Nemrut Dagi National Park
Nemrut Dagi National Park
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Hua Hin, Thailand555 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
My husband and I just completed our 3 week trip to Turkey. Nemrut was a place I very much wanted to visit. We wanted to visit Nemrut after visiting Istanbul and before travelling to Cappadocia. My husband and I are a professional middle aged couple. We like our creature comforts. We are prepared to pay for good service, but do not appreciate being ripped off. We knew going in that we would have to rough it a bit. I must have spent close to 2 weeks consulting every travel book, travel forum and contacting travel agencies about how to best visit Mount Nemrut. I hate package or group tours and wanted a private guide. Some travel agencies tried to rip us off by selling us a 3 day trip -all by van at a cost of 1200 euros per person. Outrageous! After considering all options and weighing all the pros and cons, we decided to fly from Istanbul to Adiyaman and do both the sunset and sunrise tour of Nemrut Dagi. We stayed overnight at Hotel Euphrat. I e-mailed the hotel directly about the possibility of their finding us a great private guide who spoke good English. Marijke Jonker, one of the Dutch managers/owners of Hotel Euphrat arranged for us to be met by our private driver and guide at Adiyaman airport. We flew on Turkish Airways and booked our flight on line. He was waiting for us with a smile when our plane landed. His name is Sadin Karli and can be reached at sadusan_hotmail.com Sadin's English was very good (not perfect, but this was not important ) and he went the extra mile to show us all of the fabulous local sights before proceeding to our sunset tour of Nemrut. We had planned on only doing the sunset tour. However it was so magical and so special, we figured, what the heck, we're here! Let's go for the sunrise tour as well!! The roads can be quite scary and it is very comforting to have a local guide who has grown up in the area. When he took us to see Mount Nemrut at both sunset and sunrise we had the place all to ourselves at least an hour before the tour groups arrived. We felt very safe and privileged to have had him as our guide. Hotel Euphrat is not located in Kahta. Kahta is farther away from the entrance to the Nemrut National Park-at least an hour further away-so you have to get up much earlier for a sunrise tour. Hotel Euphrat is located in the hamlet of Karadut which is literally a 15 minute drive from the entrance gate to the park and perhaps another 10 minutes to the Nemrut parking lot. If you are not in shape, you had better start working out. There is quite a climb to get to the summit. There is also the challenge of the altitude. I do step and aerobic classes. My husband was winded. For those who are not up to it, they do have donkeys for hire. Swallow your pride if need be. This is not the place to have a stroke or a heart attack. While other tour groups have to get up at 1 or 2 in the morning, we could sleep in till 4:14 a.m.!! Our guide was ready for us at 4:30 a.m. This was a HUGE plus for us as we need our sleep. In the earlier planning stages of the trip, I considered flying into Malata as Lonely Planet indicates that it is easy to visit Nemrut from there. Do not do this! Nemrut is a 3 hour drive from the Malata airport and access to Nemrut from this northern side is along very dangerous roads. I am so glad we did not go this route. !In a separate trip advisor report I gave Hotel Euphrat a very good rating only because of its extremely remote location in Eastern Turkey and because of its proximity to Nemrut and its pleasant owners. There were some inconveniences that were annoying, but I think you have to be mature and look at the overall big picture. When we were there at the end of June the hotel was virtually unoccupied-many tourists had cancelled their trips to Turkey due to the overblowing of the media attention on the student protests in Istanbul. We felt completely safe at all times-Istanbul included. We were given their best room, a corner room with a mountain view. Unfortunately the air conditioning did not work and the swimming pool had not yet been filled. They were in the process of filling it the day we left! So we were hot. However the beds were comfortable, the bathroom was modern, there was a hair dryer, we had lots of hot water, the water pressure in the shower was great and the shower did not flood. Everything was clean. Since you are in the middle of nowhere you have to eat at the hotel. The food did not disappoint. You can either eat indoors or outdoors on a huge patio with a beautiful panorama. Both breakfast and dinner were very good and plentiful-with very fresh ingredients. Service was very friendly and pleasant. While the owners are Dutch, their English is not perfect, but not to worry-it is easy to make yourself understood. Take our advice and stay here-it really is the best choice. Just be realistic and don't expect the Hilton.(If you really want the Hilton you can have it-a Hilton is located about 4 hours away from Nemrut in Sanliurfa-a place we actually wanted to visit if we had had more time ).The next day we were headed to Cappadocia. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Adiyaman to the airports in Cappadocia. If we had insisted on flying again, we would have had to fly back to Istanbul and hang around the airport before taking a domestic flight to Kayseri in Cappadocia. We did not feel confident enough to rent a car as we do not know any Turkish. We took the bus from Kahta to Kayseri in Cappadocia. This trip was only supposed to take about 7 hours. There were some delays and the trip ended up taking closer to 9 hours. However there was air conditioning on the bus, the seats were very comfortable and there was a young man on board who served beverages and snacks and offered cooling face towels to freshen up. Although the bus was full of women and children and their babies miraculously there was no crying and they all slept soundly. There were two scheduled stops-one for lunch and the other a pit stop. Both places were incredibly clean-including the ladies room. Western toilets were available to my huge relief. Our guide bought our bus tickets and of course drove us to the bus station in Kahta.
Written July 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erhan Yildirim
Türkiye2,425 contributions
Aug 2019 • Couples
in 1953, an American archaeologist, Theresa Goell, made an appearance that changed the fate of Mount Nemrut. Born in 1901 in New York, Goell had studied Architecture in the States and Archaeology at Cambridge University, married a lawyer named Cyrus Levinthal, and had a son named Jay. After divorcing her husband, she decided to move to Tarsus, Mersin to participate in an excavation.
When she read the report of Punchkinn and Humann in 1947, she had decided to do her own research on Mount Nemrut, but what she did not know was that this field trip was going to change the rest of her life. It was the beginning of a love affair with Mount Nemrut that lasted 31 years. Her biggest source of motivation was her ultimate goal of locating the tomb of Antiochus.
In the 1950s, the world of archaeology was male-centric and it was unheard of for a female archaeologist to lead an excavation, especially in Turkey. Yet with her passionate and diligent work, she became the first woman to lead an excavation in Eastern Turkey.
She brought back to life not only the ancient Commagene kingdom but also Kahta, the village where Mount Nemrut is located. She helped resolve the conflicts of different communities of Kahta, providing equal job opportunities for each community and helping them create bonds and a cultural fusion, just like Antiochus did in Commagene. She refused to use a translator and always tried to communicate with the villagers one on one in Turkish. Later on, she went deaf yet this did not stop her continuing her work on Mount Nemrut. She learned how to read lips to communicate.
She was called the Queen of Mount Nemrut and loved enormously by the locals. They found it bizarre that a woman at her age would be single. Oftentimes when she was asked why she is not married, she would reply by “Well, I am married.. to Mount Nemrut!”
The legend goes that in her will, she wrote she wanted to be as close to Mount Nemrut as possible. So she was cremated and her ashes were thrown to rest in peace at the throne of the Gods where the tomb of Antiochus still remains hidden
When she read the report of Punchkinn and Humann in 1947, she had decided to do her own research on Mount Nemrut, but what she did not know was that this field trip was going to change the rest of her life. It was the beginning of a love affair with Mount Nemrut that lasted 31 years. Her biggest source of motivation was her ultimate goal of locating the tomb of Antiochus.
In the 1950s, the world of archaeology was male-centric and it was unheard of for a female archaeologist to lead an excavation, especially in Turkey. Yet with her passionate and diligent work, she became the first woman to lead an excavation in Eastern Turkey.
She brought back to life not only the ancient Commagene kingdom but also Kahta, the village where Mount Nemrut is located. She helped resolve the conflicts of different communities of Kahta, providing equal job opportunities for each community and helping them create bonds and a cultural fusion, just like Antiochus did in Commagene. She refused to use a translator and always tried to communicate with the villagers one on one in Turkish. Later on, she went deaf yet this did not stop her continuing her work on Mount Nemrut. She learned how to read lips to communicate.
She was called the Queen of Mount Nemrut and loved enormously by the locals. They found it bizarre that a woman at her age would be single. Oftentimes when she was asked why she is not married, she would reply by “Well, I am married.. to Mount Nemrut!”
The legend goes that in her will, she wrote she wanted to be as close to Mount Nemrut as possible. So she was cremated and her ashes were thrown to rest in peace at the throne of the Gods where the tomb of Antiochus still remains hidden
Written August 1, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WorldAccordingTo
Hatay2 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
Mustafa from hotel Ugur in Urfa has made it both into lonely planet as well as tripadvisor.
His tour started from Urfa at around 9.45 am for 150 TL per person.
The day started alright, Mustafa knew the places that are interesting for tourists and we covered them on our trip towards Mt Nemrud (Atatürk Baraj, Adiyaman, Karakus, Roman bridge, Kahta).
His English as well as his performance as a guide were average. He clearly has his own opinion on archeological sites and some explanations were mixed with bizarre or wrong interpretations. Throughout the whole day he seemed to be in a hurry, chasing us from sight to sight. When we asked about the itinerary or if there was time for a short swim etc, he got increasingly annoyed, made comments like "don't ask so many questions about the future!"
According to him everything was included in the tour (= lunch, dinner, entrance fees). What we didn't know was that we would have to buy our own water and that after lunch at a simple eatery in Adiyaman at 12 am there would be nothing until dinner at 9 pm at a similar eatery. Meanwhile throughout the day Mustafa took little breaks at shops where he would stock up on food in big bags - without comment and obviously not for his guests but for himself :) !
His mood deteriorated throughout the day and so did his driving.
After sunset on Mt Nemrud he seemed to have had enough of this tour and wanted to get back as fast as possible. His aura was something like "don't you dare to make any comments" whilst he raced back in his minibus. I managed to fall asleep, only to wake up from time to time, half relieved I was still alive, half terrified: Mustafa was going more than 140 kmh on windy roads, constantly on the left side of the road, cars coming towards us warning us with flashings. In towns: 100 kmh! Storming over red lights with cars everywhere ...
Our requests to drive CAREFULLY and SLOWLY visibly annoyed him and he ignored them.
We arrived in Urfa before midnight, safe and sound and full of adrenalin that kept me awake for the rest of the night.
My summary of the tour: Mt Nemrud, the historical sites on the way, the landscape - absolutely stunning! *****
Mustafa: never again.
His tour started from Urfa at around 9.45 am for 150 TL per person.
The day started alright, Mustafa knew the places that are interesting for tourists and we covered them on our trip towards Mt Nemrud (Atatürk Baraj, Adiyaman, Karakus, Roman bridge, Kahta).
His English as well as his performance as a guide were average. He clearly has his own opinion on archeological sites and some explanations were mixed with bizarre or wrong interpretations. Throughout the whole day he seemed to be in a hurry, chasing us from sight to sight. When we asked about the itinerary or if there was time for a short swim etc, he got increasingly annoyed, made comments like "don't ask so many questions about the future!"
According to him everything was included in the tour (= lunch, dinner, entrance fees). What we didn't know was that we would have to buy our own water and that after lunch at a simple eatery in Adiyaman at 12 am there would be nothing until dinner at 9 pm at a similar eatery. Meanwhile throughout the day Mustafa took little breaks at shops where he would stock up on food in big bags - without comment and obviously not for his guests but for himself :) !
His mood deteriorated throughout the day and so did his driving.
After sunset on Mt Nemrud he seemed to have had enough of this tour and wanted to get back as fast as possible. His aura was something like "don't you dare to make any comments" whilst he raced back in his minibus. I managed to fall asleep, only to wake up from time to time, half relieved I was still alive, half terrified: Mustafa was going more than 140 kmh on windy roads, constantly on the left side of the road, cars coming towards us warning us with flashings. In towns: 100 kmh! Storming over red lights with cars everywhere ...
Our requests to drive CAREFULLY and SLOWLY visibly annoyed him and he ignored them.
We arrived in Urfa before midnight, safe and sound and full of adrenalin that kept me awake for the rest of the night.
My summary of the tour: Mt Nemrud, the historical sites on the way, the landscape - absolutely stunning! *****
Mustafa: never again.
Written August 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erhan Yildirim
Türkiye2,425 contributions
Oct 2020
The Little Kingdom of antiquity... I'll tell you about the tumulus built(nemrut-arsemia-karakus) and the lion Horoscope belonging to the kingdom of Commagene, which welcomes hundreds of thousands of tourists every year…
the capital of the Commagene Kingdom, samsat(samosata), is an ancient kingdom that ruled between 163 BC and 72 AD, covering today's Adiyaman and surrounding provinces(perre,duluk,zeugma,gurgum….)
it was established in the territory of the kingdom called kummuh during the late Hittite States.(Carchemish ,Milid,Que ,Tabal,Gurgum,Kummuh..BC 12-8 century).the Commagene dynasty is based on Alexander the great and the Hellenes, and again on the Persians through darius.the Great King antiochus mentions his ancestors in the inscription on the back of the thrones found on Nemrut tumulus.
Lion Horoscope
the cult of worship and faith in the sun,moon and stars in the sky, which dates back tens of thousands of years to today, still continues its influence in both the cult,beliefs and some traditions of Customs and behavior.
this lion Horoscope statue, made in relief, was discovered in 1882 by German archaeologist Otto puchstein on the western terrace of the Nemrut tumulus.
the weight and dimensions of the statue are approximately 3500 kg,height 1.84 m,length 2.42 m and width 0.71 m.
the lion has 19 stars on its body ,3 planets just above its back and a crescent moon below its mane.
the planet has Greek names written on the symbols(the flaming one of Heracles, the gleaming one of Apollo, the radiating one of
God/Zeus).the symbol of Herakles is mars, the symbol of Apollo is Mercury, and the symbol of Zeus is Jupiter.Stars are symbolized slightly smaller than planets.the crescent symbol under the lion's Mane may represent the fertile land of commagene.(Goddess
Tyche/Kommagene)
some sources say that the stars and planets above the lion statue were made to express a special history.as mentioned in the Nemrut tumulus inscriptions, there are 2 special days specified for the ceremony of the kingdom.the positions of stars and planets on the horoscope sculpture say it was used to refer to 98 BC or 62 BC date(there are different thoughts about dates).The dates of King Antiochus ' birth(98 BC) and accession to the throne(62 BC).
the detailed work that astrologers and astronomers have done on this horoscope statue gives us very interesting information.Again in some sources, the event in the sky (the position of the stars and the planets) that can only occur once every 25 thousand years is described.Regulus, the brightest member of the lion constellation(leon minor), has been a recognized and important star from the earliest times.In Sky mythology, the sickle(crescent) and Regulus form The Lion's Mane, head and chest.the king antiochos symbolized himself as a lion, the people as the stars, the crescent fertile land, and the planet as a god.
The reason why the regulus star has been important since ancient times is that it can be seen at certain times of the year. This is the time to inform that it is time to harvest and sow the grain in the fertile lands.some reserches also told The lion horoscope statue is said to indicate the exact date of 5 July (10 of loos month Ancient Macedonian calendar) and 10 January(16 of audnaios month Ancient Macedonian calendar)...In ancient times and in the Commagene region, July 5 is the time when the harvest began, and the last time the star Regulus was seen at dusk after sunset.and In ancient times and in the Commagene region, January 10 is the time when grain began to be planted, and the last time the star Regulus was seen at dusk after sunset.In other words, the months and days that the lion horoscope sculpture tells us are actually the beginning of life and agriculture, the time of life and the time of resurrection.Until the last century and even today, in societies where agriculture is still carried out in primitive ways, it is decided to harvest and plant grain by looking at the regulus star.
the capital of the Commagene Kingdom, samsat(samosata), is an ancient kingdom that ruled between 163 BC and 72 AD, covering today's Adiyaman and surrounding provinces(perre,duluk,zeugma,gurgum….)
it was established in the territory of the kingdom called kummuh during the late Hittite States.(Carchemish ,Milid,Que ,Tabal,Gurgum,Kummuh..BC 12-8 century).the Commagene dynasty is based on Alexander the great and the Hellenes, and again on the Persians through darius.the Great King antiochus mentions his ancestors in the inscription on the back of the thrones found on Nemrut tumulus.
Lion Horoscope
the cult of worship and faith in the sun,moon and stars in the sky, which dates back tens of thousands of years to today, still continues its influence in both the cult,beliefs and some traditions of Customs and behavior.
this lion Horoscope statue, made in relief, was discovered in 1882 by German archaeologist Otto puchstein on the western terrace of the Nemrut tumulus.
the weight and dimensions of the statue are approximately 3500 kg,height 1.84 m,length 2.42 m and width 0.71 m.
the lion has 19 stars on its body ,3 planets just above its back and a crescent moon below its mane.
the planet has Greek names written on the symbols(the flaming one of Heracles, the gleaming one of Apollo, the radiating one of
God/Zeus).the symbol of Herakles is mars, the symbol of Apollo is Mercury, and the symbol of Zeus is Jupiter.Stars are symbolized slightly smaller than planets.the crescent symbol under the lion's Mane may represent the fertile land of commagene.(Goddess
Tyche/Kommagene)
some sources say that the stars and planets above the lion statue were made to express a special history.as mentioned in the Nemrut tumulus inscriptions, there are 2 special days specified for the ceremony of the kingdom.the positions of stars and planets on the horoscope sculpture say it was used to refer to 98 BC or 62 BC date(there are different thoughts about dates).The dates of King Antiochus ' birth(98 BC) and accession to the throne(62 BC).
the detailed work that astrologers and astronomers have done on this horoscope statue gives us very interesting information.Again in some sources, the event in the sky (the position of the stars and the planets) that can only occur once every 25 thousand years is described.Regulus, the brightest member of the lion constellation(leon minor), has been a recognized and important star from the earliest times.In Sky mythology, the sickle(crescent) and Regulus form The Lion's Mane, head and chest.the king antiochos symbolized himself as a lion, the people as the stars, the crescent fertile land, and the planet as a god.
The reason why the regulus star has been important since ancient times is that it can be seen at certain times of the year. This is the time to inform that it is time to harvest and sow the grain in the fertile lands.some reserches also told The lion horoscope statue is said to indicate the exact date of 5 July (10 of loos month Ancient Macedonian calendar) and 10 January(16 of audnaios month Ancient Macedonian calendar)...In ancient times and in the Commagene region, July 5 is the time when the harvest began, and the last time the star Regulus was seen at dusk after sunset.and In ancient times and in the Commagene region, January 10 is the time when grain began to be planted, and the last time the star Regulus was seen at dusk after sunset.In other words, the months and days that the lion horoscope sculpture tells us are actually the beginning of life and agriculture, the time of life and the time of resurrection.Until the last century and even today, in societies where agriculture is still carried out in primitive ways, it is decided to harvest and plant grain by looking at the regulus star.
Written December 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ThunderstruckGypsy
Boston, MA31 contributions
Sep 2014 • Solo
I stayed at Nemrut Kervansaray (Karadut, Turkey) and arose at 4:30 a.m. to drive up the mountain to Nemrut Dagi National Park. Getting up to the parking lot is part one of the adventure. There is a building to sit and have a hot coffee or tea (mornings are a bit chilly) before you set out for the hike.
The trail leading up the Eastern side of the mountain was a bit steep and rough with loose rocks and gravel. I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath, but it was do-able. Just when you are thinking "When am I going to get there?" you are steps away! However, the Western side has level walkways and steps. Both lead into the parking lot. Depending on your condition you may want to allow a bit of extra time if you want to do the Western path.
Eastern side reached and along with our fellow hikers (some wearing flip flops - you've got to be kidding!) there was a group of about 100 people gathered on a ledge and clusters here and there. I found myself a comfortable nook and we all faced East awaiting the sun.
The people on the ledge started playing flutes and other hand held instruments,they started singing as a thin slice of red light appeared over a distant mountain. I was awestruck with the stunning visual sight of the sunrise and the joyous music of this land.
It was incredibly unforgettable, you have to go for the sunrise if you are going to visit !!
Soon the mountain was bathed in bright light and a new day begun. Time to take pictures of the statues Antiochus erected for his tomb. There is a set of headless statues (don't worry the heads are nearby) facing East, and as you continue along the trail, another set facing West for the sunset. The trip down is much easier of course.
The summit of this mountain is a man-made pile of loose rocks, the tomb is underneath. It is a bit mind boggling to wonder how they dragged tons of gravel up that steep hike to construct this.
The trail leading up the Eastern side of the mountain was a bit steep and rough with loose rocks and gravel. I had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath, but it was do-able. Just when you are thinking "When am I going to get there?" you are steps away! However, the Western side has level walkways and steps. Both lead into the parking lot. Depending on your condition you may want to allow a bit of extra time if you want to do the Western path.
Eastern side reached and along with our fellow hikers (some wearing flip flops - you've got to be kidding!) there was a group of about 100 people gathered on a ledge and clusters here and there. I found myself a comfortable nook and we all faced East awaiting the sun.
The people on the ledge started playing flutes and other hand held instruments,they started singing as a thin slice of red light appeared over a distant mountain. I was awestruck with the stunning visual sight of the sunrise and the joyous music of this land.
It was incredibly unforgettable, you have to go for the sunrise if you are going to visit !!
Soon the mountain was bathed in bright light and a new day begun. Time to take pictures of the statues Antiochus erected for his tomb. There is a set of headless statues (don't worry the heads are nearby) facing East, and as you continue along the trail, another set facing West for the sunset. The trip down is much easier of course.
The summit of this mountain is a man-made pile of loose rocks, the tomb is underneath. It is a bit mind boggling to wonder how they dragged tons of gravel up that steep hike to construct this.
Written April 29, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
EliseS92
Wassenaar, The Netherlands21 contributions
Jul 2013 • Couples
One of the most beautiful places in Eastern Turkey. We (two students) noticed it was difficult to find a cheap way to visit the place. In the end we went from Sanliurfa with our hotel owner Mustafa (Hotel Ugur, musma63@yahoo.com). He made our day, we first went to the Ataturk Baraj, Karakus, Cendere Bridge, Yeni Köprü, Yeni Kale, Kahta, Arsemia and finally to Nemrut Dagi. Including two meals and some drinks we only paid 130 turkish lira. We left the hotel at 10 in the morning and we were back at 12 at night. Besides that we had a lot of fun with eachother. If I ever return to Sanliurfa I am sure I will do the tour again.
Written August 19, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Palaceinwonderland
London, UK24 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
Me and a friend travelled for 8 days Kars–Doğubeyazit-Van-Diyarbikir, we wanted to visit three sites: the ancient capital of the Armenians (Ani), a palace on a hill overlooking the valley (Ishak Paşa Palace in Doğubeyazit) and Nemrut Daği statues, 2 hours from Diyarbikir. As we were looking for a lot of info before we left, I thought I would share some things which would have helped us along the way:
Some things we observed: As a female traveller, I was relieved to be travelling with a guy, we found numerous times that men along the way would tell me one thing and my male friend something else, doğubeyazit in particular had a heavy male presence on the streets. Also, we were often the only foreigners in a city, which can be quite daunting when a lot of people stare. This is also of course what attracted us to the region (not the staring), as well as the cooler temperatures in August for Turkey. Speaking a bit of Turkish was slightly useful but in the Kurdish areas this is limited and you will be very lucky to find someone who speaks English, even in some bigger hotels. Lastly, it can’t be overstated that people we came across were extremely warm and generous, these moments made our trip very special.
Day 1: Arrived Kars, a shiny new airport in the middle of the steppe. 20 minute taxi to the Hotel Katarina SArayi (I have written a separate review), lovely location just outside the centre on a river with trees and a garden at the front. Followed the Lonely Planet’s restaurant recommendations and liked both. Tip: Read Snow by Orhan Pamuk, set here.
Day 2: Went on a private tour or Ani, Çildir Lake and Seytan Castle with tour guide Celil (+90 532 226 3966) who also took us to a great fish restaurant on the lake. Very knowledgeable and can easily talk for 10 hours about the area Wasn’t the cheapest tour (this is also a set price so the more people there are, you just split the cost), but spending a whole day exploring these sites was definitely worth it and with just the two of us we could spend as much time as we wanted at Ani. Just incredible site, don’t miss it.
Day 3: Got a bus to Iğdir (a couple of police check points), as it was a holiday there was only one bus that day but usually more frequent. Then a dolmuş (smaller minivan) to Doğubeyazit, around 45 minutes (1 police check point) and drops you at the central bus station very small. Walked 8 mins to the Tehran Boutique Hotel, nicely surprised by the place with 7th floor terrace overlooking Mount Ararat and Işak Paşa Palace, if you want it they have beers, or you can buy alcohol in the bigger MMigros you will find on the main car street. Guy at reception told us all the restaurants and supermarkets were closed for the holiday (wrong) and also Işak Paşa palace (also wrong), also told me that the drinks at the bar were just for photos (totally wrong and frustrating that he lied to me so blatently). Basically, didn’t know much, better just to go and explore for yourself. Late lunch at Diyarbakir café on pedestrianised street, got what we were served, excellent fresh ayran and salads.
Day 4: There are no postcards in Doğubeyazit! Searched but nothing, got the dolmuş up to the palace for 5tl for 2 (about 15 mins from the Beledıyesi – town hall), we climbed above the car park (here you will find souvenir places with a few postcards left from the 90s, or earlier) to get a better view, about 20 families (big ones) grilling their meat from the day before’s sacrifice of the sheep holiday. One family invited us for a photo, then tea, then full on meal which left us stuffed and incredibly touched. One of the ladies gave me her headscarf when I commented on how I loved the colours. Climbed up to a wall of rock to get another view, you can only fit through this gap if you haven’t eaten too much baklava already on your trip. Then to the palace, very reasonable entrance fee, didn’t understand the written guide so much but a beautiful site, both inside and out.
Day 5: There are a couple of bus companies in each Turkish city, best to just go straight there and ask times for the place you want to go to. Generally women and men are seated separately so even though we got seats next to each other, we then had to split up for two women and sit next to our respective genders. 2.5 hour bus ride to Van where we saw the castle complete with 3 wedding couples posing for wedding photos, then a friend took us to an excellent restaurant above a petrol station (don’t judge Turkish restaurants by their look go for the fullest ones, Turkish food is excellent and Turkish people know all the best places to go). Didn’t get to see much of Van, but even my friend who is from there said you can spend a day or less there. Arrived too late for Akdamer Island. The BestVan night bus to Diyarbakir went through many many police checks. Not the best night’s sleep but entertaining to understand some of Turkish culture and society, one that spans a huge country and many many cultures, traditions, histories and peoples. Tea provided onboard.
Day 6: Woke up at 5am arrival in Diyarbakır, 31degrees celsius already in August. Cab to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn with pool, excellent breakfast and pool and comfy beds), they let us check in early and it was very reasonable (around 30 euros), totally worth it. Spent the day enjoying the pool as it was so hot, ventured into the old city around 6pm to see the Grand Mosque and old markets which close around sunset and got to see a wedding that night.
Day 7: Got a transfer for 300tl from Nemrut Dagi Kervansaray Hotel from Diyarbikir as we couldn’t find any direct buses and had limited time. Went up to see the sunset at Nemrut Daği (leave at least 1.5 hours at least before sunset, the walk is around 30 from the Dolmus stop and it can take 30 mins to reach that point from Kahta). Chose this hotel as they had a pool…which turned out to be empty. Staff didn’t greet us as we arrived which felt strange compared to others’ warm welcomes. You will find it a challenge to avoid the crowds but totally worth it. A delicious dinner back at the hotel was included in the price of the room.
Day 8:Tonnes of tourists taking selfies at sunset so we went again at sunrise, while everyone huddled on the east terrace to watch the sunrise, we went to the west terrace and got a peaceful moment with these beautiful monuments to a past civilisation, the only ones there. Osman from the hotel drove us back to Diyarbikir for 300tl and for an additional fee, the valley tour where you see some pretty incredible sites. You will notice that Turkish people are constantly on the phone, Osman must have taken about 20 phone calls on his two phones (sometimes simultaneously, elbow steering) on the way. In Diyarbakir ventured out to the old town, intense side streets, felt like a souk and very different to other parts of Turkey, check out the Kultur Evi, live music 15:30-19:30 every day and Erdebil Köşkü Aile Café, nice views over the old bridge and city walls, accessible an old and very slow funicular.
Some things we observed: As a female traveller, I was relieved to be travelling with a guy, we found numerous times that men along the way would tell me one thing and my male friend something else, doğubeyazit in particular had a heavy male presence on the streets. Also, we were often the only foreigners in a city, which can be quite daunting when a lot of people stare. This is also of course what attracted us to the region (not the staring), as well as the cooler temperatures in August for Turkey. Speaking a bit of Turkish was slightly useful but in the Kurdish areas this is limited and you will be very lucky to find someone who speaks English, even in some bigger hotels. Lastly, it can’t be overstated that people we came across were extremely warm and generous, these moments made our trip very special.
Day 1: Arrived Kars, a shiny new airport in the middle of the steppe. 20 minute taxi to the Hotel Katarina SArayi (I have written a separate review), lovely location just outside the centre on a river with trees and a garden at the front. Followed the Lonely Planet’s restaurant recommendations and liked both. Tip: Read Snow by Orhan Pamuk, set here.
Day 2: Went on a private tour or Ani, Çildir Lake and Seytan Castle with tour guide Celil (+90 532 226 3966) who also took us to a great fish restaurant on the lake. Very knowledgeable and can easily talk for 10 hours about the area Wasn’t the cheapest tour (this is also a set price so the more people there are, you just split the cost), but spending a whole day exploring these sites was definitely worth it and with just the two of us we could spend as much time as we wanted at Ani. Just incredible site, don’t miss it.
Day 3: Got a bus to Iğdir (a couple of police check points), as it was a holiday there was only one bus that day but usually more frequent. Then a dolmuş (smaller minivan) to Doğubeyazit, around 45 minutes (1 police check point) and drops you at the central bus station very small. Walked 8 mins to the Tehran Boutique Hotel, nicely surprised by the place with 7th floor terrace overlooking Mount Ararat and Işak Paşa Palace, if you want it they have beers, or you can buy alcohol in the bigger MMigros you will find on the main car street. Guy at reception told us all the restaurants and supermarkets were closed for the holiday (wrong) and also Işak Paşa palace (also wrong), also told me that the drinks at the bar were just for photos (totally wrong and frustrating that he lied to me so blatently). Basically, didn’t know much, better just to go and explore for yourself. Late lunch at Diyarbakir café on pedestrianised street, got what we were served, excellent fresh ayran and salads.
Day 4: There are no postcards in Doğubeyazit! Searched but nothing, got the dolmuş up to the palace for 5tl for 2 (about 15 mins from the Beledıyesi – town hall), we climbed above the car park (here you will find souvenir places with a few postcards left from the 90s, or earlier) to get a better view, about 20 families (big ones) grilling their meat from the day before’s sacrifice of the sheep holiday. One family invited us for a photo, then tea, then full on meal which left us stuffed and incredibly touched. One of the ladies gave me her headscarf when I commented on how I loved the colours. Climbed up to a wall of rock to get another view, you can only fit through this gap if you haven’t eaten too much baklava already on your trip. Then to the palace, very reasonable entrance fee, didn’t understand the written guide so much but a beautiful site, both inside and out.
Day 5: There are a couple of bus companies in each Turkish city, best to just go straight there and ask times for the place you want to go to. Generally women and men are seated separately so even though we got seats next to each other, we then had to split up for two women and sit next to our respective genders. 2.5 hour bus ride to Van where we saw the castle complete with 3 wedding couples posing for wedding photos, then a friend took us to an excellent restaurant above a petrol station (don’t judge Turkish restaurants by their look go for the fullest ones, Turkish food is excellent and Turkish people know all the best places to go). Didn’t get to see much of Van, but even my friend who is from there said you can spend a day or less there. Arrived too late for Akdamer Island. The BestVan night bus to Diyarbakir went through many many police checks. Not the best night’s sleep but entertaining to understand some of Turkish culture and society, one that spans a huge country and many many cultures, traditions, histories and peoples. Tea provided onboard.
Day 6: Woke up at 5am arrival in Diyarbakır, 31degrees celsius already in August. Cab to our hotel (Hilton Garden Inn with pool, excellent breakfast and pool and comfy beds), they let us check in early and it was very reasonable (around 30 euros), totally worth it. Spent the day enjoying the pool as it was so hot, ventured into the old city around 6pm to see the Grand Mosque and old markets which close around sunset and got to see a wedding that night.
Day 7: Got a transfer for 300tl from Nemrut Dagi Kervansaray Hotel from Diyarbikir as we couldn’t find any direct buses and had limited time. Went up to see the sunset at Nemrut Daği (leave at least 1.5 hours at least before sunset, the walk is around 30 from the Dolmus stop and it can take 30 mins to reach that point from Kahta). Chose this hotel as they had a pool…which turned out to be empty. Staff didn’t greet us as we arrived which felt strange compared to others’ warm welcomes. You will find it a challenge to avoid the crowds but totally worth it. A delicious dinner back at the hotel was included in the price of the room.
Day 8:Tonnes of tourists taking selfies at sunset so we went again at sunrise, while everyone huddled on the east terrace to watch the sunrise, we went to the west terrace and got a peaceful moment with these beautiful monuments to a past civilisation, the only ones there. Osman from the hotel drove us back to Diyarbikir for 300tl and for an additional fee, the valley tour where you see some pretty incredible sites. You will notice that Turkish people are constantly on the phone, Osman must have taken about 20 phone calls on his two phones (sometimes simultaneously, elbow steering) on the way. In Diyarbakir ventured out to the old town, intense side streets, felt like a souk and very different to other parts of Turkey, check out the Kultur Evi, live music 15:30-19:30 every day and Erdebil Köşkü Aile Café, nice views over the old bridge and city walls, accessible an old and very slow funicular.
Written August 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sebastian8125
Zurich, Switzerland24 contributions
Sep 2014 • Family
From car park walk about 20 minutes to top. The views are amazing. We were among quite a crowd of tourists on an early September morning at 6am. Definitely a highlight for travelers East of Ankara. The park also has other ruins from the period worth seeing but hard to reach if traveling public transport.
Written September 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reneemia37
Miami14 contributions
Jun 2011 • Couples
The drive to the summit included an old castle at Arsemeia and the Roman Cendere Bridge which is still in use. The countryside is quite beautiful, and the time ascending the mountain was well worth the effort. The complex is located at approximately 8000 feet, and was built 2000 years ago by Antiochus, as a memory to his divine ancestry. When we arrived and I saw how steep the climb would be over very irregular terrain I thought I would never get to see what we had come for.............but just as we started our trek, our guide spotted some donkeys, and our driver hailed one for me. Thirty lira later, I was near the top and the amazing heads, which are five gods and three animals, lay before me. The view, the statues and the people gathered were truly an amazing sight to see. We waited more than an hour to see the sunset, meanwhile watching the people...........we met so many from all over the world and chatted awhile, took photographs, and just waited for the show...........and what an awe inspiring display it was. The sky turned from blue, to pink, yellow and red within a few minutes. Afterward the large crowd of people dispersed quietly and walked down the mountain in silence. I would advise an afternoon visit to see the sunset, rather than a morning trek for the sunrise. We stayed in Adiyaman at a forgettable hotel, arranged by Rock Valley Travel Company which I would not recommend If you are touring Eastern Turkey. All that being said, do not miss the inspiring phenomenon at Nemrut Dagi.
Written November 1, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melissa W
Hong Kong, China140 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
First, if you are going to Nemrut Dagi by self driving, DO NOT follow the road sign. We distrusted our trustworthy TOMTOM and follow the road sign. Only to find out we were directed to the "professional way" up the hill. So if you are driving in some of the most dangerous unpaved road, you may consider to turn back and find the way other people including tours use. But Nemrut Dagi itself is so amazing. It is one of the most unique place.
Written November 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nisan ayı ilk haftası gezi için uygun mudur? Konu hakkında yardımcı olabilecek varsa müteşekkir olurum.
Written March 4, 2020
We will be in Izmir for half a day in May. We will be flying from Cappadocia to Izmir in the morning. Is it possible to drive up to Nemrut and back in few hr? Google map seems to think so... Will it be hectic?
Can't make it to the sunrise
Written February 2, 2020
Se é possível visitar o Monte Nemrut no início de Fevereiro.
Written October 22, 2019
Buongiorno, sarò in Turchia a metà settembre. Mi vorrei regalare l'emozione di visitare il sito di Nemrut Dagi. Quale areoporto di arrivo mi consigliate? quale albergo? vorrei arrivare con il programma già stilato. Qualcuno mi sa dire se on line posso prenotare in anticipo l'escursione al sito?
Grazie
Written August 23, 2019
Buongiorno, sarò in Turchia a fine Aprile volevo sapere se è possibile e sicuro visitare Nemrut Dagi in quel periodo. Grazie
Written January 31, 2019
Hallo! Ich würde gerne jetzt im Mai auf dem Landweg von Kayseri zum Nemrut Dagi reisen!
Ist das im Moment sicher? Gibts da Erfahrungen?
Written May 7, 2018
Kingsahmet
Aydin, Türkiye
Hallo. Im Mai besteht kein Risiko. Es wäre noch besser. Sie können sowohl den Sonnenuntergang als auch den Sonnenaufgang beobachten, indem Sie nachts dort campen. Es wird großartig sein. Kann es auf jeden Fall empfehlen.
Written December 11, 2018
It is useful sleep in Karadut or in a b & b near to park gate . So will be easier to rise to Nimrut Dag top in in every time of the day if the wheater is good
Written January 30, 2017
hi, would you mind to share which tour group you used? im thanks in advance.. :)
Written August 31, 2015
I used Mysia - they are based in Istanbul.
Written September 1, 2015
hi, I really want to know how to get there? you drive yourself? is there any tour available since im bringing my grandma there... is it safe enough for her? thanks in advance for the sharing... :)
Written August 31, 2015
Hi friends,
I want to visit Nemrut the last weekend in April. Will the mountain be accessible that time of year? Thanks in advance.
Liz
Written January 13, 2015
Hi Liz,
The obvious risk is snow. We stayed at Nemrut Kervansaray which is significantly up the mountain from Kahta . I suggest you contact them and inquire.
Written January 14, 2015
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