Tour Eastern Turkey: Ancient Civilizations & Mediterranean Dreams
11-Day Tour Eastern Turkey Archaeological & Culinary Odyssey Through Turkey's Hidden Treasures
4 UNESCO Sites • 12,000 Years of History • Small Groups of Max 12 Travelers
Why This Journey Will Transform You
Step into the birthplace of civilization itself. This isn't just another Turkey tour—it's a time-traveling expedition through 12,000 years of human history, where every stone tells a story and every meal becomes a cultural revelation.
From Göbekli Tepe (the world's oldest temple, built 6,000 years before Stonehenge) to Mount Nemrut's colossal stone gods at sunset, from master artisans keeping centuries-old traditions alive in Mardin's labyrinthine streets to the legendary flavors of Gaziantep (UNESCO City of Gastronomy)—this is Turkey as few travelers ever experience it.
What Makes This Tour Different:
Limited to 12 travelers — Intimate experience, not bus-tour crowds
Expert local guides — History brought to life by passionate storytellers
4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Göbekli Tepe, Mount Nemrut, Diyarbakır Walls, Çatalhöyük
Authentic cultural encounters — Real connections, not staged tourist shows
Full-day Gaziantep food immersion — Baklava workshops, spice markets, master chefs
Home-cooked meals — Eat with local families and women's cooperatives
Don't Just Read About It—Live It
This isn't a tour you'll find on every travel site. Eastern Turkey remains one of the world's most underrated destinations—which means you'll have these incredible 11,600-year-old temples and mountain-top sanctuaries practically to yourself.
But it won't stay hidden forever.
Are you ready to:
Rewrite your understanding of human history at Göbekli Tepe?
Watch the sunset among gods at 2,134-meter Mount Nemrut?
Taste flavors in Gaziantep that you didn't know existed?
Meet artisans preserving 1,000-year-old crafts in Mardin?
Experience Turkey beyond the guidebook?
Questions? We're Here to Help
WhatsApp: +90 552 238 88 70 (instant replies)
Email: info@turkeyvacationpackages.com
Secure Booking • Flexible Payment Plans • COVID-Safe Protocols • Carbon Offset Option
4.9/5 Stars from 280+ verified reviews
Limited Departures • Small Groups Only • Book Early to Secure Your Spot
- Early Bird Bonus: Book by March 31 — Save $150 + Free Istanbul City Tour ($75 value)
✅ Accommodation (10 Nights)
- Handpicked boutique hotels and restored heritage properties
- All rooms with private bathrooms
- WiFi included
- Unique character in every location (no generic chains!)
✅ Meals (21 Total)
- 10 breakfasts (Turkish spreads with local specialties)
- 4 lunches (including home-cooked feast and baklava workshop)
- 7 dinners (welcome feast, rooftop dinners, farewell dinner)
- Multiple tastings throughout Gaziantep day
- Vegetarian/vegan/dietary restrictions accommodated
✅ Transportation
- Private air-conditioned vehicle (maximum 12 passengers)
- Scenic train journey (Istanbul-Sivas)
- Euphrates River boat excursion
- All fuel, tolls, parking included
- Airport transfers (arrival/departure)
✅ Expert Guidance
- English-speaking cultural tour leader (entire journey)
- Local specialist guides at major sites
- All entrance fees and site admission tickets
- Reserved access at popular sites (skip lines)
✅ Unique Experiences
- Göbekli Tepe guided tour
- Mount Nemrut sunset ceremony
- Mardin Living Museum with artisan encounters
- Baklava-making workshop
- Women's cooperative lunch
- Şanlıurfa cultural evening option
- Gaziantep full-day food experience
✅ Peace of Mind
- Small group guarantee (max 12 travelers)
- 24/7 emergency support
- Pre-departure travel guide
- Luggage handling at hotels
- Tips for tour leader and driver included
International flights to Istanbul / from Antalya
Travel insurance (required—we can recommend providers)
Visa fees (check current Turkey e-visa requirements)
Personal expenses (souvenirs, extra snacks, etc.)
Alcoholic beverages
Optional activities (Deyrulzafaran Monastery, whirling dervishes, hamam, etc.)
Single room supplement (+$450)
Lunch/dinner on free days (approx $10-20 per meal)
Essential Trip Information
Who This Tour Is For
✅ Archaeology and history enthusiasts
✅ Adventurous eaters and food lovers
✅ Culture seekers wanting authentic experiences
✅ Photographers hunting unique landscapes
✅ Solo travelers (single room option available)
✅ Couples seeking off-the-beaten-path adventure
✅ Anyone fascinated by ancient civilizations
Who This Tour Might Not Suit
❌ Beach resort vacationers
❌ Those uncomfortable with long driving days
❌ Travelers requiring luxury accommodations throughout
❌ Anyone with very limited mobility (some sites require walking/stairs)
Activity Level: Moderate
- Walking tours of 2-4 hours with breaks
- Some uneven terrain at archaeological sites
- Mount Nemrut involves uphill walk at altitude
- Most days include 3-6 hours of driving
- No technical hiking or extreme activities
Climate & Best Times
- Spring (April-May): Perfect temperatures, wildflowers, occasional rain
- Summer (June-Aug): Hot (35-40°C), but manageable with AC vehicles. Best light for photos.
- Fall (Sep-Nov): Ideal weather, harvest season, fewer crowds
- Winter (Dec-Feb): Cold at altitude (Nemrut can be snowy), but dramatic landscapes. Lowest prices.
Health & Safety
- No vaccinations required
- Tap water drinkable in cities (bottled provided)
- Medical facilities available in all major stops
- Travel insurance with medical coverage required
- Comprehensive safety briefing on Day 1
Connectivity
- WiFi at all hotels
- 4G coverage in cities and major routes
- Turkish SIM cards available at Istanbul airport (~$15 for 20GB)
- WhatsApp group for tour communication
Money Matters
- Turkish Lira (TRY) is local currency
- ATMs widely available
- Credit cards accepted in cities (less so in villages)
- Budget $30-50/day for meals not included, souvenirs, tips
- Haggling expected in bazaars
The Route Map
WEST → EAST → SOUTH
Istanbul (European & Asian sides)
↓ train
Sivas (Central Anatolia)
↓
Mount Nemrut (Kurdish highlands)
↓
Diyarbakır → Mardin (Mesopotamian plateau)
↓
Göbekli Tepe → Şanlıurfa (Syrian border region)
↓
Halfeti → Gaziantep (Euphrates Valley)
↓
Çatalhöyük → Konya (Central Anatolia)
↓
Taurus Mountains → Antalya (Mediterranean coast)
Total Distance: ~2,500 km
Regions Crossed: 5 distinct cultural/geographic zones
UNESCO Sites Visited: 4 (Göbekli Tepe, Mount Nemrut, Diyarbakır Walls, Çatalhöyük)
Arrival & First Impressions
Touch down in the only city bridging Europe and Asia. Your adventure begins where East meets West, where minarets pierce the skyline and the call to prayer echoes across the Bosphorus.
Your Day:
- Private airport transfer to your boutique hotel in historic Sultanahmet
- Free afternoon to explore at your rhythm—Ottoman palaces, Byzantine churches, or rooftop cafés with million-dollar views
- 6:00 PM: Welcome gathering with your expert tour leader and fellow explorers
- Insider briefing on the incredible journey ahead
Tonight's highlight: Sunset walk along the Golden Horn as Istanbul lights up
🏨 Overnight: Boutique hotel, Istanbul
🍽️ Meals: Dinner (welcome feast included)
💡 Insider Tip: Ask your guide about tomorrow's train journey—it's legendary among locals
Board one of Turkey's most scenic train routes, watching Istanbul's urban sprawl melt into endless Anatolian plains, mountain ranges, and pastoral villages frozen in time.
Your Day:
- Morning: Departure from Istanbul's historic railway station
- Onboard lunch as landscapes transform outside your window
- Evening arrival in Sivas – Gateway to Eastern Turkey
- Guided twilight walk through the Old City Quarter
- Visit the spectacular Çifte Minareli Medrese (Twin Minaret School) and Buruciye Medrese, masterpieces of 13th-century Seljuk architecture
- Traditional Anatolian dinner in a family-run lokanta
🏨 Overnight: Heritage hotel, Sivas
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
⏱️ Journey: 9 hours (scenic train)
📸 Photo Op: Seljuk tile work glowing in evening light
Ancient Kings & Celestial Sunsets
Today you'll witness one of archaeology's greatest mysteries—and most breathtaking sunsets. Mount Nemrut's 2,134-meter summit holds secrets from a forgotten kingdom.
Your Day:
- Early departure driving southeast through Kurdish highlands
- Stop: 2,000-year-old Cendere Bridge – still standing strong over the Chabinas River
- Lunch in a village known for hand-rolled mantı (Turkish dumplings)
- Ascend to Mount Nemrut UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sunset ceremony among the gods: Giant stone heads of Greek and Persian deities, eagles, and lions—King Antiochus I's monumental tomb shrine from 62 BC
- Watch the sun set over the Euphrates plains from 2,100 meters
What makes this special: We time our arrival perfectly for that magical golden hour when the colossal statues seem to come alive
🏨 Overnight: Mountain lodge near Nemrut
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
⏱️ Journey: 5 hours
🌡️ Pack: Warm jacket (summit can be chilly even in summer)
From Fortress Walls to Stone Mansions
Journey deeper into Mesopotamia, where civilizations rose and fell for millennia. Today brings you to one of Turkey's most photogenic cities.
Your Day:
- Drive to Diyarbakır – surrounded by 5.5 km of UNESCO-listed black basalt walls (only Istanbul and China's walls are longer!)
- Guided walk through the Old City: Kurdish culture, Armenian churches, historic mosques
- Lunch at Hasan Paşa Hanı – 16th-century caravanserai turned cultural center
- Continue across the Mesopotamian plains toward Mardin
- Arrive in Mardin – the "City of Stone" cascading down a hillside like an ancient theater
- Evening orientation walk through honeycomb alleyways
- Rooftop dinner overlooking the Mesopotamian plains stretching into Syria
🏨 Overnight: Restored stone mansion hotel, Mardin
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
⏱️ Journey: 4 hours total
📸 Must-See: Sunset from your hotel terrace—unforgettable
Master Artisans & Ancient Crafts
Today Mardin reveals its secrets. This isn't museum tourism—you'll meet the people keeping thousand-year-old traditions alive.
Your Day:
- Morning walking tour with local historian through:
- Kasımiye Medrese – 15th-century Islamic school with intricate stonework
- Zinciriye Medrese – where scholars studied astronomy 700 years ago
- Labyrinthine covered bazaars smelling of Kurdish spices
- Living Museum experience: Meet master craftspeople:
- Silver filigree (telkari) artisans creating jewelry with Ottoman-era techniques
- Coppersmiths hammering designs unchanged since medieval times
- Soap makers using recipes from Byzantine monasteries
- Hands-on workshop: Try your hand at traditional crafts
- Afternoon: Free time to explore. Options include:
- Deyrulzafaran Monastery – 1,700-year-old Syriac Orthodox monastery (optional, extra fee)
- Mardin Museum
- More bazaar wandering and tea sipping
- Evening storytelling session with a local historian over dinner
🏨 Overnight: Stone mansion hotel, Mardin
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Traditional lunch with artisan family
💡 Special Access: We have exclusive arrangements with artisan families rarely open to tourists
11,600 Years in One Day
Prepare for goosebumps. Today you'll stand where human history changed forever—then experience one of Turkey's most vibrant living cultures.
Your Day:
- Drive to Göbekli Tepe UNESCO World Heritage Site
- THE big moment: Walk among the world's oldest known temple complex (built 6,000 years before Stonehenge!)
- T-shaped limestone pillars carved with foxes, scorpions, and vultures—built by hunter-gatherers who supposedly couldn't organize such projects
- Expert guide explains how this site rewrote everything we thought we knew about civilization
- Continue to Şanlıurfa – the "City of Prophets" sacred to Muslims, Christians, and Jews
- Lunch: Home-cooked feast prepared by women's cooperative supporting local entrepreneurs
- Afternoon exploring:
- Balıklıgöl (Pool of Abraham) – sacred carp-filled pools where Abraham was supposedly thrown into fire
- Historic han (caravanserai) courtyards
- Spice-scented bazaars
- Evening: Optional Sıra Gecesi – traditional music and dance gathering with local musicians (authentic, not touristy!)
🏨 Overnight: Restored caravanserai hotel, Şanlıurfa
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Home-cooked lunch
⏱️ Journey: 4 hours
🎭 Tonight: Possible once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience
From Euphrates Waters to Culinary Capital
A day of contrasts: serene river landscapes followed by arrival in Turkey's undisputed food capital.
Your Day:
- Drive to Halfeti – the "lost town" on Euphrates shores
- Village walk through this drowsy riverside community
- Boat excursion on the Euphrates:
- Glide past the sunken minaret rising from turquoise waters like a ghost
- See partially submerged stone houses from the old village
- Stop for riverside tea at a floating café
- Continue to Gaziantep – UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy
- Afternoon arrival and hotel check-in
- Evening food preview: Street food walking tour
- Lahmacun (Turkish pizza) hot from clay ovens
- Katmer (flaky pastry with pistachios and clotted cream)
- Turkish coffee so thick the spoon stands up
Why Gaziantep matters: This city has been a Silk Road trading hub for 4,000 years. Its cuisine blends Arab, Kurdish, Turkish, and Armenian influences into something magical.
🏨 Overnight: Central boutique hotel, Gaziantep
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
⏱️ Journey: 4 hours
🎁 Shopping: This is THE place for authentic Turkish pistachios
The Day You'll Never Stop Talking About
Today is entirely dedicated to flavors, and it might just be the highlight of your trip. Gaziantep's food scene is legendary among Turks—most foreigners never discover it.
Your Epic Food Day:
🌅 6:30 AM – Dawn Ritual:
- Join locals at a traditional beyran salonu
- Breakfast soup of lamb, rice, and garlic that's been simmering all night
- Watch bread being pulled from 500-year-old stone ovens
🏪 Morning – Market Immersion:
- Guided walk through Almacı Bazaar with food expert
- Taste-test olives, cheeses, dried fruits, spices
- Watch copper craftsmen making cooking vessels
- Visit the Spice Market – intoxicating aromas and colors
👨🍳 Midday – Master Class:
- Baklava workshop at a renowned family atelier
- Watch 40 paper-thin layers being assembled by hand
- The secret: Antep fıstığı (Gaziantep pistachios)—world's finest
- Make your own baklava to take home
🍽️ Lunch – Multi-Course Feast:
- Ali Nazik – smoky eggplant purée with spiced lamb
- Lahmacun competition – compare different bakeries
- İçli köfte – bulgur shells stuffed with spiced meat
- Fresh salads with pomegranate molasses
☕ Afternoon – Beverage Culture:
- Traditional coffee house experience
- Learn proper Turkish coffee fortune reading
- Sample regional desserts you've never heard of
🌃 Evening: Free time to explore or return to your favorite discoveries
🏨 Overnight: Gaziantep
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Multiple tastings throughout day (you'll be FULL)
🔥 Spice Level: Your guide adjusts to your heat tolerance
💡 Bring: Appetite, comfortable shoes, camera
9,000-Year Time Jump to Sufi Mysticism
From humanity's earliest urban experiment to the spiritual capital of mystical Islam—today spans millennia.
Your Day:
- Long but fascinating drive north across the Anatolian plateau
- Lunch stop at Çatalhöyük UNESCO World Heritage Site:
- Explore one of the world's first Neolithic settlements (7500-5700 BC)
- See excavated mudbrick houses where early farmers lived
- Replica houses showing daily life 9,000 years ago
- Museum with goddess figurines and wall paintings
- Continue to Konya – the spiritual heart of Turkey
- Evening arrival in the city where Rumi (Mevlana) lived and taught
- Sunset: Visit Mevlana Mausoleum – pilgrimage site for Sufis worldwide
- Cobalt-blue dome gleaming in evening light
- Watch devotees circle the tomb in silent prayer
Optional Tonight (highly recommended): Sema ceremony—whirling dervishes performing their meditative dance ritual (extra fee, subject to schedule)
🏨 Overnight: Traditional hotel, Konya
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
⏱️ Journey: 9 hours with stops
📖 Reading: Bring Rumi poems—perfect for the long drive
From Alpine Villages to Ancient Harbors
Your final full day brings dramatic landscape changes: high Taurus Mountains descending to turquoise Mediterranean shores.
Your Day:
- Drive south through the Taurus Mountains
- Stop at Ormana Village – hidden mountain hamlet:
- Traditional stone and timber houses with distinctive "buttoned" roofs
- Walk cobbled streets where goats roam freely
- Meet villagers maintaining centuries-old agricultural life
- Turkish village breakfast (optional, time permitting)
- Descend through pine forests and hairpin curves
- Arrive in Antalya – the "Turkish Riviera"
- Afternoon walking tour of Kaleiçi (Old Town):
- Hadrian's Gate (built 130 AD)
- Ottoman mansions converted to boutique hotels
- Narrow streets opening onto spectacular harbor views
- Ancient Roman harbor still used by yachts
Evening: Free time. Options include:
- Sunset drinks on the harbor
- Beach walk along Konyaaltı
- Turkish bath (hamam) – perfect after all that traveling
- Dinner at a cliffside restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean
🏨 Overnight: Boutique hotel, Antalya Old Town
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
⏱️ Journey: 6 hours with village stop
🏖️ Beach Option: Hotel near Konyaaltı Beach (request upgrade)
Farewell to Anatolia
Your incredible 11-day odyssey through Turkey's hidden heart comes to a close—or continues if you've chosen to extend.
Your Day:
- Leisurely breakfast overlooking the Mediterranean
- Free morning until airport transfer
- Private transfer to Antalya Airport
Or extend your adventure:
- +3 days: Cappadocia extension (fairy chimneys, hot air balloons, underground cities)
- +5 days: Mediterranean coast (Olympos, Patara, Kaş)
- +4 days: Pamukkale & Ephesus (white travertines & ancient Greek cities)
🍽️ Meals: Breakfast
✈️ Transfer: Included to airport