Turkey

High tourist season in Turkey runs between late June and early September, bringing vast volumes of vacationers to Turkey’s western coastal region. Off - season travel means smaller crowds, lower prices, and greater local hospitality.

People have been living in what is now central turkey (known as Anatolia or Asia minor) since the 8th millennium BC, making it one of the oldest inhabited areas in the world, thus, has hosted most of the great civilizations also. The terrain ranges from the clean, white sands of the Aegean coast, across Anatolian plains to the harsh, forbidding peaks of Mt. Ararat in the east.

Every year tourists cram into Kusadasi (the marina welcomes the cruise ships), Istanbul, Marmaris and Bodrum(1 hour from Kusadasi) along the "Turquoise Riviera" while the rest of Anatolia remains a serene backpacker’s paradise with pristine alpine meadows, cliff side monasteries, medieval churches, and countless cups of apple tea offered by people who take pride in their tradition of hospitality.

Turkey is very expansive. You can dive into the sea of mosques and spice markets in ISTANBUL (the traditional gateway to Turkey) immerse yourself in one of the many Hammams, and then make a splash at the many bars or discotheques. Marvel at the luxurious Ottoman palaces; stand in awe on Aya Sofia and head for one of Istanbul's chic waterfront cafes. Moving on, N.N.W. Edirne, the quietly proud former Ottoman capital, is now the capital of tea gardens and breathtaking architecture, including the finest mosque in Turkey. Heading South, stepping of the beaten track you can enjoy the serene beaches of BOZCAADA, an Aegean island that has been producing wine since antiquity and houses the sun bleached ruins of some of the ancient worlds most powerful cities, including BERGAMA. Head South to the massive classical ruins of EPHESUS (a 10 minute drive from Kusadasi), a notable ancient city that boasts a concentration of art and architecture surpassed only by Rome and Athens. Well known is BODRUM, which lends new meaning to “Mediterranean party town”, and the secluded blue lagoon in OLUDENIZ is a great place to recover.

Romantic cities, timeless hill and towns, snowy mountains, idyllic islands, and a rivetingly beautiful coastline. The country is full of exquisite art and architecture...The seaside villages girdling Aegean Sea are storybook affairs--forested hills, sparkling waterfalls, hot Springs and cobbled streets hidden in the hills, hospitality and low cost of living. Outside the major cities, homes are enticingly affordable. There are towns in TURKEY's glorious gateway to EPHESUS district where apartments sell for as little as £13,000.

Classic farmhouses in need of restoration start as little as £18,000!

• LAND MASS 779,452SQ KM
• LAND BOUNDRIES 2,753KM LONG SHORES 8,333KM LONG
• NEIGHBOURS Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece.
• HIGHEST PEAKS Mt Ararat (Aridagi) 5165m Mt Olympos 2543m
• LONGEST RIVER Euphrates (Firat)
• CAPITAL Ankara POSITION 35m & 42m north latitude 25* 42*east longitude
• POPULATION 72.3 Million
• LARGEST CITY Istanbul-10 million
• Turkey is the only country in the world to be self-sufficient in foodstuffs!
• Major language: Turkish
• Major religion: Islam
• Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: Turkish lira 1TL =2.5 GBP
• Main exports: Fruit and vegetables, textiles and clothing, iron and steel
• GNI per capita: US $2,790 (World Bank, 2003)
• Internet domain: .tr