Itinerary

1. Day 1: Istanbul to Cappadocia

   • Istanbul to Cappadocia:
     1. Fly to Cappadocia from Istanbul at the desired hour.
     2. Meet your driver at the airport (Kayseri or Nevsehir).
     3. Transfer to your hotel.

   Overnight in a Cave Hotel in Cappadocia.

2. Day 2: Exploring Cappadocia

   • Optional hot air balloon flight at sunrise (reservation required).
   • Return to the hotel around 08:00 am. Professional guide and driver pick up at 10:00 am.
   • First stop: Esentepe, a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Goreme, with historical information provided by the guide.
   • Visit the beginning of Rose Valley for an easy one-hour hike through fairy chimneys, orchards, and vineyards.
   • The next stop is the Goreme Open Air Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage site that provides explanations of frescoes in cave churches dating back to the 10th century.
   • Monk’s Valley visit, featuring mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys and St. Simeon’s monk cell carved into the rock.
   • Devrent’s exploration of animal-shaped rock formations showcases a unique Cappadocian phenomenon.
   • Day one concludes in Avanos, a town known for its pottery tradition. It includes a kick-wheel demonstration by a local potter and an opportunity for visitors to try pottery.
   • Arrived back at the hotel around 5:00 pm.

   Overnight in a Cave Hotel.

3. Day 3: More of Cappadocia

   • Professional guide and driver pick up from the hotel at 9:30 am.
   • First stop: Kaymakli Underground City, the first and most popular underground city in Cappadocia. Locals used it for centuries to hide from Romans, Persians, and Arabs.
   • Departure from Kaymakli to the magnificent verdant Ihlara Valley further south.
   • Walk alongside the Melendiz River for about 1 hour through the Ihlara Gorge.
   • Stop for lunch in a restaurant on the river in the village of Belisirma. After lunch, continue to the Selime Monastery, the largest rock-cut monastery in Cappadocia. It features a large cave cathedral and breathtaking views.
   • On returning to Goreme, stop at a spectacular vista point overlooking Pigeon Valley.
   • Final stop at a local onyx factory to witness a demonstration on carving and shaping onyx.
   • Drive back to your hotel, arriving around 6:00 pm.

   Overnight in a Cave Hotel.

4. Day 4: Cappadocia to Gaziantep

   • Departure from your hotel after breakfast at 08:00.
   • Stop along the way for lunch.
   • Arrived in Gaziantep around 14:00.
   • Visit the world-famous Gaziantep Mosaic Museum, exhibiting superb mosaics discovered at the Roman site of Belkis-Zeugma.
   • Visit the old city castle located in the center of the city.
   • Explore the Copper Bazaar, one of Turkey's oldest and most special bazaars, featuring various copper handcrafts.
   • Taste the famous baklava, a sweet pastry originally from Gaziantep. It is made of layers of filo filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey.
   • Drive to the hotel and check in.
   • Your guide will recommend/escort you (if you wish) to dinner so you can taste some of Gaziantep's world-famous cuisine.

   Overnight in Gaziantep.

5. Day 5: Gaziantep to Sanlıurfa

   • After breakfast, check out from our hotel.
   • Explore the ancient settlements along the Euphrates River:
     • Visit the twin settlements that formed Zeugma.
     • Explore Halfeti, the partially submerged town.
     • Visit Rumkale, the strategically important river fortress.
   • Have lunch on the river. Continue the journey to Sanliurfa, a city occupied by the Babylonians, followed by the Hurrites, Hittites, Assyrians, and Greeks.
   • Visit the Urfa Archaeological Museum, showcasing a vast Harran and Gobeklitepe Area collection.
   • Explore the holy sites at Ainzelha, a lake with millions of domesticated fish.
   • Visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born.
   • Walk through the local covered bazaar of Sanliurfa.
   • Explore the town to discover its hidden treasures.

   Overnight in Sanlıurfa.

6. Day 6: Sanlıurfa to Adıyaman

   • After breakfast at the hotel, visit nearby Harran to see the incredible beehive houses. According to the Bible, Harran was where the prophet Abraham spent a few years with his family before moving on to Israel, the Promised Land. Exceptional photo opportunities abound in this area.
   • In the afternoon, drive to Kahta city, stopping at Göbekli Tepe, a hilltop sanctuary erected around 10,000 BC, one of the oldest known religious structures.
   • Visit Arsameia on the Nymphaios, an ancient city near Kâhtaçay, known in ancient times as Nymphaios, a royal seat of the kingdom of Commagene. Explore the Hierothesion of King Mithridates I Kallinikos, built for him by his son and heir Antiochos I.
   • Cross over the still functioning Cendere Bridge (Septimius Severus bridge) dating back to the 3rd century.
   • See the Karakuş Tumulus, a funerary monument for Queen Isias and Princesses Antiochis and Aka I of Commagene, built by Mithridates II of Commagene around 30–20 BCE.
   • Hike to the summit of Mount Nemrut, one of the most popular UNESCO World Cultural Heritage sites. Watch the sunset and be amazed by the colossal heads and statues of ancient deities steeped in mythology. 
   • After visiting Nemrut, drive to the hotel.

   Overnight in Adıyaman.

7. Day 7: Adıyaman to Mardin

   • Departure to Mardin after breakfast.
   • Arrive in Mardin around 11:00 and visit the old, historical city known for its unique old-Arabic-style houses adorned with intricate carvings.
   • Explore Mardin, a lively trading center where people from surrounding villages gather to buy and sell goods.
   • Enjoy a fantastic view of the Plain of Mesopotamia.
   • Visit Forty Martyrs Church (Kirklar Kilisesi), dating back to the 4th century and renamed in the 15th century to commemorate Cappadocian martyrs, featuring fine carvings above the entrance.
   • Explore Zinciriye Madrasah (Zinciriye Medresesi), a theological school built by Melik Necmeddin Isa in 1385.
   • Spend the afternoon walking through the busy streets and Mardin bazaars, admiring the town's stonework.

   Overnight in Mardin.

8. Day 8: Discovering Mardin

   • After breakfast, visit the Monastery of Deyr-az-Zaferan, just outside of town. Founded in 762 A.D., it served as the seat of the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch for nearly 800 years.
   • Continue to the ancient city of Dara, known as the Ephesus of Mesopotamia, an important settlement on the Silk Road.
   • Explore the extensive remains of the ancient city of Dara, spread over a large area of 9 km and mostly carved into rocks. See cave houses, a church, a palace, a bazaar, storage facilities, a dungeon, a cannon foundry, and the aqueduct.
   • Return to Mardin in the early afternoon for the last shopping and soak in ancient Mesopotamia's atmosphere.

   Overnight in Mardin.

9. Day 9: Mardin to Istanbul

   • Transfer to Mardin Airport for the flight to Istanbul.
   • Express gratitude and appreciation for being valued guests.
   • I wish you safe travels and express hope for welcoming guests again in the future.
   • Bid farewell.