Is it safe to travel to Urfa-Maridin-Harran in July?

we would like to visit Urfa, Mardin, Gobekli Tepe, Harran in Early July, as a couple of independent travellers. Is it reasonably safe to go there? I have seen contradictory advice about this over the past 6 months or so.

Hi - I'm in gaziantep at the moment and am heading to Urfa tomorrow, planning also to see teapot hill and later Mardin. If you didn't read the news you'd never know there was anything going on in the region, all is completely quiet and easy going. That doesn't mean it's exactly safe necessarily, but certainly everyone is going about their business and there appears to be no trouble at all. I've asked a lot of Turks and no one has cautioned me at all, other than to say going down to Antakya isn't a good idea. No one has told me not visit border towns like Kobane and Akçakale, but I wouldn't do that obviously.

Today I made a day trip to Halfeti, and had to change dolmuş in Bericik which is really close to the border. It was fine, people coming and going, no one pulling me aside to caution me or anything like that. No sign of military or police checkpoints. Again, this doesn't mean it's safe, I'm just telling you what I'm seeing on the ground. I was expecting some trouble after the election, but so far nothing.

I'm not sure about Harran - that might be pushing it a bit as its a long way closer to the border but it's likely ok too. Things can change quickly is the only thing to worry about I think, but it would have to change very quickly and swiftly to find yourself in trouble all of a sudden.

That's just my opinion and reporting. Canada, where I'm from, advises me not to be here as do many other countries so it's obviously not completely safe.

It's getting hot outside though!

Andrew

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