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Last summer we spent a fantastic holiday in Tamil Nadu / Kerala in India despite it being the tail end of the monsoon.
This year we're seriously considering Turkey.
Here's the wish list:
4 weeks food countryside (esp. mountains and cultural ruins) culture photography some time near water (beach or lake - but away from hoards of tourists - essential) generally happy to holiday on the cheap with a weekly splurge on an activity like a hot air balloon, fantastic meal, jeep trip etc.
Anybody been in August? Any do and don'ts I should know about? All comments welcome.
Cappadocia is stunning, and that's where you want to take your hot air balloon ride.
Stay in Goreme in one of the 'fairy chimney' rooms (hugely varying prices); touristy enough that you can get local wine with your meal (region is getting increasingly conservative, last time I went to a big supermarket it no longer sold alcohol) and great local dishes too.
Fabulous landscape, not too expensive and then you have the mad underground Byzantine cities, and there's a great Neolithic site (well displayed with reconstructions etc) called Asikli Hoyuk not too far away, and maybe a day trip to the great Bronze Age citadel of Hattusa.
Flight to Istanbul or Ankara and then a connecting flight or bus (couple of hours from Anakara by coach I think).
Being in middle of country your not too close to any beaches, but maybe you could travel back via Black Sea coast resort?
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Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 19:30 - Jan 8 with 6827 views
Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 19:25 - Jan 8 by factual_blue
Hot....and full of tourists.
Not as full as it should be...
I have two colleagues who go [separately] there every year and the numbers are still down, presumably due to fears of terrorism. Great for those that do go, disastrous for the locals.
Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 19:26 - Jan 8 by stringy
Cappadocia is stunning, and that's where you want to take your hot air balloon ride.
Stay in Goreme in one of the 'fairy chimney' rooms (hugely varying prices); touristy enough that you can get local wine with your meal (region is getting increasingly conservative, last time I went to a big supermarket it no longer sold alcohol) and great local dishes too.
Fabulous landscape, not too expensive and then you have the mad underground Byzantine cities, and there's a great Neolithic site (well displayed with reconstructions etc) called Asikli Hoyuk not too far away, and maybe a day trip to the great Bronze Age citadel of Hattusa.
Flight to Istanbul or Ankara and then a connecting flight or bus (couple of hours from Anakara by coach I think).
Being in middle of country your not too close to any beaches, but maybe you could travel back via Black Sea coast resort?
For the cultural stuff, the obvious places are Ephesus, Troy, the big sights in Istanbul (Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace) etc, but, honestly, the whole country is a feast for culture lovers.
For something different, try Aphrodisias. It was noted for it's School of Sculpture in ancient times. We went there about 20 years ago, when the city was just beginning to be excavated fully, some of the exhibits in the museum were stunning, before most of the site had been opened up. Check the Wiki page for more info, or the site's own web page here: http://www.aphrodisias.com/listingview.php?listingID=21
If you are going to be based anywhere on the SW coast, it shouldn't be too difficult to get there.
Pamukkale is brilliant for swimming in thermal waters, plus its an ancient city site. You might be able to get a hotel with it's own thermal pools, but the place will probably be stiff with German & Russian tourists in August
As far as weather etc is concerned, keep hydrated, don't get too exposed to the sun, I got sunstroke in Fethiye at the beginning of April!
Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 22:16 - Jan 8 by MedwayTractor
For the cultural stuff, the obvious places are Ephesus, Troy, the big sights in Istanbul (Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace) etc, but, honestly, the whole country is a feast for culture lovers.
For something different, try Aphrodisias. It was noted for it's School of Sculpture in ancient times. We went there about 20 years ago, when the city was just beginning to be excavated fully, some of the exhibits in the museum were stunning, before most of the site had been opened up. Check the Wiki page for more info, or the site's own web page here: http://www.aphrodisias.com/listingview.php?listingID=21
If you are going to be based anywhere on the SW coast, it shouldn't be too difficult to get there.
Pamukkale is brilliant for swimming in thermal waters, plus its an ancient city site. You might be able to get a hotel with it's own thermal pools, but the place will probably be stiff with German & Russian tourists in August
As far as weather etc is concerned, keep hydrated, don't get too exposed to the sun, I got sunstroke in Fethiye at the beginning of April!
Probably not what you want to hear, but I’ve been to Turkey once and wouldn’t go back if offered a free holiday. Food average. Just disliked everything about the place and in late June it was exceptionally hot.
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Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 22:32 - Jan 8 with 6589 views
Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 22:31 - Jan 8 by jas0999
Probably not what you want to hear, but I’ve been to Turkey once and wouldn’t go back if offered a free holiday. Food average. Just disliked everything about the place and in late June it was exceptionally hot.
Not what I wanted to hear but good to know regardless.
Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 22:44 - Jan 8 by Bent_double
Having liked there for 17 years, I have to disagree.
Mind you, I now live in Gt Yarmouth, there's clearly something wrong with me.
Did you have a weird experience with a bag of chips, you don't have to answer that if you feel a tad embarassed. Yarmouth is in Norfolk are you under the weather?
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Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 22:59 - Jan 8 with 6534 views
Have been to Fethiye area a few times. Lots to see off the beaten track. Fethiye is a large working town, has some wonderful restaurants generally locally sourced food. The people were pretty friendly, but it was very hot, up to 40c on occasions in August. Went late September/early October the following year, was around the mid to high 20s. There are no beaches in the town but a short dolmus ride will take to many lovely sandy quiet stretches of sand. Hope this may be of help to you.
We have no village green, or a shop.
It's very, very quiet.
I can walk to the pub.
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Summer holiday in... TURKEY on 23:00 - Jan 8 with 6530 views
Have been to Fethiye area a few times. Lots to see off the beaten track. Fethiye is a large working town, has some wonderful restaurants generally locally sourced food. The people were pretty friendly, but it was very hot, up to 40c on occasions in August. Went late September/early October the following year, was around the mid to high 20s. There are no beaches in the town but a short dolmus ride will take to many lovely sandy quiet stretches of sand. Hope this may be of help to you.
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