Turkey: A 10-Day Itinerary

9 Night / 10 Day Itinerary

Exotic and mysterious, ancient yet contemporary, Turkey is a land of great artistic and architectural treasures, astounding natural beauty, glorious mosques, treasure-filled bazaars and whirling dervishes. Geographically and culturally, Turkey is a bridge between Asia and Europe, Islam and Christianity, old-world tradition and modern chic. A genuine crossroads of civilizations, Istanbul comprises Thrace, the small area around Istanbul, which is part of Europe, and Anatolia, the majority of the country, which is part of Asia. Istanbul is the meeting point of the two continents, straddling the Black Sea and Sea of Marmara, connected only by the Bosphorus Strait.

Many visitors come solely to Istanbul or rush straight to the coast, but the true gems of this country are spread out across the large nation, and to truly get a feel for Turkey one needs at least 10 days.

There are seven distinct regions in Turkey. For a 10-day itinerary we will focus on three:

• Thrace – Comprising Istanbul and the Sea of Marmara

• Central Anatolia – Featuring the unique volcanic rock formations, underground villages and cave monasteries

• The Aegean – Rich in ancient heritage including Ephesus, one of the most celebrated Greco-Roman archaeological sites in the world.

• The coastal region around Bodrum and Marmaris boasts quaint harbor towns, popular beaches and can be an embarkation point for a chartered gulet or wooden yacht

Summers can get very hot, especially inland, and mosquitoes can be prevalent in June. Spring and autumn are the most pleasant times to travel, with comfortable temperatures, dry weather and fewer crowds. Winters can be extremely cold with ice and snow, especially in the east.

Security Note

• In the past 12 months there have been some high-profile incidents in Turkey. In January 2007, a notable newspaper editor, known for publicly questioning the Turkish government’s version of the 1915 Armenian genocide, was assassinated outside his office in Istanbul.

• In August 2006, Kurdish militants detonated bombs in the resort towns of Antalya and Marmaris, killing three and wounding dozens of others.

• There have been recent bombings in Istanbul and Ankara, the capital, but luckily inflicting minimal damage and casualties.

• With that said, these events should not put you off on travel to Turkey.

• This is one reason I do recommend using a local travel agency and driver, as they can apprise you of current situations and keep you clear of any dangerous situations.

Getting to Turkey

• Delta and Turkish Airlines fly direct from New York to Istanbul.

• British Airways and Swiss fly via London and Zurich respectively.

• EasyJet flies from London and Basel to Istanbul while other low cost carries fly to different cities in Turkey.