Walking in Istanbul vs Walking in Turkey’s Countryside By Tony Maniscalco At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Turkey is a history lover’s paradise, and the very best way to experience the countless historical and cultural gifts the country has to offer, is on a walking holiday. In Turkey, the stark contrast between an adventure through the backstreets of the seething metropolis of Istanbul, and a hike in the countryside through an idyllic landscape of farms and villages, is precisely what makes it so appealing. Follow in the footsteps of giants and ghosts on your Turkey walking holiday, and you will guide yourself through the pages of history.

City Walks
Istanbul: Fifth largest city in the world and home to more than 15 million people. It truly is the ‘bridge’ between East and West, extending into both the European and the Asian sides of the Bosphorous Strait, earning its unique status as a city embracing two continents. This ancient city in Turkey walks a tightrope of cultures, stirring in a simmering melting hot pot of East and West, and pulling out a jewel.

If you begin your Turkey walking holiday in Istanbul, it is not hard to get a sense of how life may have been hundreds of years ago. On an early morning walk around near-empty streets you can hear the muezzin’s call to prayer. That same haunting wail has resonated around the walls of the city for centuries and will echo in your ears as you continue your walk. Turkey is known for its stunning coastal scenery and, as Istanbul stirs, you can make your way around the city walls to admire the elegant sweep of the harbour – the Golden Horn.

Turning back into the city, you can stop for a coffee before taking a deep breath and entering the maze of lanes and back streets that make up the geography of Istanbul. The heart of ‘old Istanbul’ is Sultanahmet – an area of great historical importance to Turkey. Walking holidays are ideal for getting to the heart of a country’s history, and this area is home to such renowned monuments as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. As you explore the city further, you will probably traverse a route that takes in the heaving Grand Bazaar and the delightfully pungent Spice Bazaar. You will also pass by such grand sights as the Haghia Sophia, and the Sunken Palace Cistern in the Hippodrome on your city walk. Turkey has a rich and tapestried history, and walking the secret streets of Istanbul can reveal the relics of this ancient society.

Country Walks
A Turkey walking holiday through the vast regions of unspoilt countryside will reveal an entirely different facet. If you take the coastal route of the Lycian Way, you will follow in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks and Romans. This 530km walking route takes in traditional nomad tracks and winds through forests and cliffs. You can discover deserted beaches and tiny fishing villages, or you can divert inland to hike along pathways through fields and farms. Walking holidays in Turkey nearly always include some routes along the Lycian Way. The trail is so long that it is possible to hike in any direction for many miles without seeing a soul.

You can also take some amazing walking holidays in Turkey around the remote region of Cappadocia. The stark, volcanic landscape is dotted with incredible rock formations, fairy chimneys and underground cities. The Cappadocian cave dwellings, carved into the sides of the hills, are a fascinating adaptation to life in this strangely beautiful terrain. There are literally hundreds of ancient walking routes all over the country and you could spend weeks trekking remote villages and mountain trails on a walking holiday in Turkey - and still only scratch the surface!

For those in search of a new area in which to go walking in Turkey, the country’s Kaçkar Mountains in the north east provide wonderful walking. Hikes go through high summer pasture or ‘yaylas’; this alpine area close to the Black Sea coast resembles Switzerland with mosques. Good walking bases in for your walking holiday in the Kaçkar Mountains are Ayder, Ikizdere, Maçka and Uzungöl.

From the vibrant, eclectic buzz of Istanbul, to a solitary stroll amongst ancient relics in a remote country region – a walking holiday in Turkey will take you to the extremes of this captivating country.

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