The Turkish region of South-East Anatolia is located in the far east of the country, bordered by Syria to the south and Iraq to the southeast. Although the region doesn't have a coastline, the western parts are within driving distance of the Mediterranean coast, though there are so many unique and fascinating destinations in South-East Anatolia itself that you may find you have no time for a day trip to the beach!
History lovers, or anyone with an interest in learning about new cultures, will find plenty to interest them in South-East Anatolia. The main highway that makes its way through the region and into Iraq also passes through or near to most of the major tourist destinations in the area.
The ancient town of Adiyaman is worth visiting for the unusual statues, which adorn the slopes of nearby Nemrut Mountain, while Gaziantep is famous for its mosaics and its sweet baklava! The religious centre of Sanliurfa is reported to be where Abraham was born and is also proud of its culinary specialities, including a very bitter coffee called mirra.
Visitors to Harran can tour the unique beehive-shaped houses that have been built here for centuries while Mardin is home to dozens of examples of Roman, Byzantine and Assyrian architecture. Finally, the ruins of the city of Hasankeyf are still a mystery to archaeologists, but evidence in the nearby caves, which are open to visitors, suggests that people have been living on this site for thousands of years.
Southeast Anatolia's natural scenery has remained unspoilt, thanks to the lack of development in its towns and cities. The only major building projects are a series of dams, but this has lead to the creation of the Ataturk Dam Lake, a popular destination for locals and visitors on warm summer days thanks to the man-made beaches around its shore, water sports activities on offer and the fabulous views you can enjoy while relaxing in the sun. In winter, you can even have a go at skiing in South-East Anatolia, particularly in the area around Mount Suphan and Mount Ararat.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in the South East Anatolia region? Then below is a selection of apartments in the South East Anatolia region and villas in the South East Anatolia region that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
