Before traveling into Turkey, you will need to apply for a visa. Visas can be purchased at the the various entry points around the country. Traveler’s checks are not accepted, and you will have to pay with cash. You can avoid the hassles of having to purchase a visa upon arrival by applying for one over the internet. Visas are needed for those who are citizens of either Great Britain or the United States. The visas will expire ninety days after they are purchased.

If you want to pay for a single entry visa, it will cost approximately $26. If you want a multiple entry visa, the cost is approximately $87. They need to be made out to the Turkish Consulate. The best time to travel to Turkey is between April and October. The weather is gentle during the spring and fall months, but temperatures become much colder during the winter. It will sometimes snow in the mountains during this time. During the summer, the coasts are very popular. Between the cities of Antalya and Izmir are a large number of coves, and the country is well known for having excellent rivers.

The three most prominent forms of transportation in the country are trains, buses, and planes. All of the large cities in the country have airports, and international as well as domestic flights are available. If you are looking for a low cost way to get around, the bus is your best option. A number of companies feature bus trips around Turkey both day and night. The buses are comfortable, and passengers are offered tea and other refreshments. The country also features a intricate railroad network. These railroads all connect to the large cities, and many contain sleeping compartments where you can get some rest. Read the rest of this entry »

City Walks

Istanbul: Fifth largest city in the world and home to more than 15 million people. It truly is the ‘bridge’ between East and West, extending into both the European and the Asian sides of the Bosphorous Strait, earning its unique status as a city embracing two continents. This ancient city in Turkey walks a tightrope of cultures, stirring in a simmering melting hot pot of East and West, and pulling out a jewel.

If you begin your Turkey walking holiday in Istanbul, it is not hard to get a sense of how life may have been hundreds of years ago. On an early morning walk around near-empty streets you can hear the muezzin’s call to prayer. That same haunting wail has resonated around the walls of the city for centuries and will echo in your ears as you continue your walk. Turkey is known for its stunning coastal scenery and, as Istanbul stirs, you can make your way around the city walls to admire the elegant sweep of the harbour – the Golden Horn.

Turning back into the city, you can stop for a coffee before taking a deep breath and entering the maze of lanes and back streets that make up the geography of Istanbul. The heart of ‘old Istanbul’ is Sultanahmet – an area of great historical importance to Turkey. Walking holidays are ideal for getting to the heart of a country’s history, and this area is home to such renowned monuments as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. As you explore the city further, you will probably traverse a route that takes in the heaving Grand Bazaar and the delightfully pungent Spice Bazaar. You will also pass by such grand sights as the Haghia Sophia, and the Sunken Palace Cistern in the Hippodrome on your city walk. Turkey has a rich and tapestried history, and walking the secret streets of Istanbul can reveal the relics of this ancient society.

Country Walks

A Turkey walking holiday through the vast regions of unspoilt countryside will reveal an entirely different facet. If you take the coastal route of the Lycian Way, you will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks and Romans. This 530km walking route takes in traditional nomad tracks and winds through forests and cliffs. You can discover deserted beaches and tiny fishing villages, or you can divert inland to hike along pathways through fields and farms. Walking holidays in Turkey nearly always include some routes along the Lycian Way. The trail is so long that it is possible to hike in any direction for many miles without seeing a soul. Read the rest of this entry »