Turkey
Turkey is a diverse country, which links the Middle East to Europe and as a result is influenced by both the east and west, which creates a varied cultural mix in the Region. Modern city boutiques and exotic bazaars clamour for customers, the weekly tolling of church bells interrupts the daily call of the muezzin, and Roman ruins and the beginnings of Christianity compete for attention with the history of the Ottoman Empire and modern secularity.
Due the many different cultures represented in Turkey, holidays in Turkey offer a vast range historical and archaeological pursuits in beautiful sun kissed landscapes and the western influences offer many modern amenities and activities to visitors. Istanbul, with one part in Europe and the other in Oriental Asia, is a fascinating city with its frenzied market places, imperial residences and minarets, and sporting a lively ambience of contemporary art and musical entertainment. Cappadocia in Central Turkey offers an astounding landscape of eroded volcanic rock cones and fairy chimneys, remarkable subterranean cities and rock-hewn houses that merge harmoniously with the ochre-coloured landscape; while further south the 'Turquoise Coast' is a haven for boat cruises. One can enjoy a variety of water sports, sunbathe on golden sands, or explore the wonderful ancient cities of Troy and Ephesus on the shores of the Aegean Sea.
Western Turkey boasts the crystalline waters and golden sands of the Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines, with quaint seaside resorts attracting the majority of visitors to them and the area also offer many scenic and recreational attractions, well preserved archaeological sites and fascinating museums that bring its rich history to life. Wherever one ventures in Turkey there is certain to be a warm welcome and traditional hospitality, making this a deeply satisfying corner of the world in which to travel.
