Now Britain’s most popular holiday destination, Turkey delivers value and diversity. Joanna Booth reports
Beaches
With more than 500 miles of coastline and 235 blue-flag beaches, Turkey has plenty to offer those who want to holiday by the sea.
Visitors can choose between well-known resorts such as Bodrum and Olu Deniz and tranquil harbour towns such as Kas and Kalkan.
With temperatures rarely dropping below 10C even in winter on the Med and Aegean coasts, and pushing 30C throughout most of the summer, Turkey is perfect for British sun worshippers.
History
Ancient cities, castles and ruins are littered throughout Turkey. More than 20 civilisations have inhabited the country, from the Hittites to the Byzantines and the Romans to the Ottomans, all leaving their mark.There are 10,000-year-old settlements, opulent palaces and impressive ruins to explore. Even the place names are heavy with historical weight: Troy, Ephesus, Gallipoli.
There are religious sites and relics sacred to Islam, Judaism and Christianity that are the focuses of both pilgrimages and secular tourism, such as the Christian frescoes in Cappadocia, the early Jewish settlements in Sardis and Istanbul’s Ayasofa and Blue Mosque.
City breaks
Straddling two continents, Istanbul is vibrant, varied and buzzing. Capital of Culture in 2010, the city is alive with creativity.
There are new galleries, cutting-edge film and music festivals and boutique shops, while the historic centre is packed full of unforgettable sights, from the basilica of St Sophia to Topkapi Palace.
Nightlife is ultra-trendy, restaurants world-class, and when it all gets too much you can retreat to the traditional Turkish baths to relax.
Cox and Kings has launched short breaks to Antalya, which backs on to the Taurus mountains and has a picturesque old town.
Adventure
Active tourists and thrillseekers are well catered for in Turkey. Conditions for water sports are ideal, with windsurfing, diving and snorkelling, water skiing and sailing all available.
Some stretches of coastline are only accessible by boat, so a Blue Cruise on a traditional wooden boat is a great way to find hidden coves.
Adrenaline junkies can paraglide across the Olu Deniz lagoon, take a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia, white water raft, kite surf, canoe down fast-flowing rapids or canyon in a gorge.
Operators such as The Adventure Company, Explore and GAP Adventures offer many options.
For something less extreme, take a walk through the mountains to discover friendly villagers and stunning scenery. There are two official long-distance footpaths, the Lycian Way and St Paul’s Trail.
Snow lovers can indulge in winter sports at ski resorts such as Uludag, Kartalkaya, Palandoken and Davraz.
Nature
Turkey’s landscapes are varied and unique. Parts of the country look otherworldly, such as Cappadocia’s moonscapes of fairy chimneys and caves, Anatolia’s vast salt lake and Pamakkale’s cascading limestone deposits.
Venture east to see Mount Ararat or Agri Dagi, the country’s highest peak and the spot where Noah reputedly landed the Ark.
Turtles lay their eggs on the beaches, and you can see thousands of colourful butterflies in Butterfly Valley, a steep canyon accessed by boat from Olu Deniz and Fethiye.
Luxury
Turkey’s first five-star resort, the Mardan Palace in Antalya, opened this month. It’s the place for full-on Ottoman splendour, and facilities include a 900-seat amphitheatre, a sport stadium, five aquariums and the Med’s largest swimming pool, complete with gondolas.
Luxury operators such as Cox and Kings and Kuoni take tourists to top-class resorts from recognised international brands such as Kempinski and Four Seasons to boutique properties with a real Turkish flavour.
Value for money
Turkey’s competitive pricing combined with a non-euro currency make it one of the most affordable destinations out there. The Mediterranean and Aegean coastal resorts offer great bargains.
Cosmos has increased its three-star range in Dalaman, Alanya and Side for summer 2009, and there is a range of Thomas Cook Sunset properties across Turkey, nine of which operate on an all-inclusive basis.
Artemis Travel’s self-catering apartments are a bargain, especially in winter, when a two-bedroom property costs just £100 per week.
Weddings and Honeymoons
Turkish civil wedding ceremonies allow you to marry almost anywhere, so it’s possible to tie the knot on a beach, in a restored Ottoman mansion, at the top of the 15th-century Bodrum castle or even on a gulet.A number of operators offer weddings in Turkey, including Cosmos, Sovereign, First Choice, Thomas Cook and Thomson.
New for 2009
Explore offers a fortnight Cappadocia and Coast family Adventure from £995 including flights, activities and excursions.
It features unusual experiences such as carpet weaving and bread-making lessons, white-water rafting above a sunken city, a coastal cruise and time in Istanbul and Olu Deniz.
Cosmos features family-friendly Lykia World and Links Golf Antalya, with lead-in prices from £769 per person for seven nights’ full-board and flights.
GAP Adventures offers three small group tours. The 15-day Turkey Explorer including Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus, walking tours and boat excursions costs from £579 plus €300 local payment (excluding flights).
