Private Jet Charter to Turkey
Exploring Turkey is like peeling back layers of history. The influence of countless invasions and settlers is clear to see as you travel between the bustling capital, the striking coast and inland where the landscapes resemble a fairy tale. There are crumbling Roman and Greek ruins, battle sites from both ancient history and the 20th Century, and Ottoman and Byzantine relics at every turn. And when you’ve had your fill of days gone by, you can retreat to the seaside; with thousands of miles of coastline you won’t be short of options. Experience it all today, charter a private jet.
Turkey straddles continents and this is evident in Istanbul, the country’s largest city and the former capital. The Bosporus, a strait that connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara, marks the border between Europe and Asia and splits the city into two. Istanbul is a fascinating place to explore and there’s a wealth of attractions such as the Byzantine Hagia Sophia, the 15th-Century Topkapı Palace and the jaw-dropping Blue Mosque (officially the Sultan Ahmed Mosque). You can lose hours in The Grand Bazaar which has a network of over 60 streets and alleys that are lined with traders selling shoes, slippers, ceramic, gold and leather goods.
To experience modern Istanbul, with its vibrate nightlife, head to Beyoğlu on the European side of the city. There are boho districts and plenty of restaurants, bars and places to catch some live music. You can hop on an antique tram which will transport you along the neighbourhood’s busy thoroughfare, İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue). As you eat, drink and shop your way along the street, keep an eye out for historical buildings of Botter House, a beautiful Art Nouveau apartment complex.
Classical and 20th-Century historians alike should head to the north Aegean coast and base themselves in Çanakkale. This harbour town is the gateway to the ruins of the ancient city of Troy, which were rediscovered by a German archaeologist in the 1870s, and more modern battlefields at Gallipoli. The (perhaps rather underwhelming) ruins of the once great city of Troy are a pilgrimage site for hundreds of thousands of people thanks to the tale of the decade-long war depicted in Homer’s epic poem The Iliad. As you wander round the site, you can see layers of time from 3000 BC to 500 AD. Across the Dardanelles strait from Çanakkale is the Gallipoli Peninsula, the site of fierce battles of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. Sites of interest include ANZAC Cove and Cape Helles, where thousands of Allied troops landed during the land battle, Plugge’s Plateau and a host of war cemeteries where fallen soldiers now rest.
Continue south along Turkey’s Aegean Sea coastline and you’ll reach Ephesus, arguably Turkey’s most famous archaeological wonders. This ancient Greek city, which was built in the 10th-Century BC, is remarkably well preserved with impressive structures scattered around the site. These include the façade of the Library of Celsus, the Basilica of St. John and the few remaining pieces of the Temple of Artemis, of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Nearby, there are further ancient Ionian ruins that are far less crowded than Ephesus. There’s Priene with its beautiful cliff backdrops, and Miletus where you can see the incredible remains of an ancient Greek theatre and the Faustina Baths which were added by the Romans.
Once you’ve had your fill of vibrant cities and ancient sights, head to the country’s sun-kissed Turquoise Coast. Here. There’s busy Bodrum, a coastal region with huge hotels and a few places of interest such as the 500-year-old Bodrum Castle, and sprawling Fethiye, a popular choice with European sun, sea and sand seekers. If the all singing all dancing resorts aren’t for you, opt for somewhere a little more low-key like Göcek, a small harbour town visited by traditional gulet boats cruises and private yachts. The hotels here tend to be more upscale and smaller than those in more developed resort towns. Continue along Turkey’s coast eastwards and you’ll reach the city of Antalya, the gateway to the Mediterranean towns of Alanya, another popular spot with the summer holiday crowds.
One of the brightest jewels in Turkey’s crown is the otherworldly Cappadocia where enchanting landscapes are dotted with rock pillars which rise up above the valley floor. Many of these wind and water-eroded formations, which you can see in the UNESCO-listed Göreme National Park, were hollowed out by hand and have used a place of refuge for local communities for centuries. One of the most iconic images of this part of Turkey is of hot air balloons drifting over the alien-esque landscapes at sunrise; if you wish to be part of the picture, there are many tour operators offering flights from the Göreme which is at the heart of the national park.
Alongside the main international airports in Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya, Turkey is served by plenty of smaller regional airports. Simply contact one of our team and we can arrange everything you need to charter a private jet to Turkey.
