Tailor-made Holidays in Turkey by Cox & Kings

Turkey can be visited on a weekend city break or a multi-week tour, and it rewards repeat visits. The beauty of travelling to Turkey on a tailor-made itinerary is that you can visit as many of its highlights as your time allows.

Many begin in the capital, Istanbul, to visit sites such as the iconic Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and the remains of the Hippodrome. Take a tour of the Grand Bazaar, one of the largest and oldest covered markets in the world, tasting Turkish delight, baklava, and strong Turkish coffee along the way.

Continue down the Aegean coast, stopping at major archaeological sites including the remains of the ancient cities of Troy and Ephesus. Inland you can visit the white travertine terraces and hot springs of Pamukkale. One of Turley’s most impressive archaeological sites is Aphrodisias, where the Temple of Aphrodite remains the most complete amphitheatre to have survived from the ancient world.

A highlight of a trip to Turkey is most certainly the area of Cappadocia, where volcanic rock has eroded over time and transformed into magical ‘fairy chimneys’. Stay in one of the luxury cave hotels that have been designed to preserve the original cave structure.

Alternatively, travel to the Trabzon province of north-east Turkey to experience completely contrasting landscapes of lush pine forests and hilltop castles. Highlights of this region include the Sümela Monastery, built high on a rock face 1,500 years ago; Lake Aygir, with water so deep it appears black; the tea-growing region near Rize; and the temperate rainforest ecosystem of Borçka Karagöl. From Hopa you can cross into Georgia and continue to follow in the footsteps of the Silk Road traders.