Turkey is one of our most exotic destinations and tours there are reasonably priced. The ancient horse culture of Turkey is very much alive and I doubt that any part of the world can match its rich and broad mosaic of history. This is one of the great cradles of mankind and it is here in Asia Minor that Homer’s epic poem, the Iliad, about the Trojan Wars took place. Traveling through Turkey you can see the fascinating remnants of civilizations left by Hittites, Greeks, Romans, early Christians, Byzantines and Ottomans. You will also visit Istanbul, one of the most beautiful and interesting cities in the world by almost any standard. As Constantinople it was the great center of Christianity after the fall of Rome until it was finally captured by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. In our obsession with western culture we have tended to forget the huge power and far flung empire of the Ottomans which at one time encompassed not only Asia Minor, but a big chunk of the Near East, southeastern Europe and Egypt. The Turkish armies twice laid siege to Vienna and nearly captured the city in 1683.
Today Turkey, a strong American ally, is making rapid strides toward economic improvement while preserving its rich culture in cuisine, architecture, literature and art. Still this large country is mainly unspoiled by modern development and you can traverse much of it on horseback with few worries about fences, paved roads and rights-of-way. The old horse culture still flourishes and they are often still used for agriculture and transport. The rural countryside is ideal for equestrian travel. The landscape is beautiful and varied with mountains, valleys, marshes, forests and fertile fields. One traverses villages which retain much of the flavor they had centuries ago and there is often a chance to stop and visit places of particular historical interest. Ancient crafts like pottery and rug weaving thrive and you can buy magnificent carpets for a fraction of US prices.
Turkey - CAPPADOCIA RIDE - The Cappadocia Ride takes you through one of the most historically rich and interesting parts of Turkey. The weird topographical formations are some of the most fascinating in the world. Though it is a very popular international tourist destination the countryside is wide open and the terrain lends itself to riding. It is a center for arts and crafts like rug weaving and pottery.
Turkey - THE GREAT ANATOLIAN RIDE: A Journey On Horseback Through Northwest Turkey - The Great Anatolian Ride follows a newly established UNESCO cultural route in western Turkey which retraces part of a journey to Mecca in 1671 of the famous Turkish traveler, scholar and writer, Evliya Celebi. The 17 day trip includes 11 days of riding and covers some of the most attractive sections of his ride which is full of interesting historical sites. UNESCO has made 2011 the year of Celebi in celebration of the 400th anniversary of his birth.
Turkey - THE GREAT ANATOLIAN RIDE: A Journey On Horseback Through Northwest Turkey - Part 2 -
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Horseback riding in Turkey through ancient villages and past cave dwellings.
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