Archaeology 7 Days Max 8 People
Göbekli Tepe Tour from Cappadocia
A 7-day archaeology-focused journey from Cappadocia to the world's oldest temples. Göbekli Tepe, Karahan Tepe, Mount Nemrut, Gaziantep, and Şanlıurfa — with a specialist guide and maximum 8 people.
Price from: $2,490 per person
Single supplement: $690
Route: Cappadocia → Istanbul
Availability: All Year
Tour Highlights
- Göbekli Tepe and Karahan Tepe — the world's oldest known temples, with specialist on-site commentary
- Cappadocia UNESCO World Heritage Site — underground cities, fairy chimney valleys, cave hotel stay
- Mount Nemrut — colossal stone heads of King Antiochus at 2,150 metres elevation
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep — one of the finest Roman mosaic collections on earth
- Şanlıurfa and Harran — the ancient city of the prophets and its beehive mud-brick villages
- Private guide with deep expertise in Göbekli Tepe and Neolithic Anatolia
- Small group maximum 8 people — extended time at Göbekli Tepe, not a rushed visit
- Domestic flights included — Cappadocia arrival and Urfa departure
Göbekli Tepe is the most consequential archaeological discovery of the last century. Built 12,000 years ago by hunter-gatherers who had not yet invented pottery or agriculture, it consists of rings of carved T-shaped limestone pillars decorated with foxes, snakes, vultures, and abstract symbols — evidence of organised ceremony and symbolic thought 6,000 years before Stonehenge. This seven-day tour is designed around the site: half a day at Göbekli Tepe with specialist on-site commentary, plus a second morning at Karahan Tepe, the equally significant sister site excavated 35 km to the southeast.
The route also includes the royal sanctuary at Mount Nemrut (2,150 metres), the Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep, and two nights in the ancient city of Şanlıurfa where the site's finds are displayed in a world-class museum. Private guide, maximum 8 people, all entrance fees included.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 Cappadocia Welcome / Arrival
- Welcome at Kayseri Airport and transfer to your cave hotel in Cappadocia.
- Afternoon at leisure — evening stroll through Göreme village with views of the fairy chimneys.
- Meals: Dinner | Overnight: MDC Cave Hotel Cappadocia.
Day 2 Cappadocia'S Underground Marvels
- Derinkuyu or Kaymaklı underground city: carved up to 10 storeys into the volcanic tuff — a fully self-contained refuge with stables, wine cellars, and churches for up to 20,000 people.
- Uçhisar: the highest natural rock fortress in Cappadocia — panoramic views across the valleys towards Mount Erciyes (3,916 m).
- Ortahisar: a quieter rock fortress village with cave dwellings still in use within living memory.
- Traditional carpet weaving demonstration — a craft practised in Cappadocia for over 2,000 years.
- 220 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: MDC Cave Hotel Cappadocia.
Day 3 Cappadocia'S Hidden Valleys
- Optional sunrise hot air balloon: 1 hour over the fairy chimneys at dawn — 180–280 EUR per person, not included in tour price.
- Göreme Open Air Museum: 10th–13th century cave churches with intact Byzantine frescoes — the Dark Church, the Snake Church, and the Apple Church.
- Paşabağ (Monks Valley): mushroom-shaped fairy chimneys with 5th-century hermit monks' cells carved into the caps.
- Zelve Open Air Museum: an entire troglodyte community of cave dwellings abandoned in 1952 — three valleys of rock-carved homes, mills, and chapels.
- Avanos pottery workshops beside the Kızılırmak River — red clay ceramics made here for 4,000 years.
- 40 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: MDC Cave Hotel Cappadocia.
Day 4 Gaziantep Cultural Heritage
- Zeugma Mosaic Museum: the world's largest Roman mosaic collection — the 2,200-year-old Gypsy Girl mosaic and the Poseidon and Oceanus panels.
- Gaziantep Castle: a Roman-Byzantine-Mamluk fortress above the bazaar district.
- Traditional bazaars and baklava workshops — Gaziantep pistachio baklava holds UNESCO Geographical Indication status.
- 390 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Ramada By Wyndham Gaziantep.
Day 5 Mount Nemrut Grandeur & Urfa Journey
- Mount Nemrut (2,150 m): the 1st-century BCE royal sanctuary of King Antiochus I — colossal 8–9 metre stone statues of gods and kings, now toppled across the summit.
- Cendere Bridge: a Roman bridge built in 200 CE, still carrying vehicles across the river after 1,800 years.
- Arsameia: the summer capital of Commagene — rock reliefs showing Antiochus shaking hands with Hercules and a tunnel toward the royal tomb.
- 290 km to Şanlıurfa | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Elruha Hotel Urfa.
Day 6 Gobekli And Karahan Tepe Origins & Harran Legacy
- Göbekli Tepe: a full half-day at the world's oldest known monumental complex — built 12,000 years ago by hunter-gatherers, with carved T-shaped limestone pillars up to 5.5 metres tall.
- Karahan Tepe: 35 km from Göbekli Tepe, excavated since 2019 — a sister site with human busts and phallus-shaped pillars carved directly from bedrock, still in active excavation.
- Harran: the ancient city where Abraham settled before Canaan — traditional beehive mud-brick houses and the site of the first Islamic university.
- Şanlıurfa: the Archaeological Museum (housing the world's oldest life-sized human statue), Haleplibahçe Mosaic Museum, and Balıklıgöl — the sacred pool associated with Abraham.
- 180 km | Meals: Breakfast, Dinner | Overnight: 5-Star Elruha Hotel Urfa.
Day 7 Return To Istanbul
- Morning flight from Şanlıurfa to Istanbul — included in tour price.
- Transfer to hotel, afternoon free in Istanbul.
- Meals: Breakfast.
Discover These Ancient Sites
Want to learn more about the world's oldest known temples before your trip? Explore our dedicated guides:
Optional Activities
| Activity | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Air Balloon Ride over Cappadocia Price varies by season and operator. Book through us for the best experience. | 180 – 280 EUR | 1 hour |
| Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Cappadocia | $50 USD | 1.5 hours |
2026 Departure Dates
April 10–16
April 24–30
May 8–14
May 13–19
June 5–11
June 19–25
September 4–10
September 18–24
October 9–15
October 23–29
November 6–12
December 25–31
What's Included
- All domestic flights, Istanbul to Cappadocia and from Urfa to Istanbul
- Fast track museum pass to all sites in Turkey
- 6 nights hotel accommodation
- 6 breakfast, 5 dinner
- Private tour guide
- All entrance fees
- All transportation in latest model private tour van
Price Excludes
- — Gratitude for guide and driver
- — Any private expenses
Cancellation Policy
60+
Days before
Full Refund
100% returned
30–60
Days before
50% Refund
Half returned
0–30
Days before
Credit Only
No cash refund
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation and curtailment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do we spend at Göbekli Tepe?
A full half-day — typically 3 to 4 hours on site. This includes both the main excavation area and, where access permits, Karahan Tepe. Your guide will cover the archaeology, the ongoing excavations, and the broader significance of the Neolithic findings in depth. This is not a rushed 45-minute visit.
Is the hot air balloon included in the price?
The hot air balloon is an optional extra, not included in the base tour price. It costs approximately 180–280 EUR per person depending on the season and operator. We strongly recommend booking it — the sunrise flight over Cappadocia is one of the most memorable experiences in Turkey.
What is the best time of year for this tour?
April–June and September–October are ideal. Göbekli Tepe is an open excavation site — spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures for the site visit. July and August are very hot in Şanlıurfa (regularly above 40°C). November–March is cooler and quieter.
What is the group size?
Maximum 8 people. At Göbekli Tepe, small groups make a real difference — you get extended time on site, full access to your guide's commentary, and the space to ask detailed questions without a crowd around you.
Can I join this tour as a solo traveller?
Yes. Solo travellers are welcome. The single supplement for private accommodation is $690. Alternatively, we can match you with another solo traveller on the same departure to share a room and avoid the supplement.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Full refund if you cancel 60 or more days before departure. 50% refund if you cancel 30–60 days before. Credit only for cancellations under 30 days. We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers trip cancellation.
What Our Travellers Say
"If you like culture, food, history, and archaeology, or any combination of these, this is the tour for you. Fazli is an excellent guide, patient, knowledgeable."
— ninabees
"From the moment we booked the tour, Fazli communicated with us about our arrival flight and interests. Upon arrival in Turkey he was waiting at the airport and everything that followed was smooth, personal, and professionally arranged."
— Nancy Villicana
Reviews sourced from TripAdvisor. Read all reviews →