Turkey is a large country that rests between the Black and Mediterranean Seas and is considered to be a gateway between Europe and Asia. A land of many exotic and different cultures, Turkey is among the most rapidly developing in the world, yet it still retains the mystique of the Orient and Arabia. Turkey is a land of beautiful beaches, stunning mountain ranges, gleaming cities and ancient Greco-Roman ruins. There is no place on Earth where you can find so many different influences at play, whether they be East or West, modern or ancient. Turkey has been at the centre of civilisation for thousands of year.

The Turkish people themselves have a well-earned reputation for warmth and hospitality, while very protective of their customs and culture. In a land that is at once ancient and ultra-modern, the Turkish have created a land of stunning architecture, spectacular mosques and castles, delectable cuisine, and artistic ingenuity. Enjoy the swirling dervishes of Konja or search for Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, there’s no end to the variety that one can enjoy when visiting Turkey. Accommodation in Turkey is wide and varied, with one having the choice of luxurious five-star hotels or quaint, stone-cobbled inns. In the capital city, Istanbul, choices abound with hotels of every type, style and taste.

Turkey is a conundrum in today’s world, a Westernized, secular society in the shadow of the Middle East. People who visit Turkey are amazed to discover it possessing all the conveniences of Western culture amongst the bustling bazaars filled with shoppers of many ethnicity, including Kurdish and Arab, Roma and Cirassian, as well as, of course, Turkish. A perfect metaphor for Turkey would be a visit to the ancient city of Istanbul, where a main attraction is the Bosphorus Bridge, which links the European and Asian continents.

As one of the Mediterranean’s more affordable destinations, the southern coast of Turkey offers resort after resort with golden, sandy beaches. Whether one is exploring the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, scouring the ruins of the Ottoman Empire, or relaxing at one of the local kebab restaurants- there is so much to do and see in this country of wonderful contrasts.