GÜNEYDOĞUNUN KADİM TOPRAKLARI

GAP TOUR: 6 CITIES, 1 GASTRONOMIC EXPERIENCE.

Şanlıurfa, Mardin, Batman, Diyarbakır, Adıyaman, Gaziantep.

Round-trip airfare.

(6 Days, 5 Nights)

Dear friends, We invite you to visit the ancient lands where history began to be written.

We have selected the dates October 26th to 31st.

Let's experience its history, culture, works, and flavors together.

DATES: October 26, 2026 - October 31, 2026

ESTIMATED COST:

- To Our Website Members: 33500.00 TL (Turkish Lira)

- To Club Members 32,500.00 Turkish Lira.

- Deposit 5,000.00 TL (Turkish Lira)

The price of the ticket does not include airfare.

Meeting point: Şanlıurfa Airport.

- The deposit can be paid during registration via bank transfer/wire transfer or credit card. Those who participate in the event and pay the deposit will... October 1, 2026. The remaining balance will need to be paid before the event date. 20 If you wish to withdraw from the event less than one day before it takes place, the deposit will not be refunded.

TO REGISTER FOR THE EVENT:

• After logging into the website, please click the "participate in the event" button.
• If you don't have enough credit to participate in the event, you can top up your credit using a credit card or a bank transfer.
• Once the credit has been applied to your account, please register for the event by accessing it and clicking the "register" button. When generating the donation receipt, please include a description of the event.
• Before the event, a WhatsApp group will be created, and information will be shared through WhatsApp.

Note 1: Because the area is exposed to the sun, it's a good idea to bring sunscreen with you. Also, consider bringing a hat, a fedora, and sunglasses.

Note: Throughout the event, a professional, licensed guide who is very familiar with the area will be with us. Our guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the region.

TOUR PROGRAM.

• DAY 1 (October 26, 2026)

  Airplane Travel / Sanliurfa / Gobeklitepe / Harran / Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham) / The Cave of Prophet Abraham / Sanliurfa Hotel.

  From the Asian side, the A.Jet flight departs from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Urfa GAP Airport at 07:45. From the European side, the Turkish Airlines flight departs from Istanbul Airport to Urfa GAP Airport at 06:25. (Those who prefer can take a bus). Upon arrival at Şanlıurfa GAP Airport, our tour bus will be waiting for us (and those arriving by bus will be picked up from the bus station). We will begin our journey between 10:00 and 10.30, with breakfast along the way. Return information will be provided in the final section (day 6). Our first destination will be Göbeklitepe, dating back to the Neolithic period. After Göbeklitepe, we will visit Harran, Balıklıgöl, and the cave where Prophet Abraham is said to have been born, completing our tour. After checking into our hotel, we will have dinner at the hotel, followed by a traditional folk night.
  Breakfast: This will be taken at a rest stop along the tour route (optional).
  Lunch: The meal will be served at a restaurant along the tour route (optional).
  Dinner: The hotel stay includes meals, which are served either as a buffet or as a set menu.

• Şanlıurfa.

Şanlıurfa, one of the oldest settlements in human history, is known as the "City of Prophets." Göbeklitepe, dating back to 12,000 BC, is considered the world's oldest known temple complex. Believed to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, the area surrounding the Cave of Abraham, Balıklıgöl (the Pool of Abraham), and its surroundings has become a sacred center. It is a cultural hub where history, faith, tradition, and gastronomy intertwine.

• DAY 2 (October 27, 2026)

  Mardin / Mardin Houses / Kasimiye Madrasa / Mardin Grand Mosque / Mardin Hotel.

  After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart by vehicle and travel the 190 km distance to Mardin, arriving in approximately 2.5 hours. We will complete our tour with visits to the historic houses of Mardin, the Kasimiye Madrasa, the Great Mosque of Mardin, and the Zinciriye Madrasa. We will then check into our hotel, the Kervansaray 4*.

  Breakfast: The hotel stay includes breakfast, which is served either as a buffet or as a set menu.
  Lunch: The meal will be served at a restaurant along the tour route (optional).
  Dinner: Dinner at the hotel will be served as a set menu.

• MARDIN.

Located in northern Mesopotamia, Mardin is a multicultural city that has been home to many civilizations. It is notable for its stone architecture, narrow streets, and structures that combine mosques, churches, and monasteries. The Deyrulzafaran and Mor Gabriel monasteries are among the most important centers of Syriac Christian culture. Tolerance and a culture of coexistence are the most distinctive features of Mardin.

Mardin Houses: The houses and streets, with their stone architecture, are among the most popular tourist destinations. These houses, built from yellow limestone, are designed with terraces that face each other. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the houses of Mardin, with their shared terraces accessible from the living rooms and bedrooms, are the city's most important attraction for tourists.

Mardin Grand Mosque: The Mardin Grand Mosque, dating back to the Artuqid Principality period, is particularly noteworthy for its dome and architectural design. It features a rectangular structure, a small courtyard, and a wudu area (ablution fountain). This mosque, constructed from distinctive yellow cut stone, is one of the city's oldest.

• DAY 3 (October 28, 2026)

  Mardin / Deyrülzafaran Monastery / Dara Ancient City / Beyazsu / Midyat / Hasankeyf / Mardin Hotel.

  After breakfast at the hotel, we will visit the Deyr-ül-zafaran Monastery and the ancient city of Dara. Then, we will drive approximately 33 km from Beyazsu to Midyat. After seeing the historical houses in Midyat, we will continue by car for another 44 km to reach Hasankeyf. After completing our tour of Hasankeyf, we will drive approximately 72 km to reach the Malabadi Bridge. Following the Malabadi Bridge, we will drive approximately 175 km and arrive at the Kervansaray 4* hotel, where we will be staying, in about 2 hours.

  Breakfast: The hotel stay includes breakfast, which is served either as a buffet or as a set menu.
  Lunch: The meal will be served at a restaurant along the tour route (optional).
  Dinner: The hotel stay includes meals, which are served either as a buffet or as a set menu.

Dayrulzafaran Monastery: Today, the building is still actively used as a place of worship and a school by the Syriac community. The most striking feature of the monastery, which represents the oldest structure of the Syriacs, is its ceiling, where the stones are joined together without mortar, forming a geometric pattern. In the monastery, which was used as a sun temple by the Syriacs, you can also see an exhibition area and a church.

Hasankeyf: Located on the banks of the Tigris River in the city of Batman, this settlement is one of the oldest, with a history of approximately 12,000 years. Its castle, caves, Artuqid bridge, and the Zeynel Bey Tomb are among its most important landmarks. Following the construction of the Ilısu Dam, a large part of the old settlement was submerged, and some of its important structures were relocated to Yeni Hasankeyf.

Dara Ancient City: Located 30 kilometers from Mardin, the ancient city of Dara is known as the "Ephesus of Mesopotamia." It is believed to have been founded in 505 AD by Emperor Anastasius of the Byzantine Empire. It is a remarkable place, adorned with structures carved into the rock, including churches, a marketplace, a prison, and a bridge.

• DAY 4 (October 29, 2026)

  Diyarbakır Malabadi Bridge / Ten-Arched Bridge / City Walls and Fortress / Hevsel Gardens / Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı House / Great Mosque / Four-Footed Minaret / Diyarbakır Hotel.

  After breakfast at the hotel, we began our tour of Diyarbakır, taking panoramic photos of the city walls, which are the second-longest ancient walls in the world still standing. We captured views of the Mardin Gate, the Goat Tower, and the Tigris Basin. We then took a short break at the Ten-Arched Bridge before leaving the city.

• DIYARBAKIR.

Diyarbakır is one of the most important historical cities in the Southeastern Anatolia Region, and it stands out for its rich cultural heritage. Located in the fertile basin of the Tigris River, the city is known as the cradle of ancient Mesopotamian civilizations. Throughout history, it has been home to various civilizations. With a population of approximately 1.8 million, it is one of the most populous major cities. Ethnically, the majority of the population is Kurdish, while in three districts (Dicle, Hani, Kulp, Ergani), the Zaza people are the majority.

Malabadi Bridge: The Malabadi Bridge, located on the outskirts of Diyarbakır (on the Batman River), is a bridge with a width of 7 meters and a length of 150 meters. Its height, from the water level to the keystone, is 19 meters. One of its most distinctive features, which makes it unique, is its massive arch span, which measures 38.6 meters. It was built in 1147 during the Artuqid period by Timurtaş bin İlgazi.

Two-Eyed Bridge (Tigris Bridge): This bridge, built with blocks resting on a cut stone base, connects the two banks of the Tigris River. It was commissioned by Nasr of the Mervanoğlu dynasty and built by an architect named Ubayd between 1064 and 1065. The bridge has ten arches, is 180 meters long, and 7-8 meters wide. The pointed arches are topped with triangular spandrels, and the supporting walls stand firm against the Tigris. The construction used lime mortar with rubble fill, and the exterior is faced with cut stone.

Diyarbakır Fortress and the Hevsel Gardens: The site consists of two main components: the Walls and the Hevsel Gardens. Diyarbakır Fortress, with its 7,000-year-old historical significance, still retains its original features in its walls and towers. It represents a universal heritage of great importance to world history. The Hevsel Gardens, an open civilian garden, also boast an 8,000-year-old history. The Diyarbakır Walls and Hevsel Gardens, symbols of the city, are tangible representations of this rich history and are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı House: The house where the renowned poet Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı was born and spent his childhood was built in 1733. The house, consisting of four sections arranged around a central courtyard, is entirely constructed of basalt stone and has a ground floor and one upper floor. Originally built as a "Harem" (women's quarters) and a "Selamlık" (men's reception area), the Selamlık section has been demolished, while the Harem section remains to this day.

• DAY 5 (October 30, 2026)

Adıyaman / Mount Nemrut / Cendere Bridge / Halfeti / Hotel in Gaziantep.

After breakfast at our hotel in Diyarbakır, we will travel by bus for 2 hours to the Kahta district of Adıyaman. We will take minibuses to a certain point and then continue our ascent to Mount Nemrut. Depending on the time, we will try to climb approximately 4-5 kilometers. The final section will involve climbing 300 steps. We will enjoy the breathtaking views.

Breakfast: The hotel stay includes breakfast, which is served either as a buffet or as a set menu.
Lunch: The meal will be served at a restaurant along the tour route (optional).
Dinner: Gaziantep, the gastronomic capital, is the perfect time to enjoy its regional cuisine freely.

Nemrut: Located in the Kahta district of Adıyaman, at an altitude of 2,150 meters above sea level, Mount Nemrut is a majestic peak. What makes it unique is not its mountainous nature, but the extraordinary open-air sacred area located on its summit. In the 1st century BC, King Antiochus I of the Kingdom of Commagene had a monumental sacred area built, dedicated to both the gods and himself. Here, Greek deities such as Zeus, Apollo, and Heracles stand alongside Persian beliefs, including Ahura Mazda. At the summit, there is a large mound of stone (a tumulus) in the center. On the terraces, the heads of colossal statues of gods and kings are detached from their bodies and stand silently before them. Mount Nemrut is considered one of the best places in the world to witness sunrise and sunset. Mount Nemrut was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

DAY 6 (October 31, 2026)

Gaziantep / Mosaic Museum / Copperware Bazaar / Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum / Tahmis Coffee House / Return.

*GAZİANTEP

Located between Mesopotamia and Anatolia, it is a very ancient settlement. Its history dates back to the Hittites. The city's identity has been shaped by the rule of the Assyrians, Persians, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks, and Ottomans. Due to its resistance during the War of Independence, it was granted the title of "Gazi" in 1921. It is renowned for its copperwork, mother-of-pearl inlay, and other traditional crafts. Arabs constitute a significant community. Syrian immigrants have also had an impact on its ethnic and social structure. With a population of 2.2 million, it is a densely populated metropolitan area. It is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a "City of Gastronomy." Its baklava, kebabs, regional dishes, Beyran, and Yuvalama are particularly noteworthy. The city is also rich in spices.

Gaziantep Zeugma Mosaic Museum: The Zeugma Mosaic Museum is located on the site of the former state tobacco factory and was officially opened on September 19, 2011. The museum and its exhibition and conference center have a total area of 30,000 square meters, with 25,000 square meters of indoor space. The complex consists of three buildings: Building A houses mosaics from the ancient city of Zeugma, Building B features mosaics from the floors of Eastern Roman-era churches discovered during excavations in Gaziantep and its surrounding areas, and Building C contains administrative offices, a conference hall, and a foyer. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum's collection includes 3,000 square meters of mosaics from the Roman and Eastern Roman periods, 140 square meters of wall paintings, 4 Roman fountains, 20 columns, 4 sculptures made of limestone, a bronze statue of Mars, tomb steles, sarcophagi, and architectural fragments.

Zeugma is a city located 10 km east of the district of Nizip in Gaziantep, situated on hills. One of Alexander the Great's generals, Seleucus I Nicator, founded the city of Seleucia on the Euphrates in 300 BC, at the point where Alexander the Great crossed the Euphrates River. He also established a second city across the river, named after his wife Apama, and connected the two cities with a bridge. From 31 BC onwards, the city became part of the Roman Empire and its name was changed to "Zeugma," which means "bridge" or "crossing." In the 1st century AD, the Sasanian King Ardashir I conquered Zeugma and destroyed it. During the Roman period, Zeugma made significant advancements in the field of art, and the mosaic floors that adorned its luxurious villas became renowned worldwide. Excavations have revealed that Zeugma was truly a city of mosaics. Zeugma, one of the most important cities of the Hellenistic and Roman worlds, features two integrated temples with unique characteristics, as well as Roman houses adorned with magnificent mosaics dating mostly to the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. The Zeugma Archaeological Site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List in 2012.

Bakircilar Bazaar: Generally known as the Copper Market, this complex of shops, characterized by its wooden facades and cobblestone streets, offers glimpses into a different era, as it houses a variety of artisan workshops.

Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum: Gaziantep boasts a rich culinary tradition, where the meticulous selection of ingredients, the skill in preparation and cooking, and the use of spices, pastes, sauces, and blends have all contributed to the fame and popularity of its dishes. The Emine Göğüş Culinary Museum, which tells the history of this cultural heritage, is a popular destination for visitors to the city. Konak is a historic house built in 1904, and it is also the birthplace of Ali İhsan Göğüş, one of Turkey's first Ministers of Tourism and Promotion. The house was restored by the Metropolitan Municipality in 2008 and is now open to the public. It is a museum that showcases the tools and equipment used in the kitchen, as well as visual displays of traditional regional dishes.

Famous Restaurants: Tudyahan 1874 Kebab House, Imam Çağdaş Kebab House, Kebabçı Halil Usta, Küşlemeci Mehmet Usta, Sakıp Usta Paça Beyran Restaurant, Koçak Baklava, Çelebioğulları Baklava, Zeki İnal Baklava, Katmerci Zekeriye Usta, Orkide Pastry Shop, Kahveci Serdar Bey Coffee House, Tahmis Coffee House.

Gaziantep Castle is currently undergoing renovations. If it is open by the time of our visit, we will add it to our itinerary.

Breakfast: The hotel stay includes breakfast, which is served either as a buffet or as a set menu.
Lunch: In Gaziantep, we will have free time to enjoy the best local cuisine, either as a group or individually.
Dinner: A restaurant suitable for the tour route will be included (optional).

Return Information: The event in Gaziantep will end no later than 18:00. Tickets can be purchased for round-trip travel. The return flights are as follows: A.Jet from Gaziantep Airport at 21:40 to Sabiha Gökçen Airport; Turkish Airlines from Gaziantep Airport at 20:30 to Istanbul Airport. Those who wish can return by bus.

Services Included in the Price.

Accommodation for 5 nights in hotels (in a twin room, with two separate beds).
Hotels offer a buffet or set menu breakfast option.
Hotels include 3 buffet or set menu dinners.
Tourism Vehicles and Transportation Services.

Queue Night.

Tureb Certified Tour Guiding Services.
Environmental Excursions/Tours.
Mandatory travel insurance according to Law No. 1618.

Services Not Included in the Price.

Airplane ticket.
Breakfast is included on the first day of the tour, as specified in the itinerary.
One dinner included in the tour itinerary.
All organizations listed as optional (or extra).
Lunch meals.
All personal expenses.
Mount Nemrut transportation fees.

Istanbul Outdoor Sports Club.

Website: www.istanbuldoğa.net

EVENT COORDINATOR:

Taner Erdem.

0532 488 25 95

Activity Difficulty Level: