Turkey

Summary

Nestled in the centre of the ancient trade routes between the far East, Europe and Africa, Turkey has become one of the hottest travel destinations owing to its ancient historical sites, picture perfect beaches and divine cuisine. With a bustling business hub in Istanbul, there’s a lot to see and do en-route to the ancient cities of Smyrna, Halicarnassus and Troy. The luxurious Turkish Riviera is the place to be for those seeking sunshine and beaches - not to mention the array of watersports and pampering spa treatments.

Experiences

• Choose from a long list of ancient cities to explore including Konya, Mardin, Side, Ephesus and Cappadocia
• Bask on the beaches of the Aegean Sea
• Visit the Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul
• Shop for Armaggan goods from the silverware and dinner china to the bed linens, textiles, and leather cases.
• A Turkish bath experience is a must

Seasons

Turkey has a Mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and cooler, rainy winters. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures around 30°C.  Inland regions with higher altitudes experience hotter summers and colder winters with snow on the mountains. The best swimming temperatures are from June to September on the north Aegean and Marmara coasts and from April to October on the south Aegean and Mediterranean coast.

Best time to go

Spring (April, May, June) is the high season with moderate temperatures throughout the country though some rain can be expected in April. Autumn is also good though days are shorter and rain can be expected from October. Summer (June, July, August) are the peak season for beach destinations with the hottest temperatures.