Most people who take time to visit Turkey go to its well-known and celebrated cities. They spend most of their stay by going around the various historical landmarks and museums and then shop almost endlessly for Turkish goods whenever they can. Only few of them got to set foot on the lesser known region of Turkey that is said to be once the home of a mythical goddess—the Kaz Mountains.
The Kaz Dagi is a National Park in Turkey that is renowned across Turkey because of its invigorating air and therapeutic hot springs. However, foreign tourist rarely go to the Kaz Dagi even if it is regarded with great favor as a destination for the residents of Istanbul who are working excessively and is in dire need to recharge. Because this area of Turkey is not yet exploited by large number of tourists, the region maintains its authentic air of mystery.
The Kaz Mountains dominated the region and circumvent the Gulf of Edremit which is at the northern edge of the Aegean Sea. The beaches on this region have white sand and stay remarkably fresh even on the most blistering months because of the numerous cold streams that flow into the sea. The region is dubbed as the “Olive Riviera” because the inclines of the foothills that lead up to the mountains abound with unending rows of olive trees. When you reach the highlands, you’ll experience the air that is aromatic with the sweet scent of pine. What makes the oxygen-rich air more beneficial is because that very same air is swept out over the sea and when it returns, it is already iodized. That makes Kaz highlands an ideal location for curing many types of respiratory ailments. And to top that all is the existence of the mineral rich hot springs in the mountains that is also known to have healing qualities it renders to grateful visitors. This lesser known region of Turkey is often called “magic” mountain by its visitors. istanbul jewels
Kaz mountains
SELCUK AND NEARBY CITIES: Attractions and Vibrant Nightlife
Of all the cities in Turkey, Selcuk is one of the visitors target area because of the large numbers of attractions it has. The city have multiple historical venues within its scope that tourist would surely love to visit; that includes the Temple of Artemis which is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Ephesus which is one of the best-conserved cities of the ancient world, as well as religious sites such as Saint John the Evangelist’s grave, the House of the Virgin Mary and the Isa Bey Mosque. All those and more are located in just one wonderful city.
Most of the hotels in the city offer arranging day trips for tourists that include trips to the many landmarks of the city as well as other sites located in the nearby cities. From Selcuk, the tourists can also go on a day tour to a location of their own including Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Troy and yes, even Greece.
Selcuk is also close to other cities. One of which is Kusadasi, which is only 20 minutes away and can be travelled by bus from Selcuk. Kusadasi is a city is where numbers of cruise lines dock for excursions, and because of that Kusadasi has a vivacious port area that has many shops and bazaars alike. It is where excursionists in the cruise ships purchase Turkish goods like hand-woven rugs and diamond jewelries. When the sun sets, the nightlife starts as clubs opens. In Kusadasi, there is what is known as the Bar Street where you can find a stretch of bars and clubs.
Another city near Selcuk is Izmir, which is the third largest city in Turkey. Approximately 30 minutes away from Selcuk are Izmir’s extravagant department stores like those of Istanbul. However, unlike Istanbul which is vibrant in nature, Izmir has a laid back and relaxed atmosphere and is very Mediterranean. Izmir’s waterfront comes alive with cafes especially during summer and springtime where you can enjoy a late dinner after yacht-watching or sailing in the marina.
HIDDEN JEWELS OF ISTANBUL
Istanbul is a city with a mixture of the old and new and the East and West. For instance, in Cimberlitas alone, you can see such striking example of having the old and new in one place—the sight of a ruined Roman column casting its silhouette over a 19th Century Turkish bath and a neighboring well-known coffee shop, Starbucks. According to the legend, the city was started by a man named Byzas when an oracle instructed him to build a city 'opposite the blind'. The moment he came upon a small fishing village on the Bosphorus across from the strategic peninsula, he felt and knew that it was the home he was looking for. And several centuries later, that small village grew and became one of the world's most heavily fortified cities.
The visitors of Istanbul, Turkey are usually visiting the marvels of the city by tour groups. They combed the popular sites like the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar, and the Hippodrome. Little do they know that some of Istanbul’s most beautiful scenes are hidden in its crowded back streets: the urban parks that are shadowed by the humble dwellings of the Turks and the very quiet local mosques that are unheralded by the common people.
The diversity in the city of Istanbul is a unique experience plus the warmth of its people is just as unequaled. When in Istanbul, it’s as if you have been transported back in times when Sultans and Emperors rule. But you can also dismiss visiting the antiquity and dine, shop, and party instead. The things you can do there is just countless and in full spectrum. It is but up to the visitors how they’ll discover Istanbul. You can surely find something to love about the city. It has entranced million of visitors in the past and still going to do so in more centuries to come.
FLOURISHING TURKEY
Turkey offers a rich world as it is bursting with a unique history, various culture and delectable gastronomy. It holds several of the world’s most amazing places that people from all over the world come to visit the country. The country can also be proud of its inhabitants as they are very pleasant to their visitors. They see it to that visitors feel more than welcome; they really know what hospitality is, in every essence of the word.
Those who will visit Turkey for the first time would surely love it as it represents many great yet contradicting things. Turkey is both ancient and modern, in Istanbul alone you can enjoy going around the solemn imperial residences and palaces and also enjoy its frantic marketplaces as well as the contemporary arts and music. It is also both Western and Oriental; being the geographic and cultural bridge of Europe and Asia it has adapted both cultures making it more rich and colorful and yes, a very unique one.
Turkey has unparalleled natural beauties in its custody that it boasts more Greek ruins and invaluable artifacts of early Greek civilization than Greece itself, more Roman archaeological sites than that of Italy, and wonderful resort hotels in its dazzling coastline than all the coast of Spain. These are but few of the reasons why tourists flock to that part of the world making business in the area flourish and grow vigorously. Aside from such breathtaking nature and unique historical landmarks, Turkey is also visited by tourists who are in a sacred pilgrimage because it also is a major custodian of sacred sites revered not only by Christians, but Jews, and Muslims alike.
Being in a position where tourist just keeps on flooding throughout the year, business in Turkey is now booming and its cities are growing and expanding real fast. The skyrocketing degree of tourism in Turkey is creating more and more opportunity in advancement and progress not seen in Turkey in ages.
CIRAGAN PALACE KEMPINSKI HOTEL, ISTANBUL
The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey was once the abode of the last Ottoman Sultans. The place has been returned to its original and functioning condition, and is now shining with its former glory and is herald as being the only 5-Star deluxe hotel located directly on the European shores of The Bosphorus. Another great thing about this luxury hotel is that it is just about minutes away from the business center and the shopping areas as well. The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel provides its cutomers with the perfect combination of Turkish remarkable kindness in welcoming guests and its five-star standards. The hotel had won and received awards like the Conde Nast Award and Travel & Leisure Award because of it superiority in the hotel business.
The Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel is a one of a kind among the hotels in Istanbul because of the architectural grandeur of the palace is perfectly blended with the modern or contemporary comforts of a luxurious hotel. The hotel offers the ambience of a resort even if it is in the center of the city. The hotel is composed of 315 rooms in which the most popular ones are the rooms that is facing the sea view. Hotel amenities includes a spa facility, indoor as well as outdoor pool, fitness center, banquets and meeting rooms and fine dining restaurant on site.
Near the wondrous hotel is Ortakoy which is a harbourside district in Istanbul. Visitors can easily walk from the hotel to Ortakoy and be fascinated by the area that is full of seafood restaurants as well as specialty shops for antique, ceramic and jewelry. What’s more anticipated are the weekends in Ortakoy when a colourful street market is set up in a delightful setting beside the famed Ortakoy Mosque. During those times, you can shop for Turkish handcrafts from numbers of fine selection.
top holiday resorts in Turkey
Top Ten Holiday Resorts and Destinations in Turkey
1 - Bodrum
2 - Marmaris
3 - Fethiye
4 - Didim - Altinkum
5 - Dalyan
6 - Kas
7 - Kemer
8 - Kusadasi
9 - Alanya
10- Side
