Wednesday 27 January 2016

Top 4 Reasons To Add Cappadocia To Your Next Vacation

After taking a glimpse at a few impressive news, a travel to the city of Cappadocia can be automatically stayed on the top of your to-visit list. If not, you should reconsider! Cappadocia is a tranquil island located at the center of Turkey. It’s like a lunar landscape with dotted rock formations; that you’ve never seen before. Besides, there’s a wide array of outdoor activities and cultural attractions to fulfill your travel desires. Here’re a few reasons that will make you convinced that Cappadocia should on your top vacation destination list:

The Clay Pot Kebab

On your Cappadocia tours from Istanbul, you just sit for dinner, while watching the fire burning in a wood fired oven. Whenever the dinner’s ready, the waiter will pull a clay pot from the fire and keep it on your table. After that the waiter makes a fragrant stew with vegetables and meats. Then, he brings fresh-baked bread, slow cooked beans, yogurt sauce and green salad. If you feel the taste like I said, then you must go on a trip to Cappadocia right now.

The Fairy Chimneys

Cappadocia is specifically popular for its stunning fairy chimneys. These are nothing but the pillar shaped rock formations, which are made naturally after a million years of volcanic activities along with years of massive erosion. Many more the fairy chimneys in the Goreme region now serve as homes, restaurants, hotels and bars. Where else you can sleep in a cave suite hotel (without breaking a bank) or an exotic hotel? Whenever you sleep inside a fairy chimney hotel, you will get to enjoy the stay to the fullest.

Cappadocia Hot Air Balloon Rides

If the weather is perfect, you’ll get to see Cappadocia is well-decorated with dozens of colorful hot air balloons on a daily basis. On your balloon tour in Cappadocia, you’ll get a close up views of the fairy chimneys in the Goreme Region, often nearly passing through the rock formations with the balloon baskets. Apart from this, enjoy an aery morning sunrise, while passing through a wide array of stone fairy chimneys. Purely magical right!
Underground Cities

When you are on Cappadocia tours from Istanbul, you’ll get to know that around 200 underground cities built hundred years ago. These cities were most commonly used by the Christians, for hiding from the Roman persecutors in the second and third centuries. Some of the cities are now open for the public exploration purposes.

Conclusion-

You can visit Cappadocia any time of year. But you should pay more attention to the heat and crowds during the summer months and the temperature and snowfall in the winter. However, spring and fall offer the mildest climate, which can be your best bet. If you want to go on Cappadocia tours from Istanbul with Turkey Tours By Local Guides, then you can truly enjoy and savor everything Cappadocia has to offer.

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Wednesday 20 January 2016

Tips for a Safe and Exciting Istanbul Full Day Tour

Istanbul is a city in Turkey that has warm culture and welcoming people. Filled with rich history and stunning landscapes, the vibrant city of Istanbul is safe for travelers. This offers plenty of opportunities to do and see for every traveler or visitor. In order to explore a large and bustling city like Istanbul, one has to indulge in great sightseeing activity to witness modern and historic sites that will create some memorable trip experiences.

Let us first discuss about some wonderful sightseeing activity that will offer unique full day Istanbul tour experience: 

Witness Active Worship at Suleymaniye Mosque:

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This mosque is one of the largest mosques in Istanbul, which was designed by Mimar Sinan in 1550 with caravanserai (roadside inn), seminary, hospital, soup kitchen, and hamam. While visiting this mosque one can witness an active worship and do not forget to show respect by waiting for prayers to end.  

Go to Turkish and Islamic Art Museum:

This museum contains one of the best carpet collections in the world as well as displays illuminated scripts, intricate metalwork, ceramics, nomad tents and Ottoman parlor. This Turkish and Islamic Art Museum is closed on Mondays.

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Experience a Reflective Authentic Atmosphere:

You can witness traditional whirling dervishes in the oldest lodge in Istanbul that was established in 1491. The followers of Jalal ad-Din Rumi founded in 1273, Mevlevi order of Sufis employs here whirling (sema) as a form of prayer. When the group performs, it creates a reflective and authentic atmosphere. 

Get Impressed by Hospitable Shopkeepers:

Grand Bazaar is the last stop on the Silk Road, where one can find labyrinthine market of more than 3,000 shops established in 1461 by Mehmet the Conqueror. Here, you will find more than 50 streets of jewelry, textiles, pottery & glazed tiles, bronze, leather and exclusive carpets. İç Bedestan is the heart of this market, which offers most valuable good for sale. To get good deals, you can request the hospitable shopkeepers to serve Turkish black tea instead of touristy apple tea. Normally the Grand Bazaar remains closed on Sundays. 

Now it’s time to talk about things to do on a day trip of Istanbul:

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Enjoy Street Photography Walk:

You can improve your camera skills and get an opportunity to capture unique photos of Istanbul by opting for a street photography walk. On this walk you can visit Taksim and Istikal Avenue that offers majestic architecture to be captured in lens.

Opt for Rowing or Sailing:

Important region of Istanbul, the Golden Horn is the best place for enjoying a rowing activity whether you are a beginner or professional. Here one can find experienced and licensed rowing teachers who will provide all equipment including the kayak for indulging in an exhilarating rowing activity on an Istanbul day tour.



In order to enjoy a safe and exciting trip, you can opt for a full day private Istanbul tour from Turkey Tours by Local Guides. This will help in suitably customizing your tour as per the requirement and budget to enjoy a wonderful Istanbul holiday trip. We are professional and licensed tour guides in Turkey who always strive to create a memorable holiday with well planned itineraries for clients.  

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Tuesday 12 January 2016

Indulge Yourself In Mesmerizing Blends Of Turkey

An exotic mix of the Mediterranean, the Central Asia, the Balkans and the Middle East influences are quite familiar in rich historical land of Turkey. After all, the striking Turkey’s charms lies somewhere in between its spectacular landscapes like Cappadocia, the ancient, mysterical land of Love Valley, the epitome of the stunning architecture of Byzantine, Hagia Sophia, the dervish ceremonies, gypsy festivals and more importantly, the hearty local Turkish people who love to make friends through simplest interactions and ready to chat over an Efes beer! However, the vibrant culture, famed culture and ancient leftover history wow visitors who make their way here while the sparkling landscapes from the sun soaked Mediterranean to the mighty mountains are key highlights which let me fall in love with Turkey!
cappadocia balloon tour

Looking to get some extra spice on your next trip? Here, I have got what to do in Turkey.

Ishak Pasa Sarayi

Incredibly romantic Turkish palace, Ishak Pasa Sarayı, an architecturally eclectic seventeenth century palace symbolizes as one of the Eastern Turkey’s most emblematic sites. The key highlights to explore in this palace is the artistic tombs of Ishak Pasa and his favorite wife placed in the corner of the inner court. Behind the splendid palace, the picturesque, recently restored Ottoman Mosque really worths a visit due to its marvelously decorated artistic crafts. I am sure, if you will go there now, definitely you will get fascinated after seeing the Ishak Pasa Palace covering the fog!

Orthodox Sumela Monastery

The good name ‘Sumela’ is a Pontic Greek shortening of ‘Virgin of the Black (Rock)’. The Sumela Monastery, the top sightseeing attractions along the spectacular Black Sea coastline that tops tourist’s to-visit list is a world famous beautiful lonely setting and is built into a cliff face. For anyone who makes a long journey to Turkey’s northeast region like me, wandering around this secluded religious monastery is a wonderful and the ultimate blessing from the Almighty!
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Whirling Dervishes

The spiritual ceremonies of Whirling Dervishes for divine love are a spellbinding worship service of the Mevlevi in long white dresses whirling ecstatically for a quarter hour at a time to the drone of ancient Islamic hymns. The Mevlevi always welcomes non-Muslims to the Whirling Rite in the belief that all people are equal in the sight of God. In my point of view, it’s an honor to witness this religious aspect of Sufism in Turkey.

Ancient Ephesus

The mighty ruins of ancient Ephesus are one of the most complete, still-standing Roman cities with a wide assortment of colossal monuments and marble-columned roads. In simple words, it’s a magical place to experience what life would have been during the golden age of the Roman Empire. Just a 3 km away from Selcuk, Ephesus covers a quite extensive area so visitors should allow plenty of time to discover it fully. One interesting fact is that discovery of amulet changes the history of ancient Euphesus! Visit there and explore on your own!

Nemrut Dagi

The emerging peak of Mount Nemrut (2,150m) is an abode to the appealing funerary mound of King Antiochus I of Commagene Kingdom. Well-known as Turkey’s most peculiar archeological site, the spectacular terraces of Mount Nemrut majestically lines up to celebrate the own glory of Antiochus and the gods.

Aya Sofya

Considered as one of the stunning buildings across the world, the Aya Sofya Museum or Hagia Sophia is not only the topmost sightseeing attractions in Instanbul, but also in Turkey. Born as the Hagia Sophia Church (Church of Holy Wisdom), it was turned into a mosque after the conquest of the Ottoman and is now a well-established museum. As per my thought, don’t give a miss to this cherished Istanbul landmark.

Visiting a Hamam

Seeking for comfort and relaxation! I suggest you to try out the traditional comforts of Turkey, Hamams (Turkish Baths) to make an incredibly relaxing way to round off a busy day’s sightseeing. Dive into the enormous space formed with harmony, elegance, wellness as well as the modern comforts to experience the world of relaxation and comfort!

Hot Air Ballooning in Cappadocia

The dazzling gem of Turkey, Cappadocia filled with surreal swooping rock valleys is the ultimate dream of photographers to capture the natural panoramas in their camera. The hilly crests and cliff ridge houses wavelike rocks, that are formed by millennia of water and wind actions. And if you don’t feel hiking for these striking views, I suggest you go on a hot air balloon ride as it’s one of the world’s top destinations for hot-air ballooning. On a balloon tour in Cappadocia, you can get views of villages carved out the hilly areas, Byzantine era rock-out churches with glittering frescoes and more importantly, the labyrinth underground cities where the Christians hid from invaders previously. No matter whether you are a natural lover or history buff, you will appreciate the unrivaled perspective on the fair chimneys and stunning features of landscapes on a lighter than air, hot air balloon float for sure!

At the end, if your next stop is Turkey, don’t think twice about going over there! After all, the experience is unique among one of the most beautiful places I have ever been!

Come and visit Turkey to live the moment on your own! And also feel free to share your thoughts and experiences in the comment box below!