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TravelTips24 : Europe : Turkey : South-eastern Anatolia

South-eastern Anatolia

South-eastern Anatolia (Guney Dogu Anadolu), unofficially known in a geographical sense as Turkish Kurdistan, is a region in the south east of Turkey. It borders Syria and Iraq to the south, and Iran to the East.

Provinces

  • Adiyaman Province
  • Batman Province
  • Diyarbakir Province
  • Gaziantep Province
  • Kilis Province
  • Mardin Province
  • Şanlıurfa Province
  • Siirt Province
  • Şırnak Province

Cities

Other destinations

Culture and History

Talk

While traveling in southeastern Anatolia, it is important to be conscious of whom you are speaking with. At military checkpoints, Turkish and English will suffice (most Turkish officers speak some English, usually due to previous training in the United States); it is critical not to test your smattering of Kurdish words with the Turkish military. When amongst Kurdish friends, the Kurdish language is appropriate, but be sure not to place your hosts in an uncomfortable situation by speaking in Kurdish while other Turks are present.

Arabic might also be useful as it is the mother tongue of many people living in the western and southern parts of the region, especially in and around Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, and Mardin.

Many Arabic and Farsi expressions have made their way into the local vernacular.

Travel to South-eastern Anatolia & Visa Requirements

While not on the same level as the buses in western Anatolia, bus service into and throughout southeastern Anatolia is decent enough. You'll find buses running between most major destinations daily (oftentimes more than once daily). In the very deep southeast around Sirnak, Beytussebap and Hakkari, dolmus (shared van-taxis) and minibuses are far more common but do not run as frequently or on as tight a schedule.

Tours & Getting around South-eastern Anatolia

Bus and minibus service is generally robust, although schedules are not closely adhered to and you may find yourself waiting an extra hour or two for that minibus that everyone has been promising will arrive soon. Private vehicles often serve as taxis but for fees that are higher than one would expect. Be ready to haggle. It is generally not advisable to hitchhike in southeastern Anatolia as the PKK operates in the Kandil Mountains and have previously raided private traffic on the main roads.

South-eastern Anatolia attractions and sightseeing

Itineraries

If militant activity is quiet, take the highway from Sirnak to Hakkari, with a detour north to Beytussebap. The highway skirts along the Habur River, the border between Turkey and Iraq, and affords spectacular views of the Kandil Mountains. A few minibuses run daily from Sirnak to Beytussebap. A morning dolmus (shared van-taxi) runs daily from Beytussebap to Hakkari, where you can catch proper coaches for northern destinations.

South-eastern Anatolia city tours

South-eastern Anatolia Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

South-eastern Anatolia nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Tea ("chay"): it's everywhere. Be sure to add copious amounts of sugar. Anything less than three cubes just won't do.

Stay safe

Stay abreast of the news in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey before and during your visit to the region. The politics of the region is very fluid with the Turkish government threatening military intervention into northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) making raids on military outposts as well as attacking civilian targets like minibuses. The Turkish military will sometimes declare security zones in the area, making civilian travel to the region impossible. It is often best to talk to fellow travelers in Istanbul, Ankara or, even better, Diyarbakir before making your way into the deep southeast. Don't trust the Istanbulites who will suggest that you won't live through any visit east of Ankara. A vast majority of them have never left Istanbul. A trip to southeastern Anatolia is very much feasible and, for the most part, safe. The deep southeast should be done with more caution, but it too is possible for the hardy traveler.

Get out

Don't: It's far too beautiful.

This page was last edited at 00:57, on 22 September 2008 by Wikitravel user Vidimian. Based on work by Bertil Videt and Tim Sandell, Wikitravel user(s) Snowshark, Episteme and WindHorse and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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