WHY VISIT TURKEY?
Sailing
The Turkish coast offers some of the finest sailing in the Mediterranean. Large swathes are entirely inaccessible by road, leaving empty bays and beaches, often with a sole taverna serving delicious mezze and the catch of the day.
Cuisine
Think of mezze and it conjures up the flavours of this remarkable culinary centre. As an historic part of the ancient trade routes, the country’s tables became a fusion of Mediterranean, middle eastern and central Asian dishes.
Landscape
Turkey is a land of mountains, steppes and an exceptionally long coastline, full of truly spectacular scenery. The lunar-like rock formations and canyons at Cappadocia are one of the most well-known – to be seen from a balloon is on many a bucket list.
History
Over the centuries, Turkey has been the home for many civilisations. From the ruins at Ephesus to the statues of Greek gods on Mount Nemrut, to the Greco-Roman amphitheatre at Pamukkale to the rock temples of Telmessos near Fethiye, the Romans, Byzantines and Ottomans have left an indelible mark.
Istanbul
On the UNESCO World Heritage list, this pulsing city connects East and West. Across its seven hills, the towering Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque and Suleymaniye Mosque dominate the skyline, with the romantically named Bosphorus winding through. No visit should be without seeing the ornately decorated Topkapi Palace – home to the Ottoman sultans for over 400 years, or a chance to haggle in the Grand Bazaar.