Day 1 - Arrival
Riding: No riding.
Your hosts will meet you at Sanliurfa airport and transfer to you to Sarmaşık Otel where you will stay at a boutique hotel (or similar) in Sanliurfa. Once all your fellow riders have arrived you will enjoy dinner together and have a briefing about the trail.
Day 2 - Urfa Castle, Balikligol, Gobekli Tepe
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
After an early breakfast you will head to the stables for your first ride. Today you will cover around 20-25 km through cotton and spice pepper fields and villages. Ride from the stable in Sanliurfa countryside to the oldest temple found in the world. Gobekli Tepe was constructed around 12000 years ago and was discovered by German archeologist Klaus Shmidt in 1960. The sight is twice as old than the Egyptian Pyramids and still scientists cannot understand its writings. Meanwhile latest research show that there are about 18 enclosures in the area however only 4 have been excavated. The size and accuracy of the construction makes quite an impression.
After your ride you will have time to go back to the hotel to freshen up before you go for lunch and sightseeing. You will visit the Urfa castle where prophet Abraham was executed and Balikligol – the lake full of carps. According to the Bible legend this lake appeared in the place where Abraham’s burning body fell down from the castle wall. Abraham’s grave is also believed to be here.
The rest of the day you can spend walking in the old Bazaar until you meet for dinner. You will stay at the same hotel overnight,
Day 3 - Karaali Thermal Waters
Riding: 7 - 8 hours
After early breakfast you will check out of the hotel and head to the horses. You will be riding for up to 8 hours today (35kms), away from the city to quiet villages and long sandy roads. You will see workers in fields and sheep grazing, the road is flat and perfect for some gallops. You will have lunch enroute and reach your next hotel, a local thermal resort, in the evening. Enjoy a hot shower before dinner.
Day 4 - Karaali – Karahan Tepe – Senem Caves – Sogmatar.
Riding: 8 - 10 hours
Today is another long day riding, you will cover approx 45 kms. After breakfast in the hotel, you will start your journey to the next historical point. Karahan Tepe is known as oldest permanent settlement on Earth (older than 12000 years). It is assumed to be the time of human transition from nomad to agricultural lifestyle. It’s really impressive as the city is carved from stone plateau directly out of bedrock which is really long-term work, especially as at that time human lifespan was only about 35 years. The site is still not open for visitors, and the culture doesn’t have a name. There are about 40 similar sights in the area and there and only 5% are excavated. Now the landscape is a deserted steppe but it used to be green forest with crocodiles, wolves, bears, giraffes and leopards. The terrain is similar to the Mongolian steppe with green grass and stones here and there.
You will also visit Senem caves where locals authentically rebuilt the city to create local houses. You can enter the remains of Sogmatar city which used to be Mesopotamian necropolis city transformed by Romans in the town of temples: 75 Mesopotamian tombs and Roman style chambers are preserved in the fields. In Bible times the place was known for the well built by Moses himself, it still gives water to livestock as centuries ago and keeps Moses’ name. You will be able to talk to locals living in the village.
Enjoy a picnic lunch enroute before riding back to your overnight stay in Karaali hotel.
Day 5 - Sogmatar – Suayb Antic city – Han el Barur Kervansaray – Bazda Caves
Riding: 7 - 8 hours
Today you ride 35 kms through more antient sites. From Suayb to 700 year old Han el Barur Kervansaray, an ancient hotel for caravan travelers. Now its fully restored so visitors can see how the way it was in time gone by. There are also underground cities and churches in the area. If you have ridden in Cappadocia, you will certainly feel at home here.
After lunch on the way you will see Bazda Caves – historical stone quarries used for building up all the constructions in the area, based on Arabic inscriptions on the walls it was last used in 13th century.
The horses will stay in the village and riders will go back to the hotel in Karaali by transfer.
Day 6 - Bazda Caves – Harran
Riding: 3 - 4 hours
Today's ride is shorter to give the horses a rest and takes you to Harran, the ancient city that witnessed Mesopotamian and Assyrian Empires, Babylonians, Persians, Romans and Ottomans,
Harran is famous for many things but perhaps firstly for unique beehive houses architecture you cannot find anywhere else in the world. Secondly, as the world's first University.... within all empires it was an educational centre during the 9th - 13th centuries and was home for about 9000 students learning math, astronomy, philosophy and medicine.
Harran was also the 1st place declared holy in the Bible and the home of Bedouin tribes who changed their nomadic life for
farming and motherland of our host Isa. The Tower of Harran Mosque is commonly seen depicted on Taro cards symbolizing
“Destruction and rebirth”.
With all these interesting and historical facts - Harran is a place that must be visited.
You will have lunch and dinner in the village and plenty of time in the afternoon to explore while the horses take a rest. Overnight you will stay in the traditional beehive houses.
Day 7 - Harran – Sanliurfa
Riding: 7 - 8 hours
Your long ride today (40km) will take you back to modern civilization. You will ride through fields and tracks where you will have plenty of fast canters.
After you say goodbye to your horses, you will have time to freshen up in your hotel before meeting for a fancy farewell dinner in Urfa,
Day 8 - Departure
Riding: No riding.
After breakfast your hosts will drop you to the airport for your journey home.
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.
