Welcome to Enchanting Journeys

Enchanting Turkiye… yours to discover…

“The world is a book & those who do not travel read only one page” - Saint Augustine

 

The Middle East is quite simply extraordinary, one of the world's most fascinating & rewarding travel destinations. It was here that some of the most significant civilisations of antiquity rose & fell and where the 3 great monotheistic religions - Judaism, Christianity & Islam - were born. Left behind is an astonishing open-air museum of ancient cities & historic buildings, the stones of which still resonate with the sounds of the faithful. Above all else, however, your most enduring memory of the Middle East is likely to be its people. Their gracious welcome, kindness & boundless hospitality speaks of an altogether more civilised age.

 

And in Turkey, you will find a richly historical land with some of the best cuisine you will ever taste, scenery from beaches to mountains & the great city of İstanbul. Of course, not forgetting the other ancient wonders. Come……experience Turkey with us………

 

The Middle East is home to some of the world's most significant cities – Jerusalem, Cairo, Damascus, Teheran, Baghdad & Istanbul. The ruins of the once similarly epic cities of history - Petra, Persepolis, Ephesus, Palmyra, Baalbek, Leptis Magna & the bounty of ancient Egypt, also mark the passage of centuries in a region where the ancient world lives & breathes.

 

The landscapes of the region are equally spellbinding, from the unrivalled seas of sand dunes & palm-fringed lakes in Libya’s Sahara desert to the stunning mountains of the north & the underwater world of the Red Sea.

 

From the gravitas of the Sahara to the blue tiles of Esfahan, this is a region for discerning travellers, for those looking for the story behind the headline, and where the bridges between ancient & modern civilisations are everywhere evident. If you believe what the media tells you & decide not to visit, you would be missing out on the journey of a lifetime.

 

And now, let us talk about Turkey…… officially the Republic of Turkey, is a transcontinental country located mainly on the peninsula of Anatolia in Western Asia, with a smaller portion on East Thrace in Southeast Europe.

 

An Epic History | Culinary Exploration | Lyrical Landscapes

Turkey is a land of vast open spaces, massive mountain ranges, fertile valleys & rugged coastline with unfrequented beaches, fast - growing cities & sleepy villages and bustling neon-lit seaside resorts.

 

Turkey, country that occupies a unique geographic position, lying partly in Asia & partly in Europe. Throughout its history, it has acted as both a barrier & a bridge between the 2 continents. Among the larger countries of the region in terms of territory & population with a land area greater than that of any European state, it is situated at the crossroads of the Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East & eastern Mediterranean.

 

Turkey is bounded on the north by the Black Sea, on the northeast by Georgia & Armenia, on the east by Azerbaijan & Iran, on the southeast by Iraq & Syria, on the southwest & west by the Mediterranean & the Aegean Sea and on the northwest by Greece & Bulgaria. The maritime boundary with Greece has been a source of dispute between the 2 countries on numerous occasions since World War II.

 

The modern Turkish republic, founded in 1923 after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, is a nationalist, secular, parliamentary democracy. After a period of 1 party rule under its founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk & his successor, Turkish governments since the 1950s have been produced by multi-party elections.

 

When you set foot in Turkiye (Turkey), you are following in the wake of some remarkable historical figures. Turkey has hosted A-list history-book figures including Julius Caesar, who famously 'came, saw & conquered' near Amasya, and St Paul, who criss-crossed the country.

 

Ottoman sultans used to luxuriate in İstanbul’s Topkapı Palace, surrounded by fawning courtiers, harem members, eunuchs & riches from an empire stretching from Budapest to Baghdad. Centuries earlier, Byzantine Christians cut cave churches into Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys & hid from Islamic armies in underground cities.

 

At other points in history, Romans coursed down the Curetes Way at ancient port city of Ephesus (Efes) to the soaring Byzantine dome of Aya Sofya, medieval Armenians built Ani's churches, whirling dervishes gyrated with Sufi mysticism & the Lycians left romantic & mysterious ruins on Mediterranean beaches.

 

Turkey has more than its fair share of world-famous ruins & monuments. The succession of historical figures & empires – Romans, Byzantines & Ottomans – have all left their mark on this former stopover along the Silk Road.

 

Experiencing their legacy takes you from the closeted quarters of the Sultan & his harem in İstanbul's sprawling Topkapı Palace to the wider horizons. This is the land where Alexander the Great slashed the Gordion Knot, where Achilles battled the Trojans in Homer’s Iliad & where the Ottoman Empire fought battles that would shape the world. History buffs can immerse themselves in marvels & mementos stretching back to the dawn of civilisation.

 

Turkey might be the world’s most contested country with its landscape dotted with battlegrounds, ruined castles & palaces of great empires. The diverse landscapes, from Aegean olive groves to eastern steppe, provide a lyrical setting for its many great ruins. Its magical scenery is to be found in Asian Anatolia, where beautiful vistas are provided by the vertiginous Mediterranean coastline, Cappadocia's otherworldly 'fairy chimney' rock formations & wavy valleys, the alpine pastures of the Kaçkar Mountains & golden beaches.

 

Whether you settle down with a çay to enjoy the view across mountain-ringed Lake Egirdir or explore the hilly hinterland on the southwest coast's many peninsulas, Turkey's landscape will leave a lasting impression.

 

The greatest surprise for first-time visitors to Turkey, with its stereotypes of kebabs, carpets & moustachioed hustlers in the bazaar, is the sheer diversity found between its Aegean beaches & eastern mountains. In İstanbul, you can cruise - on the Bosphorus as well as through markets & nightclubs - in a Westernised metropolis offering equal parts romance & overcrowded insanity. In holiday spots such as Cappadocia & the southwestern coasts, mix trekking, horse-riding & water sports with meze savouring on a panoramic terrace. Then there are the less-frequented eastern quarters, where honey-coloured outposts overlook the plains of ancient Mesopotamia & weather-beaten relics add lashings of lyricism to mountain ranges.

 

Of course, Turkey's current inhabitants are just as memorable. The gregarious Turks are understandably proud of their heritage & full of information (of variable accuracy) about subjects from kilims (flat-weave rugs) to the Aya Sofya's floating dome. Turkey's long history has given it a profound depth of culture. Immersing yourself in that culture is as simple as soaking in an ancient hamam, eating a kebap & tasting influences brought along the Silk Road, or visiting the ruins scattering the fields, bays & hills.

 

A rich history has left an indelible mark & Turkey overflows with historic sites & archaeological wonders set in a varied & beautiful landscape. The Mediterranean coastline is punctuated with well-preserved Greco-Roman cities such as Pergamom & Ephesus, while the austere & rugged Anatolian plateau has cave churches hidden away in the improbable fairytale landscape of Cappadocia. Istanbul, still very much the pulse of the nation, has even more to offer, with Roman aqueducts, Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques & palaces.

 

Bon vivants need look no further than Istanbul, where the markets & bars are among the most stylish & atmospheric and the mod Ottoman cuisine rates as the tastiest, in the world. The best thing about sampling Turkey's delicious specialties - ranging from meze on a Mediterranean harbour to a pension breakfast featuring products from the kitchen garden - is they take you to the heart of Turkish culture. For the sociable & family-orientated Turks, getting together & eating well is a time - honoured ritual. So get stuck into olive oil - lathered Aegean vegetables, spicy Anatolian kebabs & dishes from Turkey's many other corners & as you drink a tulip-shaped glass of çay & contemplate some baklava for dessert, remember that eating is deepening your understanding of Turkey.

 

Then again, if you want to simply unwind, spend an afternoon being pampered at a hamam, or let the warm waters off the Mediterranean coast lap at your toes. Adventure lovers can head east to Nemrut Dagi National Park.

 

The country’s tumultuous history has left a deep legacy. People who have never had to suffer for an idea or fight for a patch of land can be overwhelmed by the passion of ordinary Turks for their country. But for ordinary Turks that passion finds its outlet, not in martial ardour, but in simple pleasures: family, food, music, football & friendship. Turks have an inspiring ability to keep things in perspective, to get on with everyday life & to have a bloody good time in the process. Hearty locals are always ready to chat over a çay or Efes beer. As the old Turkish saying goes: 'A cup of coffee commits one to 40 years of friendship.' This proverb nails the addictive qualities of the Turkish lifestyle, enjoyed by people who are blessed with a land of ancient bazaars & sandy beaches, magnificent ruins & soaring mountains - and who are keen to make sure visitors love it as much as they do.

 

But however deep its past, Turkey is now a thrusting & dynamic society that embraces cultural, economic & political change while consciously seeking to retain the best of its multicultural heritage & time -honoured traditions of hospitality.

 

It is hardly surprising that Turkey has attracted so many folks over the centuries. Treat Turkey as that most quintessential of Turkish dishes, the meze, a table piled high with scrumptious treats. Throw away the menu, order a plate of everything & feast till you can’t go on. Afiyet olsun!

 

Spectacular & surreal. A unique experience is just the beginning……. Take the plunge now & discover their legacy for yourself. A warm welcome awaits you in iconic Turkiye & The Journeys is ready to take you on well, a journey (or journeys) of discovery.

 

Come…be inspired & discover the World