8 Days Cappadocia And Mesopotamia Tour from Istanbul by Plane

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Pick up from Istanbul Hotel, Transfer to Airport for Cappadocia Flight
6 stops
1
Uchisar Castle
Uchisar Panaroma
45 minutes • Admission ticket free
2
Goreme Open-Air Museum
8 Churches and Chapels
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
3
Love Valley
Panoramic view point of one of the most beautiful lava formations
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
Avanos
Lunch break here
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
5
Guray Muze
You can visit here 4 different sections, Pottery museum, Tile section, Gallery of modern and baroque painting and last one the demonstrations of handmade pottery.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
6
Devrent Valley
Imagination valley with very unique rock formations.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 2
Cappadocia Green Tour
6 stops
7
Goreme Panorama
Panoramic View Point
40 minutes • Admission ticket free
8
Derinkuyu YeraltI Sehri
Derinkuyu Underground City is a fascinating historical site located in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. It is one of the largest and deepest of the many underground cities in the area, reaching depths of up to 60 meters (200 feet) below ground. Believed to have been constructed by the Phrygians around the 8th–7th century BC, the city was later expanded by the Romans, Byzantines, and other civilizations. Derinkuyu was primarily used for protection and shelter during invasions and wars, offering its inhabitants a safe haven from attackers. The underground city consists of multiple levels, with rooms, tunnels, kitchens, storage areas, churches, and ventilation shafts. It could have housed thousands of people, with resources like food, water, and even livestock stored inside to sustain the community for extended periods. The city was rediscovered in 1963, and it remains an incredible example of ancient engineering, with intricate systems designed to ensure survival in difficult conditions
1 hour • Admission ticket included
9
Ihlara Valley
Ihlara Valley is a stunning natural and historical site located in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. This 14-kilometer-long (8.7 miles) canyon is carved by the Melendiz River and offers a beautiful blend of nature, history, and culture. The valley is known for its dramatic cliffs, lush greenery, and peaceful atmosphere, making it a popular destination for hiking and exploration. The valley is also significant for its ancient rock-hewn churches and monasteries, which date back to the Byzantine era. Many of these churches are decorated with well-preserved frescoes depicting biblical scenes, offering insight into the religious life of early Christian communities in the region. These structures were carved into the soft volcanic rock of the valley, making them blend seamlessly with the surrounding landscape.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
10
Selime Monastery
The cathedral is believed to have been constructed during the Byzantine period, likely in the 8th or 9th century, and is one of the largest and most impressive religious sites in the region.
50 minutes • Admission ticket included
11
Narligol Krater Golu
A beautiful Crater Lake
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
12
tea, coffee break, local appetisers tasting
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 3
Drive to Adıyaman Mount Nemrut.
2 stops
13
Gaziantep
3-hour walking tour encompassing the copper artisans' bazaar, Gaziantep Castle, Gaziantep water cisterns, Gaziantep baths, and Silk Road caravanserais offers a therapeutic experience of understanding the soul of Gaziantep.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
14
Zeugma Mosaic Museum
Zeugma Mosaic Museum, in the city of Gaziantep, Turkey, is the biggest mosaic museum in the world, containing 1700 m² of mosaics. It opened to the public on 9 September 2011. The 30,000 m² museum features 2,448 m² of mosaic and replaces the Bardo National Museum in Tunis as the world's largest mosaic museum.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 4
EXCURSION IN DIYARBAKIR
4 stops
15
Halfeti
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, which we visited in Gaziantep and which houses the remains of the ancient city of Zeugma, actually owes its existence to the Birecik Hydroelectric Power Plant. This historical waterway, including Nevali Çörü, has enabled the excavation of many ancient settlements. When the dam began to hold water in 1999, dozens of villages and houses, including Savaşan Village, were submerged. Today, the Savaşan Village Mosque, with half of its minaret still underwater and the mosque itself completely submerged, still beckons to you.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
16
Karakus Tumulusu
an ancient tumulus belongs to mother, sister and wife of Mithridates.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
Cendere Bridge
Historical Bridge from The Period of Septimus Severus over Chabines River.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
18
Mount Nemrut
The history of Mount Nemrut dates back to the 1st century BC. During this period, the Kingdom of Commagene ruled the eastern shore of the Euphrates River. It was a powerful kingdom that emerged as a synthesis of Hellenistic and Persian cultures. We enjoy there sunset and our Vine
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 5
EXCURSION IN MARDIN
2 stops
19
Mardin
Half day city tour
4 hours • Admission ticket free
20
Deyrulzafaran Monastery
After the 15th century, the monastery began to be called Deyrulzafaran (Saffron Monastery) because of the zafaran (saffron) plant that grew around it. Today, the monastery is one of the important religious centers of the Syriac Church.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
Day 6
SECOND DAY IN MARDIN
3 stops
21
KasImiye Medresesi
The madrasah, which has a façade open to the plain in the south, is one of the largest structures in Mardin. It is made of cut stone and bricks.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
22
Dara Mesopotamia Ruins
Dara, one of the most important settlements in Upper Mesopotamia, was founded in 505 by the initiative of Emperor Anastasius (491-518) as a military garrison city to protect the eastern border of the Eastern Roman Empire against the Sassanids. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the city lost its importance over time.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
23
Midyat Old City
Free time for wine tasting and lunch
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 7
EXCURSION IN ŞANLIURFA
3 stops
24
Gobeklitepe
Oldest Known Religious Structure: Göbekli Tepe is widely regarded as the world's oldest known temple complex, dating back to around 12,000 years ago (10th–8th millennium BCE). It predates other major ancient sites like the Egyptian pyramids and Stonehenge by thousands of years. Its age makes it a critical discovery in understanding the origins of religious and ceremonial practices in human history. Today, Göbekli Tepe is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and its discovery continues to inspire both scientific inquiry and public fascination with the ancient past.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
25
BalIklIgol
The site is closely associated with the legend of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim in Islam). According to local tradition, it is believed to be the place where the king Nimrod ordered the fire to be built to burn Abraham. However, as the flames consumed the fire, Abraham was miraculously saved by divine intervention, falling into the pool of water where the sacred fish now live. To this day, the fish in the pools are considered sacred, and it is forbidden to harm them. Visitors can watch and feed the fish, which are seen as a symbol of divine protection.
2 hours • Admission ticket included
26
Sanliurfa Archeology and Mosaic Museum
About 10.000 artifacts are being exhibited at Şanlıurfa Archaeological Museum. This figure is much above Turkish standards. Those who visit the Museum will be able to see the oldest statue of the world, imitation of Göbeklitepe D Temple, original Nevali Çori Temple, numerous periodical animations, Prophet Abraham Animation, about 10.000 artifacts and most esthetical mosaics in the world at the New Şanlıurfa Museum.
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 8
EXCURSION IN GAZİANTEP
4 stops
27
Tigris River and Ancient Bridge with 10 arches
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
28
Diyarbakir City Walls
One of the greatest, and most well-maintained, set of ancient walls in Diyarbakir city. The Diyarbakir city walls have an ancient history dating back to the Romans. Today, the walls are largely intact, and form a ring around the old city that is over 5km (3miles) in circumference. The walls are over 10 meters (about 33 feet) high and are 3-5 meters (about 10-16 feet) thick.
29
Four-Legged Minaret
Sheikh Mutahhar Mosque in Diyarbakır was built in 1500 by Kasım Bey, one of the Akkoyunlu rulers. It is one of the most important monumental works of the Akkoyunlu. It was built on the land where Sheikh Mutahhar's tomb is located. It is popularly known as Sheikh Matar Mosque, but in historical sources it is also referred to as Kasım Bey Mosque or Kasım Padişah Mosque.
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
30
Diyarbakir
We visit here The Great Mosque of Diyarbakır
30 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Not recommended for pregnant travelers
• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

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