Turkey offers a wealth of different kinds of destinations to travelers. From the dome and minaret filled skyline of Istanbul to the Roman ruins along the western and southern coasts, from the beaches of Antalya and the Mediterranean seaside resorts to the misty mountains of Eastern Black Sea. It’s also packed to the brim with ancient monuments left over from a parade of empires, and endowed with showcase scenery that never fails to impress. So whether you want to lap up the Byzantine and Ottoman glories of Istanbul on a city break, laze on the beach, delve into history wandering through ruins such as Ephesus, or see some of the world’s most surreal panoramas in Pamukkale and Cappadocia, this country offers visitors a wide range of things to do. Simply put, Turkey is a dazzling destination of many marvels, that’s worth consideration.
The nation’s capital is Ankara, a modern city of skyscrapers and distinguished cultural venues such as the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations. However, Turkey’s largest city is Istanbul and is widely known for its Grand Bazaar, vibrant nightlife and historic treasures like the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque. The stunning Turkish Riviera boasts the Mediterranean seaside resort cities of Marmaris and Antalya, while in the Central Anatolia Region, Konya is noted for its striking Seljuk architecture and the Whirling Dervishes. Other popular destinations include the ancient city of Ephesus, Cappadocia dotted with its fairy chimneys, and the natural cascading rock terraces at Pamukkale.
For lovers of nature and adrenaline junkies, Turkey offers more than historical sights and beautiful scenery and below are some of the most exciting experiences you can try out.
Hot-Air ballooning over Cappadocia
First thing in the morning, the skies above Cappadocia fill with hot-air balloons that take visitors floating above the area’s canyons, fairy chimneys and other fantastical rock formations. Cappadocia is known as one of the world’s top ballooning destinations. Flight conditions allow for year-round flights, and due to a lack of wildlife, balloons here are allowed to fly close to the ground, so ballooners get both up-close and far-above aerial views.
Cruise turquoise waters on a gület
Few vacations are more relaxing than a multi-day cruise aboard a gület (traditional wooden yacht) plying sections of Turkey’s southwestern coastline between Bodrum and Antalya. While away the long, sunny days swimming in secluded coves, reading or playing tavla (backgammon) on deck, eating fresh-caught fish, drinking rakı as the sun sets and sleeping out under the stars.
Hike the Lycian Way
Scenery along the Lycian Way swoops from craggy Taurus Mountain vistas to rocky pine-forest-clad coves lapped by the Mediterranean Sea. And walking the entire 540km trail takes 29 days although most people walk just a few sections of the trail or opt for a section a day hike. The good destinations for starting a shorter Lycian Way hike are however Fethiye, Patara, Kalkan, and Kaş.
Yacht Cruising from Fethiye
Fethiye is the number one base for travelers who want to cast off for yachting trips along Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. The high season for yacht trip departures is July and August, though trips are possible from April through to October.
Paragliding in Ölüdeniz & Pamukkale
Paragliding takes place at several destinations in Turkey but for tourists, the two best places to visit for this adventure sport are Ölüdeniz and Pamukkale. For scenery, as you descend, you really can’t beat Ölüdeniz, with a backdrop of craggy pine-tree-clad mountains swooping down to the famed azure blue lagoon and Mediterranean Sea beyond. While tandem paragliding at Pamukkale offers aerial views over both one of Turkey’s best known Roman city ruins and most famous natural wonders.
Kayaking at Kekova
The main center for organized sea kayaking activities along Turkey’s rugged coastline is Kaş. The nearby Kekova Island area, with its underwater Sunken City ruins, is best seen from a kayak. These kayaking trips are considered suitable for complete beginners and are the only way to see the ruins up close, as swimming isn’t allowed in the area.
Hop aboard an Istanbul Ferry Tour
Istanbul’s ferry tours are a popular way to see the city’s famed shoreline cityscapes on a ride up the Bosphorus Strait. Depending on how much time one has up their sleeve; there’s the Long Bosphorus Tour that chugs the entire length of the Bosphorus up to the pretty village of Anadolu Kavağı, overlooked by a Byzantine castle, in around 90 minutes and the Short Bosphorus Tour heads up the strait to the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge.
Horse Riding in Cappadocia
The valleys of Cappadocia, with their fairy chimney rock formations, make for Turkey’s best horse riding destination. Sunset tours, taking in some of the most famous valley panoramas, particularly the vistas over Red Valley, are the most popular option and are a good choice for novice riders looking for a short riding option.
Take a Scenic Cable Car Ride
Turkey has several cable cars, but two to definitely add onto your itinerary for the panoramic views they provide are; Bursa Teleferik up Uludağ (Mount Ulu), on the outskirts of Bursa, and the Olympos Teleferik in Kemer.
River Cruising at Dalyan
Dalyan is a little riverside town, roughly halfway between the big resort towns of Marmaris and Fethiye. It’s a laid-back place that’s highly popular for summer breaks because of its location, with the ruins of Kaunos on the opposite shore, and just 12 kilometers north from Iztuzu Beach.
There’s a lot Turkey has to offer to all kinds of tourists, that can’t be fully exhausted in one blog or one visit however, should you like to visit Turkey, we are here for you. Contact us on info@swanairtravel.com, 0776515014 or visit swanairtravel.com to buy a package.
