Best Hasankeyf Tours & Things to Do at Hasankeyf | Turkey

✓ Last reviewed: May 2026 — Verified and updated by our licensed Turkey travel experts. Quick Answer: A visit to Hasankeyf, Turkey, involves exploring the new Cultural Park where ancient monuments were relocated from the original city, now submerged by the Ilısu Dam . It's best experienced as part of a multi-day Eastern Turkey tour, ideally in the spring or autumn, with guided tours of the region typically costing between $1,800 and $4,500 USD per person for a comprehensive 7-10 day itinerary. What Exactly Is Hasankeyf? Hasankeyf is a place of profound dual identity, a story of an ancient city both lost and saved. Historically one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements on Earth, the original Hasankeyf was cradled for 12,000 years in a dramatic limestone gorge along the banks of the mighty Tigris River in Batman Province , Southeastern Turkey. However, with the construction of the Ilısu Dam, this ancient city and its countless unexcavated caves and ruins were submerged in 2020 . But that is not the end of the story. In a monumental and controversial feat of engineering and cultural preservation, the Turkish government relocated several of its most iconic monuments to a new location on higher ground. This new site, known as the Hasankeyf Cultural Park , sits beside the modern town of New Hasankeyf , overlooking the vast reservoir that now covers its predecessor. Today, a visit to Hasankeyf is a journey to witness this reborn heritage—a chance to explore magnificent structures that have traveled to survive and to gaze upon the waters that hold millennia of history in their depths. Why Should You Visit Hasankeyf in Eastern Turkey? While destinations like Istanbul and Cappadocia often steal the spotlight, a journey to Hasankeyf offers a travel experience of unparalleled depth and poignancy. It is a pilgrimage for lovers of history, culture, and stories of human resilience. Here’s why Hasankeyf deserves a top spot on your Turkey itinerary: Witness 12,000 Years o