We will transfer to the area of Midyat, about an hour east of Mardin, to explore several ancient Assyrian monasteries in the region known as Tur Abdin or the Mountain of the Servants. From very early times the region was known for its many monastic colonies and hermitages that dotted the area. Some of them, like Mor Gabriel, Mor Aguin and Mor Hananyo are functioning monastic communities even until the present day. Circumstances permitting, we will stop to see the Cathedral of St. Jacob in ancient Nisibis, the birth place of St. Ephrem the Syrian. Excavations at the cathedral complex where St. Ephrem taught are being conducted at the present. On our way back to the hotel we will stop to visit the remains of the Byzantine city of Dara, with the remains of civil structures and intricately cut water cisterns. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Mardin.

Today we will journey west and a bit south to visit the remains of the ancient sanctuary and burial place of the local royals at Sogmatar. This is a very enigmatic and still poorly explored and not fully understood place. Some of the caves were lately repurposed as Christian hermitages. In the afternoon we will visit the Gobekli temple, an incredibly important site, the oldest known temple to date which completely overturns our understanding of religious practices in antiquity. Some have even called it the lost temple of the Garden of Paradise. For overnight we will transfer to Sanliurfa, or Edessa of old. According to Christian tradition King Abgar became the first ruler to convert to Christianity upon receiving healing from the Holy Mandylion or Holy Napkin sent to him by Christ. Dinner and overnight in Sanliurfa. 

In the morning we will explore the city, and among other sites will visit the “Pools of Abraham” and the Şanlıurfa Museum Complex, inclusive of the new exhibition with the artifacts from Göbekli Tepe. In the afternoon we will travel some hours north, toward Mt. Nemrut. Time permitting, en-route we will explore the remains of ancient Arsameia, a royal seat of the kingdom of Commagene. Dinner and overnight in Kahta 

In the morning we will visit the Royal Necropolis on Mt. Nemrut. This special place, known for its colossal monuments, was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Monument in 1987. On our way down the mountain, we will make a stop at the ancient Roman bridge built under Emperor Alexander Severus and at the Royal Karakuş Tumulus. Later in the day we will take a boat ride at Halfeti on the waters of the reservoir created  by the Ataturk Dam. The reservoir flooded some important historical sites, and of greatest fame was the ancient city of Zeugma where an incredible number of phenomenally beautiful mosaics were found in salvage excavations. Just before we transfer to Gaziantep, we will visit the remaining part of Zeugma. Dinner and overnight in Gaziantep. 

In the morning, after our usual habit, we will tour the city, including the museum with the exhibit of mosaics from Zeugma. Just before Covid, this museum was one of the most visited in all of Turkey! From there we will transfer to Duluk-Dolice, an archeological park with some important finds from antiquity, and where the remains of the magnificent ancient Christian basilica have been found. After that, on our way to Antioch, we will stop at the Yesemek Quarry and Sculpture Park, one of the important Hettite sites. Scattered throughout the area, there are over 300 ancient statues in various stages of completion and many more are believed to be still underground. For dinner and overnight we will arrive to Antakya or Antioch 

While little remains from the classical city, still there are many interesting sites to see. Choosing something special, we will visit the location of the ancient Port of Antioch from where the Apostles went on their journeys, we will see the remains of the stylite monastery of St. Simeon the Younger and the cave church of St. Peter, believed to be one of the first public gathering places of the Christian community in Antioch. Dinner and overnight in Antakya.

In the morning, we will visit the local museum with its array of ancient artifacts found around the city, from which the collection of floor mosaics is the one of the best in all of Turkey, second only to the new exhibition at the museum in Gaziantep. and will transfer to Adana, now a bustling modern city on the Mediterranean coast. In route we will stop at Karatepe-Aslantaş Open-Air Museum, located on a peninsula surrounded by the waters of the reservoir created by the Aslantaş Dam. The open air museum was created around the ruins that date from the 8th century BC, of what used to be one of the important towns for the Hittite kings of Cilicia. The park is known for many wonderful sculptures and inscriptions from the Hettite period, and in fact the modern name Aslantaş, or "lion stone," refers to the lion figure on stone sculptures. For dinner and overnight we will arrive to Adana. 

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. Departure back home