6 Nights / 7 Days
From Fairy Chimneys to Mesopotamia
6 Nights | 3 Cappadocia · 1 Gaziantep · 1 Şanlıurfa · 1 Diyarbakır — surreal landscapes and the cradle of civilization.
Turkey / Ancient site
Ancient City of Perre
Perre's limestone cliffs hold centuries of history in their carved facades, from Commagene royalty to early Christian monks, all set above the ancient road that once linked Mesopotamia to the Mediterranean.
Also part of The Kingdom of Commagene
South of Şanlıurfa, where the Harran plain gives way to limestone ridges, the ancient city of Perre rises from the earth in layers of stone and memory. This was one of the principal cities of the Commagene kingdom, and later a flourishing Roman and early Christian settlement. Today, the ruins spread across a hillside marked by a small seasonal stream and several wadis, with the remains of a necropolis that draws the eye first.
The Rock-Cut Necropolis
The most striking feature at Perre is its necropolis. Carved directly into the pale limestone cliffs that overlook the plain, dozens of rock-cut tombs and elaborate facades face east toward the rising sun. The architectural details vary: some tombs display Greek-style columns and pediments, others show the distinctive regional fusion of Anatolian and Near Eastern design. Deep doorways lead into chamber tombs, some of which have been opened by archaeologists, revealing interior spaces that once held the remains of notable families. The stone here is soft and chalky, taking on a honey-gold tone in afternoon light.
Traces of a Living City
Beyond the necropolis, remnants of Perre's civic and religious life lie scattered across the hillside. Fragments of a Roman-era bridge cross the stream that once sustained the settlement. A monumental rock-cut spring house, its interior carved with channels and basins, speaks to the importance of water in this semi-arid landscape. Carved channels and cisterns indicate sophisticated systems for collecting seasonal rainfall. Scattered masonry and foundation lines mark where public buildings and private homes once stood, though much of the ancient city remains unexcavated beneath the soil and modern agricultural fields.
Early Christian Remnants
Perre continued as a Christian center well into the Byzantine period. Rock-cut churches and monastic cave complexes dot the surrounding cliffs, their interiors often simple: a carved altar, a raised platform for the clergy, small windows cut high to admit light. The silence of these spaces is tangible. Climbing the slopes above the necropolis, visitors pass through low scrub and scattered boulders, rewarded with views across the flat agricultural plain toward Şanlıurfa's distant silhouette.
On the map
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- Ancient City of Perre Ancient site
Tours that visit Ancient City of Perre
8 Nights / 9 Days
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3 Nights / 4 Days
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11 Nights / 12 Days
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11 Nights | 3 Cappadocia · 1 Gaziantep · 1 Şanlıurfa · 1 Diyarbakır · 3 Mardin · 1 Van · 1 Kars — fairy chimneys, Mount Nemrut, Mardin and the haunting ruins of Ani.
14 Nights / 15 Days
The Ultimate Journey Across Turkey
3 Nights Istanbul | 3 Nights Cappadocia | 1 Night Gaziantep | 1 Night Sanliurfa | 1 Night Diyarbakir | 3 Nights Mardin | 1 Night Van | 1 Night Kars
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Turkey's Grand Cultural Journey
9 Nights | 3 Istanbul · 3 Cappadocia · 1 Gaziantep · 1 Şanlıurfa · 1 Diyarbakır — imperial capitals, surreal landscapes and the cradle of civilization.
Good to know
Before you book you should know
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Is this trip right for you?
Our groups are capped at eight travellers, which is about a third of what the industry calls a small group. Eight people share one vehicle, one table at dinner and one guide's attention, and the day can change on the road without anybody being left behind. If you are looking for a coach, a fixed script and a microphone, this is not that.
Most days involve real walking, often on ground that was laid two thousand years before walking shoes: marble worn smooth, cobbles, uneven steps and long site paths with little shade. Bring shoes you can spend a morning in.
Some days move between regions and are largely a drive, with stops along the way. Summers are hot — well over 35°C inland — and winters are colder than most people expect, so layers, a hat and sunscreen earn their place in the bag whatever the month.
How demanding a particular trip is, is written on the trip itself: the physical rating in the header, and the day-by-day itinerary above.
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Rooms, and travelling on your own
Trip prices are per person, sharing a twin room. Each traveller picks their own room while booking, so a party can mix the three:
- Twin share — two single beds, shared with someone you are travelling with or with a traveller of the same gender.
- Travelling as a couple — one double room.
- Individual room — a room of your own, for a single supplement on top of the trip price. Availability is limited, and the supplement for a given date is shown next to the option when you book.
Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and most of our groups have one or two aboard.
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Accommodation
The hotels named in an itinerary are a guideline rather than a guarantee. Where one is full, or has dropped below the standard we booked it for, we substitute a property of a similar standard in the same area — we would rather change the hotel than the trip.
Check-in is usually mid-afternoon. If you arrive early we will ask for the room, but no hotel can promise one before its own check-in time; luggage can normally be left at reception in the meantime. If you want the room from the night before, ask us and we will add the extra night to your booking.
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Passports, visas and insurance
Entry requirements depend on your nationality and change without much notice, so the only reliable source is the official one: the government of the country you are travelling to, and your own foreign ministry's travel advice. Check both before you book a flight.
Many countries ask for a passport valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates, and for blank pages. It is worth looking at yours now rather than at the airport.
We ask every traveller to carry travel insurance covering medical treatment and repatriation, and we would strongly encourage cover for cancellation and for your luggage as well.
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Your departure is guaranteed — the day can change
Once a departure is on the calendar it runs. We do not cancel a trip for want of a minimum number of bookings, so a booked date is one you can plan flights and leave around.
What can move is the shape of a day. Museums and archaeological sites change their hours, roads close, weather turns, a local holiday lands in the middle of the week. Where that happens your guide reorders the day, or swaps a stop for one of the same weight, and tells you why. Changes to a booked itinerary are covered by our Booking Terms & Conditions.
