Tour Date: 6/11 – 18/11/2026 (13 days)
Tour Fee: RM 10,500
Booking Deadline: 6/9/2026
Travel style: Road trip
Group size: min 9 pax, max 13 pax
Age limit: 16 – 65
Discover the rich tapestry of Eastern Turkey, from ancient civilizations to surreal landscapes.
Wander through cobbled streets and centuries-old city walls; Marvel at mountain-top divine statues glowing in golden lights during sunrise; Dive into lively bazaars thriving since the Silk Road days; Stroll by the banks of Tigris and Euphrates rivers where ancient Mesopotamia civilizations flourished. Lastly arrive in Cappadocia, a dreamlike moonland dotted with fairy chimneys. This journey blends history, culture, nature, and culinary; it’s a feast of mind, visual, and palate.
*All images for reference only
Board a late-night flight to Turkey, arrival next morning.
Morning arrival in Istanbul international airport, transfer to the domestic terminal, connect to a flight to Mardin, an ancient city once part of the Mesopotamia civilization in East Turkey. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel.
Walking tour through the Old Town of Mardin atop a hill, lined with golden hue limestone mansions. Mardin has a blend of Christian-Islamic heritage, explore Assyrian church and grand mosque, take in sweeping view of the Mesopotamia plains from the rooftop of Zinciriye Madrassa. Visit bazaar and try local cookies and coffee, wander through the timeless cobbled labyrinths.
Depart for Midyat, enroute visit the ruins of ancient Dara city, near the border of Syria, featuring rock-hewn necropolis, cisterns, city walls. Later, proceed to Monastery Mar Awgin hidden among the cliffs, founded in the 4th century. Afterwards, continue to Midyat, upon arrival, visit a house with historical basement cave, later, ascend to the roof of Kunak Evi for sunset view.
Morning visit the abandoned Yazidi village Magarakoi with interesting cemetery. Yazidi people believe in one god and revere Peacock Angel, they left in the 1990s due to conflicts. Continue to Hasankeyf, an ancient town by the Tigris River but now mostly submerged underwater due to a dam project; explore old cave dwellings left on hillside and visit 550 years old Zeynel Bey mausoleum relocated to higher ground. Overnight in Diyarbakir.
Sightseeing in Diyarbakir, a city resided mainly by Kurds. The city has some 5km of city walls from the Byzantine era. The historic city’s Grand Mosque was once a church until the 7th Century. The city was once populated by Armenians, many left after WWI, but the historic Surp Giragos Church remained. Take a stroll by the Tigris River where the thousand years old 10-Arches-Bridge still stands. Later, depart to Nemrut Dagi in the Eastern Taurus mountain range.
Wake early, hike to the peak of Mount Nemrut (2134m) for sunrise view. Colossal of ancient statues of gods, kings, eagles, and lions from the 1st century BC lined the summit. Stunning view of the giant stone heads glowing in golden lights as the sun rising in the horizon. Later, continue the journey to Sanliurfa, an ancient city claimed to be the birthplace of Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim). Upon arrival, visit Ibrahim Cave and sacred pond, learn about related legends.
Morning stroll in the lively bazaar filled with aromas of spices and grilled meat, bustling with crowds and sound of coppersmiths knocking handcrafted wares. Later, journey to city outskirts, explore Göbeklitepe, the world’s first temple dated 10,000 BC. Afternoon drive to Harran near Syria border, known for ancient mud-brick beehive houses. Return to Urfa for stay.
Journey to Halfeti, an old village by the Euphrates River now largely submerged underwater after the completion of Birecik Dam. Take a boat trip on the Euphrates, views of old minaret and stone houses peeking out of the water, rocky gorges, and ancient castle perched on cliff top. Afterwards, continue to Gaziantep, explore the old city and bazaar, sample local coffee and sweets in the city’s oldest cafe. Late afternoon, visit Zeugma Museum, the world’s largest mosaic museum showcasing collections from ancient Roman and Late Antique periods.
A day of long drive to Cappadocia in Central Turkey, known for its unique moonland scenery, with fairy chimneys cave dwellings, rock-hewn churches, underground cities, and interesting rock formations. Upon arrival, check into a cave hotel.
Explore Goreme Open-air Musuem, valleys with unique rock formations dotted with ancient rock-hewn churches; hiking from the Rose Valley to Cavushin village (3h++) to admire the moonland scenery. Afternoon visit Zelve Open-air Museum, valleys lined with honeycombed cave dwellings, and photos stops at the Imaginary Valley with rock formations resembling animals and figurines.
**Remarks: optional hot air balloon activity could be arranged (self-pay, if weather permits)
Morning visit to Kaymaklı Underground City, once used by early Christian fleeing from persecution. The structure extended 8 floors underground (4 levels open for visit), showcasing living quarters and ventilation shafts carved into soft volcanic rocks. Later, free and easy. Late afternoon transfer to airport in Kayseri, board a night flight to Istanbul for connecting home-bound international flight.
Upon landing in Istanbul airport, move from the domestic to international terminal, catch a connecting flight bound for Kuala Lumpur, arrival late afternoon. End of tour.
A *security deposit of RM 2,500 is payable to secure booking. Balance fee RM 8,000 to be collected upon booking deadline or when the tour is fully booked.
*Security Deposit is refundable subjected to below conditions:
Full terms & conditions (eg: cancellation policy) please click here.
A passionate globetrotter, Lam Li once spent two years on an overland journey from Asia to Europe, and another half a year tramping along the ancient Silk Road in Central Asia. A former journalist, Lam Li is keen on collecting local tales while on the road, and she strives to understand the social and political fabrics of places she visited. She has lived and worked in Beijing for six years, and has published a book in Chinese entitled “The Wall Street Diary: US under Financial Storm” . She has also recorded her travelogue on film, and directed a feature-length documentary named “Surviving Beijing”.
