The Quintessence of Turkey

Mandy Mortlock

Hi Michael,

Just wanted to say thank you ,we really enjoyed our trip to Gallipoli. You and your team did not disappoint us. The driver ' Smiley' was punctual and well organized . Our guide was really informative and passionate about the history.The back up of your calls and a emergency contact was great.

Thank you very much for all your planning we really appreciate it.

Randi Druzin

Turkey Travel Centre planned a Turkey vacation for me and a friend in August 2011. It included stops in Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia. As you can imagine, the 10-day trip involved numerous flights, hotel stays and guided tours. We expected to encounter some problems along the way but, as it turned out, we didn't encounter any. The entire trip went off without a hitch.

Also, even though we cancelled our hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia at the last minute due to illness, the people at TTC were able to secure a full refund for us -- and they delivered the euros to our hotel in Istanbul a few days later.

I would highly recommend working with this travel agency.

Hot Air Balloon Rides over Cappadocia

There is no doubt that the landscape of Cappadocia is unique. Cave houses and hotels dotted among the lunar rock formations have made it a top holiday destination in Turkey.

To fully explore the region on foot would take months. There are many valleys as well as separate towns and outdoor attractions such as the Goreme Open air museum. Indeed, the best way to see Cappadocia is from the air.

Hot Air Balloon Rides over Cappadocia

The balloons are the biggest attraction of Cappadocia. I remember my previous visits to the region when I would wake up early in the morning and sit on the balcony with a cup of coffee.

From there, I could see more than thirty hot air balloons floating across the horizon just as the sun was starting to rise. I could hear the rush of hot air flowing into the balloons and see miniature figures in the basket. One morning, someone even waved at me and shouted hello.

The scene is really quite unreal. Just as the sky starts to get rid of the darkness of the night, the hot air balloons come into sight with their colorful balloons and brown wicker baskets.

The Cave Churches of Cappadocia

Colourful balloons, fairytale chimneys, beautiful steeds, cave hotels and yet the land of Cappadoci offers even more surprises, with its fascinating churches.There are as many as 600 churches made out of the soft rock that dot the Cappadocia landscape, but there may well be many more yet to be unearthed.

Following the eruption of Mount Erciyes, the ash and lava formed soft rocks which eroded due to the elements. The region’s inhabitants came to realize they could carve into the rocks and soon turned them into houses, caves, and churches. The churches offered sanctuary to early Christians who then decorated them with art and symbols.

The churches flourished following the gathering of more communities under the guide of Saint Basil of Caesarea – one of the three renowned Cappadocian Fathers who advanced early Christian theology. The 4th century sanctuaries included many examples of Byzantine art, but later churches offer richer frescoes and images of the day.

The best churches are the ones at Goreme Village, but there are more with strong Egyptian influences with local names such as Sandal, Snake and Apple.