Turkey · Architecture

3-Day Mardin and Şanlıurfa Architecture Tour with Akdamar and Göbeklitepe

3 Days Round trip from 65700 Gevaş/Van Easy pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Visit the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island
02 Take a Lake Van boat trip to Akdamar Island
03 Walk through Mardin's traffic-free streets and meet local people
04 Discover Göbeklitepe, the first temple built on earth
05 Explore the ancient city of Harran and Urfa Castle

Explore the cities of Mardin and Urfa in Turkey on a 3-day journey through architecture, archaeology, and living culture. Visit Göbeklitepe, one of the world's most important archaeological sites, see the Armenian Church of the Holy Cross on Akdamar Island, and discover the ancient city of Harran and Urfa Castle. Along the way, experience Lake Van, Mardin's atmospheric streets, and the region's rich cultural diversity.

Visit Göbeklitepe, the first temple built on earth.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Days

Tour type Shared

Activity level Easy

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Cities Mardin, Urfa, Van, Harran

Languages English, Turkish

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Akdamar Island and Lake Van

Visit the Akdamar Armenian Church of the Holy Cross, built as a palatine church for the kings of Vaspurakan.
Explore the Urartu castles.
Take an amazing Lake Van boat trip to Akdamar Island.
Immerse yourself in the mixed culture of the city of Van and its Turkish Vans.

Day 02

Cultural Discovery in Mardin

Visit one of the most exciting cities for its cultural diversity: Assyrians (Syriac Christians), Kurds, Arabs, Turks, Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis all in one place. Mardin is a heavenly city for both Muslims and Syriac Christians. Here is a list of things to do in Mardin with me:
Meet the people and drink their hot tea.
Walk and take photos in Mardin's streets, which are closed to traffic.
Enjoy delicious local food.

Day 03