DAY 1: ISTANBUL • ADIYAMAN

Malatya - Renowned for Apricots
Malatya, situated in the southwest of the Eastern Anatolia Region, serves as a junction for Central, Mediterranean, Eastern, and Southeast Anatolia. It stands as the premier apricot production area in Turkey and globally, contributing 7-10% of the world’s fresh apricots and 80-85% of dried apricots. While apples, pears, peaches, walnuts, and mulberries also thrive here, Malatya’s fruit growers focus on apricots, still referring to them by the ancient name “mish mish,” despite the Turkish term “kayisi.”

Cendere Bridge - Following the transfer, visitors will explore the 14th-century castle at Eski Kale (Arsameia of Nymphaios) and the impressive 3rd-century Roman bridge at Cendere.

DAY 2: NEMRUD > URFA • ISTANBUL

Mount Nemrut - The Mausoleum of Antiochus I
The mausoleum of Antiochus I (69–34 B.C.), who ruled over Commagene, a kingdom established north of Syria and the Euphrates after Alexander’s empire fragmented, is among the most ambitious Hellenistic constructions. The pantheon’s syncretism and the royal lineage, traceable through Greek and Persian legends, highlight the dual cultural origins of this kingdom.

Sanliurfa - Sacred Carp Pools of Abraham
Balıklıgöl (or Pool of Abraham, Halil-Ür Rahman Lake) is located in the southwest of Şanlıurfa’s city center. It is famed in Jewish and Islamic traditions as the site where Nimrod cast Abraham into the fire. Balıklıgöl and the nearby Aynzeliha pools are some of the most frequented attractions in Şanlıurfa.

Harran - The journey continues to Harran to explore the remnants of Islam’s first university, dating back to the 8th century.

• Transportation from/to your address via proper, comfortable vehicle
• Domestic flight tickets
• Professional tour guide experience in various languages
• Accommodation
• Airport transfers

• Personal expenses
• Mount Nemrut Admission fee (50 TRY per person)
• Lunch
• Drinks

Nemrud Mountain is located in Southeastern Turkey and serves as a 7,000-foot-tall memorial dedicated to the kings and gods of the ancient world. Its peak is adorned with several colossal statues, which were erected in 62 BC by King Antiochus I Theos of Commagene. These statues, which include representations of the king, lions, eagles, and various ancient deities such as Hercules-Vahagn, Zeus-Aramaz, Oromasdes (linked to the Iranian god Ahura Mazda), Tyche, and Apollo-Mithras, flank the tomb sanctuary.

Similar statues and ancestral figures are also present on the tumulus, which stands 49 meters (161 feet) tall and has a diameter of 152 meters (499 feet). The statues exhibit Greek-style facial features combined with Persian attire and hairstyles. Additionally, the western terrace features a large slab depicting a lion, which illustrates the alignment of stars and the planets Jupiter, Mercury, and Mars on July 7, 62 BC, a date believed to mark the commencement of the monument’s construction.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.