Mesopotamia & Mount Nemrut
South-eastern Türkiye in depth, adding the mountaintop statues of Mount Nemrut to Göbeklitepe and Mardin.
Journey Overview
- Duration
- 10 Days / 9 nights
- Route
- Gaziantep – Göbeklitepe – Mardin – Mount Nemrut
- Suggested airports
- GZT – ADF
- Travel style
- Eastern Türkiye
- Best for
- Culture & history enthusiasts · Photographers · Active travellers
The same Mesopotamian heartland as the shorter route, with the time to reach its most remote landmark. Gaziantep opens the journey with mosaics and cuisine; Şanlıurfa and Göbeklitepe follow, then Mardin’s terraced stone city above the plain.
The final stage climbs to Mount Nemrut, where a first-century king built his own funerary sanctuary at two thousand metres and surrounded it with colossal stone heads. Sunrise and sunset both work; the timing is arranged around season, weather and how much altitude you want to face before dawn.
Destinations on This Journey
Gaziantep
Days 1–2
Mosaics, copper bazaars and one of Türkiye’s great food cities.
Şanlıurfa
Days 3–4
Sacred pools, bazaars and the sanctuary of Göbeklitepe.
Mardin
Days 5–6
Honey-stone architecture terraced above the Mesopotamian plain.
Adıyaman
Days 7–8
Commagene heritage and the approach to the mountain.
Mount Nemrut
Day 8
Colossal stone heads on the summit terraces.
Departure
Days 9–10
A final unhurried day and onward travel.
Journey Highlights
- Gaziantep — Begin in a UNESCO gastronomy city with celebrated museums and cuisine.
- Göbeklitepe — Visit humanity’s oldest known monumental sanctuary.
- Mardin — Wander stone lanes above the endless Mesopotamian plain.
- Mount Nemrut Summit — Colossal stone heads at sunrise or sunset on the mountain terraces.
- Private Journey — A privately guided route through the southeast’s greatest sites.
- Tailor-Made Design — The programme flexes around season, light and your pace.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Gaziantep
Gaziantep
Private welcome at Gaziantep Airport and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free for a first walk through the old city, its copper workshops and coffee houses.
Day 2 — Gaziantep: Mosaics & Cuisine
Gaziantep
A guided day at the Zeugma Mosaic Museum and the castle, followed by the covered bazaars. Time is built in for a proper local lunch — the city’s kitchens are a reason to come, not a detail.
Day 3 — Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa
Şanlıurfa
Travel east to Şanlıurfa. The afternoon covers the sacred pools of Balıklıgöl and the old bazaar, where the pace and atmosphere are noticeably Mesopotamian.
Day 4 — Göbeklitepe
Şanlıurfa
Visit Göbeklitepe, the twelve-thousand-year-old enclosures that predate agriculture and writing. The archaeology museum in Şanlıurfa afterwards places the finds in their wider context.
Day 5 — Şanlıurfa to Mardin
Mardin
Continue east to Mardin, arriving with time to see the city from below before climbing into it. The terraced stone facades are at their best in late afternoon light.
Day 6 — Mardin Old City
Mardin
A guided day through the lanes, madrasas and courtyards of the old city, with the Deyrulzafaran monastery included subject to visiting arrangements. The evening is free on a terrace above the plain.
Day 7 — Mardin to Adıyaman
Adıyaman – Kâhta
Travel north-west towards the Nemrut region, stopping at Commagene sites en route — the Cendere bridge and Arsameia among them, depending on timing. Arrive in the Kâhta area for the night.
Day 8 — Mount Nemrut
Mount Nemrut
Ascend to the summit terraces for the colossal statues of the Commagene sanctuary, timed for sunrise or sunset according to season and preference. The mountain is exposed and the visit depends on weather and road conditions.
Day 9 — Adıyaman & Onward
Adıyaman
A slower day after the mountain, with the local museum or the Atatürk Dam reservoir as options. The programme can also be shortened here if you prefer an earlier departure.
Day 10 — Departure
Adıyaman
After a final morning, private transfer to Adıyaman Airport for your onward journey.
What This Journey Includes
- Private transfers
- Selected accommodation
- Licensed private guides
- Private transport
- 24/7 local assistance
Final inclusions depend on the selected programme and confirmed proposal.
Optional Experiences
- Mount Nemrut Sunrise — An early ascent for first light on the summit terraces, weather permitting.
- Gaziantep Culinary Experience — A guided tasting through the city’s celebrated kitchens.
- Hotel Upgrades — Boutique stone properties in Mardin and higher categories en route.
- Extra Nights — Add time in Mardin or near the Nemrut approach.
Journey Gallery
Plan This Journey
Tell us your preferred dates, hotel style and interests and our local team will tailor this itinerary around your travel plans.
Plan your trip · info@allwaytour.com · +90 534 397 1515