Istanbul & Gobeklitepe Tour: 2 Days with Harran and Flights

Istanbul and Gobeklitepe in 2 days with Harran: the key facts

This group package pairs a morning in old Istanbul with south-east Turkey in 2 days and 1 night. Day 1 is a half-day guided walk in Istanbul, then a flight to Sanliurfa and a night there. Day 2 follows a timed plan: Gobeklitepe from 10:00, the mudbrick village of Harran from 12:45 and the Sanliurfa bazaar from 15:00, then a flight back to Istanbul.

It suits travellers with a strong interest in early history who want to see Gobeklitepe without planning flights and drivers themselves. The price is from $845 per person. A hotel night with breakfast, a professional guide, all flights in the itinerary, air-conditioned vehicles and entrance fees (except optional sights) are included.

How do the flights work?

Both flights are included. After the Istanbul walk on Day 1 you transfer to Istanbul Airport and fly to Sanliurfa, where you are taken to your hotel. At the end of Day 2 you fly back to Istanbul. A representative then helps with your transfer to a hotel or your flight home, and the service ends there. The page does not give flight times, and it does not name the Day 2 departure airport. Ask for both in writing. The last stop is the bazaar at 15:00, so the return flight is likely to be in the evening. Do not book an international flight that night.

What is the Day 2 timing?

The page sets it out. At 09:30 a private transfer leaves Sanliurfa for Gobeklitepe, about 30 minutes away, and the visit runs from 10:00 to 12:00. You reach Harran at 12:45 and walk through the village and its beehive-shaped mudbrick houses. At 15:00 you are at the Sanliurfa bazaar, about an hour's drive from Harran. That leaves time for lunch between Harran and the bazaar, but lunch is not included and the page does not plan a stop. Ask where the group eats, and carry some cash.

How much of Istanbul do we see on Day 1?

Less than on the full-day packages. The page calls this a half-day walk starting at 09:00, covering the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, and Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia as options. Then you go to Istanbul Airport. Hagia Sophia costs $40 extra, and Topkapi is marked optional with no price, and both may not fit into a half day. Tell us which one matters more. The booking form offers start times from 08:00 to 14:00, which does not match the fixed 09:00 pick-up. Plan on 09:00 unless we confirm otherwise in writing.

What is the Basilica Cistern extra?

The extras list sells a Basilica Cistern ticket for $45, but the cistern is not mentioned anywhere in this itinerary. If you want it, ask whether it fits into the Day 1 half-day, and what would be dropped to make room. The other extras are a Hagia Sophia ticket at $40 and "extend the tour by one day" at $115. The page does not explain where that extra day goes. Ask before you choose it.

When is the best time of year for this trip?

Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) are the most comfortable months in Sanliurfa. Summer is very hot there, with July and August highs often around or above 40°C. Day 2 is spent mostly outdoors at Gobeklitepe and Harran. In summer, the 10:00 site visit is about as early as this plan allows, so bring a hat, sun cream and plenty of water. Winter is cooler, but days are shorter. Our Gobeklitepe destination guide has more on the area.

Is an Istanbul night included, and which hotel is used in Sanliurfa?

Only the Sanliurfa night is included, with breakfast. The page does not name the hotel or give a star rating, so ask for it with your plan. No Istanbul night is included. The tour starts with a 09:00 pick-up from your Istanbul hotel and ends after the Day 2 flight, so you book Istanbul yourself or ask us to add nights, which the page says is possible. For the Blue Mosque on Day 1, cover your shoulders and knees, and women also cover their hair. Our what to wear in Istanbul guide has more.

Are there similar tours to compare?

Yes. If you do not need the Istanbul walk, the Gobeklitepe day tour from Istanbul costs from $605 and uses return flights without a hotel night. To add Mount Nemrut, the 2-day Mount Nemrut and Gobeklitepe tour from Istanbul costs from $1,110. Our Gobeklitepe tours and Eastern Turkey tours lists show longer routes, and the multi-city packages page has the full set.

How do I book this 2-day tour?

Choose your date and number of guests in the booking form on this page and send it, or message us on WhatsApp. We check both flights and the Sanliurfa hotel for your date. Then we send the full plan in writing: both flight times and airports, the hotel name, the confirmed 09:00 pick-up and which optional tickets you have chosen. You pay only after you have read and confirmed it. The tour is run by Get Turkey Tours under TÜRSAB licence A-15751.