Nemrut & Southeastern Turkiye

Nemrut Dagi in the eastern Taurus Mountains is one of Turkiye’s most remarkable archaeological sites, while a journey through Southeastern Turkiye will take you off the beaten track to a land defined by the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris to reveal Silk Road caravan cities, one of the world’s oldest and most enigmatic temples, a mouthwatering spicy cuisine, and a more Middle Eastern vibe.

Located in the mountains overlooking the Euphrates River, Nemrut Dagi is a spectacular tomb-sanctuary and one of Turkiye’s most incredible cultural attractions. Nemrut can be accessed either from Malatya or Adiyaman, but if you wish to see sunrise or sunset, you will need to stay overnight in simple accommodation. Created by Antiochus 1 of Commagene (69 – 34 BC) on a remote mountaintop, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is crowned by an immense tumulus, that is flanked by two terraces lined with huge statues – the heads of which – have been dislodged by time and remain where they fell on the mountainside. 

North of Aleppo in Syria, Gaziantep is a historic caravan city located at the meeting point of the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian worlds known throughout Turkey for its pistachios and baklava. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, visitors to Gaziantep can look forward to discovering wonderful bazaars, fine mosques, traditional Ottoman houses, delicious Southwestern Anatolian cuisine, and the incredible mosaics at The Zeugma Museum. 

Outside Gaziantep, along the River Euphrates, is the Roman frontier city of Zeugma – a site that has been called ‘the Turkish Pompeii’. The construction of the Birecik Dam has partially submerged this site along with the nearby town of Halfeti. Visitors can view remnants of Halfeti’s old town (which has been compared to an underwater museum) by boat. Rumkale, a magnificent seven-gated medieval castle, is another destination that may be seen on a leisurely cruise through a water-filled gorge. The site is considered sacred by many Christians. 

Further to the East, Sanlıurfa (Urfa) has an ancient foundation along with a fine Old Town and vibrant bazaars. The city was called Edessa in the Roman period and, during the Byzantine period, became an important religious and intellectual centre. In the 12thcentury Urfa was made the capital of the short-lived territory ruled over by Count Baldwin of Boulogne and known as the County of Edessa.

Gobekli Tepe is home to what is perhaps the world’s oldest temple, dating back to 11,000 years ago (predating Stonehenge by 6,000 years) and can be easily reached from Urfa. Excavations have uncovered several circles of standing stones and inside each are two 16-foot-tall T-shaped pillars towering over the ring of shorter stones. Harran is another fascinating destination outside Urfa. This ancient settlement is mentioned in the Book of Genesis and was known to the Romans as Carrhae. It was here that a Roman army led by Crassus was annihilated by the Parthians in 53 BC and the Emperor Caracalla was murdered in AD 217.