Geography
With a land area of more than three quarters of a million square kilometres, Turkey is a huge country. It is situated at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea and is effectively a bridge between Europe and Asia. To the north, Turkey has a 1500 kilometre-long Black Sea coastline, whilst to the south lies the Mediterranean. The country has land borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Armenia and Georgia. Quite naturally, a country of this size is comprised of a great variety of landscape. Generally, there is a coastal lowland region and higher plateau-land in the centre of the country, becoming increasingly higher and more rugged towards the east. In the far eastern part of the country, in the district of Eastern Anatolia, Mount Ararat rises to 5165m/16945ft. With a relatively high average altitude of between 1500 and 2000 metres, this is a dramatic region, with long cold winters and warm summers. Crops do not grow well and much of the farming effort is directed at the herding of livestock – cattle in the lower valleys and sheep and goats on the higher slopes. Turkey's Mediterranean shore, called the Turquoise Coast, is nearly 1600 km (994 miles) long, scattered with fine-sand dotted with beaches and picturesque ruins. The Toros Mountains form a dramatic backdrop along much of the coast, often dropping steeply right into the sea.

Time Zone
The time in Turkey is GMT +2 hours

Climate
The climate varies according to region and altitude. In Istanbul it can be hot and humid during the summer months with temperatures regularly approaching 30 degrees centigrade. In the mountainous areas to the east of the country, the air is drier and the temperature range much greater. Although situated some 1700 metres higher than Istanbul, temperatures in Van can be quite similar around the high 20’s centigrade/ 80s Fahrenheit. Temperatures decrease with altitude at approximately 6 degrees C per 1000 metres or 3 degrees of Fahrenheit per 1000 ft. On the Tekke peninsular of the Mediteranean coast, it is extremely hot (up to 38ºC/100ºF) in high summer and a more pleasant 25ºC/77ºF in May, June and October

History and People
The history and cultural make-up of Turkey is extremely complex. The Turks who have given their name to the country originated in the Altai Mountains of Central Asia and Mongolia. This group of people (also known as Turkmen and Turkoman) were also the ancestors of the Mongols who went on to conquer much of Central Asia, including Anatolia in the 13th Century. By this time, another branch of the Turkmen people, called the Oguz Turks, were well established in the area which is now Turkey. These people had already adopted the Moslem faith and today Turkey is 99 percent Moslem. Many Turkish customs and practices are derived from Islamic practices. Standard dress code in any non-tourist part of Turkey is to cover up bare arms and legs. There are possibly as many as 50 ethnic groups in Turkey today, including the dominant Turks, quite large numbers of Kurds (especially in the east) and smaller numbers of Georgians, Bosnians and Albanians. Most of these cultural groups have lost the greater part of their ethnic identity, although the remnants of their culture, tradition and language continue to be evident. Although Ankara is the modern, 20th Century capital of Turkey, it is the age-old metropolis of Istanbul which is the country’s largest and most interesting city. Located at the exact point where Europe and Asia meet, there has been a settlement on this strategic site for 3000 years. Within the city are found the Blue Mosque, built in traditional Ottoman style in 1606, the Hippodrome which was the site of the celebrated chariot races of Byzantine times, and the Aya Sofya (Church of the Divine Wisdom), which until the fall of Constantinople in the 15th century, was considered the most important church in the Christian world

Currency
Turkey’s unit of currency is the Turkish New Lira (TRY). As of February 2006, the exchange rates are:

£1 = 2.30 (TRY)
$1 = 1.32 (TRY)
€1 = 1.57 (TRY)

It is not necessary and not desirable to purchase Turkish Lira outside the country. Inflation here is very high and the nearer to the point of spend you obtain your Lira the better. One of the easiest and often cheapest ways of obtaining cash is from ATMs using credit or debit cards. If you take your travel money in cash this is best carried in the form of US dollars which are readily exchanged throughout the country. Credit cards can be used to purchase some goods and services in Istanbul and many large towns and are particularly useful for more expensive souvenirs.

Visas
A passport with 6 months remaining validity is required. Visas are required by nationals of the USA, UK, Australia, and most EC countries. These can be obtained at the airport in Istanbul on arrival. A fee of US$15/£10 is charged. Entry visas are not required by nationals of France, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, and New Zealand. Other nationalities should check visa requirements with the Turkish Consulate in their own country.

Vaccinations
You should visit your own doctor and dentist for a check-up prior to taking your trip to Turkey.
The following is a ROUGH GUIDE for immunization. (We must stress that this is only a basic guide to the most commonly required vaccinations for travel worldwide. You must seek and abide by the specific advice of your local doctor/medical professional).

(a) Polio (normally you will just need a booster.)
(b) Tetanus.
(c) Typhoid. A full course requires 2 injections separated by an interval of 4-6 weeks.
(d) Hepatitis (A) and (B).
(e) Anti-malarial prophylaxis: Chloroquine is the recommended antimalarial drug for Turkey. Please refer to your doctor for the most up to date information about anti-malarial medication for the areas that you will be visiting.
(f) Rabies pre-exposure vaccination. Please refer to your doctor for advice on whether you need rabies pre-exposure vaccination. In the unlikely case of your being bitten, this vaccination does not eliminate the need for urgent evacuation to a suitable medical facility for additional treatment,. However, it does simplify that additional treatment and also prolongs the period that you can safely delay before receiving post-exposure treatment.

Given enough notice, your doctor will be able to administer all the above vaccinations.

Additional Sources of Information

Books
Turkey. Loney Planet Travel Survival Kit.
The Rough Guide to Turkey.
Turkish Odyssey. A Traveler’s Guide to Turkey and Turkish Culture. Serif Yenin.
Landscapes in Panoramic Turkey – from Istanbul to Ararat. Gerold Yong.
The Trekkers Handbook. Tom Gilchrist.

Maps
Freytag and Berndt 1:800,000. Road Map of Turkey.

Our trip dossiers/itineraries give details of books and maps that are specific to a particular trip. Click here for details of book and map retailers.

Web
Lonely PLanet - www.lonelyplanet.com
Rough Guides - www.roughguides.com