WELCOME TO OUR WEB SITE Arsan Travel Center is the first travel agency in the South East Region, established in 1986, and has been in business as the pioneer of culture tours. We are proud to have a very successful professional team with several letters of appreciation and acknowledgement. We are also very proud to announce our well-received "Garden of Eden" tours, which became very popular among our domestic and international guests. We are happy to be at your service. We would like you to visit our links where you can find detailed information about our Travel Center, the South East Region and our monthly activities. If you want to have further information on our Rent a Car, Transfer and Reservations service, or about our Region, you may contact us via e-mail. Your mail will be responded within 24 hours. We hope to be your host in the Oldest Living Settlement on Earth and make your visit memorable. BEST TRAVEL MANAGEMENT TURKEY 2021 Every year, LUXlife Magazine, the publication of AI Global Media Ltd, one of the prestigious press organizations of the UK, explores ” Businesses that are shining with excellence " in its award program aimed at "Recognizing Excellence" around the world. In the hospitality awards of 2021, Arsan Travel Center once again received the "Best Tourism and Travel Agency in Turkey" award. We are proud of the fact that the perfection we aim for is met worldwide, without sacrificing our quality, even in these days ,when the tourism industry is very challenging. We are happy to share our award and we thank all our guests who make the Arsan family such a strong one. BEST TRAVEL MANAGEMENT BEST TRAVEL MANAGEMENT AGENCY OF 2019 - TURKEY from Global Business Insight Awards 2019! We can't wait to share the excitement with you! FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE 2017 TURKEY AWARD FEMALE CEO EXCELLENCE 2017 TURKEY AWARD GOES TO OUR COMPANY'S CEO. AYŞE NUR YILMAZER has been awarded by CEO Monthly as Female Tourism CEO of the Year 2017 - Turkey. She is the only businesswoman to be awarded in Turkey in Female CEO Excellence Awards. The letter is as follows: Good afternoon Ayse Nur Yilmazer Once again, well done on your success, and here’s to even greater achievements in the future. Kind regards Hannah Stevenson Editor (+44) 0203 725 6840 http://ceo-review.com/ MAIL FROM OUR HONEYMOONERS Dear Ayse Nur, I just want to thank you so much for organising our trip to Cappadocia. The tours that you organised for us were brilliant and we felt we saw the best and most of the area of Cappadocia in the time we had there. Our tour guides for our trips were very friendly and knowledgable and helped us to understand more about the region and make the most out the tours. The trip to the underground cities were very interesting and Goreme open air museum was fascinating. The Ihlara valley was beautiful and the walk along the valley was great! We also found our trips to the Onyx, Carpet and pottery (Chez Galip) works really interesting and our stops at various view points enabled us to experience and witness the true beauty of the area! By far our most favourite part of the trip was the hot air balloon ride - words cannot describe how breathtaking it was! Thank you for making our honeymoon so special! Selim and Sarah Gogus, London, United Kingdom MAGICAL TRIANGLE : ZEUGMA, HALFETİ, RUMKALE 09.30 Depart to the Zeugma Antique Site; land of the spectacular mosaics , which are exhibited now in the Gaziantep Zeugma Museum . Visit the Bald Ibis sanctuary and depart to Halfeti, on the banks of Euphrates. 13:00 A traditional lunch will be served for the guests .Depart to Rumkale,the ancient castle city of Hromgla surrounded by an artificial lake that was created by the construction of the dam, by a traditional boat. With its strategic position overlooking the passages of the Euphrates, Rumkale has been inhabited since Assyrian times. It is considered a sacred place of Christianity where St. John the Apostle copied the drafts of the New, Testament and hid them among the castle walls. Visit the church of the great Saint Nerses the Graceful, who served the Armenian people as Patriarch from his headquarters in Hromcla in the 12th century. "He was a great man of God, with strong faith and deep love. Saint Nerses had a special gift for reconciling and peace making between different peoples. It is his moral presence, and also the place where his remains were committed, which make this site holy and special for pilgrims". The ancient ruins will shiver you with their awesome look. 17.30 Depart to Gaziantep and end of our tour. Price per guest: 130 TL . This price is based on minimum 10 guests. Please ask the price for less attendances. Price includes: Private transportation Lunch Professional guidance services . Entrance fees Boat trip VAT % 18 Price excludes: Tip The expences which are not mentioned in the included items. GAZIANTEP DAILY CITY TOUR EVERY SATURDAY and SUNDAY* OUR SECOND VETERAN: GAZIANTEP PROGRAM 09.15 Meeting at Arsan Travel Center 09.30 Departure to Zeugma Mosaic Museum Bayazhan and City Heritage Museum. St Pedros Church St. Mary Church Lunch: Extra (not included in the price) Hamam Museum Medusa Glass Artifacts Museum Gaziantep Castle Emine Gögüs Gastronomy Museum Tour at the Elmacı Soak 17.30 End of the tour Price per guest: 55 TL + 18 % VAT * Price includes: - Transportation - Professional guidance Price excludes: - Entrance fees to the museums. - Lunch *This price is based on minimum 10 guests. Please ask the price for less attendance. WE ARE SO PROUD LETTER FROM OUR GUESTS IN USA Hi Ayse! I wanted to thank you so very much for the great tour you gave us last week of Aintep! We had a great, great time, and without your detailed knowledge of the area and the history that unfolded upon it we surely would have had a lesser experience. In such a rich location of food, culture, and history, you helped us navigate it so efficiently and personally. We've been remarking since our return just how special the Gaziantep portion was, and your guidance was directly responsible for that. Thank you SO much! I look forward to keeping in touch and sending future travelers to Gaziantep!!! Best, T.K. SKENDERIAN COPY OF MESSAGE TO LONELY PLANET by Mrs. DIANNE HOFF Arsan Travel Center Attn: Ayse Yilmazer My husband and I visited Southeastern Turkey this fall and signed up for Arsan Travel Center's "Garden of Eden" tour. The name, "Garden of Eden," intrigued us; we knew we would learn a lot of ancient history, but we hadn't expected the fascinating diversity of the area, the contrasts of modern and ancient, virtually side by side. We learned a tremendous amount and had a wonderful time. Arsan's staff was very helpful with all our travel needs; they are courteous and friendly. We started at Gaziantep's Mosaic Museum. Our tour guide, Ali Bekir, had a command of English and the subject matter. Arsan's owner-manager, Ayse Yilmazer was very knowledgeable, spoke excellent English, and wanted to make sure her tour clients had a terrific experience. Ayse and her staff wanted us to witness the vast stretch of events from "The Garden of Eden," through the rise and fall of ancient civilizations to modern history in the making. The oldest site, Göbekli Tepe, was one of the earliest sites of human record: 9,000 bce. We saw bridges built in Roman times, historical locations such as Diyarbakir, Mardin, Kahtah, and Sanliurfa, considered the birthplace of Abraham (with pools and gardens beautifully illuminated at night), and burial tombs of ancient rulers. Cave and hut dwellings showed how people today live as they have lived for generations. Since the 'Garden of Eden' was a crossroads of civilizations, it was also on the path of warriors. Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan fought and conquered here. The new Turkey experiences rapid changes. Newly constructed dams on the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers are aggressively filling the river valleys, flooding one historical site after the next. We highly recommend the tour. See the area before it is flooded over and chock-a-block with apartment blocks and shopping malls. http://www.summitpyramid.com LETTER FROM MR.BECKER Dear Ayse, Thank you for arranging the most spectacular tour yesterday. What made it most special was our guide, Bekir. His knowledge makes the history come alive. Also his attention to everyone, whether speaking in Tukish or English is great. He arranged a lovely lunch in a most beautiful spot and made sure each detail was perfect. Always making sure everyone had water to keep cool, taking photos of us with our cameras, finding a place to take a break, translating, and so much more, Bekir made everyone feel welcome. He is a great host. Thank you Ayse for this best experience to our holiday in Turkey. I will put great reviews for you on Tripadvisor and others. Kindest regards, Scott Becker THE AMBASSADOR OF COLOMBIA TO TURKEY MR. FERNANDO PANESSO AND HIS GRACEFUL WIFE MRS. PATRICIA GOMEZ PANESSO VISITIED GAZIANTEP AND THE REGION Mr. Ambassador of Colombia; Fernando Panesso and his wife Mrs.Patricia Gomez Panesso were our guests during the U20 World Cup. Our guests are very pleased with our services during the tours. They had written a message as follows: We enjoyed the tours and the excellent service . The tour guide isa very good guide and a great person." Professor Anne McClanan visited Nemrut It was a fantastic day, and I am very grateful to Bekir for how helpful he was. I got so much more out of the trip because of the background he gave me, and he was very patient with all of my questions, too. I have some good pics that I'll send him soon, and when I'm home I'll post a happy review to tripadvisor. many thanks, Anne McClanan, PhD Professor and Area Coordinator, Art History Coordinator, Interpreting the Past (University Studies) Portland State University WE HAVE MESSAGE FROM VENEZIA Dear Ayse, Also on behalf of my colleague Daniela Meneghini, I wish to thank you for the effort you made concerning our visit to Rum Kale. The driver was really excellent, both as a driver and as a guide, and so was the boat captain who took us up to the castle. The site is really so interesting and spectacular and it was worth the trip from Italy. The rest of our tour went really well, it was really easy to drive around and locate the various sites, and we enjoyed every moment. The only regret is that we would have needed more time since there is so much to see! All the best, and really thank you for all your help Cristina -- Cristina Tonghini Archeologia e Storia dell'Arte Musulmana Università Ca' Foscari Dipartimento di Studi sull'Asia e sull'Africa Mediterranea Ca' Cappello 2035 - 30125 Venezia WE HAVE MAIL FROM NEW ZEALAND Our wonderful day together Hello Ayse Here are some photos I took when I spent the day with you in July in Gaziantep. I managed to get the gypsy girl plate home without breaking it and she now sits in pride of place on my sideboard. I appreciated your professionalism and friendliness on our day together and loved every minute of it even climbing up to the Citadel in the heat!!! I would love to return your hospitality one day if you ever come to New Zealand. Kindest regards from Dawn Dawn Steel LETTER FORM KANSAS June 25, 2012 Dear Ayse, We want to thank you for the wonderful tour of Gaziantep. We still can’t believe our luck in finding you to help us with a tour of your wonderful city. Your personal history with and love of your city and your country made the history of and current life in Gaziantep come alive for us. We will be telling our friends to visit Turkey and to contact you for guidance. Your experience in the tour business certainly served us very well. You quickly assessed how to adapt the “standard” tour to compliment what we had already experienced and learned in other parts of Turkey. As a result, we enjoyed a very customized tour that enabled us to learn so much more about Turkey’s history and culture as it related to the unique aspects of Gaziantep’s history and culture. You were able to do all of that without ever feeling we were being lectured to or overwhelmed with information. You have “perfect pitch” when it comes to balancing information-intensive experiences with more relaxed people-oriented experiences. We will always remember the introductions to local artists and museum directors you provided for us. What began as casual encounters turned into extended conversations that are often so difficult to have when visiting a country. We thank you so much for your excellent communication and translation skills! Your excellent English and time management made our tour of Gaziantep one of the highlights of our travels around the world. Sincerely, Beth and Val Stella Valentino J. Stella Ph.D. University Distinguished Professor, Pharmaceutical Chemistry The University of Kansas LETTER FROM OUR GUEST MR. HADDEN ZIRVE UNIVERSITY Dear Friends, From weekend tours to more extensive vacations, Arsan Travel Center here in Gaziantep, Turkey is a sure thing. Ayşe and her staff will make your trip an unforgettable, positive experience. The customer care is outstanding. Of particular note was my recent trip to Athens, Greece. After I discussed my plans with Ayşe, she took care of all the details. On the Friday before my departure she took time to double-check everything. During her check, she discovered that the 5 star hotel where I had confirmed and paid in advance reservations had inexplicably cancelled my reservations. On discovering this, she immediately called and told me that she had gotten me rebooked in a comparable hotel at no additional cost. She also reissued all my service vouchers to reflect the change. That evening I visited her office and received all the updated information. In the end, I enjoyed a wonderful, 8 day, worry free, vacation in Athens, Greece. I am very grateful that Ayşe took the time to double-check my plans and save my 5 star vacation from becoming a 5 star train wreck! It’s very reassuring to know that someone is looking out for your best interests. Therefore, without hesitation, I recommend Ayşe and her staff at Arsan Travel Center for all your travel needs. I especially encourage all my fellow expatriates in the Gaziantep area to use Arsan Travel Center. Ayşe speaks very good English. I’m certain you will be pleased! Sincerely, Nicholas W. Hadden Zırve University WE HAVE NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA Dear Bekir, (sounds like Diyarbakir) Apologies for the delay in sending these photos from our wonderful Garden of Eden tour with you (25th–29th April ). I have been caught up with work and settling back to my regular life – but my mind keeps wandering to far east Turkey – to the plains of Harran, the Mausoleum of King Antiochus1 surrounded by snow and so much more. The tour exceeded our expectations thanks to the professionalism of the organisation, your knowledge and enthusiasm, your great command of English, the private tour (I thought it would be a coach load) and your long term contacts wherever we went - and of course your humour. We were so impressed also by the way you were able to use your contacts to give us access to people and places that we could not possibly have accessed on our own e.g. to the priest as our guide at the Deyr-ul Zaferan Syriac Monastery ; a locked former Greek church that you arranged access ; the Gobekli site, the Ministry of Tourism office in Gaziantep etc etc. Thankyou so much for the best possible experience. I have had several showings of the photos of our trip and all my friends and family are keen to visit that wonderful part of the ancient world – hopefully with you. I cooked a Turkish meal and showed the photos to my neighbours. The meal included lamb and pilaff (as we had in Mardin) - 6 hours cooking until it fell of the bone, stuffed tomatoes, salad with pomegranate dressing, watermelon and rock melon for after, and topped off with Turkish coffee. I have always had the small coffee pots and cups (my Greek heritage) – my neighbours loved the food. I hope we can meet again. You gave us memories that we will keep forever. Thankyou Theo Mathews Western Australia. THE DEMAND FOR "GOBEKLITEPE" IS FLOURISHING We are very pleased to see that Gobeklitepe tours are very popular. Our guests, especially from USA and Argentina are very pleased with our services during our Gobeklitepe tours. Göbekli Tepe (pronounced Guh-behk-LEE TEH-peh and meaning roughly "Potbelly Hill") is a remarkably early, completely human-built cultic center, first used by residents of the Fertile Crescent in Turkey and Syria some 11,600 years ago. The Pre-Pottery Neolithic (abbreviated PPN) site is located on the top of a limestone ridge (800 amsl) in the Harran Plain of southeastern Anatolia, in the southern Euphrates river drainage approximately 15 kilometers north of the city of Sanliurfa, Turkey. It is an enormous site, with accumulated deposits of up to 20 meters (~65 feet) high within an area of approximately nine hectares (~22 acres). The site overlooks the Harran Plain, springs at Sanliurfa, the Taurus mountains and the Karaca Dag mountains: all of these areas were important to Neolithic cultures, cultures who would within a thousand years begin to domesticate many of the plants and animals that we rely on today. Between 9500 and 8100 cal BC, two major building episodes occurred at the site (roughly assigned to PPNA and PPNB); the earlier buildings were purposefully buried before the later buildings were constructed. TURKEY TOURISM by NETHERLANDS CONSULATE The new brochure of Turkey Tourism, has been published in the Netherlands. There are very nice pictures of Turkey .An article about the founder of our Arsan Travel Agency: Ms. Ayse Nur Yılmazer also took place in the brochure. It is also online. You can examine the brochure through : http://www.vrhl-websites.com/2012/ bladermodules/turkije/ WE ARE FLATTERED BY OUR VISITORS We are from America, my wife is an English teacher and we are living in Gaziantep for a year or more and want to explore the country with you and your wonderful staff. You office is a breath of fresh air; quick, accurate, and efficient! Thanks again for all your assistance and we will see you very soon. Steven Koebele & Rebecca Reichel WE HAVE A KIND LETTER FROM MR. JAN BORREMANS Senior Advisor International Relations Voka - Chamber of Commerce and Industry Antwerp-Waasland Dear Ayşe, I suppose you are still in Russia but we are in the meantime back home in Belgium. Mark and I wish to thank you in the first place for the nice meeting the evening before our departure as well as for our splendid trip in the South East Anatolian region, as requested by us. I join you a reference letter in which we readily confirm your appreciated service. We had some reflection about the best mix of the professional and touristic visits as we did. 3 days for all those visits was heavy stuff for us and also for a good driver as Bekir Sahan certainly is. From the other side, an additional day is not evident for business people. Maybe it would be wise that you arrange the whole trip, including hotel reservations as well as the best place of departure. Be assured that we are very happy about our trip. The personal meeting with yourself, GaziAyşe, and the way you arranged for us the visit of the Zeugma Museum was undoubtly the high point of our visit. Let us stay in contact. Best regards, Jan Borremans TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN Last week, in the wake of a professional meeting with the Gaziantep Chamber of Industry, Arsan Travel Center organized for us and at our request a splendid 3 days tour to Nemrut Dag, Hasankeyf, Midyat, Mardin, Sanliurfa and Harran. The evening before we had a very pleasant and interesting meeting with Ayşe Nur YILMAZER, the president of the travel agency. For us she deserves since then the name of GaziAyşe as she arranged for us a visit to the still closed Zeugma Mosaic Museum in Gaziantep We strongly recommend Arsan Travel Center for the organization of touristic trips in the Gaziantep region. Jan Borremans Leuven, June 29, 2011 OUR GUEST FROM BELGIUM: Ms. ELIZABETH POWER Dear Ayse, Now that I am home again I want to thank you very much for your kindness to me when I was in Gaziantep. I thoroughly enjoyed the day trip you organised around the city and I thought it was an excellent idea. I really feel that I know the city quite well now and saw so many interesting things. The guide was very kind and spoke German and some of the other participants spoke some German or English so I did not feel too isolated. Everyone was friendly and I saw a lot that I would not have found on my own. I can warmly recommend that tour to other visitors. The highlight for me was the visit to the mosaics museum. Thank you so much for arranging it for me. It far exceeded my expectations and will be a truly beautiful museum when it is finally opened. My trip to Nemrut Dagi went very well and I was pleased that you persuaded me to take a driver as it left me free to enjoy the magnificent scenery. I loved my visit there and found the historical sights quite amazing with those incredible heads. What an atmosphere the place has! I loved your country and I am sure I will be back some time. Thank you again for all you did for me. With best wishes Elizabeth Power OUR BELOVED GAZIANTEP WHERE THE PAST LIVES IN THE FUTURE.. Gaziantep is a metropolitan city with its economy, tourism and city planning structure. It is the largest city in the Southeast and the sixth largest city in Turkey. The average green belt per person in Gaziantep is 12 m2 while it is 9 m2 in Europe, and the rate of literacy is 96%. Gaziantep covers 1% of Turkey with its acreage of 6216 m2, and its altitude is 850 meters. Gaziantep embodies the biggest, the prettiest, the most precious, and the oldest: - It is the oldest living settlement on Earth (Ancient Dülük Settlement; 600.000 years old) - It has the oldest sculpture workshop (Yesemek Sculpture Workshop from Late Hittite Period; 4000 years old) - It is the furthest eastern border of Eastern Roman Empire (Zeugma – Nizip) - It has the most beautiful mosaics in the world (Zeugma Mosaics) Gaziantep has a jolly nature. No other community in the world has such tradition of food when compared to Gaziantep: in the first morning of Ramadan Holiday, whether he now dwells in Ağrı or New York, a person from Gaziantep cooks and eats his “yuvarlama”. The bridal shower of the region is embroidered with wordplays and folkdances, making the shower one of the most important means of entertainment. Families from Gaziantep work really hard six days a week, and make the most of their hard work on the seventh day, with their picnics. The picnics are very well known for kebabs and traditional meatballs, bringing the loved ones together. Food is a must in the region. People live to eat good food in Gaziantep. Eating is not survival but it is a means of delight in Gaziantep. With its international airport and the location where the Southeast is linked to the Mediterranean and Middle East, Gaziantep hosts many visitors and it is one of the most important spots of trade. ¼ of the soil in Gaziantep is fertile and arable, and irrigated by Euphrates. Gaziantep has many industrial crops as pistachios, olives, cotton, grapes, red pepper and linen along with grains as lentil, wheat and barley. With its geographical location, Gaziantep is the first city in the Southeastern Anatolian Project (SEAP), and forms the basis of SEAP with its industry and volume of trade. Gaziantep has a major economic register over its surrounding 18 cities. Gaziantep is the oldest living settlement on Earth and has a history of 600.000 years. The old settlement is known as Ayıntap and is located 12 km northwest, between Dülük and Karahöyük villages. In archeological researches, there have been flint stones along with findings from Chalcolithic Era and Copper Age, making the area the oldest living settlement on Earth. The historical timeline of Gaziantep could be summarized as Chalcolithic, Paleolithic, Neolithic Eras, Bronze Age, Hittites, Met, Assyrian, Persian, Alexanderian, Selefkoses, Roman, Byzantinian, Arabic-Islamic and Turkish-Islamic Periods. Gaziantep owes its historical heritage to its geographical location. It is between Mesopotamia and the Mediterranean region, and in the junction of the trade route; thus, has been the host for many civilizations since prehistoric times. Gaziantep is also located on the Silk Road, which maintained the importance of the city. Gaziantep had been a part of Babylonia and was a city in the Hittites 1700 B.C. “Dülük” was a religious center of the Hittites and therefore is historically of utmost importance. Gaziantep and its surrounding were under the reign of Assyrian, Med and Persian Empires during 700-546 B.C. and were taken over by the Romans after Alexander the Great. The city was then a part of the Byzantine Empire until 636 A.D. Gaziantep preserved its importance in trade throughout the years because of its location, and with its presence on the trade routes from Kahramanmaraş and Aleppo, and from Birecik to Mediterranean region, Gaziantep has been the trade and culture center of every era. We can still see the traces of our heritage and are aware of our history. Gaziantep is a perfect host with its Four Aces of Zeugma, Roman Castle, Yesemek and Dülük, touristic and natural beauties, memoirs from the Independence War, handcrafts, mosques, madrasahs, old Antep houses, Turkish baths, cisterns, churches, food, industry and its namesake baklava and pistachio. Gaziantep is a warm, hardworking city where the past lives in the future. WE HAVE A VERY NICE LETTER FROM Mr. SAMET GOGUS UNITED KINGDOM Barclays Capital Vice President Global Financial Risk Management LONDON I had a wonderful time touring the GAP region thanks to Arsan. Everything was very well organised which meant that I could fully relax and enjoy the sites and the delicious food and weather! For anyone wanting to tour South Eastern Turkey, I would fully recommend Arsan - you will be well looked after by Ayse Nur and her team! BROOK, Ruth Elizabeth - Attaché, DELEGATION OF THE EUROPEAN UNION TO TURKEY Dear Ayse I would just like to let you know how much Stephanie and I really enjoyed the trip to Gaziantep, particularly the area of Rumkale. We really enjoyed the boat ride on Euphrates and visiting the place where John was supposed to have written New Testament. The area was so tranquil and nature so beautiful – such a change from Ankara. Re. the accommodation in Gaziantep, the rooms in the Ibis hotel are slightly small especially the size of the beds. Otherwise everything else was perfect. Thank you. Ruth DAILY NEWS TURKEY : NATIONAL PRESS NEWS ABOUT OUR CEO : Ms. AYSE NUR YILMAZER Turkish entrepreneur shapes the fate of southeastern tourism In 1986, there was no travel agency in Southeast Turkey, home to one of the world's oldest settlements. However, following in the wake of female entrepreneur Ayşe Nur Yılmazer of Gaziantep, the region now has over 100 agencies. Gaziantep's rich cultural heritage, including the ancient city of Zeugma, are waiting to be seen by all. An entrepreneur in the tourism business who opened the first travel agency in Turkey's Southeast in 1986, Ayşe Nur Yılmazer has continued to pioneer tourism projects in the region. Having graduated from Ankara-based Hacettepe University's Department of Business Administration, Yılmazer has been opening up the region's invaluable historic and cultural wealth to tourism for many years. In so doing, she has also contributed to the revival of the region's economy. Yılmazer's mother and father are the founders of the tourism association in the southeastern city of Gaziantep. The lack of a travel agency in Gaziantep, Turkey's sixth largest city and one of the oldest areas of human habitation in the world, convinced Yılmazer, who had enjoyed her tourism classes during her studies, to open an agency after graduating. Although people warned her there was no "sea or sand tourism opportunity" there, she said: "In 1986, I established Arsan Travel Center, the first travel agency in southeastern Anatolia and Gaziantep. People observed my activities for six years and then other agencies started appearing. Recently, the 45th agency has been established in Gaziantep while the number exceeds 100 in southeastern Anatolia. This makes me utterly happy." Culture tours Travel agencies work quite well and create a synergy in the city, according to Yılmazer. "Gaziantep has emerged in the region like a diamond and turned into a product to be promoted with pleasure. I cried when the first five-star hotel was opened five years afterestablishing my company. People used to come for daily visits and return after eating kebab and baklava. But now they wish to stay for at least three nights, including one day for museum visits." Yılmazer's travel agency is more focused on cultural tours. "Cultural tours constitute the cream of the tourism pie as they yield income for everyone in the region. I attach great importance to the cultural tours. There is an incredible cultural wealth in this region. We have started a double-destination package; those coming from abroad first visit southeastern Anatolia and then go to Syria. The United States, Mexico, continental Europe and Japan are among the leading countries from which we draw tourists." Discovering new markets Yılmazer said she likes discovering new, unknown markets and product development. "I would like to organize culture tours that highlight the cultural potential of Syria, Lebanon and Jordan. Secondly, I aim to expand cultural tourism to the whole year. Currently, we are launching a program called 'Nostalgic Aleppo,' which will include train travel from Gaziantep to Aleppo." Commenting on the importance of the Southeastern Anatolia Project, or GAP, for culture and faith tourism, Yılmazer said the region fails to draw enough tourists due to the lack of promotion despite its good accommodation and transportation infrastructure. Noting that Antalya drew around 8.8 million tourists in 2009, she also said, "We need to reach this figure as well. Tourism is the most significant sector to create income and employment. There is still much to be done." FROM OUR SERVICES..FROM OUR SERVICES * SIGHT SEEING TOURS ........................ * TRANSFERS * SPECIAL INTEREST TOURS ................. * BIBLICAL TOURS * CONGRESSES ...................................... * INCENTIVE TRAVEL * FAITH TOURS ..... ................................ * CULTURAL TOURS * BUSINESS TRAVEL .............................. * EXCURSIONS * SCHOOL PACKAGES ............................ * TICKETING * SPA HOLIDAYS .................................... * RENT A CAR * SPECIALIZED PACKAGES .................... * HOTEL RESERVATIONS........................ * RENT A PLANE,RENT A HELICOPTER.... * SALE OF AIR TICKETS * SALE OF ACCOMMODATION ................ * PACKAGE TOURS FOR GROUPS * INCOMING - OUTGOING TOURS ......... * INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL * SALE OF TRAIN TICKETS ..................... * HONEYMOON TOURS * SALE OF OWN TOURS .......................... * TAILOR MADE PACKAGES * SALE OF SHIP & FERRY TICKETS ........ * ''A'LA CARTE'' SERVICES * SALE OF THEATRE, CONCERTS ETC.TICKETS * SALE OF THE TOURS OF OTHER TOUR OPERATORS TREASURE EVERY MOMENT IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN GAZIANTEP - ADIYAMAN - NEMRUT - ATATÜRK DAM - HARRAN - SANLIURFA - MARDIN - MIDYAT - HASANKEYF - DIYARBAKIR 1st day Wednesday Morning flight to Gaziantep from Istanbul. A panoramic city tour . Paying a visit to the Gaziantep Archeological Museum we will get the chance to see the spectacular mosaics saved from Zeugma Antique Site. In the historical Tepebasi district, fine examples of mid-nineteenth-century southeastern Anatolian architecture may seem an incongruous feature of this once-wealthy trading center in southeastern Turkey, but are only one of many elements in a well-preserved example of cultural and religious integration in the late Ottoman Empire. The missionary hospital and school constructed at the request of Tepebasi's merchants still stand alongside a collection of synagogues, mosques, and Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox churches in the historical district of Gaziantep. At the center of the district is the Bayaz Han, the largest and grandest of the city's hans, or travel lodges, featuring kitchens, animal stalls, and guestrooms that welcomed both wealthy merchants and refugees. During World War I, Tepebasi was a destination for Armenian refugees, whose craftsmanship is still visible in intricate Ironwork, carved stone arches and columns, basalt ornamentation, and colorfully tiled courtyard fountains. Sightseeing tour and free time for shopping in the Copper and Mother of Pearl Workshop Bazaar. Dinner at the hotel. A large , rich , delicious varity of kebaps and desserts will be served.Overnight . 2nd day Thursday After breakfast, depart to Adıyaman. On the way, we will be informed about Karakus Tumulus, Cendere Bridge, and Arsemia Antique Settlement. We will visit the Marvelous Mausoleum of Antiochus I, King of Kommagene Kingdom. This mausoleum has a very distinguished feature; the sun rises and sets from the foot level of the gigantic sculptures.We will watch the spectacular sunset view. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Adıyaman. 3rd day Friday After breakfast, depart to Şanlıurfa. On the way pay a visit to the Atatürk Dam,which is one of the biggest Dam projects in the world. After a brief information about SEAP (GAP region), have lunch and depart to Sanlıurfa, the ancient city of Ur. In this land lying between the Euprathes and the Tigris rivers, lived Abraham,the patriarch claimed by three world religions. Drive to the ancient city of Harran which is mentioned in the Holy Bible.( The river watering the garden flowed from Eden.The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.( Gen 2 :10 -15 NIV ). Sightseeing tour of the ruins of the oldest Islamic University, Castle of Harran, and authentic Harran houses. Back to Sanliurfa ,paying a visit to the cave where Abraham is believed to have been born,visit the sacred fish pool and the fortress that overlooks both these holy sites. Dinner and overnight . 4th day Saturday After breakfast Drive to Mardin.Walking tour on old brick roads of Mardin to see Monastery of Deyr-ul Zaferan, Mardin Marketplace, Kasimiye Theological school, Kirklar Church . You will admire the marvelous stone mansions of Mardin all day long. Dinner and overnight at a traditional Mansion. 5th day Sunday After breakfast drive to Midyat, pay a visit to Hasankeyf. Visit marvelous bridge of Hasankeyf, El Rizk Mosque, and the Hasankeyf Castle .Lunch on the banks of Tigris, drive to Diyarbakir , pay a visit to the gorgious city walls of Diyarbakir , Keldani Church and Ulu mosque.Depart to the airport, end of our tour. PRICE Price : Euro 390.- Per person sharing twin. Euro 95.- Single supplement Child reductions : 00 - 02 years free of charge, 03 - 11 years pays Euro 170.- Child reductions are valid only when child shares the room with the parents. PRICE INCLUDES Transportation by air-conditioned midibus/bus. 4 nights of accomodation in Tugcan Hotel (5 star hotel -Gaziantep), Zeus Hotel (4 star hotel-Adıyaman),Harran Hotel (4 star hotel - Şanlıurfa), Erdoba Houses (Special type butique hotel - Mardin) or the similars. Breakfasts in the program Professional guidance services PRICE EXCLUDES VAT 18 % Lunches and dinners Drinks during the meals Tips All the entrance fees to the historical sites and museums. Note 1: Garden of Eden Tours (including an overnight in Nemrut) begin in May and end in November. Note 2: Garden of Eden Tours (excluding an overnight in Nemrut) take place throughout the year. The pricing without Nemrut is as follows: Price: Euro 340.- Per person sharing twin. Euro 75.- Single supplement PRICE INCLUDES Transportation by air-conditioned midibus/bus. 3 nights of accomodation in Tugcan Hotel (5 star hotel -Gaziantep),Harran Hotel (4 star hotel - Şanlıurfa), Erdoba Houses (Special type butique hotel - Mardin) or the similars. Breakfasts in the program Professional guidance services PRICE EXCLUDES VAT 18 % Lunches and dinners Drinks during the meals Tips All the entrance fees to the historical sites and museums. DOMOTEX GAZIANTEP MACHINE MADE CARPET FAIR 26 - 29 MAY 2014 Gaziantep is a perfect host with its Four Aces of Zeugma, Roman Castle, Yesemek and Dülük, touristic and natural beauties, memoirs from the Independence War, handcrafts, mosques, madrasahs, old Antep houses, Turkish baths, cisterns, churches, food, industry and its namesake baklava and pistachio. Gaziantep is a warm, hardworking city where the past lives in the future. As the official travel agency of Domotex Gaziantep Machine made Carpet Fair in May 26-29, we now have the pleasure of inviting you to our beautiful hometown. Contacting us will provide you with the best service in accomodation, transfers, ticketing, exhibition related tourism events and sightseeing tours. We hope to be your host in the Oldest Living Settlement on Earth and make your visit memorable. Click for hotel rates. Official Travel Agency GARDEN OF EDEN Gaziantep, Zeugma, Urfa, Harran, Nemrut, Adiyaman, Diyarbakir, Mardin, Midyat, Hasan keyf GARDEN OF EDEN 1 (Gaziantep-Diyarbakır) GARDEN OF EDEN 2 (Diyarbakır-Gaziantep) USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT TURKEY THE ACTUAL ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES OF THE FLIGHTS WEATHER CONDITION TURKISH LANGUAGES FOR TRAVELERS CLIMATE   faith,tourism, Muslim, culture, biblical, bible,archeology,site seeing, daily tours,Jesus,sun, sea,sand,cultural,special interest,honey moon,private,regular Jewish heritage, armenian heritage,evangelist, kosher, babtist, pastor, church,chapel Din, Müslüman, turizm,kültür, kültürel,incil, incile dair,arkeoloji,günlük tur,İsa,güneş,deniz,kum,özel ilgi alanı,balayı,özel,düzenli,Yahudi,ermeni,evangelist,koşer,babtist,rahip,kilise,şapel,faith,tourism, culture, biblical, bible,archeology,site seeing, daily tours,Jesus,sun, sea,sand,cultural,special interest,honey moon,private,regular Jewish heritage, armenian heritage,evangelist, kosher, babtist, pastor, church,chapel Din,turizm,kültür, kültürel,incil, incile dair,arkeoloji,günlük tur,İsa,güneş,deniz,kum,özel ilgi alanı,balayı,özel,düzenli,Yahudi,ermeni,evangelist,koşer,babtist,rahip,kilise,şapel,faith,tourism, culture, biblical, bible,archeology,site seeing, daily tours,Jesus,sun, sea,sand,cultural,special interest,honey moon,private,regular Jewish heritage, armenian heritage,evangelist, kosher, babtist, pastor, church,chapel Din,turizm,kültür, kültürel,incil, incile dair,arkeoloji,günlük tur,İsa,güneş,deniz,kum,özel ilgi alanı,balayı,özel,düzenli,Yahudi,ermeni,evangelist,koşer,babtist,rahip,kilise,şapel,faith,tourism, culture, biblical, bible,archeology,site seeing, daily tours,Jesus,sun, sea,sand,cultural,special interest,honey moon,private,regular Jewish heritage, armenian heritage,evangelist, kosher, babtist, pastor, church,chapel Din,turizm,kültür, kültürel,incil, incile dair,arkeoloji,günlük tur,İsa,güneş,deniz,kum,özel ilgi alanı,balayı,özel,düzenli,Yahudi,ermeni,evangelist,koşer,babtist,rahip,kilise,şapel,faith,tourism, culture, biblical, bible,archeology,site seeing, daily tours,Jesus,sun, sea,sand,cultural,special interest,honey moon,private,regular Jewish heritage, armenian heritage,evangelist, kosher, babtist, pastor, church,chapel Din,turizm,kültür, kültürel,incil, incile dair,arkeoloji,günlük tur,İsa,güneş,deniz,kum,özel ilgi alanı,balayı,özel,düzenli,Yahudi,ermeni,evangelist,koşer,babtist,rahip,kilise,şapel