Category: Tourism

  • Mountaineering tourism in Turkey is highly developed

    Turkey’s magnificent mountains and forests are mostly undeveloped, existing as wonderful natural preserves for an extraordinary variety of wildlife, flora and fauna. Two of Turkey’s most famous peaks are volcanoes, both inactive, Mt. Erciyes in Kayseri in Central Anatolia (3917 m) and Mt. Agri (Mt. Ararat 5137 m) in the East. Other well-known mountain ranges are the Rize Kackar (3932 m) in the Eastern Black Sea region, Nigde Aladag (3756 m) in the Central Taurus range, and the Cilo and Sat Mountains (4136 m) near Hakkari in the Eastern Taurus.

    The mountainous nature of the country has influenced its cultural evolution. For centuries, nomads and semi-nomadic peoples have migrated annually to the fresh pastures of the higher elevations in the summer. These alpine meadows, called yayla, still represent a firm tie to traditional culture.

    For climbers and those interested in mountain geography, Turkey offers a wealth of exploration. Glaciers, volcanoes, and peculiar geological formations such as kars prove irresistible to researchers and students of geology. The challenging terrain offers great opportunities for aficionados of outdoor sports who find interesting experiences on the mountains of Eastern, Central and Southern Turkey. A list of resources to aid an expedition, at whatever level, is to be found below.

    Popular Mountains Of Turkey

    The Munzur Mountains,
    The Bolkar Mountains,
    The Bey Mountains,
    The Suphan Mountain,
    The Nemrut Mountain,
    The Mountain Erciyes,
    The Toros Mountains,
    The Kackar Mountains,
    The Cilo Sat Mountains,
    The Great Agri Mountain

    Popular Climbing Sites
    Kackar Mt. Range (The Black Sea), Antalya – Beydaglar (Mediterranean), Mt. Erciyes (Central Anatolia),
    Nigde Aladaglar (Central Anatolia), Mt. Ararat (Eastern Anatolia), Mt. Suphan (Eastern Anatolia), Bolkar Mountains (Mediterranean), Mercan (Munzur) Mountains (Easter Anatolia)

    Useful Information and Resources on Mountain Tourism and Sport

    Ministry of Tourism, Tourist Information Office
    Ismet Inonu Bulv. No 5, Ankara

    General Directorate of Youth and Sports (Mountaineering Federation) Ulus, Ankara

    General Directorate of Youth and Sports (Skiing Federation) Ulus, Ankara

  • Istanbul Daily City Tours, Excursions, Trips and Best Places to Visit

    The historic city of Istanbul forms a unified whole with the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. Nowhere else can one find the wonders of nature, human artifacts, the testimony of the past and the bustle of everyday life in such close relationship. For those who will remain briefly in the city, there are day tours including the important historical sites, museums, the famous Covered Bazaar and its vicinity. These tours leave from the hotels or the port and visit the masterpieces on the historical promontory in half-day programs.

    Excursions

    The important sites are the Hagia Sophia, one of Galata Tower from which one can see the best view of the city; the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus, the richest palace in the world; the famous Archeological Museums; the Turkish and Islamic Art Museum; the Spice Bazaar, and many other historical sites. The performances of belly dancers and folk dancers add color to night tours. The air and seaports of Istanbul are located on the European side. For those who have never stepped on Asian soil before, a boat trip or the bridges over the Bosphorus offer a wonderful opportunity.

    Over the suspension bridges and from Great Camhca Hill on the Asian side, one can get a bird’s eye view of the city and the Bosphorus.The Princes’ Islands, one hour by ferryboat and the eight wonders of the world, the Suleymaniye Mosque, Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Hippodrome and the Topkapi Palace Museum. This is the classical one-day tour, but there are many specialized tours for Roman, Byzantine and Turkish monuments, the Bosphorus or the Asian shores, which will make the visitor return to his country with unforgettable memories. Minimums of three or four days are necessary to really get to know Istanbul.

    Night view of kiz kulesi These should include a visit to the Roman city walls; the well-known Kariye Museum decorated with late Byzantine frescoes and mosaics; half an hour by catamarans from the city center, are ideal places for relaxation, recreation, hiking, swimming or phaeton tours. In addition to the city tours offered by travel agencies, luxury limousine services are also available for tours. Shopping opportunities are many and varied in Istanbul. The Covered Bazaar and the well-known shops at its entrance, Akmerkez, Galeria, Capitol and similar malls, the designer boutiques in Beyoglu and Nisantasi, and the stores on Bagdat Avenue are open the whole year.

  • The Best Time For Touring in Turkey

    istanbul turkey

    The best time for touring is April – May and September – October, when the day temperatures are most comfortable and the least amount of rain falls. For the beach worshipper, June – September is best. While the coastal areas enjoy milder climates, the inland Anatolian plateau experiences extremes of hot summers and cold winters with limited rainfall.

  • Types of Tourism in Turkey

    Golf Tourism
    Turkey is a center where quality and prestige meet, bringing together world golf lovers with international golf facilities that have been put into service in recent years.

    Yacht Tourism
    Surrounded by seas on three sides, Turkey is a paradise for yachtsmen with its bays and gulfs of extraordinary beauty, well-equipped marinas.

    Congress Tourism
    Located at the junction of Europe and Asia, Turkey is a great venue for meetings, intensivities and congresses.

    Faith Tourism
    Turkey, which has been home to both polytheistic and monotheistic religions throughout history, has artifacts that people of all faiths should see.

    Plateau Tourism
    Turkey, which has its own geography and climate, has an important place in the rich living culture of highland life.

    Cave Tourism
    There are approximately 40,000 caves in Turkey, which is a “cave paradise” country compared to other countries in the world.

    Underwater Diving
    Important shipwrecks and underwater caves in Turkish waters are waiting to be discovered by divers.

    Health and Thermal Tourism
    Turkey, which has rich and healing thermal waters, is a spa paradise and awaits those seeking healing with its qualified facilities.

    Winter Tourism
    Turkey is an important winter tourism center with its high mountains on which there is no lack of snow in summer and winter and the ski facilities established in these mountains.

    Silk Road
    Anatolia has formed one of the most important crossroads of the historical Silk Road, which starts from China, crosses Central Asia and extends to Europe.

    Air Sports
    Turkey is a country that should be discovered for air sports enthusiasts such as paragliding, hang gliding, gliding, parachute, balloon.

    Alpinism
    With its mountains scattered in all regions of the country, at different heights, with rich flora and fauna, Turkey awaits nature-loving and adventurous people.

    Hunting Tourism
    Turkey’s geographical structure, vegetation and wildlife offer an important potential to those who are interested in hunting and hunting tourism.

    Whitewater – Rafting Tourism
    Turkey, which has long and exuberantly flowing rivers that surround the country, offers an important river tourism potential to its visitors for water sports.

    Bird Watching
    Bird watching is an observation sport that allows you to get to know nature from the world of birds. Birds, which are the best indicator of a healthy environment, are found in all kinds of living environments. So far, 450 species of birds have been recorded in Turkey.