Experience Your Own Race Across The World — Turkey Edition
The new season of Race Across The World is nearly upon us, and we don't know about you, but we're itching for a new adventure.
Wild Frontiers has got you covered to experience your own Race Across The World, to get off the beaten path and immerse yourself in local culture, then you have come to the right place! This mini Turkey guide will show you the best places to see and our favourite experiences.
Best Tours That Visit Turkey
Silk Road Turkey: Across the Anatolian Plateau to Istanbul starts your journey in Kars. Just an hour’s journey from Georgia and Armenia, Kars is one of the most easternmost cities in Turkey, and you won’t find the Turkey you expect. Fought over by countless empires, Kars shows remnants of Tsarist Russia and the Armenian Kingdom. At one point, it became the capital of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia.
If Greek mythology is an interest of yours, we recommend our Turkey: Istanbul to the Aegean Coast tour, which not only takes you to Troy but also to a Doric temple dedicated to Athena. With over 4,000 years of history and the legendary Trojan War, which was immortalised in Homer’s Iliad, the legend of Troy may be the most well-known story. The first excavations of Troy started in 1870; since then, the findings have revealed that Troy was an important hub to connect the Balkans and the regions between the Aegean and Black Sea.
For a more off-the-beaten-path itinerary, our Turkey: Eastern Borderlands tour is the one for you. You can’t talk about Eastern Turkey without mentioning Gobeklitepe, the archaeological site that has turned the world of archaeology and our knowledge of the ancient world on its head. What was previously thought to be a site for pilgrims, rituals, and potential astronomical significance has had discoveries of houses, grain processing tools, and a cistern, all signs of a civilisation, but dating back years before historians thought possible. Built by hunter-gatherers before any cities, farming, and thousands of years before the pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge.
If the new season of Race Across The World has got you itching to join an adventure of epic proportions, look no further than our The Great Silk Road Adventure: Xi’an to Istanbul. This 48-day adventure takes you through six countries and 12,000km. Starting your journey in China’s Xi’an, famed for being the starting point of the Silk Road, all the way through to Istanbul.
Five Best Places to Visit in Turkey
ISTANBUL
The upcoming second episode of Race Across The World will show contestants reaching the vibrant, historic city of Istanbul. There’s a good reason why Istanbul was the most visited city in the world in 2023; each street opens a world to discover. What was once the capital of the Ottoman Empire — under the name of Constantinople — is now a bustling city, with iconic landmarks such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, and, of course, the Grand Bazaar. One of our favourite experiences is entering Istanbul on a ferryboat on the Bosphorus to behold the two shores and skylines of the mighty city.
FAIRY CHIMNEYS IN CAPPADOCIA
In the trailer, eagle-eyed fans noticed Cappadocia make an appearance with its renowned hot-air balloon festival, but our recommendation is to visit the Fairy Chimneys. An extraordinary rock formation has caused these mushroom-shaped pillars that have been formed over millions of years.
ANI — UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
In the 10th Century, Ani was the capital of the Bagratuni Armenian Kingdom. The city was an important trading hub on the Silk Road, 6 empires fought over the area in the Middle Ages until the Mongols deserted it in the early 14th century after an earthquake, officially abandoning it fully in the 17th century. Here you can see ruins of Zoroastrian fire temples, caravanserai, churches, and the most notable building, the Cathedral of Ani. The cathedral was designed by Ardt, who also reconstructed the dome of Hagia Sophia.
SUMELA MONASTERY
Set into the cliffs of the Pontic Mountains is an iconic Greek Orthodox monastery dating back to the 4th century. Constructed at an elevation of 1,200m, the path to the monastery takes visitors through the forest. The building of the monastery is told through the legend of two Athenian priests stumbling upon an icon of the Virgin Mary in a cave which spurred them to erect a monastery in the same place. The area that the icon was found makes up the centre of the monastery.
SARDES
Legend has it that King Midas — whose wish to turn everything to gold soon turned out to be more curse than blessing — washed his hands in the river flowing through the ancient city of Sardes to rid himself of the curse. Through this act, money as we know it was born, and Sardes became a wealthy capital of the Lydian Kingdom.
Five Best Experiences in Turkey
ANCIENT HEALING CENTRE
Below the ground in Bergama — or what used to be called Pergamon — is an 80m tunnel that takes visitors down to the healing rooms. Asclepiions are found around the world and are dedicated to the Ancient Greek God of medicine and healing, Asclepius.
SWIM IN AKTAS COVE
This idyllic haven is a great stop for those taking part in the Lycian Way for a quick swim in the warm Mediterranean Sea. Surrounded by red pine forests, the expansive white-sand beach and shallow water are perfect for a dip.
VISIT THE BIGGEST MOSAIC MUSEUM IN THE WORLD
The Zeugma Mosaic Museum houses the biggest collection of mosaics in the world. Excavations that started in 1990’s brought findings from mostly Roman and Hellenistic times, with the museum being built in 2011 to preserve, as well as display, the mosaics, frescoes, and sculptures from the ancient city of Zeugma. The displays are nothing short of astoundingly beautiful.
BOAT RIDE THROUGH THE FLOODED VILLAGES
With the completion of the Birecik Dam in 2000, the reservoir has brought both negative and positive impacts on the locals, and during your boat ride, the boatmen will be able to explain in depth the reasons behind this. One of the flooded villages is Halfeti, which is now known as Old Halfeti, and from the boat you can see half-submerged stone houses and the minarets of what used to be the local mosque.
CONNECT WITH THE ALEVI COMMUNITY
The Alevi community is the biggest minority religion in Turkey that held a stigma for years. Identifying as Muslim, they follow the Qur’an but abstain from fasting traditions of Ramadan. Incorporating elements of Sufism, Shia, and traditional folk practices. Connect with the community and ask about their beliefs, traditions and culture.
Best Time to Visit Turkey.
To avoid the summer heat, the shoulder season in April / May and September / October offers fewer crowds and nicer temperatures. Depending on the region, the weather in the shoulder seasons averages between 15 °C and 30 °C.
