Turkey is one of those places that seems to always exceed expectations. The famous sights - Istanbul's skyline, Cappadocia's fairy chimneys, the turquoise waters of the southern coast - are every bit as extraordinary as the pictures suggest. But travel overland and take your time, and you quickly realise there is far more to the country than the highlights alone would suggest.
AW's Turkey tours are designed around exactly that idea. Rather than hopping between icons, we move through the country slowly, following a route that takes in places like Istanbul, Gallipoli, Ephesus, Konya and Cappadocia as well as the small coastal towns of the Lycian Way. The destinations are remarkable, but so is everything in between.
No one knows this better than AW's Anne. She first travelled to Turkey in 2010 and has been returning ever since. In 2025, she made it her home. Her experience helped shape AW's Turkey trips and here she shares why it's such a special place to explore.
A Country That Never Stops Changing
One of the biggest surprises of travelling through Turkey is the sheer variety of scenery. Distances on the map can seem modest, but the changes are dramatic.
Water is a near-constant companion on our trips, though never quite the same twice. In Istanbul, the Bosphorus is busy and cosmopolitan, carrying ferries, cargo ships and commuters between continents.
Gallipoli is found along the Dardanelles, a quieter but no less significant stretch of water that has shaped history for thousands of years. Heading south, the Aegean coast brings olive groves, vineyards and seaside towns.
Then the route turns inland. We stop at Eğirdir, a serene mountain lake that feels worlds away from the coast, before crossing the dry, open Anatolian plains to Konya and Cappadocia. The contrast is stark and that's part of what makes it so memorable.
"I’m always amazed at the vastness and unique beauty of the Anatolian plain. Travelling through it or flying over it, is a reminder of the diversity and scale of Turkey."
Finally we return to the water, flying down to the Mediterranean coast. We explore on foot and by boat brilliant turquoise water, ancient cliffs and hidden coves along the Lycian Way.
Layers of History
Turkey's history is often described in centuries, but it could easily be measured in millennia. And what surprises most visitors isn't simply how much history there is, but how present it feels.
Having grown up in the US, I find the depth of Turkey’s history fascinating. And it’s remarkably accessible. You aren’t confined to learning about it in museums. You can touch, see and feel it in everyday life.
Near Selçuk, you can wander through the ruins of Ephesus and get a real sense of one of the ancient world's great cities. In Istanbul, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman influences sit naturally side by side. Konya tells the story of the Seljuks and the enduring legacy of the mystic poet Rumi. And at Gallipoli, the more recent history of the First World War still resonates deeply.
Turkey often feels less like a country with history and more like a country built directly upon it.
Slowing Down
Turkey moves at a slower pace than a lot of places, and there's a culture of lingering here that's well worth embracing as a traveller.
The famous sights deserve to be explored but some of the most memorable moments happen when nothing much is happening at all. A cup of tea overlooking the water. A conversation with a local shopkeeper. Watching fishermen cast lines from the shore.
Turkey teaches you to slow down. There is no rush - there is always time for a cup of tea and with it comes the chance to watch life unfold before your eyes.
Sitting and watching often reveals as much about Turkey as any museum or monument and it’s as much a part of the experience as the destinations themselves.
A Place Worth Coming Back To
Turkey has a way of getting under your skin. The warmth of the people, the depth of the history, the unexpected beauty of places most visitors never reach - these are the things that keep bringing travellers back.
They're also why Anne has never stopped returning, and why we keep finding new ways to explore it. However you come to Turkey - go slowly and leave room for the unexpected. It rarely disappoints!
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