Cultural Trails - Why Turkey?

Why Turkey?

It is because…

…Turkey offers a wide variety of safe travels full of unforgettable memories covering the mystique of the Past and the Attractions of Today

…in every region of Turkey you find a different History, Culture, Landscape, People, Handicraft, Food and Smell

…bearing a very rich Cultural Heritage, it is one of the “Must” countries to visit in the World in your lifetime

…meeting up with the locals both in the cities and villages you experience their way of life and enlighten yourself with their colorful Customs and Traditions

…you can travel in the whole country as in a Time Machine exploring the ancient sites and monuments starting from the Prehistoric Times

…it has a unique location in the world, occupying the whole of Classical Asia Minor (Anatolia) and a small portion of eastern Thrace in Europe (click map of Turkey)

…in the city of Istanbul you can see the two continents “Europe” and “Asia” at the same time looking over the bridges of “Bosphorus”, the most famous waterway of the World

…sitting astride the land and sea routes connecting Europe and Asia, the Black Sea with the Mediterranean, you can think that there is not any other city in the world such as Istanbul that has a perfect position.

...touring through Turkey, you can see that the modern days roads being used today are those that have been used since the “Neolithic” period from where obsidian trade trails, ancient trade routes, “Persian” and “Roman Royal Roads” and the famous “Silk Road” passed

...you can walk on the footsteps of the Alexander the Great and follow the steps of St. Paul

...you can explore hundreds of the ancient sites of the Hattis, Assyrians, Hittites, Phrygians, Urartians, Lycians, Carians, Pisidians, Cilicians, Lydians, Bythinians, Galatians, Commagenes, Pergamenes, Romans, Byzantines, Seljuks and Ottomans… Is it because…

...taking a blue voyage you can easily follow the ancient sea routes along the Mediterranean and Aegean Sea and visit the old sheltered bays, harbours, ancient sites and fortresses to look for the traces of the ancient Seafaring People and the Pirates

...hiking up to the temple of Athena at Assos, you can enjoy a sunset over the Greek Island Lesbos and raise your glass of wine saying cheers to Aristotle who taught philosophy at the stoa of the ancient city Assos, located on the Northwestern coast of Turkey

...you can watch maybe the most magnificent sunrise sitting by the colossal statue heads of the Gods and the statues of the Royal family members of the Commagene dynasty on the top of the Nemrut Mountain located in the Southeastern region of Turkey.

...walking in the Medreses’ (religious schools) of the Seljukian period, you can see how they reflected their interest of cosmology on their artworks.

...you can find yourself visiting the perfect mosques, baths, fountains and palaces of the great Ottoman Empire.

…you can learn about the modern day literature, music, art and architecture of Turkey strolling through her streets.

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Testimonials

We toured Western Turkey...

We toured Western Turkey with Sevil Conka in 2004, starting in Istanbul then driving to Cappadoccia over the course of ten days. Sevil was an absolutely terrific guide, full of knowledge and extremely capable of managing the arrangements. Everything flowed perfectly, and we especially enjoyed Sevil's restaurant recommendations. Everywhere we went we dined at the best, most authentic places, avoiding the ordinary in favor of the extraordinary. We're looking forward to another trip soon, with Sevil as our guide.

--Jim Draper and Brian St. Germain, Birmingham, Michigan, USA

Turkey is a wonderful place

Turkey is a wonderful place. It has far surpassed what I had imagined. The landscape, the history you bring the ancient past alive with your stories and your extensive knowledge. What a true pleasure it has been to travel in your country with you as our guide. The sea was a treat, the homestay a special time and the scenery just marvellous. Thank you.

C. Argyus, CA

Turkey is a beautiful Discovery

East-West
Ancient-Modern
Serious-Whimsich
Mind-Spirit
Turkey is a beautiful Discovery
And It is also you!
Thank you with all our heart,

M&Martin Stoller

Thanks so much for all your work and preparation

I have had a wonderful, wonderful trip through Turkey and its multi-layered history. Thank you so much because you were so much a part of the trip. I will always remember so much-our tour of Hattusa, the marvels of Cappadocia, our tour of Catalhoyuk with Basak, and our lovely visit with Himmet and his family in Kumbet. And there were first the highlights everyday and was filled with wondrous things to learn and see, and your information was the key to it all. Thanks so much for all your work and preparation. I have learned so much. I am sure you will be a success-you are gifted,caring, thoughtful person.

Anne Higgins, Santa Rosa CA

We are thankful for Cultural Trails’ organization. During September 2004, The Swedish Trade Council in Istanbul organized a three day seminar for the major customers of Scandinavia’s renowned banks, Scandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB). Our Guests were the major CEO’s of the Scandinavian companies, with exceptional and demanding desires and wishes. During these days Cultural Trails organized a tourist tour activity in Istanbul. The activity included total customer responsibility in guiding, transfer and printed information booklets on Istanbul as well as other practical issues around the event for the Scandinavian ensemble. Our guests were very pleased with the venue; hence we are thankful for Cultural Trails’ organization. We highly recommend their services.

Exportradet/Swedish Trade Council Istanbul

Highly professional and very pleasant staff... Having arrived in Istanbul on business with only one day available to see the sights we were delighted with the personal tour which was well planned and organised by the highly professional and very pleasant staff from Cultural Trails. Their planning and organisation enabled us to ensure that we saw as many sights of key interest as possible and ensuring that we were both collected and returned to our hotel in complete safety.

Cheetham & Co
David Cheetham

Highly professional and very pleasant staff... Having arrived in Istanbul on business with only one day available to see the sights we were delighted with the personal tour which was well planned and organised by the highly professional and very pleasant staff from Cultural Trails. Their planning and organisation enabled us to ensure that we saw as many sights of key interest as possible and ensuring that we were both collected and returned to our hotel in complete safety.

Cheetham & Co
David Cheetham
\n djc@cheethamandco.co.uk

We highly recommend... October 2003

We highly recommend Cultural Trails as a specialist Travel Designer and brillant organizer. We certainly will be on a large number of their tours.

A.B. and J.W.A. Evans London
Fax/Phone +44 1628 527825