DAY 1

Arriving at the airport or bus station in Gaziantep we will meet you and transfer to our hotel in the old town of Gaziantep where after check-in we take a walk through the old town bazaars selling nuts, dried fruits and spices.  You will have plenty of chances to try the local products before we make a break in one of the traditional coffee shops.

It is interesting to see that the local government in Gaziantep have pioneered many projects to protect the old quarters of the town and to maintain traditional handicrafts, which underpins the foundations of this fascinating historical town.There are many living ateliers of handicrafts from the area where you can spend some free time exploring the old town and asking questions to the locals.

For the evening we will visit one of the most famous restaurants in the city where you will have a chance to taste one of the many traditional kebabs from the region, and of course to taste the famous baklava.

DAY 2

Feast up at breakfast then onto the wonderful Zeugma Mosaic museum. This modern museum is the world's biggest mosaic museum with a total of 2500 m2 of mosaics.It showcases superb mosaics that have been found and rescued during excavations of the Roman site of Belkis, also called Zeugma before the Birecik dam flooded most of the area, and you will find beautiful mosaics from other ancient cities of the region.
After exploring this museum we will be ready for lunch.Close to the museum you will find one of the most famous restaurants in Turkey and as they say ‘never judge a book by its cover’.

A jury of 100 gourmets selected one of the kebabs from this restaurant as the best meal in Turkey, this is the küsleme kebab.  This can be quite surprising to many expectant visitors as the neighborhood is poor, the exterior and the restaurant look very basic, however you will taste for yourself why it is so talked about that people visit from all over Turkey to eat here.

After lunch we drive back to the city center to visit the castle of Gaziantep, the famous old Gaziantep houses and much more to explore. We take a break in a Syrian sweet shop run by a refugee that used to be one of the best sweet makers in Aleppo, the town in Syria most famous for its sweets.  A true delight, you can sample some of their sweets with tea or coffee.

The rest of the day is free time for you to continue to explore some more of the city or relax in the hotel.  For the evening we visit a small restaurant that serves traditional tasty stews and soups of the region, experiencing the local ambience and culture.

DAY 3

After breakfast we head towards Hatay. Our first stop is in Yesemek ancient quarry and workshop complex. A place that in ancient times served as a workshop for the monumental sculptures that decorated Hittite sanctuaries. Today, an open air museum and the largest known stonemasonry workshop in the Near East.

Later we continue to the city of Antakya where we visit the old bazaars tasting the famous local Tepsi Kebab, also elected as one of the best meals in Turkey, before we explore the streets and enjoy the smells and looks of the array of spices, dried fruit and vegetables. We also take a break to taste the most famous dessert or sweet of Hatay called Künefe, served with a glass of traditional Turkish tea.

In the old town we pay a visit to the famous  Habib-i Neccar Mosque.This mosque is known as the oldest Mosque in Turkey and has been built on what used to be first a roman temple, and then later a Byzantine church.

We continue with a drive out of the town center and visit the Church of St Pierre.This church was used since the first Christians in Antiokhia and was constructed on the place St Pierre first preached. St Pierre was the founder of the Antakya Church, the Archpriest of the first Christian Community and also the world’s first Pope.  It is fascinating to see how St Pierre church played a significant role in the early period of early Christianity.

After a freshen up we will go out for dinner in one of the traditional Hatay restaurants and enjoy a feast of delicious local starters,traditional kebabs, accompaniment sides and of course the delightful sweets.  We like to take a night walk here by the river,also recommended for a good night’s sleep if you’ve eaten too much!

DAY 4

After a filling and tasty breakfast we will drive to Hatay Archeological Museum which is one of the best museums in Turkey, with findings from all over the region. It contains one of the world’s finest collections of Roman and Byzantine mosaics and houses a rich collection of Hittite and Asyrian works.

After exploring the museum we have lunch before the transfer to the airport or bus station.  If you have a later departure,there is the option of free time in the city center before your departure time.


PRICE: Ask for price

PRICE INCLUDES: Hotel with breakfast (3 or 4 stars or quality boutique hotels), transportation, entrances, guiding and insurance.

MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 4 (can be arranged privately for less than 4 people - ask for price)

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE: 12

NOT INCLUDED: Lunch / Dinner / Drinks (prices on food is very reasonable in this region, typical price for a lunch 5-7 euros included soft drinks)

SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT: 30 euro per night

TRANSPORT: We will drive with a private car or minibus

NOTES:Bring sun protection and good walking shoes, clothes that are suitable for visiting a mosque and as it may be chilly in the night in the spring /autumn bring a coat/jacket.This area is really hot in the peak of summer we do not recommend this trip for the months of July, August and early September.