GAP TOUR 2. PARKUR: Batman-Mardin-Diyarbakır Trip
It is necessary to make a program of at least 7 nights for the GAP route, and until the last few years, there was always a prejudice and fear against the east.. There were people around who could afford to go to Nepal alone, but who said they were hesitant to go to Van.. But recently, Instagram has started to be overflowing with photos with the theme of “Original Van Lake breakfast in Lake Van”, and the number of travelers, like us, who are chasing the opportunity to buy cheap flight tickets to Van, and place the Van Lake Express on the top of their to-do list, has started to increase.. Of course, there is no doubt that the foreign exchange craze imprisoned us in our country has a polish on it.
For those who want to take a Southeast Anatolia Tour but do not have time or do not prefer to use 8-9 days for the GAP from their annual leave, we have divided the route into two.
1. You can click here to read the Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman article we wrote as the track..
In this article, we have 2. we will share the details of our route, namely Batman, Mardin and Diyarbakır, for 2 nights and 3 days.
Batman- Mardin- Diyarbakır Transportation:
The most effective option for this tour is to buy a return flight ticket from Diyarbakir Airport and rent a car from the airport.. In this way, you can draw a full tour of your route and you will not lose time.. Considering the seasonality effect, making an early reservation. You can find a flight ticket for 300 TL. Daily car rental fees at the airport are the same as three or more.. You can rent a nice car between 100-130 TL.. We recommend you to drive on this route to both save time and see more places, but you can also use intercity buses if you wish.
Diyarbakır-Mardin- Midyat-Hasankeyf Tour:
1. day: Diyarbakir Trip
The must-see places in Diyarbakir: The 10-eyed bridge, Cahit Sıtkı Tarancı House, Ulu Mosque, Şeyh Mutahhar Mosque and the Four-Legged Minaret, which is estimated to be 7 thousand years old in Sur district. Diyarbakir walls, which were built and ranked second in the world in terms of length after the Great Wall of China, Hevsel Gardens, Hasan Pasha Han, Barutçu Han, Bazaar. Also, don’t forget to go to Goat Bastion and take pictures.
You will have time to visit these important structures comfortably while continuing to Mardin, where we recommend renting a car from the airport and staying overnight.
2. day: Mardin Trip
Kasimiye Madrasa, Mardin Museum, Art Street, Kirklar and Protestant Churches, Latifiye Mosque, Gazi Pasha Primary School, Old Courthouse, Grand Mosque, Revakli are the must-see places in Mardin. You can visit the bazaar, Carpenters coffeehouse, Post Office Building (former Mardin mansion) and Sakıp Sabancı City History Museum as soon as you arrive in Mardin on the first day.
2. In the morning of the day, we set off from the city center and after visiting Deyr-ül Zafaran Syriac Ancient Monastery, areas with ancient city ruins in Dara, cisterns, dungeons and rock tombs, Beyaz Su in Çağ Valley, the destination is Midyat.
You can visit Mor Gabriel (Deyrul Umur) Monastery and Midyat State Guest House, one of the largest monasteries in the world, after a village tour in Kafro (Elbeğindi), an Assyrian village in Midyat district, famous for its pizzas.. On the terrace of the guesthouse, you can take a photo with the bird’s eye view of Midyat behind you.. Don’t end the day without shopping for souvenirs at the Silversmiths’ Bazaar of Midyat, the heart of Silver Filigree Arts!
3. day: Batman (Hasankeyf) Trip
On your last day, you can visit Bacine Yezidi Village in Midyat, Syriac Virgin Mary Church in Hah (Anıtlı) Village and continue to Hasankeyf.. Artuklu Bridge, El Rızk Mosque and Rock Houses (Cave Houses) are among the must-see places in Hasankeyf, which is at risk of being flooded in the near future.. Afterwards, you can continue to Diyarbakır Airport by passing through Batman.
Accommodation in Mardin and Midyat:
In Mardin Instead of staying at a hotel, we recommend boutique hotels with a unique architecture, usually built by restoring stone houses.. Apart from this, hostels in the center, teacher’s house and police station are your alternatives for more affordable accommodation.
The ideal period for the GAP Tour: When to go on the GAP Tour?
The best time to visit the Southeast Anatolia Region is Spring.. You may not enjoy much in summer or winter due to adverse weather conditions.. If you want to travel for 2-3 days without scorching in the heat or freezing in the cold, we recommend that you make time for the spring months.
Eating and Drinking Recommendations in Mardin and Midyat
In Mardin, where Arabian, Syriac and Turkish cuisines come together, you will be satisfied with meat dishes.. In Mardin, apart from Stuffed Ribs at Cercis Murat Mansion, Stuffed Tripe unique to this region, Mardin Kebab at Kebapçı Rıdo, and Lebeni soup made with yoghurt are also available. you can try. Syriac wine, almond sugar, dibek coffee and Hariri dessert are among the flavors of this region.
We wish you a pleasant trip in advance.. Enjoy..
