PLAN YOUR EXCURSIONS TO THE FAR EAST AND BLACK SEA COAST TRAVEL
Eastern Turkey may not have the retreats, luxury hotels, and chic restaurants found in the more-visited parts of the country, but the rewards of travel here—impressive sites, both natural and man-made—are many.
Wherever you decide to visit in eastern Turkey, you'll find much to see and do. The landscape begins with the rocky beaches of the Black Sea and rises through lush, almost subtropical foothills up to the snowcapped Kaçkar Mountains, then through the stark highlands toward vast Lake Van and the arid semi-desert borderlands of the Middle East. This region shows Turkey at its most Middle Eastern, where the call to prayer comes from intricately carved stone minarets and bazaars are filled with locals buying daily necessities rather than tourists buying souvenirs. Ancient history is everywhere, and you're sure to see several churches and living monasteries that have been around for over a thousand years. Some believe this is also the place Abraham himself called home, as well as the final resting place of Noah's Ark.
TOP REASONS TO GO
EXPLORE THE RUINS OF ANI: This old city was once the chair of a little Armenian kingdom.
FLOAT IN LAKE VAN As in Israel's Dead Sea, the water is rich in minerals and very alkaline; you'll be remarkably floating in the startlingly blue water.
TAKE THE FERRY TO AKDAMAR The isolated island and its monastery is worth the trek.
JOURNEY UP MT. NEMRUT The massive stone heads looking out over the skyline are an extraordinary sight to behold.
VISIT THE CLIFF-SIDE MONASTERY OF SÜMELA The climb is somewhat difficult, but just seeing this unusual sight is unforgettable.
WANDER THROUGH THE BUSTLING BAZAARS OF URFA AND GAZIANTEP Craftsmen in these ancient cities still work the same way they have for centuries
Far East and Black Sea Coast
WHEN TO GO
- Spring and fall are the best times to visit these areas, except cities like Van and Kars, where summers are quite cool opposed to the rest of Turkey. Cities like Urfa, Gaziantep, and Mardin, are best avoided in July and August when the heat can be boiling.