Wherever you choose to stay, there are plenty of opportunities to experience more than just sun, sea and sand.

 

Turkey is an ancient civilisation and all along the coast are wonderful ruins and archaeological sites... Time Team would be in their element here. Ephesus, with its magnificent Roman library and baths, is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Bodrum’s superbly restored Crusader’s Castle tells the fascinating story of a less well-known piece of history. Or go to Dalyan and see the ancient rock tombs carved out of sheer cliffs, or stay in Side itself, where in the old town you can’t walk down a street without coming face to face with a Roman pillar.

 

Not into history? Then take a boat trip, come along to a Turkish night to enjoy traditional Turkish entertainment including fabulous belly and traditional dancers along with astonishing fire eating, or take a Turkish bath to see how the locals ease the stress of everyday life.

 

Finally, it’s a shame to be in Turkey and not take a trip to Istanbul for a few days. The commercial and historical heart of the country, the city sits astride the Bosphorus, one of the busiest and most varied waterways in the world. Its modern skyscrapers contrast with the teeming streets of its famous covered bazaar and the glorious old wooden houses beside the Bosphorus. Hurrying through its streets are people whose ancestors came from modern-day Kazakhstan, Hungary or Egypt... these people are as varied and colourful the country they have created.

 

There’s never a dull moment on a visit to Turkey.

 

 

At all our resorts there is a variety of boats and water-sports facilities for hire. From paragliding to canoeing, there is no shortage of ways of getting out to the sea. Near Bodrum is Bitez Bay, where international windsurfing competitions are frequently held, or in Dalyan you can enjoy hot-air ballooning or cycling.

 

Turkey is one of best places in the Mediterranean to try your hand at scuba diving with crystal clear waters and interesting dive sites. There are professional diving schools (mostly PADI) in all the main resorts and your Holidays 4U representative will be able to make arrangements for a “try dive” or a short diving course which are a safe and low-cost introduction to the wonders of undersea Turkey. If you are already a qualified diver don’t forget to take your logbook and certification card

 

  

 

Although there is a huge variety of international cuisine on offer, you really should try the local Turkish food - we’re positive you’ll be back for more! Turkish cuisine is exceptionally varied, making extensive use of the fabulously fresh fruit and vegetables that are grown all over Turkey. It’s an easy place to be a vegetarian, but excellent lamb, fish and cheese are available everywhere.

The citrus fruits are a local speciality, but the cherries, peaches, apricots and figs are unlike anything you have ever tasted before. There are hitherto unseen delights to try – the small plums called maltepe, for example, or pistachio nuts freshly roasted that day. As well as the easily recognised kebabs and salads, there’s Borek - little filo pastry parcels filled with cheese and Pide - the Turkish equivalent of Pizza.

And when you’ve finished try a little Turkish Coffee... fiendishly strong the deceptively small cup can help keep you going into the early hours.

And talking of the early hours, as well as wonderful local food there are local drinks to try - get into the holiday spirit with the local aniseed bombshell called Raki which is taken with ice and water, the very good Efes beer, or the surprisingly good Turkish wines which are far from expensive.

 

 

After dark Turkey offers everything from smart bars with cocktails as colourful as the sunsets, through to British Pubs with draught beer, music bars for those who like it loud and bars and clubs open until the early hours (Bodrum boasts the Halikarnos Disco which is famous throughout Europe and beyond). The bigger resorts have a huge choice of evening entertainment and tend to be noisier, whilst the smaller resorts offer less choice and tend to be quiete.

 

 

All the resorts have a variety of fascinating little shops filled with curios that can keep you browsing for hours. There are some first-class carpet shops scattered around the area, where colourful floor coverings of many different styles and prices can be found, and stylish jewellery shops where gold can be bought much cheaper than the UK.

 

Lighter on the budget are the bazaars and markets where you can find wonderful spices to flavour your cooking when you get home, or T-shirts, trainers, clothes and quality leather bags and jackets at superbly low prices. Don’t forget that in the bazaars everyone expects you to barter, and that’s part of the fun of Turkish shopping... Most people go home needing a much bigger suitcase so as you haggle for a 6ft hubble bubble pipe try and think how you are going to get it home.