Cultural Heritage
THE ART OF TRAVELLING
Our travel portfolio is inspired by your wants, desires and preferences.
Turkey could easily be mistaken for a small continent, so diverse are its landscapes, towns and culture; indeed you would need several visits to gain an understanding of the country and experience all it has to offer.
At Afel Travel, our tours are expertly assembled and curated to ensure you get the most from your trip in terms of breadth, range and quality, in what might be an otherwise overwhelming choice of destinations, landmarks and attractions.
When building an itinerary in Turkey there are various factors to consider: the season, the desired pace of travel, the length of the trip and crucially, what you want most from your holiday.
Whatever your priority, Turkey will surely deliver…
Relaxation : Turkey boasts over 8 000 kilometres of beautiful coastline.
Culture : Turkey is home to two of the Seven Wonders of the World and 18 natural or cultural sites classified as World Heritage by UNESCO, not to mention the 78 other sites which figure on Unesco’s list. Scattered across the whole country, these attractions bear testament to the nation’s incredibly rich history and include some of the world’s most prestigious and best-preserved ancient sites of medieval and, of course, Ottoman heritage.
Nightlife : Head to Istanbul, undisputedly one of the world’s trendiest cities, or visit Bodrum, the Orient’s answer to Saint-Tropez.
Adventure : Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Cappadocia and the white pools of Pamukkale.
Afel Travel will guide you on a journey across this magnificent country, overflowing with colour, vitality and joy.
When you step inside the universe of Afel Travel, you access a dimension of Turkey that is usually inaccessible from the outside. No longer a mere spectator admiring from the side-lines, you become part of the action, privy to the many secrets that lie hidden from the passive observer. An aspect of Turkey that is truly fascinating is the country’s unique position straddling both Europe and Asia. Its place within European continent is a matter that fuels passionate debate on both sides of the Bosphorus. We cannot predict what the future holds but the fact remains that we share our history and culture with Europe. The existence of this “cultural melting pot”, examples of which are as abundant as they are striking, will undoubtedly surprise and fascinate you.
One such instance of this shared heritage is Istanbul’s profoundly symbolic Hagia Sophia (classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site) which has enormous significance for both Christians and Muslims. The Greco-Roman civilisation is inextricable from the nation’s historical development and its influences are omnipresent and marked, from medicine to philosophy, across the humanities and in numerous archaeological sites of incredible beauty. We will walk in the footsteps of some of Turkey’s greatest minds: the physician Galen, born in Pergamum (UNESCO), the philosopher Heraclitus in Ephesus (UNESCO), the historian Herodotus in Halicarnassus and the mathematician Thales in Miletus.
We will trace the fascinating path of Christianity, visiting numerous sites of great historical significance to the Christian faith including the House of the Virgin Mary and the tomb of Saint John the Evangelist in Ephesus; Tarsus, the birthplace of Saint Paul; the tomb of the Apostle St Philip at Hierapolis (UNESCO); the Councils of Nicaea (Iznik) and Constantinople and the Seven Churches of the Apocalypse.
In one form or another, the events that unravelled in these places continue to permeate our culture.
As we travel together, you will discover what the Ottoman Empire contributed to Turkey, building upon the foundations laid by its predecessors. We will explore Bursa (UNESCO), one of the western terminals on the much-fabled Silk Road, surrounded by wheat-fields, citrus orchards, olive groves and rose plantations. The nearby coastline is dotted with little fishing ports where you can sample exquisite grilled fish – a local speciality. The Turkish culinary tradition is passionately upheld by its people, such that whether you are visiting a roadside kebab or a luxury restaurant in Istanbul, each meal strikes an exquisite balance of flavours, colours and textures, perfect in its own right.
Nature : Turkey is blessed with uniquely beautiful, dramatic and sometimes otherworldly natural landscapes and numerous sites of exceptional geographic and ecological interest. You will discover the natural pools of Pamukkale (Unesco) and the majestic Mediterranean peninsula of Bodrum. From the enchanting beauty of Istanbul and its panoramas, to the picture-perfect palm trees of the gulf of Fethiye, you will find yourself in a veritable natural paradise, infused with millennia of history.
Culture : Where to start?! Istanbul abounds with monuments and landmarks of enormous cultural significance; each one alone would more than justify a visit to the city and the sum of them all is quite breathtaking. They include the Bosphorus, the Golden Horn, the Topkapi (UNESCO) and Dolmabahçe palaces, the Hagia Sophia, the Süleymaniye mosque (UNESCO) and the Turkish baths, to name but a few. Istanbul is the only city in the world to straddle two continents and it positively bubbles with a unique energy and dynamism.
Cosmopolitan et contemporary : Istanbul has long been an attractive and sought-after place to live with its baths, bazaars, taverns, superb cuisine and majestic architecture. While nowadays it counts attractions such as contemporary art galleries, techno clubs and commercial centres among its appeal, what continues to propel the city forward, as it has for centuries, is its lively spirit of exchange and curiosity. If only subconsciously, Istanbulites share a collective sensibility, intrinsically connected to the city itself.
Cappadocia : this fascinating region is top of many an intrepid traveller’s destination bucket list and for good reason. Cappadocia seems a world apart, spectacular and rather strange. Long before the Christian era, human hands had transformed the rocky landscape into a network of cavities and tunnels for domestic use. Geology, artistry, religious fervour, technical expertise have all combined over millennia to shape this breath-taking spectacle. Resplendent too is the scenery of the Goreme National Park (UNESCO) with its ornate Church frescos.
As you travel across Turkey with all its diversity and many facets, you become aware of a subtle yet astonishing symmetry and harmony that unites the country. The lofty minarets of Istanbul’s mosques to its west, and the towering Fairy Chimneys of Cappadocia at its heart seem to symbolise this unity, echoing each other with an uncanny affinity.
Come, follow me, and let’s explore together.
