Along the Tigris: Diyarbakır – Mardin – Hasankeyf — 3 Days

Arrival in Diyarbakır and check-in. The day covers Diyarbakır City Walls, Hasan Pasha Han, Great Mosque of Diyarbakır and Hevsel Gardens. The Diyarbakır City Walls are a monumental defensive circuit roughly 5.8 kilometres long, encircling the old city (Suriçi) on a basalt plateau overlooking the Tigris River.

1. 08:30 - 10:30 Diyarbakır City Walls· 120 dk

   Tour coaches can pull up at the car park areas around Dağ Kapı Square, outside Mardin Kapı and near the İçkale; group drop-off/pick-up is done at these points. Parking: The Dağ Kapı Square car park, the car park outside Mardin Kapı, the İçkale surroundings, and the lower car park near Hevsel/the Ten-Arched Bridge; these can fill up early during spring and religious holidays.

   The panorama of the Hevsel Gardens and Tigris valley from Keçi Burcu; the polychrome basalt-limestone face of the Mardin Gate; the Suriçi skyline from the rampart walkway; the lion-eagle reliefs on the Ulu Beden and Yedi Kardeş bastions; the monumental entrance from Dağ Kapı Square.

   Partial. The gate squares and surrounding roads are largely flat and accessible, but the tower stairs and the rampart walkway are stepped and uneven, making them unsuitable for wheelchairs.

2. 11:00 - 12:00 Hasan Pasha Han· 60 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter Suriçi; they stop at the Dağkapı Square car park, and groups walk to the han along Gazi Caddesi (about 5-7 minutes). Coach manoeuvring in front of the han is not possible. Parking: Because of Suriçi's narrow streets there is no parking directly in front of the han; the nearest car parks are at Dağkapı Square and around Melik Ahmet Caddesi. Visitors leave their vehicles at Dağkapı and walk in.

   The courtyard's banded (ablaq) stone arches and the symmetry of the two-storey galleries; the central eight-column domed şadırvan; the view of the courtyard from the upper gallery; the basalt-limestone banding in morning light; a general shot of the lively courtyard set with breakfast tables.

   The courtyard's ground floor is flat stone paving and largely wheelchair-accessible; however, the historic stone surface can be uneven, and the upper-floor galleries are reached only by stairs (no lift). The Gazi Caddesi route into Suriçi is walkable but includes some sloping or uneven pavement.

3. 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine (outside half-board).

   Local spread and presentation shots.

4. 13:30 - 14:10 Great Mosque of Diyarbakır· 40 dk

   Tour coaches park around Dağ Kapı Square or outside the Mardin Gate; groups then walk in from there. Large coaches cannot enter the walled old city. Parking: The nearest car park is at Dağ Kapı Square; the old city's streets are narrow and largely pedestrianised, so vehicles cannot drive up to the mosque.

   The two-tier arcades and minaret from the courtyard's northwest corner; the lion-bull combat reliefs on the east and west façades; the sundial section; the polychrome black basalt façade with reused Corinthian-capital columns; the arcade's shadow patterns in morning light.

   As the courtyard floor is largely level stone paving, wheelchair access is reasonably possible; however, entrance thresholds, prayer-hall steps and uneven historic paving may require assistance in places.

5. 14:40 - 15:25 Hevsel Gardens· 45 dk

   Tour coaches cannot enter the old city; they use the car parks outside the Mardin Gate and around Keçi Burcu / the Ten-Arched Bridge, and groups walk up to the walls. Parking: Parking is available outside the Mardin Gate, around Keçi Burcu and at the lower Ten-Arched Bridge car park; since the old city is largely closed to traffic, vehicles are left outside the walls.

   Top of Keçi Burcu (Hevsel + Tigris bend + Ten-Arched Bridge in one frame), the Mardin Gate viewpoint, the Tigris Valley terraces, the gardens' golden tones against the walls' silhouette at sunset.

   Limited. The bastion stairs, narrow passages and uneven valley path are unsuitable for wheelchairs; the view can be enjoyed accessibly from the lower car park terrace and around the Ten-Arched Bridge.

6. 15:55 - 17:25 Free time — city centre· 90 dk

   Rest and free exploration (~1.5 hours).

Route Diyarbakır

Transfer from Diyarbakır to Mardin. The day covers Mardin Old Town (Protected Area). Mardin Old Town is a monumental protected urban site cascading in stepped terraces down the southern slope of the rocky ridge crowned by Mardin Castle, built almost entirely of…

1. 08:30 - 10:00 Transfer from Diyarbakır to Mardin· 90 dk

   Inter-city transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle; short rest stop en route.

2. 10:00 - 15:00 Mardin Old Town (Protected Area)· 300 dk

   Tour coaches set passengers down at the drop-off/pick-up points at Cumhuriyet Square / the lower level of 1st Street; coaches cannot enter the narrow upper streets, so the group continues on foot. Parking: For private cars, the lower car park on 1st Street and the car parks around Cumhuriyet Square; vehicle access into the old town streets is largely restricted.

   The Mesopotamian plain and minaret skyline panorama from west-facing mansion and cafe terraces (golden-hour sunset); the plain view before the domes of the Zinciriye Madrasa; light-and-shadow compositions in the abbara stone tunnels; the stepped stone-mansion fabric of 1st Street and the silhouette of Mardin Castle.

   Limited — the old town's steep slopes, stepped streets and cobblestone surfaces make it difficult for wheelchairs; the level sections of 1st Street and some terrace cafes are accessible, but the upper neighbourhoods and abbaras are largely unsuitable for disabled access.

3. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

4. 15:30 - 17:15 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

Route Mardin

Transfer from Mardin to Batman. The day covers Hasankeyf. Hasankeyf, on the banks of the Tigris in the south of Batman Province, is among the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth, with roots reaching back roughly twelve thousand… Transfer at the end of the tour.

1. 08:30 - 10:00 Transfer from Mardin to Batman· 90 dk

   Inter-city transfer in an air-conditioned vehicle; short rest stop en route.

2. 10:00 - 14:00 Hasankeyf· 240 dk

   Tour coaches can drive directly into the large car parks around the Cultural Park and the quay; the roads are paved and suitable for coach access. Parking: Large, free car parks at the New Hasankeyf Cultural Park and around the quay/new settlement area; these can get busy in season.

   The Tigris and plain panorama from the castle plateau; the castle and cave slopes from the quayside; the New Hasankeyf skyline from the opposite slope; the turquoise tile details of the Zeynel Bey Tomb in the Cultural Park; the Old Bridge piers and their reflections in the reservoir; shots from the water on the boat tour.

   The Cultural Park is largely flat with landscaped paths, making it partly suitable for wheelchairs; however, the ramp up to the castle is steep, stony and uneven, making it difficult for visitors with limited mobility.

3. 12:45 - 13:45 Lunch — local flavour stop· 60 dk

   Lunch break of regional cuisine.

4. 14:30 - 16:15 Free time — bazaar, centre & shopping· 105 dk

   Free time to explore the bazaar and support local trade (~1.5–2 hours).

   Street texture, tradespeople and handicrafts.

Route Batman, Hasankeyf