November Mid-Term Holiday Air Tour to the GAP Fairytale (From Mardin to Gaziantep)

We meet in the morning at İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport. After completing our luggage and check-in procedures, we start our Southeastern journey with SunExpress Airlines flight XQ9196 at 05:35. After a pleasant journey lasting approximately 2 hours, we arrive in Mardin at 07:35. We transfer to our tour vehicle and head towards Midyat, famous for its historical stone houses and film sets. We start our tour by saying, “The way to understand Midyat is to walk its streets,” and visit Devlet Konukevi. After examining the region's architecture, we have free time in the bazaar where you can taste the local foamy coffee and get to know and shop for Midyat's famous filigree silver art. After our visit to Midyat, we proceed to the peaceful oasis of Beyazsu, where we take a short break in the pavilions by the stream. After our break, we head towards Dara Ancient City, known as the “Ephesus of Mesopotamia.” With our guide, we explore the castle, water channels, massive cisterns, rock tombs, and remnants of civil settlements in Dara, which was an important military garrison in the past. As the last stop of the day, we reach Mardin, known as “The City of the Sun Where Stones Speak.” We check into our hotel to unwind from the day's fatigue and enjoy the historical atmosphere. Dinner and accommodation are at our hotel in Mardin.

After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Deyrulzafaran Monastery, one of the important centers of the Syriac Church known for its architecture. After this impressive visit, where we will have the opportunity to closely learn about the ancient Syriac culture and history, we visit Kasımiye Medrese, which has hosted many fashion shows with its unique architecture. While exploring this important educational center from the Artuqid period, we listen to the sorrowful story of water architecture and the subtleties of Sufi teachings from our guide. Then we take a pleasant walk on 1st Avenue, known as the heart of Mardin. During our panoramic walk, we visit Şeyh Çabuk Mosque, Old Syriac Catholic Patriarchate Building, Republic Square, historic Mardin houses, narrow abbaras, and the famous Ulu Mosque with its architectural marvel minaret. On our way back from 1st Avenue, we see Kasım Tuğmaner Mosque, Tuğhan, and Şahkulubey Mansion from the outside, then we proceed to Göbeklitepe, where human history is being rewritten. We embark on a time travel at Göbeklitepe, the world's oldest temple and the first known center of faith dating back approximately 12,000 years. After admiring the exciting standing stones and mysterious reliefs, we move on to the symbol city of our glorious history, Şanlıurfa. In Şanlıurfa, we visit Balıklıgöl (Aynzeliha and Halil-ür Rahman Lakes), Rızvaniye Mosque, Mevlid-i Halil Complex, The Cave Where Hz. Ibrahim Was Born, and Halil-ür Rahman Mosque, feeling the spiritual atmosphere of the region. After the visits, we check into our hotel. In the evening, guests who wish can join the traditional Sıra Night program (extra), which is an indispensable part of Urfa culture. “A night where the wise speak, apprentices kneel, and poetry meets music”, we spend a musical evening with delicious Urfa kebabs and çiğ köfte. Guests who do not participate in the Sıra Night can enjoy free time in the Urfa bazaars and taste the traditional cuisine. After the program, we return to our hotel. Accommodation is at our hotel in Şanlıurfa.

After breakfast at our hotel, we board our vehicle and head to Harran, a city mentioned in the Torah as Hârân and in the Bible by the same name; Islamic historians link the founding of the city to Kaynan, a grandson of Prophet Noah, or Aran (Haran), the brother of Prophet Ibrahim, and it derives its name from the warm air of its plains. We visit the unique conical domed Harran Houses that harmonize with the region's climate and nature; we see the panoramic Harran Castle, Walls, and the remnants of Harran Grand Mosque and Historical Islamic University, one of the oldest educational centers in history. After our visit to Harran, we head towards the hidden paradise beneath the waters of the Euphrates, the lost city of Halfeti. We listen to the story of Halfeti, which has the title of Cittaslow (Slow City), during our enjoyable boat tour (extra) on the Birecik Dam Lake. While watching the historical houses, mosques, and minarets submerged under water, we witness the atmosphere of old Halfeti. After leaving the land of the famous Black Rose, we turn our route towards Gaziantep, known as the Paris of the East and the capital of gastronomy. We arrive in Gaziantep, which earned the title of

Otelimizdeki kahvaltının ardından, sular altında kalan Zeugma Antik Kenti kurtarma kazılarında çıkarılan dünyaca ünlü mozaiklerin sergilendiği Gaziantep Zeugma Mozaik Müzesi’ne gidiyoruz. Bölgenin ve turumuzun simgelerinden biri haline gelen Çingene Kızı mozaiğini de göreceğimiz bu etkileyici ziyaretin ardından, kentin rengârenk ve hareketli ticaret hayatını yansıtan Tarihi Bakırcılar Çarşısı, Almacı Pazarı ve Zincirli Bedesten’i kapsayan keyifli bir yürüyüşe çıkıyoruz. Yürüyüşümüz sırasında, Lala Mustafa Paşa tarafından 1557 yılında yaptırılan ve türkülere konu olan hamam kültürünü sergileyen Gaziantep Hamam Müzesi’ni ile Göğüş Konağı’nda yer alan ve UNESCO tescilli Gaziantep mutfak kültürünü tanıtan Gaziantep Mutfak Müzesi’ni ziyaret ediyoruz. Müzeler sonrası Gaziantep'in meşhur kebapları, dolmaları ve baklavalarıyla damaklarımızı şenlendireceğimiz serbest zamanımızı değerlendiriyoruz. Öğle yemeğinin ardından, şairlerden yazarlara pek çok önemli ismin ağırlayan ve Antep Harbi'nden bu yana tarihe tanıklık eden Türkiye’nin en eski kahvehanelerinden Tarihi Tahmis Kahvesi’nde meşhur Menengiç kahvemizi yudumluyoruz. Kahve molası sonrası bölgenin köklü geçmişine ışık tutan Gaziantep Arkeoloji Müzesi’ni ziyaret ediyoruz. Ardından taş konakları ve daracık sokaklarıyla ziyaretçilerini zamanda yolculuğa çıkaran tarihi Bey Mahallesi’ne geçiyoruz. Evliya Çelebi’nin övgüyle bahsettiği bu tarihi sokakları, Ermeni Konağı’nı ve mahallenin ikonik mimarisini keşfettikten sonra Dokurcum Meydanı’na ulaşıyoruz. Burada Türk tarihinin ilk yazılı belgeleri olan Orhun Abideleri’nin replikasını inceleyip, Fransız işgali sırasında şehit edilen çocukların anısına yapılan 14 Şehit Anıtı’nı hürmetle ziyaret ediyoruz. Günün ve turumuzun son durağında Alleben Deresi’nin kenarında konumlanan ihtişamlı Gaziantep Kalesi’ni ve kale bünyesindeki Yuşa Peygamber Türbesi’ni panaromik olarak görüyoruz. Akşam yemeği molamızın ardından Gaziantep Havalimanı’na hareket ediyoruz. SunExpress Hava Yolları’na ait XQ9229 sefer sayılı saat 22.45 uçuşu ile İzmir Adnan Menderes Havalimanı’na dönüşümüzü gerçekleştiriyoruz. Havalimanında bagaj işlemlerimizi tamamlayıp unutulmaz Güneydoğu anılarıyla bir başka turumuzda görüşmek üzere vedalaşıyoruz.