Turkey gets the go-ahead... so what are you waiting for?
It’s a country that has something for every type of traveller – and it’s finally off the red list. There’s no time to lose, says Terry Richardson
No other Mediterranean destination offers the visitor as much variety as Turkey. Head east from the olive and vineyard-blessed shores of the Aegean across the rolling steppes of Anatolia and you will meet the dramatically mountainous frontiers of Georgia, Armenia and Iran. North across the towering Taurus Mountains are sun-kissed Mediterranean resorts and the temperate, hazelnut and tea-producing mountains of the Black Sea. Cross the mighty Euphrates and Tigris rivers of Turkey’s arid yet fascinating southeast and you can climb biblical Mount Ararat, go hot-air ballooning over the volcanic landscape of Cappadocia or relax on a beach crisscrossed with the flipper marks of nesting turtles.
Such a remarkably diverse topography, climate, flora and fauna means Turkey offers every kind of holiday experience you could wish for – with warm temperatures well into October. To relax, beach and pool-lounge it at an all-inclusive near Mediterranean Antalya, or cruise the beautiful Turquoise Coast aboard a traditional wooden gulet (sailing boat). Feeling more active? The Turquoise Coast and its hinterland is perfect for kayaking, scuba diving, canyoning, mountain biking and hiking the waymarked Carian Trail and Lycian Way. Accommodation ranges from simple, family-run pensions in places like Dalyan and Patara to luxurious hotels in Bodrum and Belek.
Given that, geographically, Turkey spans two continents – Europe and Asia – and is poised culturally between primarily Christian Europe and the predominantly Muslim Middle East, it is no surprise that it has a rich heritage. Whether soaking up the atmosphere of Troy or gently perspiring in a 500-yearold Ottoman Turkish bath, there is always something to intrigue the curious visitor. That’s without mentioning the country’s rich culinary tradition – a blissful union of flavours from East and West.
At long last Turkey has been removed from the “no go” red list, making it the ideal choice for an autumn break. The country’s famous hospitality has not been dimmed by Covid, and its well-regulated tourism industry has done its utmost throughout the pandemic to keep visitors safe. While soaring inflation and the need to be ultra-competitive in the face of shrinking tourist numbers is less than great for either locals or the tourism industry, they do mean holidaying there is extremely good value. Here are some of the nation’s best breaks…