Turkey

Turkey is one of those rare destinations that has everything and does everything well. Istanbul alone is worth the trip: a city that straddles two continents, where Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman layers of history sit on top of each other in the most spectacular way imaginable. Then you add Cappadocia, with its fairy chimney rock formations and hot air balloons floating at sunrise. The ancient ruins of Ephesus, one of the best preserved Roman cities in the world. The travertine terraces of Pamukkale. And a Mediterranean coastline so beautiful the Romans and Greeks fought over it for centuries.

Turkey sits at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, and that position has made it one of the most culturally rich and historically layered places on Earth. The food alone justifies the visit. Turkish cuisine is a direct descendant of the Ottoman imperial kitchen, and it is one of the great food traditions of the world.

Where to Go

Istanbul is a city that operates on a level of sensory richness that few places can match. The Hagia Sophia, originally a Byzantine cathedral, then a mosque, then a museum, and now a mosque again, is one of the most important buildings in the history of architecture. The Blue Mosque across the square is elegant and serene. The Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, has over 4,000 shops selling everything from carpets and ceramics to gold and leather.

A Bosphorus cruise takes you between Europe and Asia on a strait where cargo ships, ferries, and fishing boats share the water beneath Ottoman palaces and modern villas. The Spice Bazaar (Egyptian Bazaar) is smaller and more focused than the Grand Bazaar, with stalls selling dried fruits, nuts, spices, Turkish delight, and teas. The neighborhoods of Karakoy, Kadikoy, and Balat offer a hipper, more local side of the city with excellent restaurants and street art.

Cappadocia is unlike anywhere else on Earth. Millions of years of volcanic activity and erosion created a landscape of fairy chimneys, cave churches, and underground cities. The hot air balloon ride at sunrise, floating above hundreds of balloons with the rock formations glowing in the morning light, is one of the most photographed and most magical travel experiences in the world. Stay in a cave hotel for the full effect.

Ephesus on the Aegean coast is one of the best preserved ancient cities anywhere. Walking down the marble streets past the Library of Celsus, the Great Theatre, and the terraced houses with their intact mosaics and frescoes gives you a vivid sense of what urban life looked like two thousand years ago.

The Turquoise Coast (Turkish Riviera) stretches along the southwestern Mediterranean, with the towns of Kas, Kalkan, Fethiye, and Bodrum serving as bases for sailing, swimming, and exploring ancient Lycian ruins built into the cliffsides.

Food and Drink

Turkish food is a highlight. Kebabs come in dozens of regional varieties, from the skewered Adana kebab to the slow cooked testi kebab (pottery kebab) of Cappadocia. Meze spreads with hummus, babaganoush, stuffed grape leaves, and fresh bread are the start of most meals. Lahmacun (Turkish pizza), pide (boat shaped bread with toppings), and gozleme (stuffed flatbread) are essential street foods. Baklava from Gaziantep is the gold standard. And Turkish tea, served in tulip shaped glasses throughout the day, is a ritual as much as a beverage.

Let Us Plan Your Turkey Trip

Turkey offers more history, culture, food, and natural beauty per dollar than almost any destination in the world right now. We will design an itinerary that connects the highlights with domestic flights, arrange cave hotel stays in Cappadocia, and make sure you experience the best of this extraordinary country.