Welcome to Turkey, a country where everything is the result of fabulous mixing. The eastern part presents enchanting and fascinating landscapes. In Central Anatolia, the ancient silk roads lined with caravanserai ruins are crossed by steppes interspersed with green canyons and bristling with volcanoes. To the north, the lush Black Sea mountains where tea and hazelnuts are produced are home to fabulous monasteries. Bordered by 8,000 km of coastline bathed by four seas, Turkey offers all the pleasures of the beach, from idleness to water sports and a visit to the many remains of the great ancient Mediterranean cities. Let's not forget the fascinating and magical Cappadocia where volcanoes have poured the contents of the belly of our planet so that water and wind can sculpt a unique work. All this forms the setting for this fascinating crossroads of the greatest civilizations that founded our culture. It is in Turkey that the famous Troy, the great city of Ephesus and Mount Ararat, on which Noah's Ark is said to have been washed up, are located... You can make all kinds of trips to Turkey and there will always be an opportunity to meet the Turks, to appreciate their kindness and their sense of hospitality.

Ten thousand years of history and unusual discoveries

Turkey is therefore a crossroads of prestigious civilizations. It offers countless historical treasures, starting with the prehistoric remains, then the many Hellenistic and Roman sites, without forgetting the Seljuq builders who left, everywhere in Turkey, caravanserais, bridges and mosques, or the Ottomans and their wonders, fountains, mosques, hammams... A few days in Turkey allow to cross more than 10 000 years of history. An inexhaustible cultural and artistic heritage. History is superimposed on its layers and enriched to create a contemporary, modern and, what is more, exciting Turkey! And the country is teeming with rare places, which have retained all their charm. These can be archaeological sites where the remains of several civilizations overlap, small villages where you can observe peasant life, coves with turquoise waters. On the same day, you can go rafting down an impressive canyon, visit a Greco-Roman site and dive into the Mediterranean

A great diversity of landscapes and an exceptional fauna and flora

Between dream waters (7,000 km of coastline bordering the country), arid or very green countryside, mountains, lakes or natural resources (Cappadocia, Pamukkale or Ölüdeniz Bay), Turkey offers a variety of surprising landscapes and thus makes it possible to multiply activities. It is not uncommon to meet travellers who, totally intoxicated by this country, visit it for the umpteenth time. Indeed, vast forests cover eastern Anatolia, the Black Sea coasts (composed of many hazelnuts) and the Mediterranean coast. Many fruit trees grow in Turkey: fig trees, apricots, cherries, almonds... And the oleander mixed with the many palm trees of the Aegean coast evokes holidays... The steppes are adorned with a shimmering carpet of wild flowers in spring. The country offers a fauna similar to that of the Balkans: bears, lynxes, wild boars, wolves, and some (increasingly rare) leopards. Horses, donkeys, goats and sheep are more easily crossed by the kangal, a very powerful sheepdog. The ornithological landscape is exceptionally rich, with many birds of prey, including the majestic eagle. Finally, note the presence of Van's famous cat, with extremely disturbing eyes and very high prices

Exceptional hospitality and delicious cuisine

To avoid ruining anything, hospitality is one of the foundations of the Turkish way of life. In Turkey, the traveller is never a tourist, he is a misafir, a "guest", a "host". The only embarrassment the foreign traveller may feel is that he or she cannot refuse what is so kindly offered. Accepting coffee, tea or fruit will be the best of thanks. Even in villages, there will always be someone who has a basic knowledge of a foreign language and who, with great eagerness, will improvise to interpret in order to help the traveller who wants to be understood. And, when it comes to eating, Turkey is a paradise for the taste buds, between çorba (soup), sebze (vegetable) and tatlı (sweetness), not to mention meyve (fruit), balık (fish), and (meat). It's a place where fruits and vegetables still taste great. A simple tomato will allow you to see it. You will see people eating all day long. In the street, with street vendors, in lokanta (a small restaurant offering simple food with fast service, sometimes open all night) or in restaurants. The meal is still something we share. It is not right to eat in someone's presence without offering to share your meal. Between very light food and pantagruelic meals, choose your gastronomic trip

Between shopping and extended parties

Anyone who likes shopping will be, in Turkey, like a fish in water. There are no souks there but bazaars. The bazaar trades in fruits and vegetables, as well as clothing, household equipment and typical objects. The most popular purchase is carpets and kilims, but leather, copper, bronze, silver, gold, ceramics, embroidery, spices and the famous sea foam (magnesite) pipes are part of the long list of crafts offered by this country of art and tradition. In the big cities, in Istanbul in particular, far from these more traditional products, modern avenues or hyper trendy shopping centres allow the curious to get acquainted with the best of Turkish fashion, such as the brands Vakko, Sarar or Mavi Jeans, which blend in with the other major luxury brands.

And, after shopping, you can enjoy an extremely rich nightlife in cities and seaside resorts. On one side, there are the traditional mezze restaurants, called meyhane or taverna, where dinner is punctuated by singers playing the hits of Turkish music and people often dancing between each dish. On the other hand, trendy restaurants and trendy boxes. For night lovers, Turkey will not disappoint. Istanbul, of course, offers the widest choice, but places like Bodrum or Marmaris are not to be missed for the wild summer nights

Konya, the city of the mythical whirling dervishes

But, of course, Turkey is not limited to these trendy evenings. It is also a country where traditions are alive. In the middle of the steppes, crushed by heat and drowned in a cloud of dust during the summer, Konya, the city of whirling dervishes, fascinates those interested in Islamic history and civilization. Konya is yet another face of Turkey, where recent economic development has in no way moderated the prevailing religious fervour. This is a much more traditional environment, where you will feel uncomfortable with a cleavage... But the detour to Konya is worth it and you should plan at least one night there. Especially in mid-December, when the Dervish Festival takes place, which gives you the opportunity to admire this strange dance. This festival of the Mevlevi is held in the convents (tekke) of the city. Unmissable if you plan to be around.

Smart info

When? When? The high tourist season in Turkey begins at the end of June and ends in August. This is why it is more pleasant to travel in May or from September to October, when the climate is still very suitable and the prices are mild. The low tourist season corresponds to the winter in Turkey and can be a good option to discover the country differently and the festival of whirling dervishes for example (around mid-December).

Getting there. Airlines mainly offer flights to Istanbul. Allow about 3 hours and 20 minutes for a direct flight. Concerning prices, if you do it a little early, you can find round trips at 200 €

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