Mediterranean Coast
An important citrus growing region, the
Mediterranean coast of Turkey is bathed in
sunshine for 300 days a year. The Taurus
mountain range running immediately behind the
whole length of the coast shelters the area from
any cold north wind, and has helped the regions
claim to be the warmest coastline in the
Mediterranean during the winter months.
Stretching south from Fethiye, the coastline
largely comprises superb beaches, with
photogenic little towns like Kalkan nesting in
the foothills of magnificent mountains. The
sunken city at Kekova is a particularly
intriguing signpost of the turbulent past of
this fascinating region. Everywhere you will
find a very mild winter, warm spring and autumn
and a typical southern Mediterranean summer.
Aegean Coast
The glorious Aegean coastline of Turkey, lapped
by the clear blue waters of the Aegean Sea,
starts near Troy (Canakkale) at the southern end
and the straits of the Dardanelles and continues
all the way down to Marmaris. Dotted with
idyllic fishing harbours, unspoilt beaches
surrounded by olive groves, secluded bays and
popular holiday resorts, the Aegean region is
especially rich in history relics accumulated
over 5,000 years. This area of Turkey enjoys a
very pleasant mild climate with soft, verdant
springs, hot summers, sunny autumns and warm
winters with rain.
Eating Out
Dining is a delight in Turkey as the cuisine is
so varied. Especially popular are the savoury
appetisers “Meze” kebabs of all kinds (much
better than the UK fast food variety), “Borek”
pastry stuffed with meat or cheese, stuffed vine
leaves, seafood of various kinds, sweet
pastries, and of course dark Turkish Coffee. You
will find every kind of restaurant, from the
luxury class, with imposing international menus,
to typical small town eating-houses. A delicious
meal will cost you about £7 with wine a further
£3 and beer about£1.
 Fancy
Some Culture
Turkey is a treasure house of ancient sites, and
history is all around you. This is the home of
some of the world’s oldest cities, with names
dating back many thousands of years and with
museums full of fascinating relics from long
ago. You can literally follow in the footsteps
of the Crusaders; explore the ancient ruins of
Troy etc. visit the house of the Virgin Mary, or
if staying on the Aegean coast, you must include
Ephesus in your plans.
Brief History
Turkey has been described as “The cradle of
civilisation” and a visit will reveal why this
is literally true. Signs of the distant past are
everywhere. A Neolithic City, Catalhoyuk in
central Turkey dates back to 6,500BC and is
believed to be the world’s first town. The heir
to 26 Centuries of consecutive, but widely
different cultures, has made Turkey a veritable
paradise of cultural wealth.
Some of the exotic visitors to Turkey have been
Hittites, Lydians, Persians; Romans land
Byzantines all contributing to the richness of
Turkish culture, much of which is still very
much alive today. The present republic was born
out of the decline of the Ottoman Empire,
considered one of the greatest Empires the world
has ever known.
Brief Geography
Often described as a bridge between Europe and
Asia, Turkey has a huge landmass of some
74,000sq.Kms. (About 457,000 sq. miles).
Bordered by the Black Sea to the north, the
Aegean to the west and the Mediterranean to the
south, and with a coastline more than 6,000 Kms.
long, Turkey truly offers the “best of both
worlds” east and west.
The Bospherous Straits, the Sea of Marmara and
the Dardanelle Straits, separate the European
part of Turkey. Two of the longest rivers in the
world, the biblical Tigris and Euphrates have
their sources in the high mountains of eastern
Turkey.
Turkey Fact File
Location:
Uniquely on two continents, Europe and Asia,
Turkey is bordered by Bulgaria and Greece on the
European side in the north, while on the Asian
side, by Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran,
Iraq and Syria.
Population:
Approx. 80 million
Currency:
Turkish Lira (notes in denominations of 250,000
to 20,000,000 T.L.)
Language:
Turkish.
Voltage:
220v. Continental 2 pin plug required.
Time Difference:
2 hours ahead of the UK.
Passports and Visas:
You need a
passport, which must be valid 6 months after
your date of return to the UK. You do not need a
pre-arranged Visa but there is a visa charge
when entering Turkey. £10 English Note per
person, payable on arrival.
Tipping:
There is usually a
10 – 15% service charge on restaurant bills but
it is customary to give a further 10% tip to
your waiter, if your are satisfied with the
service.
Capital: Ankara
Other Major Cities: Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa,
Adana, Antalya, Erzurum, Samsun, Trabzon and Diyarbekir.
Turkish Delights
Turkey’s beaches are justifiably famous, but
that’s not the only dish on the menu here.
Alongside the superb coastline, the countryside
is full of natural wonders and the remains of
great ancient civilizations.
Ephesus
Ephesus is the grandest and best preserved of
Turkey’s classical sites. This ruined city is
the remains of one of the ancient Seven Wonders
of the World; the Temple of Artemis, goddess of
fertility. Marble-lined streets lead to a
magnificent centrepiece – the great Greco-Roman
theatre. The theatre, once visited by Mark
Anthony and Cleopatra, seats 25,000. You can
visit Ephesus from all resorts on the
Mediterranean Coast.
Dalyan
From resorts on the Turquoise Coast you can take
a trip up the Dalyan River through some
spectacular scenery to see the cliff tombs at
Caunos. These tombs date back over 2,000 years,
while archaeological evidence suggests that a
settlement of some kind existed at the site as
early as the 9th century BC. Wildlife
abounds in the area, and Caretta Beach near the
village of Dalyan itself is a breeding ground
for loggerhead turtles.
Didyama
Just a short trip from Altinkum lies Didyma,
home of the magnificent temple to the god
Apollo. The oracle of Didyama was a centre of
prophesy second only to the Delphic oracle. This
archaeological site is simply enormous – over
double the size of the Parthenon. Look out for
the giant Medusa head, strewn on the ground near
the entrance.
Pammukale
One of Turkey’s natural wonders, Pamukkale is
steep hillside covered in a series of chalk-like
petrified waterfalls that are created by
mineral-rich deposits from cascading hot
springs. You can bathe in thermal rich pools
nearby. A trip to Pammukale can be made from all
resorts.
Cappodocia
One of Turkey’s most popular tourist spots,
Cappodocia was formed between three and ten
million years ago by volcanic eruptions, the
aftermath of which has been eroded over time
into a bleak moonscape dotted with
strangely-shaped rock towers known as Fairy
Chimneys. Inhabitation by man dates back as far
as the Neolithic period, and various
civilisations have occupied the area over the
centuries. Tiberius made it into a roman
province and it is mentioned in the bible. With
its dramatic landscape, churches and underground
cities to explore, this is a stunning site that
never fails to enchant. You can visit Cappodocia
from resorts on the Mediterranean Coast.
Aspendos and Perge
The sites of the ancient cities of Aspendos and
Perge can be visited from resorts on the
Mediterranean Coast. The main attraction of
Aspendos is its magnificent amphitheatre, one of
the best preserved in the Roman world. From
early June to early July this 20,000-seat
theatre is home to an international opera and
ballet festival. Perge, with its own
amphitheatre and one of the best-preserved
stadiums in Turkey, is also well worth a
visit.
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