8-Day Flavours of Mesopotamia Culinary Tour: Diyarbakır, Mardin, Şanlıurfa & Gaziantep
-high.jpg&w=828&q=100)
-high.jpg&w=828&q=100)
-high.jpg&w=828&q=100)
Duration
8 days
Max Group Size
40
Departure Type
Scheduled
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Physical level
moderate
Operated In
English
Age Requirement
11 - 99 Ages
About this tour
Follow the flavours of southeastern Turkey on an eight-day journey through Diyarbakır, Mardin, Midyat, Şanlıurfa and Gaziantep. Here, food tells stories of family gatherings, shared traditions and the communities that have shaped the region. Begin in Diyarbakır with a welcome dinner and a walk through its historic streets. Continue to Mardin for golden stone architecture, regional breads, içli köfte and a special stuffed lamb ribs meal. Explore Midyat’s artisan lanes before travelling to Şanlıurfa, where bazaars, kebabs and a sıra gecesi music evening introduce another side of local hospitality. A visit to Göbeklitepe brings archaeological heritage into the journey, while Gaziantep offers a memorable finale of beyran, katmer and pistachio baklava. Between meals, discover museums, religious architecture and working markets with your guide. This Mesopotamia culinary tour combines generous regional tables with time to appreciate the places, ingredients and people behind them.
Route
- 1DiyarbakirEuropeTurkeyStart
- 2MardinEuropeTurkey
- 3MidyatEuropeTurkeyMardin
- 4SanliurfaEuropeTurkey
- 5GaziantepEuropeTurkeyEnd
What makes this tour special
Itinerary
Arrive at Diyarbakır Airport and meet your transfer representative for the journey to your hotel.
After check-in, take time to rest. If your arrival schedule permits, enjoy a short introductory walk in the historic centre.
In the evening, meet your guide over a welcome dinner featuring regional dishes. The menu may include soup, meze and a local meat or vegetable main course, served with regional bread.
Your guide will introduce the food traditions and cultural visits planned for the coming days.
Meals: Dinner
Overnight: Diyarbakır
After breakfast, explore the historic Sur district. Visit the Great Mosque, subject to prayer times and access, and walk through traditional streets around Hasan Pasha Han.
View accessible sections of the city walls and learn about Diyarbakır’s place in the region’s history. Pause for tea before enjoying a regional lunch.
Travel to Mardin in the afternoon. On arrival, check into your hotel and enjoy an introductory walk through its stone-built streets. Stop at a suitable viewpoint overlooking the plains.
The evening is free for independent dining.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Overnight: Mardin
After breakfast, discover Mardin’s old town with your guide. Explore its lanes, market streets and historic architecture, including a visit to Kasımiye Medrese.
Browse food shops selling spices, regional breads and other local products. Enjoy an içli köfte tasting, discovering the contrast between its bulgur shell and savoury filling.
For lunch, sit down to a prearranged kaburga dolması meal. This special stuffed lamb ribs dish is prepared in advance and served for sharing, offering a memorable introduction to the region’s celebratory cooking.
In the afternoon, visit Deyrulzafaran Monastery, subject to visitor arrangements, before returning to Mardin.
Enjoy free time for shopping, photography or a relaxed evening meal.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and içli köfte tasting
Overnight: Mardin
After breakfast, depart for Midyat.
Walk through its historic centre, where stone houses, courtyards and small artisan shops reflect the town’s character. Browse silverworking shops and stop at a bakery for a regional bread tasting.
Continue to Mor Gabriel Monastery for a guided visit, subject to access and the community’s visitor arrangements.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before travelling to Şanlıurfa. This is a substantial road-travel day, with comfort stops along the way.
Arrive in the evening and check into your hotel. Dinner is at your own expense.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and bread tasting
Overnight: Şanlıurfa
After breakfast, travel to Göbeklitepe for a guided visit. Follow the designated visitor route and learn about its monumental stone structures and archaeological significance.
Return to Şanlıurfa for a regional lunch featuring Urfa kebab or a suitable seasonal alternative.
In the afternoon, explore Balıklıgöl and the surrounding historic quarter. Walk through bazaar streets, browsing spices, fabrics and everyday household goods. Pause for tea before returning to your hotel.
In the evening, attend a sıra gecesi dinner with traditional live music. Enjoy regional dishes in a shared dining setting; the venue may also offer a çiğ köfte preparation presentation.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Overnight: Şanlıurfa
After breakfast, visit the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum, placing the previous day’s Göbeklitepe experience in a wider regional context.
Enjoy a local dessert tasting, such as şıllık, subject to availability, before departing for Gaziantep.
Lunch is at your own expense en route.
On arrival, check into your hotel and take time to relax. If the schedule permits, enjoy a short orientation walk before a regional dinner.
Discover Gaziantep’s distinctive cooking through a selection of meze and a seasonal main course.
Meals: Breakfast, dessert tasting and dinner
Overnight: Gaziantep
Begin the day with a regional breakfast experience. Taste beyran, a warming lamb-and-rice soup, followed by a shared katmer tasting with pistachios and clotted cream.
Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum before continuing to Gaziantep’s historic market district.
Explore the Copper Bazaar and browse stalls selling dried vegetables, spices and pistachios. Your guide will explain how these ingredients are used in regional kitchens.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, then visit a baklava shop for a tasting and an introduction to its pastry layers, pistachios and syrup. Finish with Turkish coffee or tea.
The evening is free for your final independent dinner.
Meals: Regional breakfast, lunch, baklava tasting and Turkish coffee or tea
Overnight: Gaziantep
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and check out.
Depending on your flight schedule, you may have time for final shopping before your transfer to Gaziantep Airport.
Meals: Breakfast
Trip includes
Included
7 nights’ accommodation in selected hotels:
1 night in Diyarbakır 4 Star Hotels
2 nights in Mardin 4 Star Hotels
2 nights in Şanlıurfa 4 Star Hotels
2 nights in Gaziantep 4 Star Hotels
English-speaking professional guide during scheduled excursions.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
English5 lunches on Days 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.
3 dinners: Diyarbakır welcome dinner, Şanlıurfa sıra gecesi dinner and Gaziantep regional dinner.
Prearranged stuffed lamb ribs lunch in Mardin.
Scheduled içli köfte and regional bread tastings.
Şanlıurfa dessert tasting.
Beyran and katmer as part of the Day 7 breakfast.
Gaziantep baklava tasting and one Turkish coffee or tea.
Tea during the scheduled stops on Days 2 and 5.
Arrival transfer from Diyarbakır Airport.
Departure transfer to Gaziantep Airport.
Air-conditioned transport for scheduled sightseeing and intercity journeys.
Entrance or visitor fees for Kasımiye Medrese, Deyrulzafaran Monastery, Mor Gabriel Monastery, Göbeklitepe, Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum and Zeugma Mosaic Museum, where applicable.
Sıra gecesi performance with dinner.
Guided heritage and bazaar walks described in the itinerary.
Start and finish: The tour begins in Diyarbakır and ends in Gaziantep. Coordinate your arrival and departure flights with the operator before purchasing tickets.
Accommodation: Hotel names, categories and room arrangements will be confirmed in your quotation. Historic properties may have steps, limited lift access and rooms of different sizes.
Stuffed lamb ribs: Kaburga dolması requires advance preparation and is served as a shared meal. Inform us before booking if you require an alternative.
Dietary requirements: Regional cuisine frequently includes lamb, bulgur, dairy and nuts. Vegetarian alternatives require advance arrangements, particularly for tasting stops.
Allergies: Pistachios, walnuts, gluten and dairy appear throughout the itinerary. Kitchens and bakeries may use shared preparation areas; discuss specific requirements before booking.
Breakfast experience: The beyran and katmer meal replaces the usual hotel breakfast on Day 7. Portions are arranged as a tasting breakfast.
Road travel: Day 4 combines Midyat and Mor Gabriel visits with the onward journey to Şanlıurfa. Expect an early start and evening arrival.
Walking: Historic centres feature cobbled streets, steps and uneven surfaces. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
Religious sites: Dress modestly and respect photography restrictions. Mosque and monastery visits depend on prayer times, services and visitor arrangements.
Göbeklitepe: Bring sun protection and drinking water. The visit follows designated paths rather than entering excavation areas.
Seasonal menus: Dishes and tastings may change according to available ingredients. Substitutions will retain the regional culinary theme.
Sıra gecesi: Seating, menus and performance formats vary by venue. The evening may be shared with other visitors.
Larger groups: Restaurants and tasting venues may serve groups in separate seating areas or smaller rotations.
Final arrangements: The sequence of visits may change around opening hours and local conditions. Hotels, venues and service arrangements will be confirmed before travel.
Excluded
International and domestic flights.
Travel insurance and visa fees, where applicable.
Meals, drinks and additional tastings not listed as included.
Alcoholic beverages.
Optional cooking workshops or other additional activities.
Visits and entrance fees outside the scheduled program.
Travel insurance and visa fees, where applicable.
Tips for guides, drivers and restaurant staff.
Personal purchases, minibar and laundry.
Early check-in, late check-out and additional hotel nights.
Transfers outside the agreed arrangements.
Availability
Loading. Please wait.
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
Travel withing your own bubble.
Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Why book with TravelShop Booking
Cancellation Policy
On our global marketplace TravelShop Booking Supplier is recognized globally as an online tourism marketplace connecting travelers, suppliers, and tour operators worldwide. All users acknowledge that TravelShop Booking is a platform not liable for canceled tours, poor services, or unforeseen circumstances occurring before, during, or after the tour.
Need help or have a question about this tour?
if you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
You might also like these tours
Handpicked trips with a similar vibe — perfect if this one caught your eye.