Hip Travel
Halfeti on the Euphrates at sunset
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Southeastern Anatolia · Türkiye

The cradle of civilization

Where the story of humankind began. Twelve-thousand-year-old temples, stone cities suspended above the Mesopotamian plain, and gods carved on a mountaintop.

Region
Southeastern Türkiye
Suggested duration
5 to 7 days
Ideal for
History · Archaeology · Culture
The region

A journey to the origin

Southeastern Anatolia is one of the most extraordinary and least-traveled regions of Türkiye. Here, in the lands between the Euphrates and the Tigris, humanity raised its first sanctuaries thousands of years before the pyramids of Egypt.

Hip Travel designs private journeys through this singular geography: from sunrise over the colossal statues of Mount Nemrut to the golden-stone lanes of Mardin, by way of Göbeklitepe —the oldest temple in the world— and the serene waters of Halfeti. The itinerary also takes in Gaziantep, the country's culinary capital, and Şanlıurfa, the historic "City of Prophets." A journey that blends archaeology, landscape, and an ancestral hospitality, always with private English-speaking guides.

Highlights

Five settings that define the region

The Gypsy Girl mosaic, Zeugma Museum
01

Gaziantep and the Zeugma Mosaics

The largest mosaic museum in the world

The gateway to the region, Gaziantep is one of Türkiye's culinary capitals, recognized by UNESCO for its cuisine, its copper bazaars, and its legendary confectionery. It also holds the most important collection of Roman mosaics on the planet, rescued from the ancient city of Zeugma. Among them, the famous "Gypsy Girl," whose hypnotic gaze has become the emblem of the entire Southeast of Anatolia.

Roman mosaics · The Gypsy Girl · UNESCO gastronomy
Colossal stone heads of Mount Nemrut
02

Mount Nemrut

UNESCO World Heritage Site

On a mountaintop more than 2,100 meters high, King Antiochus I ordered his tomb-sanctuary to be built, ringed by colossal statues of gods and stone eagles. Watching the sunrise among these giant heads, as golden light washes over the plain, is one of the most awe-inspiring experiences in all of Türkiye.

Sunrise · Archaeology · Panorama
T-shaped pillars of Göbeklitepe
03

Göbeklitepe

UNESCO World Heritage Site

The oldest known temple of humankind, more than twelve thousand years old. Its monumental T-shaped pillars, carved with animals and symbols, rewrote everything we thought we knew about the origins of civilization: a place that predates writing, the wheel, and agriculture. In nearby Şanlıurfa, the "City of Prophets," the sacred pool of Balıklıgöl and the archaeological museum complete the visit.

Neolithic · Taş Tepeler · Şanlıurfa
The sunken minaret of Halfeti on the Euphrates
04

Halfeti

The sunken village · Boat trip

On the banks of the Euphrates, Halfeti is a village of melancholy, serene beauty: part of its houses were left underwater after the dam was built, creating a unique landscape where minarets and walls rise from the water. A boat trip at sunset, among the region's famous black roses, offers an unforgettable moment of calm.

Euphrates · Boat trip · Sunset
Mardin cascading over the Mesopotamian plain
05

Mardin

Historic city above the Mesopotamian plain

Suspended above the vast Mesopotamian plain, Mardin cascades down the hillside with its golden limestone houses, medieval madrasas, and Syriac monasteries. A labyrinth of lanes, terraces, and silversmith workshops where centuries of Christian, Islamic, and Assyrian history live side by side. Nearby, the Deyrulzafaran Monastery and the ancient city of Dara enrich the visit.

Architecture · Mesopotamia · Silverwork
The Hip Travel experience

Designed for the discerning traveler

Private journeys

Chauffeured vehicles and private English-speaking guides throughout the region, with the flexibility of a tailor-made itinerary.

Hotels with character

Boutique hotels in the stone mansions of Mardin and hand-picked establishments that reflect the identity of each place.

The cuisine of Gaziantep

One of Türkiye's culinary capitals, recognized by UNESCO: baklava, mezze, and the most refined cooking of the Southeast.

Other destinations
Istanbul Cappadocia Göbeklitepe Ephesus Turkish Riviera Pamukkale-Hierapolis
Let's start planning

Your journey to Southeastern Anatolia

We design every itinerary to the measure of your wishes. Tell us what inspires you and our team will prepare a personalized proposal.

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