Why Turkey Still Holds My Heart: Istanbul, Ephesus, and Cappadocia

I first traveled to Turkey in 1992, expecting to discover a fascinating country. I did not expect that some of the people I met would still be close friends 34 years later.

Despite traveling extensively since then, Turkey has never lost its hold on me. Its history, landscapes, food and genuine hospitality create a warmth that is difficult to describe. Visitors are not simply welcomed; they are often treated like old friends.

For chambers and nonprofit organizations, Turkey also offers exceptional marketing appeal. Istanbul, Ephesus, the Aegean coast and Cappadocia attract travelers interested in history, culture, cuisine, shopping, faith and scenery—helping organizations engage members and generate meaningful non-dues revenue.

Istanbul: Where Europe Meets Asia

There is nowhere quite like Istanbul.

The city spans Europe and Asia, connected by the Bosphorus, bridges and ferries. Byzantine churches, Ottoman mosques and modern neighborhoods coexist beneath a skyline of domes and minarets.

The Old City introduces travelers to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Roman Hippodrome and the Basilica Cistern. Standing beneath Hagia Sophia’s enormous dome makes history feel immediate, while the shadowy Basilica Cistern feels less like an ancient reservoir and more like the setting of a sophisticated mystery novel.

Istanbul does not ask you to choose between East and West, ancient and modern, or Europe and Asia. It simply combines them.

That is its mystique.

The Turkish Delight That Ruined All Others

Turkey’s monuments nourish the mind, but the chocolate-covered Turkish delight from the Divan Hotel appeals to a considerably less intellectual part of the traveler.

It melts in your mouth.

The soft Turkish delight and rich chocolate combine so perfectly that eating only one requires a level of discipline I have never witnessed.

Someone inevitably says, “I’ll just try a small piece.”

This is followed by silence and a discreet glance toward the box to see whether anyone is guarding it.

It may be unfair to judge every other Turkish delight against the Divan’s chocolate-covered version, but standards must be maintained.

A Shopper’s Paradise

The Grand Bazaar is a shopper’s paradise, although calling it a shopping center would be rather like calling the Bosphorus a pleasant stream.

Its passageways contain thousands of shops selling carpets, diamonds, jewelry, ceramics, spices, leather goods, textiles and food. You can shop for almost anything—from diamonds to dinner.

Travelers begin by saying, “I’m only looking.”

An hour later, they are explaining why a handwoven carpet was an entirely sensible investment and how easily it will fit into the overhead compartment.

Bargaining combines mathematics, theater, and the ability to walk slowly toward the door while appearing prepared to leave without the item. Beyond the shopping, the bazaar is alive with craftsmanship, conversation, and hospitality.

Ephesus and the Aegean Coast

Leaving Istanbul, the journey continues to Kuşadasi on Turkey’s Aegean coast, where turquoise water and seaside promenades replace the energy of the city.

Nearby, ancient Ephesus reveals marble streets, the Temple of Hadrian, the Library of Celsus and a theater that once held approximately 24,000 spectators.

Ephesus also possessed advanced water and sewer systems, inevitably prompting someone to observe that the Romans had better infrastructure two thousand years ago than certain places have today.

History has a sense of humor.

Cultural experiences, traditional carpet weaving and visits to places such as the spiritual House of the Virgin Mary and Şirince add a more personal connection. Travelers are not simply viewing Turkey through a motorcoach window; they are meeting its people, tasting its food and understanding its traditions.

The Warmth I Remember Most

When I think about my first visit, I remember the mosques, markets and ancient cities.

But I remember the people even more.

I remember long conversations, being welcomed with tea and the generosity shown to visitors. Most importantly, I remember the friendships.

Thirty-four years later, people I met on that first journey remain my friends. That says more about Turkey than any description of its monuments ever could.

Hospitality is not a performance reserved for tourists; it is woven into the culture. Travelers may arrive expecting history and scenery, but many leave remembering the people who made them feel at home.

Pamukkale, Konya and Cappadocia

The optional extension reveals another side of Turkey.

Welcome to Cappadocia. Its valleys contain fairy chimneys, cave dwellings, underground cities and churches carved into volcanic rock. The landscape looks as though nature became unusually imaginative and then declined to explain herself.

A cave hotel combines ancient stone with modern comfort—proof that sleeping in a cave has improved considerably since prehistoric times.

Photographs capture Cappadocia’s unusual shapes and colors, but not its scale, stillness, or mystery. You have to stand within the landscape to understand it.

Why Turkey Works for Your Organization

Turkey offers the variety required for a successful member travel program. History, architecture, cuisine, faith, shopping and natural beauty give organizations several ways to promote the same journey.

It is also distinctive. Many experienced travelers have visited familiar European destinations, but fewer have explored Istanbul, Ephesus, Pamukkale and Cappadocia together.

Quest Voyager manages reservations, payments, flights, accommodations, transportation and destination services. Your organization can focus on promotion, member engagement, and the program's benefits rather than on operating the journey itself.

Group travel also creates relationships. Conversations begin over breakfast, continue during sightseeing and develop into friendships over dinner. Members return with shared stories and a stronger connection to the organization that brought them together.

More than three decades after my first visit, Turkey remains my favorite destination. I return for Istanbul, Ephesus, the Bosphorus and Cappadocia—but above all, I return for the people.

Give your members a journey they will talk about for years while strengthening engagement and generating meaningful non-dues revenue. Explore the complete Turkish Delights program and discover how Quest Voyager can introduce them to the warmth, history, and mystique of Turkey: TURKISH DELIGHT