Welcome to Turkey & Sanliurfa

A Journey Through Time & Spiritual Heritage
Your adventure begins with a flight from Istanbul to Sanliurfa, one of Turkey’s most historically and spiritually significant cities. Known as the City of Prophets, Şanlıurfa is a land where ancient civilizations flourished, religious traditions were born, and history comes alive. Upon arrival, you will dive straight into the heart of its sacred past.

🌅 Morning: Gobekli Tepe – The World’s Oldest Temple
Your first stop is Gobekli Tepe, a site that has revolutionized our understanding of early civilization.
🏺 Key Highlights:
Explore the world’s first known temple, dating back 12,000 years, predating Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids by millennia.
Walk among massive T-shaped stone pillars, intricately carved with animals, mystical symbols, and human-like figures, offering a glimpse into prehistoric spirituality.
Learn about the excavation process and groundbreaking discoveries that prove organized religion existed before agriculture, reshaping historical narratives.
Feel the sacred aura of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing in the same space where humanity’s earliest religious rituals may have taken place.

🏛️ Midday: Sanliurfa Archaeology & Mosaic Museum
Returning to Sanliurfa, continue your journey through history at Turkey’s largest museum complex, home to priceless artifacts from ancient civilizations.

📜 Museum Highlights:
Discover artifacts from the Assyrian, Babylonian, Hittite, Neolithic, and Bronze Age civilizations, tracing the region’s rich heritage.
View life-sized replicas of Gobekli Tepe’s monolithic pillars, allowing for a detailed look at their carvings and design.
Explore ancient tools, clothing, and sculptures, showcasing the everyday lives of the people who shaped early human civilization.
This museum provides a deeper context to the Gobekli Tepe experience, helping you connect the discoveries at the site with the artifacts preserved here.

🐟 Afternoon: Abraham’s Pool & Birthplace
Step into the sacred heart of Sanliurfa as you visit Balıklıgol (Abraham’s Pool), a site of immense religious significance in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.

🌊 The Legend of Balıklıgol:
According to tradition, King Nimrod ordered Prophet Abraham to be burned alive. However, God miraculously turned the fire into water and the burning logs into sacred fish.

🕍 Sacred Sites to Explore:
Abraham’s Pool – A tranquil, sacred pool filled with holy fish, which are protected and never caught.
The Cave of Abraham – Believed to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham, now preserved as a pilgrimage site where visitors can experience a moment of reflection and reverence.
Historic Mosques & Gardens – Surrounding Balıklıgöl, you’ll find centuries-old mosques and beautifully landscaped gardens, offering a peaceful atmosphere for visitors.

🌙 Evening: Overnight Stay in Sanliurfa
After a day immersed in ancient history and spiritual wonders, check in to your hotel in Sanliurfa for a well-earned rest.

🌟 Optional Evening Activities:
Wander through Sanliurfa’s historic bazaar, where you can shop for traditional crafts, spices, and textiles.
Enjoy an authentic Urfa-style dinner, featuring delicious kebabs, mezes, and local delicacies.

✨ Experience the Cradle of Civilization
This day of exploration connects you with the ancient roots of humanity, blending archaeology, faith, and culture in one of Turkey’s most fascinating regions.

Journey to Harran & Sogmatar – Unveiling Ancient Civilizations

🌅 Morning: Discovering Harran – One of the World’s Oldest Cities
Today, step into Harran, a city of biblical, Quranic, and Mesopotamian significance, known as the home of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) and a crossroads of ancient trade and knowledge.

🔹 Prophet Abraham’s Connection
After being born in a cave in Şanlıurfa, historical and religious texts suggest Abraham lived in Harran before continuing his prophetic journey.
Mentioned in the Bible and Quran, Harran is a city of faith, history, and ancient wisdom.

🏠 Beehive Houses – 3,000 Years of Architectural Ingenuity
Wander through Harran’s famous beehive houses, built using straw-based mud bricks—a technique that provides natural cooling without the need for wood or additional support.
These homes, one of the oldest surviving building styles, remain a symbol of Harran’s rich heritage, offering a glimpse into how ancient people adapted to their environment.
Enjoy a guided visit inside one of these homes, where locals share stories about the preservation of their architectural legacy.

🏰 Midday: Harran Castle & Ancient City Walls

🛡️ Harran Castle (Harran Kalesi)
Explore the ruins of a once-mighty fortress, used as a military stronghold by multiple empires.
Discover traces of Assyrian, Roman, and early Islamic architecture, reflecting Harran’s long-standing strategic importance.

🧱 Ancient City Walls & Panoramic Views
Walk along the remnants of Harran’s ancient walls, which have witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations, including the Assyrians, Romans, Byzantines, and early Islamic empires.
Capture breathtaking photos of the vast Harran plains, an endless horizon stretching across Mesopotamia, a land of history and myth.

🌙 Afternoon: Sogmatar – The Sacred Pagan City
Your journey continues to Sogmatar, a mystical archaeological site that reveals a unique blend of ancient faiths.

🔮 An Ancient Pagan Worship Center
Once a hub for sun and moon worship, Sogmatar was home to sacred altars, ancient inscriptions, and underground sanctuaries.
The remains of circular temples dedicated to celestial deities still stand, offering a rare glimpse into the pagan traditions of the past.

📜 Prophet Moses’ Connection
According to tradition, Moses lived in Sogmatar while practicing his faith, despite the city’s strong pagan influence.
Some of the rock-carved inscriptions and altars are believed to be linked to ancient Hebrew and early Christian traditions.

🕌 Grand Mosque of Harran – An Early Islamic Marvel
One of the oldest mosques in the region, built between 744-750 CE during the early Islamic period.
Rediscovered in 1983, the mosque remains a testament to Harran’s role as a center of Islamic learning and worship.

🏨 Evening: Return to Sanliurfa & Overnight Stay
After a day immersed in history, archaeology, and spiritual exploration, you will return to Sanliurfa.

🌟 Optional Evening Activities:
Visit Sanliurfa’s Historic Bazaar, where you can shop for handwoven textiles, traditional spices, and unique handicrafts.
Enjoy an authentic Urfa-style dinner, featuring delicious kebabs, mezes, and sweet local delicacies.
Finally, check in to your hotel in Sanliurfa, where you can relax and reflect on your extraordinary journey through history.

✨ Step Into the Footsteps of Prophets & Ancient Kings
This day of exploration brings together faith, archaeology, and the legacy of civilizations that shaped the world.

Nature, History & The Sunken Beauty of Halfeti

A Journey Through Conservation, Ancient Towns & Riverside Fortresses

🌅 Morning: Bald Ibis (Kelaynak) Sanctuary – A Rare Conservation Success Story
Start your day with a visit to the Bald Ibis Sanctuary (Kelaynak Sanctuary), a protected refuge dedicated to preserving one of the world’s rarest bird species—the Northern Bald Ibis (Kelaynak).

🦅 Highlights of Your Visit:
Observe these ancient, sacred birds, which were once on the brink of extinction but have made a remarkable recovery through conservation efforts.
Learn about their cultural and ecological significance, as they were revered in Ancient Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations.
See the breeding pairs in their natural habitat, as the sanctuary is now home to over 100 protected birds, helping to restore their population.
This experience provides a unique glimpse into Turkey’s conservation efforts, combining nature, history, and biodiversity.

🏞️ Midday: Halfeti – The Sunken Town of the Euphrates
Next, travel to Halfeti, a charming lakeside town with a rich past and a hauntingly beautiful present. Due to the construction of the Birecik Dam, part of Halfeti was submerged, creating an eerie yet stunning semi-submerged town.

🚶 Explore Halfeti’s Highlights:
Walk along the tranquil lakefront, where you’ll see ancient structures partially submerged beneath the Euphrates River.
Discover the famous minaret of a sunken mosque, which still stands proudly above the waterline, a powerful reminder of the town’s history.
Learn about the region’s displaced communities, whose homes and cultural sites are now beneath the lake’s surface.

🍽️ Enjoy a Traditional Turkish Lunch
Savor an authentic meal featuring regional flavors, all while taking in the breathtaking views of the Euphrates River.

🚤 Afternoon: Boat Tour to Rumkale & Hromla Castle
After lunch, embark on a scenic boat tour along the Euphrates River, sailing towards Rumkale, an ancient fortress rising dramatically from the water.

🏰 Rumkale (Hromla Castle) – A Sacred Stronghold
Originally a strategic Assyrian settlement, Rumkale later became a significant Christian site.
It is believed that handwritten copies of the New Testament were hidden within its walls, making it an important center for early Christianity.
Enjoy stunning views of towering cliffs, lush riverbanks, and hidden historical treasures as you approach this legendary fortress.

⛪ Church of Saint Nerse
Visit the 12th-century Armenian church, dedicated to Saint Nerse, an Armenian Patriarch.
Explore the ruins of this sacred site, which stands as a testament to the region’s deep religious and cultural diversity.
As your boat gently glides through the calm waters, take in the majestic beauty of the Euphrates, where ancient history meets breathtaking nature.

✈️ Evening: Return to Istanbul
After a day of natural wonders, archaeological treasures, and peaceful river landscapes, you will be transferred to Şanlıurfa Airport for your return flight to Istanbul.

🌍 End of Tour – A Journey Through History & Nature
Your extraordinary journey through Turkey’s mystical southeast comes to a close. From the spiritual depths of Göbekli Tepe to the haunting beauty of Halfeti and the fortress of Rumkale, this tour offers a blend of history, faith, and natural wonders.

📌 Looking for additional travel experiences?
We are happy to provide custom tour recommendations, travel extensions, or personalized itineraries to continue your adventure in Turkey!

📅 Book now and uncover the hidden gems of Turkey’s ancient past!