6-Day Private Southeast Turkey Tour: Gaziantep, Nemrut, Göbekli Tepe & Mardin
This private 6-day, 5-night tour starts at Gaziantep airport and ends at Mardin airport, crossing Upper Mesopotamia by road. You visit the Zeugma mosaics, the half-sunken town of Halfeti, the giant stone heads of Mount Nemrut at sunrise, Göbekli Tepe, Şanlıurfa, the Syriac monasteries of Midyat and the stone city of Mardin. Hotels, 5 breakfasts, a private guide, private transport and entrance fees are included.
5.0 on Tripadvisor · 145 reviews of our private tours
Your route
Tap a stop or open a day in the itinerary to see where you are.
- Private vehicle
- Domestic flight
- 1Overnight stop
- Day visit
Why travelers choose this itinerary
Southeast Turkey is where some of the oldest chapters of human history were written, and it sees a fraction of the visitors that Istanbul and Cappadocia do. In six days you go from Göbekli Tepe, a temple complex older than Stonehenge by some 6,000 years, to the mountain-top tomb of a forgotten king and Syriac monasteries where services are still held in a dialect of Aramaic.
It is also Turkey’s food country. Gaziantep holds a UNESCO title for gastronomy, and the route takes you through its spice markets, baklava shops and kebab houses. Because the tour is private, you set the pace, your guide explains each site, and your driver handles every kilometer of a route that is hard to plan on your own.
Highlights
- The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, one of the largest mosaic collections in the world
- Gaziantep's bazaars, baklava and menengiç coffee
- Halfeti, a riverside town partly drowned by a dam on the Euphrates
- Sunrise among the giant stone heads of Mount Nemrut
- Göbekli Tepe, the world's oldest known monumental site
- The Pool of Abraham and the Cave of Abraham in Şanlıurfa
- Mor Gabriel and Deyrulzafaran, two of the oldest Syriac Orthodox monasteries
- The honey-colored old city of Mardin, overlooking the plains of Mesopotamia
Day-by-day itinerary
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Day 1Arrive in Gaziantep
A representative meets you at the exit of Gaziantep Airport and takes you to your hotel. There is no touring today, so the rest of the day is free. Gaziantep is a city that rewards an evening walk, and a first plate of pistachio baklava is never far away. Send us your flight details when you book so the pickup matches your arrival time.
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Day 2Gaziantep and Halfeti
Start at Gaziantep Castle on its mound in the city center, then spend an hour among the floor mosaics of the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, including the famous Gypsy Girl. Walk through the old city's spice merchants and covered markets, including Zincirli Bedesten and the coppersmiths' bazaar, visit the Culinary Museum and stop for a kebab lunch and baklava. In the late afternoon, see Halfeti on the Euphrates, then drive to Adıyaman.
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Day 3Mount Nemrut at Sunrise, Drive to Şanlıurfa
A pre-dawn start brings you up Mount Nemrut, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in time to watch the sun rise over the stone heads of gods and kings guarding the burial mound of King Antiochus I. After a short walk around the summit terraces, descend to Arsameia, capital of the Commagene kingdom, and the Roman Severan Bridge at Cendere. Continue to Şanlıurfa in the afternoon.
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Day 4Göbekli Tepe and Şanlıurfa, Drive to Mardin
Begin at Göbekli Tepe, where hunter-gatherers raised carved stone pillars some 11,000 years ago, centuries before farming or pottery. In the city, visit the cave revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Abraham and Balıklıgöl, the Pool of Sacred Fish beside it. Stroll through the old bazaar for local food and crafts, then drive to Mardin in the late afternoon.
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Day 5Midyat and the Syriac Monasteries
Visit Mor Gabriel, founded in 397 and one of the oldest working Syriac Orthodox monasteries in the world, and the village of Barıştepe. In Hah (Anıtlı), see the ancient Church of the Virgin Mary. Walk the stone-carved streets of old Midyat and its Culture House, then explore the excavated Roman frontier city of Dara. End at the Mor Evgin Monastery, set on a mountainside, before returning to Mardin.
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Day 6Mardin, Departure
Start at the Kasımiye Madrasa, with wide views across the plains of Mesopotamia. Walk Mardin's old city to the Great Mosque and the Zinciriye Madrasa, visit the Mardin Museum and browse the old bazaar. Visit Deyrulzafaran, the Saffron Monastery, seat of the Syriac patriarchs for centuries, and return to Kasımiye for a final view. In the late afternoon, transfer to Mardin Airport for your flight.
What's included
- 5 nights in 4 and 5-star hotels: Gaziantep (1), Adıyaman (1), Şanlıurfa (1), Mardin (2)
- 5 breakfasts
- Private vehicle with driver for the whole route
- Airport transfers in Gaziantep and Mardin
- Entrance fees to the sites in the itinerary
- Professional private guide
Not included
- International and domestic flights (flights to Gaziantep and from Mardin)
- Lunches, dinners and drinks
- Tips and personal expenses
Optional extras
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels for every night of the tour
- Flights to Gaziantep and from Mardin, booked with the tour
- Extra nights in Istanbul before or after the tour
Hotels (or similar)
- Gaziantep: Holiday Inn, Novotel or Shimall Hotel, or similar
- Adıyaman: Ramada by Wyndham or Park Dedeman Adıyaman, or similar
- Şanlıurfa: Dedeman, Tessera or Erruha Hotel, or similar
- Mardin: Ramada Plaza by Wyndham, Park Dedeman or Kaya Ninova Hotel, or similar
Price per person (USD)
The price depends on how many people travel together, because your guide and vehicle are private. Children 0 to 1 travel free; children 2 to 6 pay the child price and count toward group size.
| Travelers | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | $6,585 | $3,340 | $2,770 | $1,670 | $1,575 | $1,480 |
| Child 2–6 | – | $1,720 | $1,720 | $1,255 | $1,185 | $1,110 |
Prices valid as of October 15, 2026. Bookings close 10 days before the start date: book today and the earliest start date is October 25, 2026.
| Travelers | Adult | Child 2–6 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $6,585 | – |
| 2 | $3,340 | $1,720 |
| 3 | $2,770 | $1,720 |
| 4 | $1,670 | $1,255 |
| 5 | $1,575 | $1,185 |
| 6+ | $1,480 | $1,110 |
- Upgrade to 5-star hotels: +$285 per adult for the whole tour.
- Guide in English is included. Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Chinese or Japanese: +$340 for the whole group, shared between the travelers (Chinese and Japanese on request).
Good to know
- Day 3 starts well before dawn. The summit of Mount Nemrut is cold and windy even in summer, so bring a warm layer. The road to the summit is usually closed in winter.
- Several days include long drives across the region; your driver stops whenever you need a break.
- Mosques, monasteries and churches require modest dress: shoulders and knees covered, and a headscarf for women in mosques.
- Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin have domestic flights to and from Istanbul, so this tour links easily with our Istanbul and Cappadocia itineraries.
- Bookings close 10 days before the start date. Reserve with a 30% deposit; cancellation is free up to 30 days before travel.
Your guide
Your guide will be one of our licensed team: classmates from Adnan Menderes University with 14 to 15 years of guiding each, plus trusted licensed colleagues in every region.
KübraEnglish, Spanish
Selçuk YılmazEnglish
Can AteşEnglish, French
Bahar ÖzdemirEnglish, Spanish, Arabic
Ege ErtaşEnglish
Osman DemirEnglish
What travelers say
Rated 5.0 on Tripadvisor from 145 reviews of our private tours. Excerpts quoted as written.
“Our minivan was very comfortable, the drivers were punctual and very helpful”
ElenaDit · August 2026 · Tripadvisor
“He was always on the phone when we have question.”
탁동 홍 · September 2026 · Tripadvisor
FAQ
Is southeast Turkey worth visiting?
For travelers interested in history, yes. Göbekli Tepe, Mount Nemrut and the monasteries of the Tur Abdin plateau are unlike anything in western Turkey, and the region is famous for its food. It also sees far fewer tourists, so the sites feel unhurried.
How do I get to Gaziantep and back from Mardin?
Both cities have frequent domestic flights to and from Istanbul, about 1 hour 45 minutes each way. Fly into Gaziantep on Day 1 and out of Mardin on Day 6 in the evening. We can book these flights with your tour.
Is the Mount Nemrut sunrise worth the early start?
Most travelers say it is the highlight of the trip. You reach the summit in the dark and watch the light come up over the stone heads and the mountains of Commagene. Bring a warm layer: even in summer it is cold at 2,100 meters before sunrise.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast is included every day at your hotels. Lunches and dinners are not, which suits this region well: Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Mardin each have their own dishes, and your guide will point you to the best local restaurants, from kebab houses to baklava shops.
Is this tour private?
Yes. Only your party travels, with a private guide, vehicle and driver on the dates you choose. Prices are per person and decrease as your party grows, and children 0 to 1 travel free.
How much does this tour cost per person?
For two travelers the price is $3,340 per person in US dollars. It falls to $1,480 per person for a party of six or more, and a solo traveler pays $6,585 because the guide and vehicle are reserved for one party. These are 2026 prices and cover everything listed under What's included.
What do children pay, and can we upgrade to 5-star hotels?
Children up to 1 year old travel free. Children aged 2 to 6 pay $1,720 to $1,110 depending on group size and count toward the group size. Upgrading every night of the tour to 5-star hotels costs $285 per adult.
How do payment and cancellation work?
You reserve with a 30% deposit by card in US dollars, processed securely by Stripe; for two travelers on this tour that is about $2,000. The balance is charged automatically 30 days before travel. Cancel up to 30 days before your start date and you get a full refund, including the deposit.