Genesis Tour
The Genesis tour is a two-day tour to eastern Turkey in Upper Mesopotamia where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers form. This is the fertile crescent also known as the cradle of civilization because of its rich soil and location of the worlds first civilizations. The first stop on the itinerary is Göbekli tepe which is the oldest temple ever discovered and it has also been named as the “zero point of human history” because this is where hunter gatherers began to transition to settled agriculture. This is a pre-pottery Neolithic archeological site that is 12,000 years old. We will then visit the city of Urfa, ancient Edessa also known as the city of prophets. Here we will explore the Cave of Abraham (the birthplace of the Biblical Abraham) and the Kazzaz Bazar which once serviced travelers on the Silk Road. The next morning, we make our way to Tas Tepeler which means “stone hills.” This area marks the beginning of civilization and is where we find the worlds first village, Karahan Tepe. The next stops on the tour are Sogmater; the city of ancient star worshipers, the well of Moses, and the ancient city of Harran.
Day 1: Flights from Istanbul to Sanliurfa
Early in the morning we will transfer you from your hotel or central location in Istanbul to the airport. You will fly from Istanbul to Sanliurfa and will be met at the airport by your guide. The first location is Gobeklitepe where we learn about and explore the oldest temple ever discovered. We will make our way to the center of Sanliurfa and walk through the Kazzaz Bazzar, one of the oldest markets in the world. Afterwards we make our way into the Mevlid Mosque where the Cave of Abraham is located. Here is the birthplace of Abraham. The Castle of Urfa is above the cave and here sits the seat of the ancient city of Edessa and its acropolis. You will check-in to your hotel before meeting early evening to visit the Acropolis and Necropolis of ancient Edessa. Afterwards we will have a traditional Sira Night Dinner that is unique to upper Mesopotamia; it is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Day 2: Tas Tepeler (stone hills)
We will have breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Afterwards we will drive to Karahan Tepe, the world’s first village. Then we will head south to the mystical city of Sogmatar. Here we will explore the well of Moses, temple to the Moon God Sin, and ancient pictographs relating to planetary worship thousands of years old. Next, we have a stop in the ancient city of Jethro where Moses is said to have lived for forty years before returning to Egypt. Our last stop of the day is at the ancient city of Harran. Here Abraham lived with Sarah (Genesis 12:5) and the well of Jacob (Genesis 29) is also located here. Harran is where Abrham lived until he was 75 and it also mentioned in the Quran as the home of the mystical star worshipping Sabian people. We will also tour the beehive homes and the ruins around Harran. We will return to Sanliurfa and make our way to the airport. You will catch your flight back to Istanbul and transported from the airport to your hotel or a central location.
The Genesis tour is a two-day tour to eastern Turkey in Upper Mesopotamia where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers form. This is the fertile crescent also known as the cradle of civilization because of its rich soil and location of the worlds first civilizations. The first stop on the itinerary is Göbekli tepe which is the oldest temple ever discovered and it has also been named as the “zero point of human history” because this is where hunter gatherers began to transition to settled agriculture. This is a pre-pottery Neolithic archeological site that is 12,000 years old. We will then visit the city of Urfa, ancient Edessa also known as the city of prophets. Here we will explore the Cave of Abraham (the birthplace of the Biblical Abraham) and the Kazzaz Bazar which once serviced travelers on the Silk Road. The next morning, we make our way to Tas Tepeler which means “stone hills.” This area marks the beginning of civilization and is where we find the worlds first village, Karahan Tepe. The next stops on the tour are Sogmater; the city of ancient star worshipers, the well of Moses, and the ancient city of Harran.
Day 1: Flights from Istanbul to Sanliurfa
Early in the morning we will transfer you from your hotel or central location in Istanbul to the airport. You will fly from Istanbul to Sanliurfa and will be met at the airport by your guide. The first location is Gobeklitepe where we learn about and explore the oldest temple ever discovered. We will make our way to the center of Sanliurfa and walk through the Kazzaz Bazzar, one of the oldest markets in the world. Afterwards we make our way into the Mevlid Mosque where the Cave of Abraham is located. Here is the birthplace of Abraham. The Castle of Urfa is above the cave and here sits the seat of the ancient city of Edessa and its acropolis. You will check-in to your hotel before meeting early evening to visit the Acropolis and Necropolis of ancient Edessa. Afterwards we will have a traditional Sira Night Dinner that is unique to upper Mesopotamia; it is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Day 2: Tas Tepeler (stone hills)
We will have breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Afterwards we will drive to Karahan Tepe, the world’s first village. Then we will head south to the mystical city of Sogmatar. Here we will explore the well of Moses, temple to the Moon God Sin, and ancient pictographs relating to planetary worship thousands of years old. Next, we have a stop in the ancient city of Jethro where Moses is said to have lived for forty years before returning to Egypt. Our last stop of the day is at the ancient city of Harran. Here Abraham lived with Sarah (Genesis 12:5) and the well of Jacob (Genesis 29) is also located here. Harran is where Abrham lived until he was 75 and it also mentioned in the Quran as the home of the mystical star worshipping Sabian people. We will also tour the beehive homes and the ruins around Harran. We will return to Sanliurfa and make our way to the airport. You will catch your flight back to Istanbul and transported from the airport to your hotel or a central location.
The Genesis tour is a two-day tour to eastern Turkey in Upper Mesopotamia where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers form. This is the fertile crescent also known as the cradle of civilization because of its rich soil and location of the worlds first civilizations. The first stop on the itinerary is Göbekli tepe which is the oldest temple ever discovered and it has also been named as the “zero point of human history” because this is where hunter gatherers began to transition to settled agriculture. This is a pre-pottery Neolithic archeological site that is 12,000 years old. We will then visit the city of Urfa, ancient Edessa also known as the city of prophets. Here we will explore the Cave of Abraham (the birthplace of the Biblical Abraham) and the Kazzaz Bazar which once serviced travelers on the Silk Road. The next morning, we make our way to Tas Tepeler which means “stone hills.” This area marks the beginning of civilization and is where we find the worlds first village, Karahan Tepe. The next stops on the tour are Sogmater; the city of ancient star worshipers, the well of Moses, and the ancient city of Harran.
Day 1: Flights from Istanbul to Sanliurfa
Early in the morning we will transfer you from your hotel or central location in Istanbul to the airport. You will fly from Istanbul to Sanliurfa and will be met at the airport by your guide. The first location is Gobeklitepe where we learn about and explore the oldest temple ever discovered. We will make our way to the center of Sanliurfa and walk through the Kazzaz Bazzar, one of the oldest markets in the world. Afterwards we make our way into the Mevlid Mosque where the Cave of Abraham is located. Here is the birthplace of Abraham. The Castle of Urfa is above the cave and here sits the seat of the ancient city of Edessa and its acropolis. You will check-in to your hotel before meeting early evening to visit the Acropolis and Necropolis of ancient Edessa. Afterwards we will have a traditional Sira Night Dinner that is unique to upper Mesopotamia; it is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Day 2: Tas Tepeler (stone hills)
We will have breakfast at the hotel in the morning. Afterwards we will drive to Karahan Tepe, the world’s first village. Then we will head south to the mystical city of Sogmatar. Here we will explore the well of Moses, temple to the Moon God Sin, and ancient pictographs relating to planetary worship thousands of years old. Next, we have a stop in the ancient city of Jethro where Moses is said to have lived for forty years before returning to Egypt. Our last stop of the day is at the ancient city of Harran. Here Abraham lived with Sarah (Genesis 12:5) and the well of Jacob (Genesis 29) is also located here. Harran is where Abrham lived until he was 75 and it also mentioned in the Quran as the home of the mystical star worshipping Sabian people. We will also tour the beehive homes and the ruins around Harran. We will return to Sanliurfa and make our way to the airport. You will catch your flight back to Istanbul and transported from the airport to your hotel or a central location.
Included in the price is:
Flights- Two domestic flights to and from Istanbul
Lodging- Hotel options in Sanliurfa, Ala Han Hotel or the Narli Ev Boutique Hotel
Meals- 2 Lunches, 1 Breakfast, 2 Dinners (1 Sira Gecesi Traditional Dinner), water, snacks.
Guide- Car, Driver, and Guide
Transporation- Transfers to and from the airports.
Entrance Fees into Gobeklitepe. Beehive Homes