Tour of Mesopotamia with a Charter Flight from Sofia: The Magic of Mesopotamia

The ancient lands of Mesopotamia are unknown territory to fewer and fewer people today. And it was here that the oldest civilisation on the planet emerged. Mesopotamia is often called the cradle of civilisation, because some of the most influential early city-states and empires first appeared there - although it is not the only such place! The modern name comes from the Greek words for "middle" (mesos) and river (potamos) and literally means "the land between two rivers". Some of the first cities and empires appeared in the lands between the Tigris and the Euphrates. The peoples of Mesopotamia were among the first to create writing and left a large body of written records carved on clay tablets. Although fragmentary, they help us draw closer to a people who lived so long ago. Archaeologists managed to read them about 150 years ago, when they deciphered Akkadian, one of the region's ancient languages.

Day 1 Sofia - Nevşehir - Adana / 286 km
Departure from Sofia for Nevşehir on a direct charter flight. Arrival at Nevşehir airport. Welcome by a representative of the company. Transfer to Adana, with a stop for lunch and a rest. On arrival in Adana, a look at the stone bridge over the Seyhan river, built on the orders of the Roman emperor Hadrian. The bridge linked Europe and Asia and is considered the oldest bridge in the world still in use. You will be able to see the Sabancı Central Mosque - one of the city's symbols, built on the bank of the Seyhan river in classical Ottoman style - the Adana Ulu Camii and the Clock Tower. Free time in the city's old bazaar. Check-in. Overnight stay.

Day 2 Adana - Gaziantep / 225 km
After breakfast, departure for the city of Gaziantep. On arrival you will visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum, to which an entire ancient Roman city of the same name, Zeugma, has been moved. Unique in its architecture and covering 30 000 m², it holds mosaics totalling 2 448 m², dating from before the fourth century BC. It is the largest mosaic museum in the world. Its most interesting exhibit is the so-called “Gipsy Girl” mosaic, which is thought to actually depict the face of Alexander the Great. Free time for lunch. Gaziantep is famous for its many culinary delights, so we recommend having lunch in a local restaurant to feel the atmosphere of the city and the flavours it offers. After lunch you will see the city's Citadel from the outside, the Old Town, the Coppersmiths' Bazaar,
and the hans/bedestens, which have been turned into small craft shops or restaurants. Check-in and
overnight stay.

Day 3 Gaziantep - Şanlıurfa / 160 km
After breakfast, departure for the city of Urfa. On the way you will stop in the town of Halfeti for a boat trip and see the remains of the Roman fortress of Rumkale. You will also see the village of Savaşan and the Sunken City, so called because after the Birecik dam was completed, a large part of it was left under water. Departure for Harran, also known as Carrhae, an ancient city mentioned in the Old Testament. The Assyrians called the city “Harranu”, meaning “crossroads”. On arrival you will see the city's sights, such as the unique dwellings with conical roofs made entirely of clay, the ruins of an ancient temple and Abraham's well. You will enjoy the culinary centre and have the chance for lunch. After a rest you leave for Göbekli Tepe, meaning “Potbelly Hill”, the oldest megalith in the world. The archaeological complex dates back to the Neolithic and is over 12 000 years old, making it older than the Egyptian pyramids. It was discovered in the early 1960s and is the oldest religious structure. You then leave for Urfa. According to the Bible and the Koran,
Abraham (Ibrahim) and the prophets Hezekiah, Job and Elijah were born here. The city was called Edessa, and Moses lived here as a shepherd for 7 years before returning to Egypt. It was here that Christians were first allowed to practise their religion. The cave where the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham in Christianity) is believed to have been born has made the city one of the most important places of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages. In the city centre there is a park with an artificial lake - the Pool of Sacred Fish (Balıklı Göl). It was there that Abraham was thrown into the fire by Nimrod; the fire turned into a lake and the firewood into fish. Free time in Urfa's bazaar. Transfer and check-in at
the hotel for the night.

Day 4 Şanlıurfa - Mardin / 190 km
After breakfast, departure for Mardin. Also called “the Pearl of South-East Turkey”, Mardin is noisy, colourful and steeped in rich culture and history. During your stay you will visit the Syriac Orthodox monastery of Deir al-Zafaran in the Tur Abdin region, which was added to UNESCO's Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in 2021. Inside the monastery you will find a well-preserved 300-year-old Syriac Bible. It is said that the first medical school was also founded here, and mosaics from the time of its foundation survive to this day. One of the monastery's greatest features is that it holds the tombs of 52 Syriac
patriarchs. You will see the Kasımiye Madrasa, also known as Kasım Paşa. Located beneath the hills in the south-western part of Mardin, it was begun under the Artuqid dynasty (rulers of an Anatolian beylik) and completed in 1457-1502 under the Aq Qoyunlu ruler Cihangiroğlu Kasım Padişah. According to legend, Kasım Pasha was killed here. His grieving sister, mourning him, rubbed his bloody shirt on the walls of this iwan (a vaulted or domed space opening off a central hall or courtyard). Today it is believed that the marks that appear when water is poured on these walls are the traces of Kasım Pasha's blood. Free time to stroll around Mardin's old town and the chance for lunch. Departure for the magnetic town of Midyat. One of the oldest Christian communities in the world lives here, about which almost nothing is known. They call themselves Suryani or Syriacs. They claim to be the first Christians, having accepted the faith of Christ as early as the middle of the first century, and they still speak the language of Christ, which is no longer spoken even in Israel. In the evening, check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 5 Midyat - Nemrut - Adıyaman / 410 km
After breakfast, departure for Nemrut. On the way, a visit to the Mor Gabriel Monastery, also called Deyrulumur. It lies in the lands of ancient Mesopotamia and is one of the oldest Orthodox monasteries - the second most important in the world. It has a history of more than 1600 years and is one of the oldest working monasteries, visited every year by thousands of local and foreign visitors and Syriac communities. The word “MOR” means “saint” and is used as a title of respect before the names of saints. After this exciting visit we head for Mount Nemrut - the tomb of the gods, from where you can see one of the most beautiful sunrises in
the world. Nemrut, or Nimrod, is a mountain 2134 metres high near the Ankar peaks in Anatolia, 60 km from Adıyaman. It is remarkable for the tomb found at its summit, dating from the first century BC. The King of Commagene, Antiochus I Theos, who ruled between 69 and 36 BC, built his tomb surrounded by 9-metre-high statues depicting himself and gods with the heads of eagles or lions. The heads of the statues were removed from the bodies and scattered around the site. From the marks left on the heads, it is thought they were removed deliberately during the period of iconoclasm. In a cult inscription Antiochus declares that he built the site for the ages and for future generations, as well as out of gratitude to the gods and his ancestors. Departure for Adıyaman. On the way to Adıyaman, a stop for a panoramic view of the Roman fortress and the Roman bridge “Cendere”, and a break for lunch. Arrival in Adıyaman and check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 6 Adıyaman - Cappadocia / 445 km
After breakfast, departure for Cappadocia. On the way, a stop for lunch in “Pınarbaşı” or “Gölbaşı”. On arrival in Cappadocia, check-in at the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 7 Cappadocia
Early in the morning, the option of a panoramic hot-air balloon flight over the fairy-tale landscape of Cappadocia at an extra charge. Breakfast. Free time or the option of an additional excursion to the famous pilgrimage site of Göreme at an extra charge - 30€. The site is famous for its uniquely beautiful cave settlements, homes and entire palaces carved into the rock - a monument protected by UNESCO. You will admire the living rooms and bedrooms, monasteries and churches carved out of stone. You will also be able to see holy places of Orthodox Byzantium: the school of St Paul the Apostle, wall images of Orthodox saints and Biblical scenes in ancient frescoes. A visit to the Paşabağı valley - a natural phenomenon with “fairy” rock chimneys rising 30-40 metres high and a former centre for training monks. At the end of the day you will visit a carpet-making workshop typical of the area, where you will see every stage of production up close and have the chance to buy one of the unique creations. In the evening, if you wish, you can join an amazing Cappadocian night, where you can enjoy local folklore and interesting dances, at an extra charge - 30€ including drinks and the show. Return to the hotel. Overnight stay.

Day 8 Cappadocia - Nevşehir - Sofia
Breakfast. The option of an additional excursion organised on site, or free time. Transfer to
Nevşehir airport for a direct charter flight to Sofia.

*The order of the sightseeing in the programme may change.*