» Day 5 – Iskenderun - Gaziantep - Sanliurfa (B, L, D)

We set off after breakfast for our journey to Sanliurfa. On the way we pay a short visit to Gaziantep and its museum to admire the new findings in Zeugma (the Seleucia Euphrates- one of the four major cities of the Kingdom of Commagene during the 1st century BC / please see www.zeugmaweb.com) and the GAP (Greater Anatolia Project) Dam at Birecik. After our stops we continue on to Sanliurfa, an ancient Babylonian city known as Edessa that is mentioned in the Testaments. Historically Sanliurfa was also an important city on the Fertile Crescent Route that led from from the Mediterranean shore to Upper Mesopotamia. Sanliurfa also claims the distinction of being the birth place of Abraham. Here we will visit the Crusaders Fortress, the Callirhoe Fountain and the Mosque of Halil Rahman. We will enjoy our dinner and overnight stay in Sanliurfa.