Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
Travel from Istanbul to the ancient landscapes of Upper Mesopotamia on a seamless two-day private journey through Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe, Harran and Şanlıurfa.
Instead of rushing through Göbeklitepe on a same-day excursion, spend two carefully planned days discovering the region’s Neolithic archaeology, sacred traditions, historic neighborhoods and living culture. Explore the monumental T-shaped pillars of Göbeklitepe, see the ongoing discoveries at Karahantepe, visit the outstanding Şanlıurfa Archaeology and Mosaic Museum and walk among Harran’s distinctive beehive houses.
Your private guide brings each destination to life while all major arrangements—including round-trip domestic flights, airport transfers, private transportation, accommodation, admission fees and selected meals—are coordinated for you.
As this is a private experience, the pace can be adapted to your interests while maintaining the flight schedule and essential program.
What's included
Round-trip domestic flights between Istanbul and Sanliurfa
Lunch
Dinner
Breakfast
One night at hotel in central Sanliurfa
Personal Expenses
Tips
What to expect
Day 1: Istanbul to Sanlıurfa
Sanliurfa
Pass by
We pick you from your hotel in Istanbul and transfer to the airport. Fly to Sanliurfa. You will meet with your guide at the airport and after your driver and private vehicle, first we have our light breakfast.
Sanliurfa Archeology and Mosaic Museum
2h · Admission ticket included
Begin at the impressive Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum complex.
Explore collections spanning the Paleolithic, Neolithic and later periods, including discoveries connected to Göbeklitepe and other archaeological sites across the region. Your guide will provide essential historical context before the following day’s visits to Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe.
Continue to the adjoining Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, known for its remarkably preserved Roman-period mosaics.
St Job Tomb
40m
According to the sources, the "Varak Cross", which is of great importance for Christianity and located in the Varak Monastery in the Van region, was brought to Urfa in 1092 and placed in this church. According to the inscription on the mihrab of the mosque, it was converted from a church to a mosque in 1956.
Castle of Urfa
1h · Admission ticket included
Continue toward Şanlıurfa Castle, overlooking the historic city and Balıklıgöl area.
Depending on current access and restoration conditions, visit the castle area or enjoy a panoramic view while your guide explains the history of the citadel and its prominent stone columns.
BalIklIgol
30m
Walk around the atmospheric Balıklıgöl complex, one of Şanlıurfa’s most important religious and cultural landmarks.
Hear the traditional story connecting the site with the Prophet Abraham and explore the courtyards, pools and historic buildings surrounding the sacred lakes.
Mevlid-i Halilulrahman MagarasI
30m
While in Urfa we will visit the cave where the prophet Abraham was born. Then, walk through the local covered bazaar of Sanliurfa. Walk through the town to discover the many hidden treasures.
Sanliurfa
1h
We visit a special place for Sıra Night in Urfa. Sıra night is one of the most sincere atmosphere you can experience on your visit.
Day 2: Göbeklitepe & Harran & Karahantepe
Gobeklitepe
2h · Admission ticket included
Visit the UNESCO-listed archaeological site of Göbeklitepe, where monumental communal structures were created by hunter-gatherer communities during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period.
Walk along the protected viewing platforms and examine the site’s distinctive T-shaped limestone pillars, animal reliefs and circular enclosures. Your guide will explain why the discoveries here transformed modern discussions about early communities, ritual activity and monumental architecture.
Allow time for the visitor center and archaeological exhibition before entering the main excavation area.
Karahantepe Orenyeri
1h · Admission ticket included
Continue to Karahantepe, one of the most important archaeological sites within the wider Taş Tepeler research region.
See excavated communal structures, carved stone features, human representations and T-shaped pillars while learning how ongoing discoveries are expanding the archaeological story of Neolithic Şanlıurfa.
As excavations and conservation work continue, the areas open to visitors may change.
Harran
1h
Travel south to Harran, an ancient settlement known for its long history, traditional mud-brick architecture and distinctive conical-roofed houses.
Explore the historic village area and see the remains associated with Harran’s ancient city, mosque and former center of learning. Visit a traditional Harran house and learn how its architecture was adapted to the region’s hot and dry climate.
30m
Visit the vast historic stone quarries known as the Bazda Caves.
See the dramatic chambers, tunnels and carved surfaces left behind by centuries of stone extraction. Stone obtained from these quarries was used in settlements and structures throughout the Harran region.
The ground may be uneven, dusty and slippery, so suitable walking shoes are essential.
Istanbul
Pass by
After completing the tour, transfer privately to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport.
Take your scheduled domestic flight to Istanbul, where a private driver will meet you and transfer you to your centrally located hotel.
The final arrival time will depend on the flight schedule selected for your travel date.
Meeting and pickup
Pickup details
Private pickup and drop-off are available from centrally located hotels in Istanbul.
Additional information
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
