Gobeklitepe & Sanliurfa: Zero Point of History (3 Days)

Overview

Travel to the dawn of civilisation on this three-day tour from Istanbul to Gobeklitepe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest known temple on Earth. Built around 9600 BC, its great T-shaped pillars are some 6,000 years older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, rewriting what we thought we knew about early humanity. We also visit its remarkable sister site Karahantepe and the outstanding Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum. Round-trip flights from Istanbul, a 3-4 star hotel, transfers and an expert guide are included.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Istanbul to Sanliurfa

We fly from Istanbul to Sanliurfa and visit the superb Sanliurfa Archaeology Museum, home to finds from Gobeklitepe and the Urfa Man, believed to be the oldest life-size human statue in the world at around 11,000 years old. We settle into our 3-4 star hotel.

Day 2 - Gobeklitepe and Karahantepe

The heart of the tour: Gobeklitepe, where hunter-gatherers raised monumental carved pillars in circular enclosures around 12,000 years ago, long before farming, writing or the wheel. In the afternoon we explore Karahantepe, part of the same Tas Tepeler ("Stone Hills") culture, with its rows of pillars and striking carved human figures.

Day 3 - Old Sanliurfa and return to Istanbul

We walk the historic bazaars and the sacred pool quarter of old Sanliurfa before transferring to the airport for our flight back to Istanbul.

Tour highlights

Stand before Gobeklitepe, the world's oldest known temple (around 9600 BC)
Discover Karahantepe and the Tas Tepeler Neolithic culture
See the Urfa Man, among the oldest human statues on Earth
Explore the atmospheric old city and bazaars of Sanliurfa
Flights from Istanbul, 3-4 star hotel, transfers and an expert guide included

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Gobeklitepe, built around 9600 BC, is widely regarded as the oldest known temple in the world. Its monumental T-shaped pillars predate Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids by roughly 6,000 years.

Gobeklitepe is about 12,000 years old, which makes it some 7,000 years older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and around 6,000 years older than Stonehenge.

Karahantepe is a sister site of Gobeklitepe, part of the same Tas Tepeler ("Stone Hills") Neolithic culture. It is famous for its rows of pillars and dramatic carved human heads, and it helps show that Gobeklitepe was not unique but part of a wider phenomenon.

The package includes round-trip domestic flights from Istanbul to Sanliurfa, with private transfers to the sites, which are a short drive from the city.

Round-trip domestic flights from Istanbul, a 3-4 star hotel with half board, all transfers, site and museum entrance fees, and an expert guide. Lunches and personal expenses are not included.