Turkey

Another firm Original Travel favourite, Turkey offers the full scope of attractions from cultural cities to picturesque landscapes and a beautiful coastline.

The obvious starting point is Istanbul, a hugely atmospheric city, and a great destination for a long weekend. As well as being packed with historical and cultural treasures, modern Istanbul has a contemporary buzz to it. Once you’ve seen some of Istanbul’s numerous sights, indulge in a visit to a traditional hammam or a haggling contest in one of the city’s sprawling bazaars.

Elsewhere, the bizarre rock formations that characterise the Cappadocia region of central Turkey are the result of ancient volcanic eruptions that deposited thick layers of soft rock. The forces of nature have, over the ages, sculpted outlandish shapes such as the so-called ‘fairy chimneys’ – toadstool-like rock pinnacles that litter the valleys - while into it humans have, going back centuries, dug homes, churches and even entire underground cities. Some of these subterranean homes have been converted into cave-hotels – chic boltholes that offer everything the modern troglodyte could want.

Finally, the shores of the beautiful Lycean coast are home to an increasing number of excellent hotels and all but guaranteed good weather in a UK summer and even spring and autumn. This coast is also excellent for exploration from a gulet traditional wooden sailing boat, and this is something else we can organise.