a powerful architectural silhouette. Walk near the Great Mosque of Diyarbakır, an important early Islamic monument in Anatolia, and the historic Hasan Pasha Inn, once associated with the city’s commercial life. The distinctive Four-Legged Minaret of the Sheikh Matar Mosque stands on four stone supports and has become one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks. The route also lists the Prophet Süleyman Mosque and Mar Petyun Chaldean Church, reflecting the region’s varied religious heritage.

After lunch, continue to Zerzevan Castle, a Roman military settlement positioned to oversee an important route. Its surviving fortifications, underground spaces and Temple of Mithras offer a glimpse into the Roman frontier and the religious diversity of the empire. The Mithraic sanctuary is particularly intriguing because the cult’s rites were closely associated with selected communities, and its archaeology invites careful interpretation.

Explore the remains of Dara, an ancient fortified settlement whose ruins include traces of civic, defensive and water-management systems. Arrive in Mardin, famous for pale honey-coloured limestone buildings stepping down a hillside toward the Mesopotamian plain. See the Latifiye Mosque, Great Mosque and Kasimiye Madrasa, and look for the finely carved doorways and metal door knockers that express local craftsmanship. Dinner and overnight in Mardin.

Visit Deyrulzafaran Monastery, traditionally associated with the Syriac Orthodox Church and long remembered as a patriarchal seat. Its stone courtyards, chapels and quiet setting offer insight into a living religious tradition whose language, liturgy and scholarship have endured through centuries of change.

Continue to Midyat, a town celebrated for its historic stone houses, arched passages and telkari silver filigree. This delicate craft turns fine silver strands into intricate jewellery and decorative pieces, linking the visitor to a regional tradition of skilled handwork. Midyat’s architectural details and layered community history make it one of the most atmospheric stops in the Tur Abdin area.

At Hasankeyf, see the historic monuments and structures relocated or preserved in response to the rising waters associated with the Ilısu Dam. The site’s long human history and dramatic riverside setting have made it an important symbol of heritage conservation and landscape change. After a lunch break in Batman, travel through the uplands toward Ahlat beside Lake Van.

Ahlat is renowned for its extensive Turkish-Islamic cemetery and Seljuk-era funerary monuments. Tall carved tombstones, geometric ornament and inscriptions turn the cemetery into an open-air record of medieval artistic expression and remembrance. The route also includes the Emir Bayındır Mosque and mausoleums. Overnight in Tatvan according to the itinerary.

Travel along the shores of Lake Van, a vast high-altitude lake framed by volcanic mountains and open skies. Weather and boat schedules permitting, cross to Akdamar Island to visit the Church of the Holy Cross, commissioned in the tenth century under King Gagik I. The church is celebrated for its carved exterior reliefs, including biblical scenes, animals and ornamental motifs. The stonework offers a vivid expression of medieval Armenian Christian art and makes the island visit one of the tour’s most memorable cultural encounters.

After lunch in Van, explore Tuşpa Castle, the citadel associated with the Urartian kingdom that flourished in the first millennium BCE. The rocky heights preserve traces of royal tombs and monumental inscriptions, while the elevated position reveals why this site held strategic importance above the ancient capital. The Van Archaeology and Ethnography Museum, when open, provides further context for Urartian craftsmanship and the region’s diverse cultural history.

Van is also known for its dramatic lake setting and regional food traditions. Enjoy the contrast between the ancient citadel and the contemporary city before dinner and overnight in Van.

Begin with Muradiye Waterfall, where water drops through a rugged landscape to create a refreshing scenic pause. Continue across the highlands near Mount Tendürek toward Doğubayazıt, with views shaped by broad plains, volcanic terrain and the distant presence of Mount Ararat when conditions are clear.

İshak Pasha Palace

Visit İshak Pasha Palace, a striking palace complex set on a high slope above the plain. Its architecture blends Ottoman, Persian and Seljuk influences in a richly layered composition of portals, courtyards and decorative stonework. The setting is as memorable as the structure itself: the palace seems to rise from the rugged landscape, overlooking a historic corridor between Anatolia and the Caucasus. The source document describes a 116-room palace and a construction story said to have taken 99 years; present this as a traditional account rather than a verified exact timeline.

Continue to Kars, a city whose urban character reflects Ottoman history and a period of Russian imperial influence. Broad streets and distinctive stone buildings give the city a different atmosphere from the older towns farther south. If time permits, stroll through the centre and sample regional specialties such as Kars cheese or goose dishes. Dinner and overnight in Kars.

Visit Ani, the evocative medieval city often called the “city of a thousand churches.” Set near a historic frontier, Ani prospered as a political, commercial and religious centre before conflict and changing trade routes contributed to its decline. Today, its monumental remains stand across an open plateau, giving visitors a sense of both the former city’s ambition and the vulnerability of frontier settlements.

Explore the Ani Cathedral, a major example of Armenian medieval architecture; the Manuçehr Mosque, associated with the city’s later Islamic history; the Church of the Apostles; and the Virgins Monastery area where accessible. The ruins are spread across a broad site, so comfortable shoes, water and time for uneven ground are important.

Continue to Erzurum, pausing for local cağ kebab and, where available, stuffed kadayıf. In the city, discover the Çifte Minareli Madrasa, with its richly decorated monumental entrance; the Yakutiye Madrasa, another important expression of Seljuk-era learning and architecture; and the Great Mosque. Erzurum Castle and the Aziziye Bastions add further chapters, from medieval urban defence to later military history. Dinner and overnight in Erzurum.

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before your scheduled transfer to Erzurum Airport for your flight to Istanbul and onward international connection. Your eleven-day route has crossed landscapes and periods spanning Neolithic ritual sites, classical kingdoms, Roman frontiers, medieval Christian and Islamic centres, and the enduring cultural traditions of eastern Anatolia.

End of the services listed in the supplied itinerary. Please ensure your flight times allow sufficient connection time, and confirm the domestic flight arrangement and transfer details with the tour team before departure.