One ultra amazing tour from Istanbul is the flight to Şanliurfa and the 12,000 year old site of Göbeklitepe. It is older than Stonehenge and even older than the Egyptian pyramids. Some of the world’s oldest known megaliths and monoliths are to be found here in the seemingly middle of nowhere.
Göbeklitepe has had archaeologists scratching their heads and rewriting the history books ever since its discovery in recent years. Over twenty 12,000 year old temples have been discovered in this area with 6 still under the earth. Archaeological activity is still being undertaken at Göbeklitepe and almost every day there is a new discovery being made.
You will have the chance to get your head down on an early morning flight, that will take you from Istanbul across to South Eastern Turkey and Şanliurfa, with its wealth of antiquity, just waiting to be explored. This is a reall opportunity to combine the cosmopolitan Istanbul with a glance into Eastern Turkey and you are sure to see a sharp contrast between the two.
This is a tour unlike any other, whilst Turkey is renowned for its historical sites, Gobeklitepe is as yet a relatively new finding and proposes history further back than almost any historical sites in the world!
In 2024, price of Gobeklitepe Day Tour from Istanbul is 350 € for adults, 100 € for children at and under 4 years old.
| Type | Age | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 5 years and older | €350 |
| Infant | 0 — 4 years old | €100 |
Your flight to Şanliurfa airport will leave Istanbul in the early hours of the morning, after you have been picked up by air conditioned transport and taken to the airport in Istanbul. Then waiting for you in Şanliurfa will be your English speaking guide for the duration of your tour.
Your first stop will be the ruins of the Temples, where your guide will give you more detailed information about this fascinating area.
From Göbeklitepe you will be taken to the Şanliurfa Archaeological and Mosaic Museum, which exhibits over 500 pieces of antiquity from Göbeklitepe, including Urfa Man which is said to be the first manmade statue in the world.
Lunch will follow at a local restaurant.
Your final stop for the day will be the Pool of Abraham, at 150 metres long and 30 metres wide and home to many fish, with its impressive archways and three domes and mosque, it is a well known Turkish site of antiquity with its own legend. You may also visit the caves of Abraham.
At the end of the tour you will return to Şanliurfa Airport for your flight to Istanbul. A coach will be ready to take you from the airport back to your hotel.
