Day 1
Take the direct TK flight at 10.00 arriving at 11.45 to Adıyaman. You will be met by your private guide and start the tour of Kahta area visiting Hittite sites of Karakus Tumulus and Arsemia as well as the stone Roman bridge of Cendere. After the tour check into your hotel on the footsteps of Mt. Nemrut National Park. After a short rest, you will be transferred to Mt. Nemrut to climb up for the sun set time in the mountain top. The burial place of the Commagene Kingdom, Mt. Nemrut has the impressive giant statues both on the east and west terraces of the mountain top. After the sun set , you will return back to your hotel and with the incredible fresh mountain air you will have your dinner and overnight in Mt. Nemrut -D
Mount Nemrut is one of East Turkey’s most spell-binding attractions. At the peak of this mountain (at over 2000m) sit enigmatic statues of a pre-Roman king, Antiochus I Theos of Commagene, and the various gods he believed to be his ancestors. The mountain is at its most dramatic at sunrise and the views from the summit are sublime.
Roman Cendere Bridge - The bridge is constructed of 92 stones, each weighing about 10 tons as a simple, unadorned, single majestic arch on two rocks at the narrowest point of the creek. At 34.2 m (112 ft) clear span, the structure is quite possibly the second largest extant arch bridge by the Romans. It is 120 m (390 ft) long and 7 m (23 ft) wide.
Arsemia - Arsemia (the summer capital of the Commagene Kingdom) just to the east of the river are within 10 miles of Kahta. When you climb up to the top a statue of Harecles shaking hands with King Mithridatesof Commagene from around 50 BC will meet you.
Karakus Tumulus - ( Women's Monumental Tomb ) Located at Adiyaman -Kahta entrance in the south west of the National Park. Tomb was built by Commagene's King Mithradates II and was dedicated to his mother Isas. Because of the symbol of eagle on the top of the columns, it was named as Karakus(black bird) Tumulus.
Day 2
After Breakfast in the hotel drive to Sanliurfa arriving in mid-day and directly drive over to Gobeklitepe. After Gobeklitepe visit drive to the historical city of Sanliurfa. After a lunch break you will be visiting the Sanliurfa, the prophet’s city, or Edessa in ancient times is the most spiritual city in East Turkey. It is a major centre for pilgrimage and its traditions are very much alive and well. Constructed by the Abbasids in 814AD), the Pool of Sacred Fish where Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod, the park of mosques, the market area and Urfa museum Gobeklitepe finds are at display will be visited. In the afternoon you will drive to Harran and discover its ancient Islamic university, its fortress and its charming cone shape mud houses. Have tea in a comfortable beehive mud hut.
Mentioned in the book of Genesis, Harran is believed to have once been home to the Prophet Abraham. The site of the first Islamic university in Anatolia, Harran also boasts the remains of an 8th century mosque, a citadel and some 300 year old beehive mud homes.
Return back to Sanliurfa and check into your comfortable hotel in Urfa and overnight. Meal Plan N/A
About Gobeklitepe
Gobekli Tepe is the oldest man-made place of worship in the world, dating back an incredible 11,500 years. The site stunned archaeologists when it was first discovered, and its sheer expanse and craftsmanship is overwhelming, with exquisite stone carvings of people, lions, foxes, snakes and birds - some of the oldest known art in the world.
Once home to the Prophet Abraham, the ancient site of Harran is mentioned in the book of Genesis. Home of the first Islamic university in Anatolia, Harran also boasts the remains of an 8th century mosque, a citadel and some 300 year old beehive mud homes which enjoy a constant temperature throughout the year.
Day 3
After breakfast in the hotel drive to the old town of Halfeti. Here change wheels for a small boat and approach Rumkale by boat through a stunning gorge. This gorgeous boat ride will take you past the enormous fort of Rumkale and some beautiful villages. After lunch break in Halfeti drive to Zeugma before continuing on to Gaziantep. In Gaziantep check into your small hotel right in the historical market place where you will be walking distance to explore this amazing town by yourself and enjoy the food in the culinary capital of Turkey famous for its kebab's and baklava ( Turkish sweet pastry filled with nuts and served with a syrup )
Overnight in Gaziantep
Day 4
After breakfast in the hotel visit one of the best mosaic museums of the world Zeugma Mosaic Museum where the famous Gypsy girl mosaic now on display.
Zeugma was an important trading centre in the Hellenistic Era, whose importance grew steadily under Roman rule. Artistic and cultural development progressed in parallel to that of its trade and commerce. When the site was excavated it turned up a number of beautiful mosaics, including the famous Gypsy girl and the mosaic of Poseidon and many more amazing mosaics are in display.
After the Mosaic Museum visit your guide will give you a city tour of Gaziantep where you will discover many interesting old streets, small museums about the daily life of Ayuntap which is now known as Gaziantep. In the late afternoon fly back to Istanbul.