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Istanbul's Sultan Ahmed Mosque (also known as the Blue Mosque) was built by the Ottomans early in the 17th century and is notable for its six minarets and blue Iznik-tiled interior

Turkey is an incredible and incomparable crossroads.

Straddling the Europe/Asia divide between the Balkan region of southeastern Europe, southern Central Asia and the Middle East, Turkey is certainly of geopolitical strategic importance. Its touch to key cultural corners of the planet places it right at the interface of cultural and religious influences from the east and the west that have led to friction and fusion in the past and the present.

But these are just a couple of the qualities that have made Turkey a fantastic land for travellers. From the rolling hills and historic monuments of Istanbul to the abundant natural and man-made attractions all across the Anatolian peninsula and the water-warmed appeal of the communities and distractions along its lengthy coast, the possibilities in Turkey really are as endless as its current tourism campaign: Unlimited Turkey.

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FEATURE ARTICLES

ISTANBUL: A CITY BEYOND COMPARE

Istanbul is as storied as they come, shaped by legends, both fictional and factual, and ‘a strangely harmonious clash of cultures’. It came as no surprise when this metropolis astride the divide between Europe and Asia was designated a European Capital of Culture for 2010. MORE…

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN MARMARIS-DATÇA

Although little remains of the fishing village of Marmaris that didn’t survive a building boom in the 1980s, further down the Datça Peninsula is a place where nine traditional villages have opted for a more holistic approach. MORE…

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A HIDDEN SIDE OF CAPPADOCIA: HOW TO GO WHERE OTHERS DON’T

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cappadocia is the Anatolian region southeast of Ankara. Once surrounded by volcanoes, it’s famous for incredible eroded volcanic rock formations and the cave hotels carved directly into them. MORE…

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SAY NO TO THE HYDROLECTRIC POWER PLANT ON TURKEY’S YUVARLAKCAY RIVER

Read about the risks being posed to this beautiful area by plans to Dam the valley and find out about how you can add your voice to those opposed to the scheme. MORE…

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CAPPADOCIA UNEARTHED: THE HANDICRAFTS RENAISSANCE IN AVANOS TURKEY

Traditional local crafts are undergoing a resurgence in this area. Read about Luke’s visit to the home of one of Cappadocia’s resident artisans. MORE…

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PHOTO OF THE WEEK (24/01/10): RELAXING AFTER THE HARVEST IN DATCA

Catch a glimpse of daily life for these farmers in rural Turkey and gain some insight into the scene from our local connection. MORE…

DESTINATION SITES

At present, whl.travel covers nine destinations in Turkey, with travel portals to another three under construction. The following are the most recent destinations to have been added to the whl.travel family:

• Istanbul
• Alanya
• Antalya (including Serik)
• Bodrum
• Cappadocia (including Avanos, Göreme, Nevşehir, Uçhisar, Ürgüp)
• Dalyan
• Ephesus and İzmir (including Aydın, Çeşme, Pamukkale and Kuşadası)
• Kas
• Marmaris-Datça

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