5 Day Gaziantep & Şanlıurfa Culinary and Heritage Tour with Göbeklitepe
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Duration
5 days
Max Group Size
40
Departure Type
Scheduled
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
easy
Operated In
Age Requirement
11 - 99 Ages
About this tour
Discover southeastern Turkey through its flavours, historic streets and remarkable archaeological heritage. This five-day Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa food tour brings together regional dishes, bustling markets and time to explore the stories behind each destination. Begin in Gaziantep, where mornings might start with a steaming bowl of beyran soup or freshly baked katmer. Walk through the old bazaars, taste pistachio baklava and enjoy kebabs prepared in the city’s distinctive style. Along the way, meet local vendors and discover ingredients that give southeastern Turkish cooking its depth and character. Continue to Şanlıurfa for traditional dishes, atmospheric market streets and a visit to Balıklıgöl. An evening of live music and regional food introduces the sıra gecesi tradition, while a guided excursion to Göbeklitepe adds an unforgettable encounter with early human history. With guided tastings, cultural visits and free time for your own discoveries, this journey offers a satisfying taste of two cities where food and hospitality are closely connected.
Route
- 1GaziantepEuropeTurkeyStart
- 2SanliurfaEuropeTurkey
- 3GöbeklitepeEuropeTurkeySanliurfaHaliliye
- 4SanliurfaEuropeTurkeyEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Arrive at Gaziantep Airport and meet your transfer representative for the journey to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy some time to settle in.
If your arrival time permits, take a short introductory walk through the old town, where stone buildings, small shops and food stalls offer a first glimpse of the city.
In the evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Taste regional meze and a Gaziantep-style kebab or seasonal main course, followed by a local dessert. Your guide will introduce the culinary traditions and experiences planned for the days ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Gaziantep
Begin your morning with a guided introduction to Gaziantep’s breakfast traditions. Taste beyran soup, made with lamb, rice, garlic and a richly flavoured broth. Its spice level can be strong, so let your guide know your preference.
Continue with a shared katmer tasting, enjoying its crisp pastry, pistachio filling and clotted cream.
Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum before heading into the city’s historic bazaar district. Walk through the Copper Bazaar, watch artisans at work and browse stalls displaying spices, dried aubergines, peppers and pistachios. Your guide will explain how these ingredients appear in regional recipes.
Enjoy a regional lunch at a local restaurant. Depending on the season, the menu may feature a vegetable dish, a local kebab or another Gaziantep speciality.
In the afternoon, visit a baklava shop for a tasting and an introduction to the pastry’s delicate layers, pistachios and syrup. Finish with Turkish coffee or tea before returning to your hotel.
The evening is free for independent dining.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and scheduled tastings
Overnight: Gaziantep
After breakfast, depart by road for Şanlıurfa, with a comfort stop along the way.
On arrival, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. Discover Urfa-style kebab, served with traditional accompaniments, or a seasonal regional alternative.
Spend the afternoon exploring Balıklıgöl and the surrounding historic quarter. Walk through the traditional bazaar, where spice sellers, fabric shops and small workshops bring the streets to life. Pause for tea and learn about the city’s food customs and local hospitality.
Check into your hotel and take time to rest before the evening’s activity.
Attend a sıra gecesi dinner, featuring traditional live music and a selection of regional dishes. Depending on the venue, the evening may include a çiğ köfte preparation presentation and opportunities for audience participation.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Şanlıurfa
After breakfast, travel to Göbeklitepe for a guided visit. Explore the visitor route overlooking its monumental stone structures and learn about the discoveries that have reshaped understanding of early communities.
Return to Şanlıurfa for a regional lunch. The menu may include aubergine kebab, stuffed vegetables or another local speciality, depending on seasonal availability.
In the afternoon, visit the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum to place the morning’s experience in a wider regional context.
Finish the day with a local sweet tasting, such as şıllık, a thin pancake-style dessert served with walnuts and syrup. Enjoy some free time for shopping or a final walk through the old town.
Dinner is at your own expense, with your guide available to suggest suitable options.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dessert tasting
Overnight: Şanlıurfa
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight time, you may have a little free time to purchase spices, regional sweets or other local products.
Transfer to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport for your onward journey.
Meals: Breakfast
Trip includes
Included
4 nights’ accommodation in selected hotels:
2 nights in Gaziantep. 4 Star Hotel
2 nights in Şanlıurfa. 4 Star Hotel
English-speaking professional guide during scheduled visits and food experiences.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
4 breakfasts, including the regional breakfast experience on Day 2.
3 lunches on Days 2, 3 and 4.
2 dinners: Gaziantep welcome dinner and Şanlıurfa sıra gecesi dinner.
Beyran and katmer tastings as part of the Day 2 breakfast experience.
Gaziantep baklava tasting.
Arrival transfer from Gaziantep Airport.
Departure transfer to Şanlıurfa GAP Airport.
Air-conditioned transport for scheduled sightseeing and the Gaziantep–Şanlıurfa transfer.
Entrance fees to Zeugma Mosaic Museum, Göbeklitepe and Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum.
Guided visits to the bazaars and Balıklıgöl.
Sıra gecesi performance with dinner.
Arrival and departure: The tour starts in Gaziantep and finishes in Şanlıurfa. Arrange arrival at Gaziantep Airport and departure from Şanlıurfa GAP Airport.
Accommodation: Hotel names, categories and room arrangements will be confirmed in your quotation. Boutique or higher-category hotels can be requested, subject to availability and any additional cost.
Arrival-day dinner: Plan to arrive with enough time to reach your hotel before the welcome dinner. Late arrivals may miss the scheduled meal.
Food preferences: Beyran can be spicy, while many regional dishes contain lamb, butter, yoghurt or nuts. Tell us your preferences and dietary requirements before booking.
Allergies: Pistachios, walnuts, dairy and gluten feature prominently in the tastings. Workshops, bakeries and restaurants may use shared preparation areas; suitable alternatives require advance confirmation.
Breakfast arrangements: The beyran and katmer experience replaces the usual hotel breakfast on Day 2. Portions are arranged as a tasting meal.
Seasonal dishes: Menus may change according to ingredient availability. Tastings and meals will retain a regional focus.
Walking: Bazaar visits and archaeological sites involve walking, with some uneven surfaces and steps. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Göbeklitepe visit: Bring sun protection and drinking water. The visit follows the designated visitor route; access to excavation areas is restricted.
Religious sites: Dress modestly when visiting religious areas. Mosque access is subject to prayer times and visitor arrangements.
Sıra gecesi: The evening is a hosted music-and-dinner experience. Menus, seating styles and performance formats vary by venue.
Food purchases: Check your destination country’s customs rules before buying food products to take home.
Itinerary arrangements: The sequence of visits may be adjusted around flight schedules, venue availability and opening hours. Final hotels and service arrangements will be confirmed before travel.
Excluded
International and domestic flights.
Travel insurance.
Visa fees, where applicable.
Meals, drinks and additional tastings not listed as included.
Alcoholic beverages.
Optional activities and visits outside the itinerary.
Tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff.
Personal shopping, minibar, laundry and other hotel extras.
Early check-in, late check-out and additional hotel nights.
Transfers outside the scheduled arrival and departure arrangements.
Availability
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Make this journey exclusively yours
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Personal
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected
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Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
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