6 Reasons to go to Turkey

Whether you live in a first world country like America or a third world country like Pakistan, the idea of traveling to broaden you horizon has reached you. Thanks to the power of internet and Instagram bloggers posting pretty travel pictures with #travelgram, tour companies and travel agencies are making shit loads of money from a business that didn't exist a couple of centuries ago. Any why shouldn't you travel? It makes you spend money, gives you a sense of "new experience", in some ways really changes your perspective about things, and above all, its good for business, which means its good for everyone.

As Yuval Noah Harari would say,

“The tourism industry does not sell flight tickets and hotel bedrooms. It sells experiences. Paris is not a city, nor India a country – they are both experiences, the consumption of which is supposed to widen our horizons, fulfil our human potential, and make us happier. Consequently, when the relationship between a millionaire and his wife is going through a rocky patch, he takes her on an expensive trip to Paris. The trip is not a reflection of some independent desire, but rather of an ardent belief in the myths of romantic consumerism. A wealthy man in ancient Egypt would never have dreamed of solving a relationship crisis by taking his wife on holiday to Babylon. Instead, he might have built for her the sumptuous tomb she had always wanted.”

Well said, Mr Harari.

But we can't deny the fact that we live in an era of romanticism and the idea that travel can provide us "happiness" is etched into our brains. So, I suppose there is no point in me telling you to save your hard earned bucks. Well, if you're gonna travel anyway, you should at least get an opportunity to spend your money wisely and choose a destination that really is worth visiting. Having lived in Turkey for 3 years, I can help you make that decision. If it is your first time travelling abroad or you're looking for an experience entirely different from your home country, visit Turkey. Here is why;

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Reason 1 you should visit Turkey: East Meets West

Turkey is located at the edge of Asia and a tiny part of it is in Europe. So you get the taste of two continents in one country. The geographical location of Turkey has given it the prime spot for tourism and you will find all sorts of tour groups and companies offering trips to Turkey all over the world. The blend of eastern and western culture makes Turkey quite unique in a way because unlike all European holiday destinations, you can enjoy both eastern beauty and western culture in Turkey. The beautiful blend can be seen in every city of Turkey through clothing, cuisine and festivities.

Luxury Hostels in Antalya, Turkey.

Reason 2 you should visit Turkey: A country that is "all in one" holiday place

If you are looking for a mountain range filled with lush green fields, waterfalls, and misty air of heavy clouds, visit Trabzon in Turkey. If you are looking for a city filled with colorful streets, beautiful houses, exquisite beaches, and world famous luxury resorts, visit Antalya in Turkey. If you are into history, look no further because Anatolian region is where you wanna be. Beautiful thermal waters rich with minerals and looking like bright shiny mountains of white salts, go to Pamukkale, Turkey. No matter what type of holiday place you're looking for, Turkey has it all.

Beautiful lake in Trabzon,  Turkey

Reason 3 you should visit Turkey: Great Beaches

Oh you've read so many articles about most beautiful beaches in the world and didn't hear Turkey's name enough? Well, visit Ölüdeniz in Fethiye district of Muğla Province and you will thank me later. Don't forget to reserve some time for paragliding to to look at the mesmerizing colors of water near the rocky beach. You could swim there for hours and never get tired of it. The same goes for Konyalti beach in Antalya (although most people prefer the sandy Lara beach but in my opinion, that is no match for Konyalti). Whether you like to through yourself into water or just sun bathe on the beach, nothing compares to the experience you get on Turkish beaches.

Oludeniz, Turkey

Reason 4 you should visit Turkey: World's most Beautiful Fairy Chimneys

There are very few places in the world that house the unique structures called fairy chimneys. Most of them will be either in USA or Canada. The Cappadocia fairy chimneys are still photographed more than any other in the world because of the unique views of the valley and caves they offer. Sun rise and sunset  with hundreds of hot air balloons in the background is every Instagramer's dream and that dream comes true in Cappadocia. Don't visit in extreme winter though, because it snows in Cappadocia and my hot air balloon ride kept getting cancelled because of that and I had to visit Cappadocia again in summer for the love of those Hot Air Balloons. They are not the only attraction of Cappadocia though, a much under appreciated in the tour of the underground cities and Rose Valley.

Hot Air Baloons in Cappadocia, Turkey at Sunrise

Reason 5 you should visit Turkey: Rich History and Culture

Trojan War? Greek Colonies? Alexander the Great's conquest of Anatolia? Roman Empire? Ottoman Empire? World War I and World War II? Looks like every major event in the history involved Turkey in some way. And Turks have preserved their heritage well. Turkey is full of historical sites and they are very well maintained and open to tourists. Every place has a decent collection of museums so that you can take a peak into Turkey's past. The strong cultural impact of the Ottoman Empire is still visible in modern Turkey through it's extensive web of mosques and other religious structures. The Sultan's Palaces are quite an overwhelming sight. Turkish language and cuisine has also undergone many stages of evolution and a taste of every era can be seen in it. The Turkish craftsmen have been keeping the arts of carpet making, pottery and instrument making alive for centuries.

Underground City in Cappadocia, Turkey 

Reason 6000 you should visit Turkey: Turkish Musical Nights and Dances

Turkey loves festivals and celebrations and there is one event or the other going on round the year. They include, but are not limited to, religious events, national celebrations, celebration of historical figures, new year celebrations and a lot more. One of the reasons you should visit Turkey is the Sufi culture, the music and the special darvesh raqs in Turkey. The spiritual whirling of the dervesh puts a spell on the whole environment and takes you into a magical world. The Whirling Dervesh Festival is held in the city of Rumi, Konya every year from 7th to 17th of December but you can catch individual performances throughout Turkey round the year.

Whirling Dervesh in a festival in Turkey

If you are planning to visit Turkey, check my Trip to Bursa and Trip to Cappadocia highlights. Don't forget to share your experience when you come back, and don't forget to thank me for suggesting you great places.