Mardin, Adiyaman, sunrise atop Mt. Nimrod (Nemrut Dagi), the highly photogenic city of Sanliurfa, and beehive village of Harran. Price (to be determinded based on number participating) includes two domestic flights. For our scheduled Western Turkey tour, this extension will be from October 4 to October 9, 2009, for a set price of $1700 with four minimum participants (add $350 for single room supplement).

All photos above © Dennis Cox / Photo Explorer Tours

Oct. 4, MARDIN Transfer to the Istanbul airport for flight to Diyarbakir and then a drive to Mardin. The old part of Mardin is like an open air museum and offers a bounty of photo ops in its narrow streets and around its old stone houses. Photograph the medeival-like old bazaar area's people and vendors in its medieval like setting. Then procede to Zinciriye Medrese and photograph the interesting 13th century dome and minaret with the Mesopotamian plain in the back ground. In the afternoon, visit the 4th century Syrian Orthodox Christian Monastery of Dayrulzefaran which is still in activity and then photograph the headstones in an old graveyard with a beautiful scene of the city in the background. The charming boutique hotel in Mardin is in an air conditioned old stone house with a great view over the Mesopotamian plain.

Oct. 5, SANLIURFA Early departure for more photography of the old city of Mardin and a visit to the still active Syrian Orthodox Christian Monastery of Dayrulzefran. Drive to Sanliurfa, known as the city of prophets, as Abraham was born here and Job, Jethro, and Moses lived here. In Saliurfa, first photograph the old bazar with people playing chest, dominos and coppercraftsmen, saddle makers and etc., then we will visit the cave where Abraham was born. A holy place and a great site to photograph the people, then see Abraham's pond with its holy carp. The hotel here is a 4 star air conditioned first class hotel located in the old city.

Oct. 6, ADIYAMAN Early departure to Harran, old Canaan, to photograph the ruins of the oldest mosque in Anatolia at sunrise. we will then see the ant hill like mud brick domed houses of Harran. Take breakfast in one of these restored houses then drive back to Sanliurfa with a stop at the cave where Job stayed as he recovered from leprocy. In the afternoon, drive to Adiyaman and along the way stop at the Ataturk Dam on the Euphrates, 6th largest earthen dam in the world. A stop will also be made at the bridge on the Euphrates to photograph this holy river. The hotel for two night in Adiyaman is a 4 star with air conditioned rooms and swimming pool.

Oct. 7, ADIYAMAN Leave the hotel at 1:30 am and drive to Mount Nemrut to begin a hike of about half hour to get to the mountain top for a beautiful sunrise and to photograph the giant statue heads in the open air temple built in the 1st century BC by the King Antiochus of Commagene. Breakfast will be after the photo op in a mountain cafe and on the way back photograph some of the great landscapes with mountains and villages. The afternoon will be available for a much needed rest.

Oct. 8, ISTANBUL Drive to Gaziantep for flight back to Istanbul.

Oct. 9, ISTANBUL Transfers to airport for flight home.