Voices of Mesopotamia

Everything Mesopotamia - 7 Day Tour

Tour code: 2140FULLT7DAY

Location: Full Mesopotamia Tour
Duration: 7 days

Adult (Age 12+)

Details

Everything Mesapotamia Taking in everything from mountains to the syrian plains, this tour will take you to Mardin, Diyarbakir, Nemrut, Urfa, Gobeklitepe, and everything in between.

Highlights

Of course we think every single place we visit will be a highlight of your tour, but these will especially stick in your memory.

Mardin Monastery
Traditional Diyarbakir Breakfast in Hasan Pasa
Hasankeyf

Tour Route

Itinerary

This is the typical itinerary for this tour

Day 1: Diyarbakir

Airport / Station collection. After collection from the airport / train station / bus station, we will make our way to the old city of Diyarbakir for a delicious traditional breakfast at Hasan Pasa palace. Over breakfast we will discuss plans for the upcoming week, and build our excitement together over a feast of local yoghurt, jams, eggs, watermelon, honey, çay and coffee.

With our bellies filled and ready for the day, we will take a tour of the Old City. Visiting: Saint Suleyman Mosque, Great Mosque, Suluklu Inn, Seyh Mutahhar Mosque, Mar Petyum Keldani Catholic Church, Surp Gragos Armenian Church, Virgin Mary Ancient Assyrian Church, Hevsel Garden, City Walls.

After seeing the sights in the Old City, we will take time to relax and drink more çay at the magnificent Ten Eyed Bridge, with the waters of the Tigris (Dicle) flowing onwards to Iraq.

In the evening there will be time to visit shops and enjoy the bustling atmosphere of this lively city.

Diyarbakır Diyarbakır is a city populated by a people as strong and resilient as the large basalt walls that surround the old city Dag Kapi. Built to protect this ancient trading hub, which served as an important stop on the silk road, the walls are a magnificent wonder in themselves, which make this city (which is claimed to be one of the oldest cities in the world) a fantastic destination for the curious. Read More

Day 2: Egil, Çayönü, Hasankeyf

After making a short trip out of Diyarbakir, we will find ourself transported back almost 10,000 years - at the enthrawling site of Çayönü. After a farmhouse breakfast we will explore the rock tombs, stone carvings, and limestone terrain of the earliest discovered site of human collective settlement.

After Çayönü, and on the way back to Diyarbakir we will make our way up into the hills at Egil, where a large resevoir now lies at the foot of the Zerzevak Castle. There will be a boat tour of the resevoir, where we will take in the castle at the surrounding rock faces.

Our final stop will be Hasankeyf, home to thousands of human-made caves, 300 medieval monuments and a unique canyon ecosystem — which all combine to create a beguiling open-air museum.

Ergani Place names first mentioned as Arkni/Argni in Armenian archives. Trade has flourished between Ergani and Mesopotamia during the third millennium BC. Ergani mines used to ship copper to the early settlements at Uruk of southern Iraq. The Euphrates river connected Ergani and Uruk. Vessels of the day could easily float several tons of copper downstream to Uruk in a few weeks, the transport of hundred of tons of grain back to Anatolia was challenging. Read More

Çayönü Near the village of Sesverenpınar, among the Hilar rocks Çayönü hill was first settled in c. 7500 BC, and was continuously inhabited until 5000 BC - making it the first discivered site of human collective settlement. The soft limestone of the area provided the perfect location for shelter among rich agricultural lands, and encouraged the early neolithic man and woman to gather for the first time, forming communities and the first societies in history. Read More

Hasankeyf The waters of the Tigris River gave rise to the first settlements of the Fertile Crescent in Anatolia and Mesopotamia—the cradle of civilization. The ancient city of Hasankeyf, built on and around the banks of the river in southeastern Turkey, may be one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, spanning some 10,000 years. Hasankeyf and its surrounding limestone cliffs are home to thousands of human-made caves, 300 medieval monuments and a unique canyon ecosystem—all combining to create a beguiling open-air museum. Read More

Day 3:Mardin, Dara

After a luxurious night in the Ottoman Era Artuklu Hotel, we will visit the Old City of Mardin : Kasimiye Madrasha, Mardin Museum, Dayrulzeferan Church, Forty Martyrs Church. With it's sandstone houses and narrow streets, Mardin is a truly romantic location, with magnificent views across the Syrian Plains to the south.

After lunch we will take the short ride to Dara, a little known about but unmissable ancient city. Having been only preliminarily excavated, one can walk amongst the ruins of dara that burst out of the soil, as if you were the first to discover this magical city.

Mardin Mardin is a jewel of a city, unforgettable for its yellow sandstone houses and buildings. The city is nested on the shoulder of a large monolith of rock, with a fantastic () castle from the () century. The city has a unique feeling, being made up of an almost equal number of kurds and arabs, you really feel yourself at the meeting point of cultures. The city is not only famous for it’s beautiful architecture, but also for the produce on sale here. The streets are lined with shops, selling silver and gold jewelery, locally grown nuts, and the famous Mardin olive oil soap. Read More

Dara Dara or Daras (Greek: Δάρας) was an important East Roman fortress city in northern Mesopotamia on the border with the Sassanid Empire. Because of its great strategic importance, it featured prominently in the Roman-Persian conflicts of the 6th century, with the famous Battle of Dara taking place before its walls in 530. The former (arch)bishopric remains a multiple Catholic titular see. Today the Turkish village of Oğuz, Mardin Province, occupies its location. Read More

Day 4: Urfa, Göbeklitepe

In Urfa you will feel you awoke in a different country, not just a different city! The air is filled with smoke from restuarants grilling fresh kebabs, and crows that swoop around this distinctly Arabic city. In Balıklıgöl you will learn why Urfa is referred to as "The Prophet's City", while taking in the fresh air around the pool of Sacred Fish, teaming with families and locals who come to relax at the important religious and mythical location.

Urfa also has a fantastic old Souk (سوق), and is a perfect location for finding antiques or traditional items to bring home with you to remember your trip.

In the afternoon we'll make a trip to the world famous Göbeklitepe, built 6,000 Years Before Stonehenge, Gobekli Tepe Is The Oldest Temple In The World! Gobekli Tepe is a massive, ancient temple built out of pillars organized into great stone rings. The artwork and the engineering is incredible. That anyone could have lifted up 10-ton stones and placed them atop a foundation strong enough to hold them in place is an incredible feat in any time. But what makes Gobekli Tepe so unbelievable is that it was built in 10th century BC – more than 11,500 years ago.

Urfa Because Urfa is set right at the crossroads of routes to Europe, Asia and Africa, just about everyone important has marched through and left their mark, including the Babylonians, Egyptians, Alexander the Great, Greeks, Romans and Seljuk Turks under Saladin. The Crusaders, no doubt attracted by the town's easily-defended promontory called the Throne of Nimrod, called it Edessa and made it the capital of the Latin County of Edessa, ruled by Count Baldwin of Boulogne. Read More

Göbeklitepe Built 6,000 Years Before Stonehenge, Gobekli Tepe Is The Oldest Temple In The World. Gobekli Tepe is a massive, ancient temple built out of pillars organized into great stone rings. The pillars are decorated with intricate sculptures of lions, scorpions, and vultures, twisting around their sides, but they’re more than just beautiful works of art. They’re the foundations to a structure, holding up heaving blocks that, some of which weight more than 10 tons. Read More

Day 5: Perrin, Arsameia

Heading towards the imposing mountain range around Nemrut, we will stop at the beguiling antique city of Perrin (Perrhe). Once acting as a core city in the Commagene kingdom, Perrin served as an important stopover for travellers heading eastwards over the unforgiving Taurus mountains.

Winding up the mountains as we rise out of Perrin, we will visit a number of impressive sites dotted across the valleys and ridges. The "" Castle, bridge, Arsameia, devils bridge.

Finally we will come to rest in the tranquil village of Kahta, high up in the Taurus mountains, near the summit of the famous Mount Nemrut. At this altitude the air is fresh and clear, and the only sounds you'll hear are those of birds gliding across the valley, and farm animals being tended to on the surrounding hills.

Home cooked dinner.

Perrin In antiquity, Perrhe was one of the four core cities of the kingdom of Commagene mentioned in inscriptions, along with Samosata, Marash and Doliche. It lay on the route from the capital of Samosata over the Taurus mountains to Melitene. On account of a profuse spring, which was already famous in ancient times and which now issues from a Roman fountain in the middle of the town, Perrhe was an important staging post for travellers over the mountains. On the late antique Roman route map, the Tabula Peutingeriana, the town appears as the second stop on the route from Samosata, after Comana. Under Antiochus IV (r. AD 38-72) Perrhe was refounded as the polis of Antiochia on the Taurus.[1] A votive relief of Jupiter Dolichenus which was found in the city's necropolis in 2001 derives from this period. In AD 198/200, the city probably contributed financially to the construction of the Severan Bridge. A floor mosaic found in the city indicates the importance of the place during Christian times. Under the Byzantine Empire, Perrhe was a bishopric. In the Middle Ages, the city lost significance in the face of the town of Hisn-Mansur (modern Adıyaman).Arsameia Read More

Arsameia Arsameia, located at the foot of the Mount Nemrut, is one of those magical places in Turkey that hide in the shadow of a famous tourist attraction located nearby. While the peak of Mount Nemrut regularly fills with an international crowd, especially at sunrise and sunset times, the ruins of ancient Arsameia silently wait for someone to drop by. Undoubtedly, this is for the benefit of those lucky people who decide to visit Arsameia, because they will be able to calmly and peacefully contemplate its wonderful reliefs, explore the tunnels and admire the picturesque views from the Acropolis of this summer capital of the Commagene Kingdom. Read More

Day 6:Nemrut

On the final day, the climax of the trip will come with a hike to the summit of mount nemrut. This is one of the most famous locations in the whole of turkey, and for good reason. The giant stone heads, commanded to be created by the pre religious figure of King Nimrod (who thought himself a god), perfectly encapsulate the hubris of man - and evoke images of Ozymandias.

With uninterrupted views for 360 degrees, Mount Nemrut is the perfect place to take stock of all the places you will have visited in the past week

Nemrut Mount Nemrut, the monumental resting place of King Antiochus I Theos from the Kingdom of Commagene, is one of the most fascinating ancient places in Turkey. Although the country abounds in magnificent relics of antiquity, Mount Nemrut certainly deserves the place on the top ten list of the archaeological hits of Asia Minor. Moreover, the hierothesion of Antiochus is a sensational sight on a global scale. At the same time, it is an archaeological site that still holds many secrets. Until now, it has not been possible to determine with certainty what the artificial embankment on the peak of the mountain conceals. What's more, astronomy enthusiasts can try to solve the mystery of the famous "lion horoscope" placed on one of the bas-reliefs decorating the mountain. Finally, the huge sculptures on Mount Nemrut are a perfect illustration of religious syncretism and Antiochus' attempt to introduce a new state cult that combined Greek, Persian and Armenian influences. Read More

Day 7:Transfer

Transfer back to Diyarbakir / onward journey.

Schedule details

Departure Point:

Diyarbakir Airport / Train Station

Departure Time:

10:30am

Duration:

7 Days / 6 Nights

Return Time:

13:00pm

Return Location:

Same as start location (Or other upon request)

Pricing Information

Inclusions:

All nights stay: Hotel / Pension
Breakfast each day
Entry to all sites
All Transport between cities and sites
Information guide and history booklet
Unlimited free çay throughout each day
Snacks and refreshments during journeys

Exclusions:

Lunch / Evening Meals

Additional Information:

Tour itinerary can be changed in any way, if there's somewhere you want to spend more time, or somewhere you don't want to see - we are totally flexible!

Ticket Info:

You can present either a paper or mobile ticket for this activity.

Local Operator Information::

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Ticket. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

Cancellation Policy

We try to be flexible and accomodate any changes to your booking, so in most cases we can refund the full amount whenever it is that you cancel. Only when we have had to pay in advance for hotels or other services is it not possible for us to fully refund you. As a worst case scenario we offer a 100% refund if you cancel 30 days before your tour - but in many circumstances we will be able to offer refunds past this date.

Tour Emphasis

Archaeology

A funny fact, is that most of the best preserved ancient Greek ruins are in Turkey. But much more than this Turkey hosts some of the best archaeological sites; all the way from the Neolothic era, to the roman empire, the crusades, and the seljuk and assyrian empires. Many of these sites are little known, or off the usual tourist routes, which means you have a rare access to immaculate and perfectly preserved locations.

History

Each site we will visit has played an important role in shaping the history of Turkey and the wider region. We will explore the history of the many civilisations that have called this place home, and how they all fit together in the long timeline of this area - correctly known as the ‘fertile crescent’ and the ‘cradle of civilisation’.

Culture

South East Turkey is a melting pot of cultures, with influences from resident and neighbouring Arab and Kurdish populations, which both bring with them a wealth of history and tradition. You will meet people from all these rich cultures and the many ways they express and celebrate their identities.

All Locations Visited On This Tour

Yeni Kale Castle Yeni Kale, meaning New Castle, is one of the several additional attractions that await the visitors who arrive at this region of Turkey to see famous Mount Nemrut. Of course, in a land of such rich and long history as Anatolia, the term "new" does not necessarily mean that the building was built a few years ago. Actually, the fortress is referred to as "new", because it was erected in the 13th century, which distinguishes it from the Old Fortress (Eski Kale) - the ruins of ancient Arsameia dating back to the 3rd century BCE. Read More

Harran Harran, situated 44 km southeast of Şanlıurfa near the Syrian border, was an important Mesopotamian trade center as early as 2300 BCE on a road running south to Nineveh in modern Iraq. Read More