Turkey is a wonderful country that can give travelers not only the opportunity to relax in five-star hotels, sunbathe on the beach and swim in the warm sea, but also beautiful nature, diverse and unique landscapes. Turkish nature is so rich and heterogeneous that at the same time it can resemble dozens of European and American countries.
To look at the most interesting places in Turkey, travelers will not have enough for a week! Experienced tourists recommend going around this country by car, renting which per day will cost only a couple of 30-50 USD. The starting point of the trip should be Istanbul - the place from where the road for unforgettable impressions will begin.
Kerpe
Kerpe is a tiny resort in Turkey, located on the Black Sea coast. The road from Istanbul to the town takes 2-2.5 hours by car, and upon arrival the tourist will see a picturesque rocky coast, caves and grottoes. The Black Sea regularly rushes and flows, which "cut" the coastline in this place, creating a bizarre picture. The coast looks especially beautiful during sunrises or sunsets, when the rocks are illuminated by warm sunlight from the side. In summer, you can swim in clear water and jump into the sea from the rocks, but you need to know safe places where there are no pitfalls. The kerpe coastline is popular with rock climbers who come here to train all year round.
Nallykhan
Going to the south-east of Kerpe, the traveler in 2 hours will be in the town of Nallikhan, which is inhabited by 13 thousand people. The city is not of interest to tourists, but 15 km from it there is a large reservoir. From the shores of Saryar there is a view of the Rainbow Hills - the same landscapes can be found in Peru. Tectonic activities and minerals have made the hills yellow, brown, red and gray. The location is not yet covered with tourists, so silence reigns at the reservoir. You can drive to the hills and climb one of them to look at the surrounding views from a height.
Lake Ace
The reservoir is located 250 kilometers from Nallykhan, and there are usually a lot of visitors near the lake. The ace is considered the second body of water in the country in terms of area, second only to Lake Van. The lake is so salty that it has a red-purple color: the salt content in it is much higher than in the Dead Sea. The color of the Ace changes depending on the time of year and the amount of precipitation. On the southern shore of the reservoir you can find flamingos, which complement the unique picture - pink birds against the background of a red lake.
Lake Meke
The lake, located 130 km from Ace, is located in the vent of the volcano. Few tourists go to Meka, which makes it possible to admire the crater reservoir without a crowd of passers-by. 8,000 years ago, Karapinar erupted for the last time on this site, and since then there has been salt water in the vent of the subsided volcano. In the center of the reservoir there is a hill formed from the remains of lava ejected several thousand years ago. You can see the lake in all its glory only after prolonged rains - there is almost no groundwater on the ground, which is why Meke dries up. The landscape of the lake resembles a picture that can be seen near the Kuril volcano Krenitsyna.
Erciyes Volcano
Starovulkan belongs to the Taurus Mountains, its height almost reaches 4000 meters. On the volcano is the most famous ski resort of the country, but the area looks great at any time of the year. Tourists can go on a hiking trip to the Aladagrlar Nature Park, along the way meeting steep descents and ascents, rocky slopes. The route runs through the Kapuzbashi waterfalls, located in the center of the mountain complex, and each of these 7 waterfalls is unique in its own way. Through the mountain complex runs a toll road, a trip on which resembles driving on the roads in the United States to the Rocky Mountains.
Amasya
The next point in the route will be the city of Amasya, which is inhabited by about 80 thousand people. From the volcano it is located 400 km, in the lowlands of the valley near Mount Harshen. Amasya is famous for the fact that here are the largest harvests of apples - the city is called the apple capital of the country. To the north of Amasya are the burial places of the Pontic sovereigns, carved directly into the rock. The tombs are hollowed out in stone and have an outer wall. At the top of the mountain, work is now underway to restore the ancient fortress, which will soon begin to receive visitors.
Rize Province
This region is not like what travelers understand by the phrase "Turkish nature". The province is located in the northeastern part of Turkey and is a hybrid of the nature of Bali, Ceylon, Switzerland and Norway. Turkish tea is grown and harvested in this part of the country – the region earns the most money from the sale of tea. The Pontic ranges resemble the meadows of the Alps, and the houses here are the same as in Switzerland. The local slopes of the mountains are permeated with rivers and streams, and the tops of the rocks are covered with snow. On the territory of the province there is a huge reserve Kachkar - a natural park, which is considered one of the most beautiful locations in the country.
Trabzon Province
After admiring the nature of Rize, travelers can complete the route in trabzon province. The Uzungel Valley is one of the brightest sights of the region, which resembles the Norwegian fjords. Here, as in Norway, the villagers catch lake trout and send them to numerous restaurants. Guides offer tourists to go fishing, trekking or rafting on the river. The favorite entertainment of the guests of Trabzon is hiking in the mountains. Climbing to a height, tourists do not need to spend the night in tents - inexpensive hotels are open on the way, where you can spend the night for 30 USD.
The last attraction of the "round-the-world tour of Turkey" is the monastery of Panagia Sumela - a building built 1500 years ago on a cliff. The long history of the monastery is rich in tragic events that the guide will tell. The fortress, built into the chalk rock, rises above sea level by 1300 meters. The reddish tiles of the monastery are visible from afar and resemble European buildings. Opposite the building are majestic mountains, and the overall picture resembles a fantastic picture that we are used to seeing on the screensaver of our computers.
