See Göbeklitepe, the oldest temple anyone has found, on a private trip from Istanbul. Fly to Şanlıurfa for the day, or stay a night to explore Urfa's old centre and add Harran.
Tour highlights
Göbeklitepe, about 11,000 years old and the oldest temple anyone has found
T shaped stone pillars carved with foxes, boars, snakes and birds
A same day trip from Istanbul, when the flight times allow
With a night in Urfa, the old centre and Balıklıgöl, the pool of Abraham
With a night in Urfa, Harran and its beehive houses of mud brick
A night at Mezopotamya Rüya Konak, our boutique hotel in Urfa
Göbeklitepe stands on a hill outside Şanlıurfa, in the southeast of Turkey. Its carved stone pillars were raised about 11,000 years ago, thousands of years before Stonehenge or the pyramids, by people who had not yet started to farm. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and it is the oldest temple anyone has found.
Most guests come for Göbeklitepe alone, and when the flight times suit, it fits into a single day from Istanbul. If you can stay a night, Urfa repays it. The old centre around Balıklıgöl, the pool of Abraham, is full of stone houses, courtyards and covered bazaars, and Harran, with its beehive houses of mud brick, is a short drive away.
Every trip is private and planned around your flights. You choose how much we arrange, from the transfers to the sites on their own to a licensed guide, a night at our boutique hotel Mezopotamya Rüya Konak and airport transfers in Istanbul and Şanlıurfa. Tell us what you would like and we send you a plan and a personalised quote.
The plan
Fly from Istanbul to Şanlıurfa in the morning, visit Göbeklitepe with a private transfer, with or without a guide, and fly back the same evening. This works when the flight times allow, and we check them with you before you book.
Visit Göbeklitepe, then stay a night at Mezopotamya Rüya Konak, our boutique hotel, with breakfast. The second day gives you time for Urfa's historic centre and Balıklıgöl, and for Harran if you would like to add it.
Days can be reordered around the weather and the roads. Your guide will tell you the night before.
Where we meet
We meet you at Şanlıurfa airport when you land. If you would also like a transfer to or from the airport in Istanbul, ask for it in the form below.
Before you book
Worth two minutes before you book, so nothing on the day is a surprise.
Cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before the start time and you are refunded in full. Inside 24 hours we cannot refund. Tell us as early as you can and we will move your date rather than lose you.
Tours run in rain and in heat. If conditions make a tour unsafe we cancel it ourselves and refund you in full, or move you to another date, whichever you prefer.
Request
This is the tour to book You could not have asked for a better tour of the palace. Our guide took us through the entire complex explaining everything we were seeing and gave us a flavor of what life was like in that time. He also was able to take us to the areas that normally get busy before the crowds got there. Since we were the only ones on the tour he was kind enough to help us get a transportation card so we could use the tram system. He was also kind enough to help some other confused tourists having trouble with the machines. He then took us to a local eatery off the main road that had good food. He also showed us what other food places have and explained what was in the dishes. He also gave us tips on when to go to the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia to avoid some of the crowds. The entire experience was everything we could have hoped for and more. After the tour we felt very comfortable to explore on our own. I highly recommend this tour and these guides.
Hidden gems of Istanbul Salih was very knowledgeable and even though the weather was atrocious, it was snowing and raining, he took us to the hidden gems of Istanbul and kept us engaged and warm. We really recommend him!
Be surprised Firstly my guide Salih Batkin was really a great, calm, knowledgable, friendly person. Easy to talk to and answer questions. We went to off the beaten track mosques, neighbourhoods and past authentic butcher shops and restaurants. Tasted 2 authentic brewed drinks you don't see in the main area. I think this is a really good tour to see Istanbul life in the suburb. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Been with us
Wherever you prefer. A review is worth more to the next person than anything we can write about ourselves.
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