Sanliurfa: Abraham, Balikligol & Harran (3 Days)

Overview

Discover Sanliurfa, the ancient "City of Prophets", on this three-day faith and culture tour from Istanbul. According to tradition this is the land of the prophet Abraham (Ibrahim), revered by Muslims, Christians and Jews alike. We visit the serene Balikligol (the Pool of Abraham) with its sacred carp, the cave honoured as Abraham's birthplace, and the timeless mud-brick beehive houses of Harran, mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Round-trip flights from Istanbul, a 3-4 star hotel, transfers and a guide are included.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Istanbul to Sanliurfa

We fly from Istanbul to Sanliurfa and head to the heart of the old city, the tranquil Balikligol. Tradition holds that when King Nimrod cast Abraham into a great fire, God turned the fire to water and the burning logs to fish; today the sacred carp fill the pool beside the Halil-ur Rahman and Rizvaniye mosques. We also visit the cave revered as the birthplace of Abraham and the Mevlid-i Halil Mosque.

Day 2 - Harran and the plains of the prophets

We drive to Harran, one of the oldest continuously settled places on Earth and home to the famous conical beehive houses. We see the ruins of what is remembered as one of the world's earliest universities, the old city walls and the Grand Mosque. Harran is named in the Bible as a home of Abraham's family.

Day 3 - Bazaars and return to Istanbul

We wander the historic covered bazaars of Sanliurfa, famous for handcrafts and local flavours, before transferring to the airport for our flight back to Istanbul.

Tour highlights

The sacred Pool of Abraham (Balikligol) and its carp
The cave revered as the birthplace of the prophet Abraham
The beehive houses and ancient ruins of Harran
The historic mosques and bazaars of the City of Prophets
Flights from Istanbul, 3-4 star hotel, transfers and a guide included

Frequently Asked Questions

Sanliurfa, ancient Urfa, is linked by tradition to several prophets, above all Abraham (Ibrahim). Sites such as the Pool of Abraham and the cave of his birth make it one of the most important destinations for Abrahamic faith tourism.

According to tradition, King Nimrod ordered the prophet Abraham to be thrown into a great fire. God turned the fire into water and the burning wood into fish. The carp-filled pool, called Balikligol or the Pool of Abraham, marks the spot and is considered sacred.

Yes. Abraham is revered in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the tour is welcoming to people of all faiths and to those interested in history. Modest dress is required at the active places of worship.

Harran is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth, mentioned in the Book of Genesis. Highlights include its distinctive conical beehive houses, the ruins remembered as an early university, the old city walls and the Grand Mosque.

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