Visit to "The Hidden Land" Eastern Turkey

Thanks to the Internet, travel to Eastern Turkey is becoming more popular, sought after by people who crave more than sandy beaches and home comforts. 

Eastern Turkey offers a completely distinctive experience, steeped in culture and tradition; it is a lifestyle incomparable with Western values and trends. It is more conservative than the West coast of Turkey and ancient values are very much existent in everyday life. 

Traditional Beehive Houses in Eastern Turkey

Some notable places to visit include...

The ruins of Ani in Kars are on the outskirts of the city of Kars and near the border with Armenia. They are a large collection of ancient churches, built inside the walls of an ancient Armenian kingdom. Nicknamed “city of 1001 churches,” excavation and restoration took place in the last century to rebuild a number of notable structures.

Akdamar Armenian Church in Van

Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey and the highest point. Ideal times to visit are in summer because winter weather elements are harsh with temperatures often plunging into the minuses. Many civilizations have ruled over the area in the past including the Armenians, Byzantines and Seljuks. As a result, not only is a place of natural beauty but there is plenty of historical attractions to visit including the castle, Church of the Holy Cross and ancient Armenian monasteries.

Mardin is a contender for the UNESCO World Heritage Site list because of its ancient buildings with Arabic architecture trends. The narrow cobbled streets leading down the hillside often feature in most publications about the southeast of Turkey. Nearby sites to see include the ruins of Dara, an old Roman city, the old town of Midyat and Deyrulzafaran monastery belonging to the Syriac Orthodox religion.

Mardin