Adventure World

Turkey

Turkey has played host to many different civilisations during its long history, and it is therefore rich in historic treasures - among them Greek and Roman as well as Ottoman, Assyrian and Persian.

Visit melancholy Gallipoli with its moving tribute by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk to the fallen ANZACs and other allied forces; the ancient fortifications of Troy; the extraordinary white terraces of Pamukkale; the 2000 year old rutted streets of Ephesus; pleasant coastal towns of Kusadasi and Izmir; the underground city of Kaymakli or villages rich with rock carvings and ancient churches built inside cliffs in Cappadocia.

Top Highlights

Istanbul: We recommend visitors stay three nights in a hotel in the Sultanamet area of Istanbul to experience the main sights, which are all within walking distance, and best experienced on foot.

Once called Constantinople, this great city has one foot in Europe, the other in Asia. Istanbul is the largest Turkish city (almost 10 million residents) and main metropolis, but not the capital. Istanbul’s skyline is studded with domes and minarets.

Must see's: Topkapi Palace the former residence of Sultans for almost three centuries, with commanding views over the Bosphorus. The Palace is now a museum of treasures. You can visit the Museum, Treasury, Harem and Adalet Kulesi (all have separate admission fees). The Blue Mosque with its six minarets and great cascade of domes is still a working Mosque. The ‘blue’ in the mosque’s name comes from the iznik tiles that line the walls. Wander around the Hippodrome in front of the mosque where chariot races took place. The Underground Cistern is an eerie place to wander through. One of city’s most imposing sights is Aya Sofya, built on the site of the destroyed Sancta Sophia and known for its glittering mosaics.

Must do: Bargain for goods at one of the 4000 shops in the Grand Bazaar (Kapali Carsi), stop to smell the spices and taste the sweets at the Spice markets. The bazaar is divided into different areas specialising in carpets, jewellery, clothing, silverware etc.

Cruise up the Bosphorus Strait that connects the Sea of Mamara to the Black Sea, past Ottoman castles and palaces, to see a different view of the city. Night cruises provide a magical experience - as many historic buildings are floodlit.

Gallipoli Peninsula: This is an area with an incredible amount of history and the scene of momentous battles during World War I. Sir Winston Churchill sent the British and ANZAC forces to conquer it, and Kemal Ataturk became a war hero by successfully defending it. The Gallipoli battlefields are now peaceful places covered in bush, pine forests, and farmers’ fields. But the battles fought here nearly a century ago are still alive in the memories of many people. The Gallipoli National Historic Park covers much of the peninsula and all the significant battlefields, and is nearly a 5 hour drive from Istanbul.

Anzac Cove is where the Australian and New Zealand forces landed. Visit the Lone Pine Australian Memorial and Chunuk Bair New Zealand Memorial. On the 25th of April, the anniversary of the Allied landings begins with a Dawn Service followed by a day of commemorative events.

Ephesus: Once the capital of Roman Asia, Ephesus is the best-preserved Greco-Roman classical city on the eastern Mediterranean - a breathtaking sight and among the best places to get a feel for what life was like in Roman times. Sit in the Great Theatre capable of holding 25,000 people. From the top there are commanding views out over the ruins and the surrounding countryside.

The most photographed part of the city is the Library of Celsus whose facade has been carefully restored, which once held 12,000 scrolls. Nearby is the site of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World - The Temple of Artemis.

Cappadocia: Visitors always come away from this area absolutely spellbound. Over the centuries, wind and rain water have sculpted the volcanic bedrock of this region into weird and fanciful shapes. There are thousands of natural, pyramid shaped rock formations and cave like settlements carved by humans since the early ages.

The underground cities near Kaymakli are a maze of tunnels and rooms carved four levels deep into the earth. In times of peace the people of the region lived and farmed above the ground, but when invaders threatened they took to the underground cities for safety. People come from all over the world to visit the Goreme Open-Air Museum, to explore the rock-hewn buildings, and to plunge in to the depths of these underground cities.

Mediterranean Cruising: An increasingly popular way of exploring the coastline is by traditional Gulet. These charming vessels normally carry a maximum of 16 passengers with most cabins having en suite bathroom facilities. Whilst on board a skipper and crew handle the sailing and meals. All the guests have to do is relax, sunbathe or swim in the warm clear waters. Stops are also made for exploring coastal villages or archaeological sites. In many case small groups can be accommodated on their own private gulet. Departures usually from Marmaris, Antalya, Bodrum or Fethiye.

More Highlights

Troy once believed to be only a legend, Troy was discovered over a century ago. A replica of the Trojan horse built for the most famous battle of ancient times sits at the entrance. Site of the Trojan wars where Hector and Achilles fought for the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen, as described in Homers Iliad. Excavations have revealed nine ancient cities, built one on top of another and dating back to 3000 BC.

Kusadasi, a lively fishing and seaside resort. The town is known for its nightlife and is very popular with Europeans, as the narrow streets are packed with restaurants and bars. Good base for visits to the ancient cities of Priene, Miletus, Didyma and only 20 kms from Ephesus. Many Aegean cruise ships call at this port for day trips onland. In summer the town is very crowded.

Pergamum famed for its great library which was said to have held more than 200,000 volumes. The citizens of ancient Pergamum invented parchment for writing when the supply of papyrus was cut off. Pergamum’s Asclepion was a famous ancient medical centre and here you will also find the steepest amphitheatre in the world seating 10,000 people. A must see on any trip to Turkey.

Pamukkale is one of the most familiar images of Turkey with its white calcium formations, created by warm calcium rich mineral waters cascading over a steep cliff, then cooling and depositing its calcium in the process forming natural shelves, pools and stalactites. This natural phenomenon is said to have existed for over 2500 years. The Romans built the health spa of Hierapolis (holy city) here around 190 BC above the pools.

Fethiye is a very old town, and the inner bay is an excellent natural shelter for boats, and the outer harbour has 11 islands with great beaches. The area around Fethiye has many interesting sites to explore, including the ghost town of Karmylassos. Turkey’s beach hotspot is Oludeniz (8.5km from Fethiye), it has a fantastic beach and lagoon at the bottom of pine-forested hills.

Konya, one of the oldest cities in Anatolia is in the middle of the vast Anatolian steppe, Konya was the capital of the Seljuk Turkish Empire (1200s) and the home of its great poet and mystic, Jelaleddin Rumi, founder of the Mevlevi whirling dervish order. The Mevlevi worship ceremony, is a ritual dance representing union with God. The dervishes are dressed in long white robes with full skirts that represent their shrouds. Over them they wear voluminous black cloaks symbolising their worldly tombs; their conical felt hats represent their tombstones.

Antalya overlooks a sweeping beach towards the soaring Bey Mountains, and is a lively city with a quaint Ottoman quarter at its centre, and many monuments from Roman times. Antalya’s central landmark and symbol is the Yivli Minaret, a grooved minaret from the Seljuk period.

Ankara, famous for its mohair, is the capital of the Turkish Republic. A must-see for anyone interested in Turkey’s past, is the world-famous Museum of Anatolian Civilisations, filled with treasures from the biblical Hittites.

Fact Sheet

• Country Dialling Code: + 90
• Capital: Ankara
• When to Go: Travelling to Istanbul, the Aegean and the Mediterranean region is ideal from April through to October, the further south you go, the warmer the weather. The coastal areas of Turkey have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. The climate in Eastern Turkey tends toward colder winters and mild to warm summers.
• Official Language: Turkish (2nd language is English)
• Electricity: 220V, 50 cycles. Two round prongs plugs (but prong diameter varies)
• Currency: New Turkish Lira (NTL)
• Cash: US dollars and Euros can be readily exchanged locally for New Turkish Lira.
• Travellers Cheques: We recommend you don’t take as they are difficult to change at banks, shops and hotels.
• ATM’s: Located throughout the country, and dispense Turkish Lira to Visa and MasterCard.
• Credit Cards: Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted at hotels & restaurants, but not local restaurants and places outside the main tourist areas.
• Tipping: 10%-15% of the bill in restaurants. Tip porters 2% of room price. Taxi prices are rounded off. Tip local guides.
• Bargaining: Is acceptable in markets and if you agree on a price, you are expected to purchase the item.
• Email & Internet Access: Internet Cafes are located throughout the country, and the best ones have English keyboards. Others have Turkish keyboards which can be a challenge to use.
• Geography: A country very geographically diverse, with snow-capped mountains, large rivers, stunning coastline and beaches, and rich agricultural valleys. The actual area of Turkey, inclusive of its lakes, is 788,695 sq km.
• Gateway Airport: Istanbul
• Air: Turkish Airlines run scheduled services between main centres.
• Bus: The most widespread and popular means of transport. Buses go literally everywhere, all the time. Fez Travel operates a hop-on, hop-off programme.
• Ferries: Private ferries link Turkey’s Aegean coast and the Greek Islands, which are also connected by air or boat to Athens.