ANADOLU RISING TOURS - DIVE INTO THE DEPTHS OF MESOPOTAMIA

FEES AND SERVICES INCLUDED IN THE TRAVEL PRICE

- 5 nights in 4- or 5-star hotels in the region
- Transportation in luxury vehicles
- 5 breakfasts
- 5x dinner
- Travel insurance (mandatory for organized trips in Turkey, excluding arrivals and departures)
- Group transfers from/to the airport
- Professional and certified tour guide and travel assistance
- Refreshments and snacks on the bus
- Fees for the Nemrut minibus
- All excursions and meditations listed in the itinerary

FEES AND SERVICES NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE
- Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites (approx. € 80 per person)
- Flight tickets
- All services and offers that are not included in the above list and are not part of the itinerary

Although the traditional cuisine of the region consists mostly of meat dishes, the hotels and restaurants in the area also offer a variety of dishes made from vegetarian and vegan ingredients. Of course, the menus also offer a range of gluten-free dishes, and raw food is also readily available. We will request these catering requirements from the participants in advance and then pass them on to the caterers.

TRAVEL PROCEDURE

DAY 1
- Arrival of guests at Gaziantep airport in the early morning. Welcome breakfast in Gaziantep. Check-in hotel.
- Visit to the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the second largest mosaic museum in the world.
- Visit to Gaziantep Castle and walk through the old town with its coppersmiths, the vaulted Zincirli Bazaar and the Mevlihane Dervish Museum. Visit to one of the oldest musical instrument workshops with the opportunity to have a handmade instrument (frame drum or similar) made according to your wishes.
- Dinner in one of the most famous restaurants in Turkey's gastronomic capital.

DAY 2

- Transfer from Gaziantep to Adıyaman. First visit to the ancient settlement of Perre from the Kingdom of Commagene on the way to Adıyaman.
- Transfer to Kahta and then by minibus to the Karakus tumulus (royal tomb), which is over 2000 years old. Short stop at the Cendere Bridge before continuing to the ancient city of Arsameia and its tunnel entrance, where we hold a meditation.
- Transfer by minibus to Mount Nemrut, 20-minute hike to the summit. Visit to the east and west-facing terraces with their world-famous giant statues. Meditation at sunset with the breathtaking view from Mount Nemrut.
- Transfer to the hotel in Adıyaman.
- Free time in the old town of Adıyaman and dinner.

DAY 3

- Transfer from Adıyaman to Şanlıurfa, the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham
- First stop at the world-famous Neolithic site of Göbeklitepe with its huge T-shaped megaliths
- Transfer to the city center of Şanlıurfa and visit to the Balikligöl site (fish lake) with a visit to the Abraham Cave, Lake Ayn Zeliha and the Halil-ül-Rahman Mosque. Free time to stroll around the historic old town of Şanlıurfa
- Visit and guided tour of the Archaeological Museum of Şanlıurfa with its extensive collection of Neolithic artifacts from the region of the Tastepeler (stone mounds)
- Check-in at the hotel and dinner

DAY 4

- Visit and tour of the Karahantepe Neolithic mound with its over 250 T-shaped megaliths and statues of various shapes and sizes
- Visit to the ancient city of Soğmatar and meditation at the shrines/reliefs of Sin (moon god) and Shamash (sun god), the pyramid, the burial mound and the Fountain of Moses.
- Transfer to Mardin, the city of tolerance, and short tour of the old town. Visit to the workshop and art gallery of the Shahmaran master Abubarak Toparli. Dinner in the old town.
- Transfer to Midyat and check-in at the accommodation.

DAY 5

- Visit to the picturesque old town of Midyat and free time
- Transfer, visit and meditation at the ancient site of Dara
- Transfer, visit and meditation at the Syrian Orthodox monastery of St. Gabriel (Mor Gabriel)
- Transfer to Mardin for check-in at the hotel and free time
- Authentic Reyhani evening with traditional music, dances and regional cuisine

DAY 6

- Feedback and evaluation of the past days and exchange of experiences
- Transfer to Mardin, Diyarbakir, Şanlıurfa or Gaziantep airport

The journey by air or land is to be organized and paid for by the participants themselves. The arrival point is Gaziantep and the arrival time is early in the morning. There are a number of daily flights offered by various airlines (Turkish Airlines, Sunexpress, Pegasus, Jet A) via Istanbul (both airports) or other cities such as Ankara and Izmir to Gaziantep. On the departure day of the tour, you can choose the departure airport in the cities of Mardin, Sanliurfa or Gaziantep according to your needs. Departure time is late in the evening.

, 27000 Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Türkiye