The Land of Legends

Turkey is a vast, varied nation stretching from Europe in the west to Asia in the east, with a coastline of over 7,000km (4,350 miles) along three seas. In magnificent, stately Istanbul, the old and new cities face each other across the Golden Horn. Wrapped around the Sea of Marmara are the small but fascinating regions of Thrace (European Turkey) and Marmara, each in its time hosting the capital of the Ottoman Empire.

The western and southern coasts are lapped by warm, turquoise-blue waters, with limpid sands or shady pines, luring millions of tourists each summer. The Aegean Coast comprises four areas the north; Izmir and its hinterland; the south coast, beyond Ephesus; and the tourist havens of Bodrum and Marmaris. From here, the beautiful Mediterranean Coast runs east for over 1,500km (1,000 miles), through the ancient realms of Lycia (west), Pamphylia (center) and Cilicia (east), before turning south into the Hatay.

The country’s capital, Ankara, lies in Central Anatolia, with the legendary volcanic landscapes of Cappadocia to the east. To the north loom the little-known Black Sea coast and wild, forested mountains. Eastern Turkey covers nearly half the country’s area, but much of it is a harsh, sparsely populated land, whose spectacular beauty remains hidden to all but the most adventurous traveler.