The Great Mesopotamia and Eastern Tour
We’re embarking on a dreamlike journey to Mesopotamia, the land where civilizations were born, where legends and millennia of history whisper! Prepared with the assurance of Marsis Tourism, this unique route will take you from Van, the pearl of Eastern Anatolia, to the ancient cities nourished by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. You will discover not just a geography, but a living museum where languages, religions, and cultures are blended in magnificent harmony.
We will watch the sunset among the colossal statues of Mount Nemrut, touch the zero point of human history at Göbeklitepe, and witness time standing still in the narrow stone streets of Mardin. From the blue of Lake Van to the mysterious submerged history of Halfeti; from the majesty of the Diyarbakır city walls to the world-famous gastronomic destinations of Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş, every moment of this meticulously planned program awaits you. Get ready to create unforgettable memories with Marsis Tourism’s comfortable vehicles and expert guides.
Day 1: The Pearl of the East, Van, and Akdamar Island: Morning meeting in Van to begin our tour. A boat ride across the unique blue waters of Lake Van to visit the historic Akdamar Island and the Holy Cross Church. Afterwards, a visit to the Urartian legacy of Van Castle (Tushpa) and the Van Cat House, where we can see the world-famous cats with one blue and one amber eye. Check-in at our hotel in Van.
Day 2: Underwater History, Hasankeyf, and Midyat: After breakfast, departing Van for Batman. A photo break at Hasankeyf (New Hasankeyf viewpoint), which offers a somber yet mesmerizing view of historical ruins along the banks of the Tigris River. Arrival in Midyat, where stone is carved like lace and Syriac and Islamic architecture intertwine. Following a shopping break at the Midyat Guest House (Sıla Mansion) and telkari silver workshops, check-in at our hotel in Mardin.
Day 3: Mardin “Spectacle by Day, Necklace by Night” and Diyarbakır: A visit to the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, the ancient center of the Syriac community. Next, a walk through the Kasımiye Madrasa and the streets of Old Mardin (Grand Mosque, Abbaras, Historic PTT Building). In the afternoon, transition to Diyarbakır. Tours of the UNESCO-listed Diyarbakır City Walls, Hevsel Gardens, the Ten-Eyed Bridge, Hasan Pasha Inn, and the Diyarbakır Grand Mosque, considered the 5th Holy Site (Harem-i Sharif) of Islam. Check-in at our hotel in Diyarbakır.
Day 4: Mount Nemrut, Throne of the Gods (Adıyaman): Crossing the Nissibi Bridge via Siverek to arrive in Kahta, Adıyaman. Ascending via specialized minibuses into the mysterious world of the Commagene Kingdom at Mount Nemrut National Park (altitude 2,150m). Following visits to the Karakuş Tumulus and the historic Cendere Bridge, watching the magnificent sunset (or sunrise) accompanied by the giant statues of gods at the summit. Check-in at our hotel in Adıyaman.
Day 5: Zero Point in History, Göbeklitepe, and the City of Prophets, Urfa: Departure for Şanlıurfa to visit the 12,000-year-old Göbeklitepe temple site, which rewrote human history. Transition to Urfa city center; Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham), the Cave of Prophet Abraham’s Birth, and a break for mırra (bitter coffee) at the historic Customs Inn (Gümrük Hanı) with free time for shopping. In the evening, an optional Traditional Sıra Gecesi (Traditional Urfa Night) program for interested guests. Check-in at our hotel in Urfa.
Day 6: The Sunken City, Halfeti, and Gastronomy Capital, Gaziantep: Arrival via Birecik at Halfeti, the land of the “Black Rose” and a designated “Cittaslow” town. A boat tour on the Euphrates River to see the sunken Savaşan Village and Rumkale. Next, transition to Gaziantep to visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the world’s largest. Free time at the Historic Coppersmiths’ Bazaar, Almacı Market, Tahmis Coffee House, and for local delicacies (baklava, spices, pistachios). Check-in at our hotel in Antep.
Day 7: Kahramanmaraş and the End of Our Tour: After breakfast at the hotel, departure for Kahramanmaraş. A stroll through the Sütçü İmam Monument, the Historic Covered Bazaar, and the Coppersmiths’ Bazaar. After tasting original Maraş hand-churned ice cream and completing our local shopping (tarhana, red pepper flakes, copperware), we begin the return journey and the end of our tour.
| ✅ Included | ❌ Excluded |
| Round-trip and all regional transportation via Marsis Turizm luxury vehicles | Round-trip flight or bus tickets (To/from tour start and end points) |
| 6 Nights of hotel accommodation | All lunches |
| Daily breakfasts and dinners at the hotels (Dinner in Urfa may be excluded) | Museum and archaeological site entrance fees (Museum pass highly recommended) |
| Professional Turkish-speaking guiding services | Personal expenses and hotel extras |
| Compulsory travel insurance | Single occupancy supplement (Single room fee) |
| On-board hot/cold refreshments | Mount Nemrut minibus transfer fee (Extra) |
| Halfeti boat tour and Lake Van Akdamar boat crossing (Extra) | |
| Traditional Şanlıurfa “Sıra Gecesi” dinner and entertainment (Extra) |
- Kontenjan: Turlar genellikle en az 20-25 kişi katılımı ile gerçekleşir. Yeterli sayıya ulaşılamazsa tur şirketi 2-3 gün önceden haber vererek turu iptal etme hakkına sahiptir.
- Hava Koşulları: Rehber; hava durumu, yol durumu veya mücbir sebeplerle programın akışında (tüm yerleri gezdirmek kaydıyla) değişiklik yapabilir.
- Konaklama: 3 kişilik odalarda (triple), 3. yatak genellikle açılır-kapanır ek yatak (ekstra bed) şeklinde sunulur.
- İptal Şartları: Son 30 güne kadar yapılan iptallerde genellikle tam iade yapılırken, son 1 hafta içindeki iptallerde belirli kesintiler uygulanabilir.