Türkiye has a population of around 85 million and is considered one of the most progressive countries in the region. Its diversity is helped by the fact that eight countries border it. While most of the country is very cold in winter (especially in the mountainous regions), summers can be very hot. Much of the population lives on or near the water, with Theea to the south, the Agean to th Mediterranean to the west, and The Black Sea to the north. The Sea of Marmara, the famous Bosphorus and the Dardanelles (which together form the Turkish Straits) make the boundary between Europe and Asia.

Türkiye has a wonderful ancient cultural heritage. The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire of the Middle Ages (with no exact dates being identifiable). Today, we distinguish the Byzantines from the Romans via its Greek influence and Christianity. The country was once the centre of the Ottoman Empire (1299 – 1923), which, during its prime, covered three continents, including much of South Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Its capital, Constantinople (now Istanbul), was the centre of commerce and politics between the East and West for hundreds of years.

A young military officer named Mustafa Kemal Atatürk was involved in establishing the modern Republic of Türkiye. Although he died in 1938, he is very highly regarded across the country even today, and you’ll notice flags and posters bearing his image all over the country. Atatürk (meaning father of Turks) would be its first president. In short, he modernised Türkiye and helped it become the flourishing nation it is today. Even though the country is predominantly Muslim, Istanbul is a very modern city with a European flavour. On the streets, you’ll see young people – men and women sipping coffee at the local café and shopping for Western brands. It has a population of around 12 million people, about three times that of Türkiye’s capital Ankara.

Your Blue Dot Travel tour will take you to many of the must-sees (and some of the less known parts) of this wonderfully cultured country!