Sumera ExpeditionsSUMERAPrivate Cultural Expeditions
    Privately composed journeys through ancient lands.

    Privately composed journeys through ancient lands.

    Each itinerary below is a starting point — every Sumera expedition is rewritten in private dialogue with you.

    Featured Journey

    Göbeklitepe Luxury Tour

    A privately guided expedition with expert-led interpretation to one of the world's earliest known monumental ritual sites — crafted for discerning travelers seeking depth and quiet luxury.

    gobekli tepe tour
    Göbeklitepe Discovery1
    Expedition 1· Sample Journey· Fully Tailor-Made

    Göbeklitepe Discovery

    A four-day immersion in the City of Prophets — Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe and the Taş Tepeler, Balıklıgöl at dusk, and a private boat charter on the Euphrates at Halfeti.

    Duration

    4 days · 3 nights

    Party

    2 – 6 guests

    Starting from

    From €1,750 per guest

    Prices are per person, based on double/twin sharing. Final rates may vary depending on group size, travel dates and final arrangements.

    1. D01Şanlıurfa · Arrival & Balıklıgöl at dusk. Private VIP arrival and check-in at a historic luxury boutique hotel. A peaceful evening walk at Balıklıgöl. Welcome cocktail at the hotel and an unforgettable dinner.
    2. D02Old Urfa · Göbeklitepe · Karahantepe · Taş Tepeler. A deep journey into history starting with the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum in the morning. In the afternoon, a privately guided visit to Göbeklitepe, followed by Karahantepe and the Taş Tepeler. The texture of Old Urfa and local flavours throughout the day. Sunset cocktail at the hotel and an unforgettable dinner.
    3. D03Halfeti on the Euphrates. A dawn journey down to the Euphrates. Private boat tour, historic streets of Halfeti and the remains of the submerged old village. Lunch and discovery of historic sites complete the day. Sunset cocktail at the hotel and an unforgettable dinner.
    4. D04Old Urfa farewell. After breakfast, a leisurely exploration of Şanlıurfa's bazaars and the historic treasures of the city centre. An unforgettable farewell luncheon and private airport transfer.
    View full itinerary →Compose this expedition →
    Mesopotamia Discovery2
    Expedition 2· Sample Journey· Fully Tailor-Made

    Mesopotamia Discovery

    Six days across the Mesopotamian plain — from the Neolithic sanctuaries of Şanlıurfa to the honey-stone terraces of Mardin and the Syriac monasteries of Tur Abdin.

    Duration

    6 days · 5 nights

    Party

    2 – 8 guests

    Starting from

    From €2,800 per guest

    Prices are per person, based on double/twin sharing. Final rates may vary depending on group size, travel dates and final arrangements.

    1. D01Şanlıurfa · private VIP arrival, evening at Balıklıgöl and the coppersmiths' bazaar
    2. D02Göbeklitepe at first light, privately guided Karahantepe visit
    3. D03Harran's beehive houses at dawn, sunset on the drowned village of Halfeti
    4. D04Drive to Mardin · honey-stone old city, private rooftop dinner above the plain
    5. D05Deyrulzafaran Monastery and the Syriac heartland, Dara ancient city in the late light
    6. D06Private farewell luncheon in old Mardin, transfer to airport
    View full itinerary →Compose this expedition →
    Origins of Civilization3
    Expedition 3· Sample Journey· Fully Tailor-Made

    Origins of Civilization

    A signature eight-day luxury expedition through Southeastern Turkey and Upper Mesopotamia — from Gaziantep's mosaics and legendary kitchens, along the Euphrates at Halfeti, into the Neolithic sanctuaries of Şanlıurfa, and on to the timeless stone city of Mardin.

    Duration

    8 days · 7 nights

    Party

    2 – 8 guests

    Starting from

    From €3,950 per guest

    Prices are per person, based on double/twin sharing. Final rates may vary depending on group size, travel dates and final arrangements.

    1. D01Gaziantep. Arrival in Gaziantep. Private airport transfer and hotel check-in. Welcome dinner.
    2. D02Gaziantep. Visit the Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Explore Gaziantep Old City and the historic bazaar. Gastronomy-focused evening experience.
    3. D03Gaziantep → Halfeti → Şanlıurfa. Depart Gaziantep and continue to Halfeti. Private Euphrates boat experience and the famous sunken minaret. Continue to Şanlıurfa and hotel check-in.
    4. D04Göbeklitepe, Karahantepe & Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum. A full archaeological day focused on Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe, continuing with the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum. Return to Şanlıurfa.
    5. D05Şanlıurfa Heritage. Explore Balıklıgöl, the historic bazaar and the Old City, with time for local culture and gastronomy. Evening Sıra Gecesi experience.
    6. D06Şanlıurfa → Mardin & Dara. Private scenic transfer towards Mardin. Visit Dara Ancient City, then continue to Mardin and hotel check-in.
    7. D07Mardin & Tur Abdin. Visit Deyrulzafaran Monastery and Mor Gabriel Monastery. Explore Mardin Old City.
    8. D08Departure. Morning in Mardin depending on flight schedule. Private airport transfer and departure.
    View full itinerary →Compose this expedition →
    The Great Anatolian Passage4
    Expedition 4· Sample Journey· Fully Tailor-MadeSignature Journey

    The Great Anatolian Passage

    From Mesopotamia to the Bosphorus

    Across more than ten millennia of human story — from the stone cities of Mesopotamia to the waters of the Bosphorus.

    Duration

    12 days · 11 nights

    Party

    2 – 10 guests

    Starting from

    Price on Request · Fully Tailor-Made

    1. D01Mardin | Gateway to Mesopotamia. Private airport welcome and transfer to a historic stone hotel. A deliberately light arrival day: first views across the Mesopotamian Plain, then a relaxed welcome dinner. Signature moment — your first sunset over Mesopotamia.
    2. D02Mardin | Stone, Faith & Vine. Old Mardin at walking pace with selected artisans, then Deyrulzafaran Monastery. A protected, unhurried regional lunch, followed by a curated Syriac and Mardin wine experience, ideally with a local producer — wine here is read as a story of land, faith, agriculture and continuity, not simply a tasting.
    3. D03Mardin → Dara → Şanlıurfa | Across Ancient Mesopotamia. Begin at Dara Ancient City, then continue west with an unhurried regional lunch. Arrive for Balıklıgöl, the Old City and the bazaar at walking pace. The evening may hold a carefully selected Sıra Gecesi or a quieter private regional dinner, according to your profile.
    4. D04Göbeklitepe & Karahantepe | Origins of Civilization. Private interpretation of Göbeklitepe and Karahantepe within the wider Taş Tepeler landscape, followed by the Şanlıurfa Archaeology Museum. An optional specialist conversation where it adds genuine value. This is the intellectual heart of the journey.
    5. D05Şanlıurfa → Mount Nemrut | Kingdom of Commagene. Selected Commagene sites — Arsemia, the Cendere Bridge and/or the Karakuş Tumulus — chosen according to season, daylight and energy. The day culminates at Mount Nemrut for sunset. The rule is simple: protect the sunset; never turn the day into a checklist.
    6. D06Nemrut → Gaziantep | From Kingdoms to the Table. A relaxed morning and a private transfer to Gaziantep, with genuine downtime on arrival. The evening is a carefully curated dinner introducing Gaziantep's culinary identity.
    7. D07Gaziantep | Zeugma & The Culinary Capital. The Zeugma Mosaic Museum, the historic bazaar and copper craftsmanship, then one or two meaningful culinary encounters — baklava craft, pistachio culture, a traditional kitchen — rather than a procession of tastings. A generous regional lunch; a lighter evening meal.
    8. D08Gaziantep → Cappadocia | The Anatolian Road Journey. The signature day: the road itself becomes the experience. A premium private vehicle across the changing landscapes of Anatolia, a carefully chosen regional lunch, comfortable coffee stops, spontaneous photographic pauses and an optional route card explaining the shifting geography and history. No sightseeing on arrival — terrace, spa, wine and a quiet dinner. This is not a transfer day. The road is part of the story.
    9. D09Cappadocia | Beyond the Postcard. An optional premium hot-air balloon at dawn, selected valley and rock-cut heritage, one underground city and one meaningful artisan encounter such as pottery or vineyard culture. The principle is to experience Cappadocia with space, not to collect viewpoints.
    10. D10Cappadocia ✈ Istanbul | From Anatolia to the Bosphorus. A relaxed departure and domestic flight to Istanbul with private arrival assistance. Subject to timing and weather, a private Bosphorus cruise serves as the emotional transition into the final chapter.
    11. D11Istanbul | Where East and West Meet. Privately guided through carefully selected imperial and living layers — the Historic Peninsula, the Hagia Sophia area, the Hippodrome, Topkapı Palace and/or a curated bazaar and neighbourhood encounter. A good lunch, Turkish coffee and room to simply observe the city. Farewell dinner beside the Bosphorus.
    12. D12Istanbul | Departure at Your Own Pace. A relaxed breakfast, free time according to your flight schedule and a private airport transfer. No forced final-morning sightseeing.
    View full itinerary →Compose this expedition →
    Or — entirely your own

    Every expedition is composed for a single party. Tell us your interests, and we will write a journey for them alone.

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