Private 9-Day Black Sea & Mesopotamia: Ayder, Gobeklitepe, Mardin

listing image 1
Show all photos
9 days (approximately)
Pickup offered
Offered in: German and 4 more

Every departure includes your own licensed English-speaking guide plus a private vehicle and driver – only your group. Price per person drops as your group grows (1–8 travellers). Two very different Turkeys in nine days: the rainy, green Black Sea mountains and the golden plains of Upper Mesopotamia, linked by a domestic flight. Start at Trabzon Airport for Sümela Monastery, Uzungöl, Fırtına Valley and the Ayder Plateau, then fly south to Gaziantep for the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and baklava, take a boat on the Euphrates at Halfeti, visit Göbeklitepe (UNESCO, about 11,600 years old) and Karahantepe, Harran’s beehive houses, Mardin’s stone old town, Deyrulzafaran Monastery and Midyat. Ends at Mardin Airport. Private drivers in each region. Domestic flight not included (we can book it). Best in May–June and September–mid-October. Entrance fees are not included; we recommend the Museum Pass Türkiye (about €165 per person).

What's Included

Halfeti boat trip
Private licensed English-speaking guide for your group every day
Air-conditioned vehicle
Private driver and vehicle for your group only
Breakfast (Optional[8])
Breakfast
8 nights in 3–4 star and boutique hotels
Parking Fees
All airport transfers
Entrance fees to museums and sites (Museum Pass Türkiye recommended, about €165 per person)
Gratuities
Domestic and international flights
Lunches and dinners

Meeting and pickup

Pickup points
You can choose a pickup location at checkout (multiple pickup locations are available).
Pickup details:

The day before the tour, our guide contacts you and introduces himself and gives information about our vehicle. We meet you at the door at the time you specify.

OR
Meeting point

The day before the tour, our guide contacts you and introduces himself and gives information about our vehicle. We meet you at the door at the time you specify.

End point
Gaziantep Airport

Our tour ends at Gaziantep airport. Depending on your ticket, we say goodbye to the domestic outbound passenger or the international outbound passenger by dropping you off.

Itinerary

Duration: 9 days (approximately)
    Day 1

    Trabzon Airport – Sümela Monastery – Uzungöl

    2 stops
  • 1
    Sumela Monastery

    Pick-up at Trabzon Airport and visit Sümela Monastery.

    2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 2
    Uzungol

    Evening by the lake.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 2

    Rize – Fırtına Valley – Ayder Plateau

    2 stops
  • 3
    Zilkale

    Tea terraces, stone bridges and Zilkale fortress in Fırtına Valley.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
  • 4
    Ayder Yaylasi

    Up to Ayder for the thermal springs.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 3

    Ayder – Flight to Gaziantep

    1 stop
  • 5
    Gaziantep Castle

    Fly to Gaziantep; evening in the old bazaar below the castle.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 4

    Gaziantep: Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Castle & Baklava

    2 stops
  • 6
    Zeugma Mosaic Museum

    Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum with the “Gypsy Girl” mosaic.

    2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 7
    BakIrcIlar CarsIsI

    Coppersmiths’ bazaar and a baklava stop.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 5

    Halfeti Boat Trip – Şanlıurfa

    2 stops
  • 8
    Halfeti

    Boat trip past the half-sunken village on the Euphrates.

    2 hours • Admission ticket not included
  • 9
    BalIklIgol

    Sacred fish pools of Balıklıgöl in Şanlıurfa.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 6

    Göbeklitepe & Karahantepe

    2 stops
  • 10
    Gobeklitepe

    Morning at Göbeklitepe.

    2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 11
    Karahantepe Orenyeri

    The newer excavations at Karahantepe.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
    • Day 7

    Harran Beehive Houses – Mardin

    2 stops
  • 12
    Harran Ruins

    Beehive houses and ruins of Harran.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
  • 13
    Mardin

    Sunset over the Mesopotamian plain in Mardin.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
    • Day 8

    Mardin Old Town – Deyrulzafaran – Midyat

    2 stops
  • 14
    Deyrulzafaran Monastery

    Deyrulzafaran Monastery.

    1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
  • 15
    Midyat

    Stone mansions of Midyat.

    2 hours • Admission ticket free
    • Day 9

    Departure from Mardin Airport

    1 stop
  • 16
    Mardin

    Transfer to Mardin Airport (MQM).

    1 hour • Admission ticket free

Additional info

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Supplied by Holitera Tour

Tags

Multi-day Tours
Bus Tours
Private and Luxury
Private Sightseeing Tours
Cultural Tours
Historical Tours
Archaeology Tours
Zombie
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.

Show more
from per person
Was {{formatPrice(summaryFromPriceBeforeDiscount, currency, 2)}}
Book Now