Turkey is a country steeped in tradition, with an exotic past, and unique geographical location. It is in fact the only country in the world to sit astride two continents – fusing together the East and the West. This cultural uniqueness is reflected in its history and people, and makes Turkey and exciting place to embark on a horse riding holiday. Partly mountainous, partly Mediterranean and coastal, Turkey offers a diverse array of horseback vacations.
Horse Riding in Turkey
Hidden Trails offer three different horse riding holidays in Turkey, each with their own unique appeal.
Turkey History and Culture
The Turkish people first arrived here in the Middle Ages, as Nomads from Central Asia. Before then Turkey was Byzantine, and modern day Istanbul (then Constantinople) was an important political center for the Christian empire. Romans, Persians, Lycians and Phrygians were all former occupants of the same territory, and earlier still, Hittite tribes had built an Anatolian empire before collapsing around the time of the Trojan Wars.
Such a rich history has left an indelible mark and Turkey abounds with historic sites and archaeological wonders set in a varied and beautiful landscape. The Mediterranean coastline is punctuated with well-preserved Greco-Roman cities such as Pergamom and Ephesus, while the austere and rugged Anatolian plateau has cave churches hidden away in the improbable fairytale landscape of Cappadocia. Istanbul, still very much the pulse of the nation, has even more to offer, with Roman aqueducts, Byzantine churches and Ottoman mosques and palaces.
The modern republic's first leader, Kemal Atatürk, saw to it that Turkey was reinvented as a modern secular state following the demise of the Ottoman Empire. What you see today, thanks to Atatürk's comprehensive modernization, is a healthy combination of ancient tradition and contemporary outlook. This outlook sees little contradiction in having modern European ways tempered by Islam and time-honored traditions of hospitality.
Turkey Weather and Climate
Turkey essentially experiences an 8-9 month summer, with the average yearly temperature sitting around 16 ° C. In the hottest summer months (July and August) temperatures can rise to 28 ° C, whilst October is milder, at around 21 ° C. November is still relatively warm, at about 16° C, and the coldest winter months (December to March) hardly drop below 12° C.
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