A world away from Istanbul, the rugged region of eastern Turkey is now opening up to travellers after years of instability. Here visitors can see churches and entire cities hewn from rock, fairytale castles on looming crags and fantasy palaces built by power-crazed Anatolian chieftains. Turkey expert Diana Darke provides all the essential practical advice on trekking and mountaineering; wildlife and bird watching; and, accommodation and eating options. Bradt's "Eastern Turkey" is the only guidebook dedicated to this fascinating region and includes first-hand accounts about everything from soaking in thermal pools to the ascent of Turkey's highest peak, Mount Ararat.

Table of Contents:
Introduction Part One: General Information Background Information Geography, Climate, Natural history and conservation, History, Government and politics, Economy, People, Language, Religion, Education, Culture Practical Information When to visit, Highlights, Suggested itineraries, Tour operators, Tourist information, Red tape, Embassies and consulates, Getting there and away, Health, Safety, What to take, Money, Budgeting, Getting around, Accommodation, Eating and drinking, Public holidays and festivals, Shopping, Arts and entertainment, Photography, Media and communications, Living and working in Turkey, Cultural etiquette, Travelling positively Part Two: The Guide Ankara and Environs Setting and orientation, History, Climate and when to visit, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat and drink, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see and do Central Anatolia and the Hittite Heartlands The Hittite heartlands, Bogazkale, Amasya, Tokat, Sivas Central Eastern Turkey and the Euphrates Headwaters Getting there and around, Where to stay, Where to eat, Erzincan, The Euphrates gorges, Detour to Divrigi, Onwards to Elazig, Elazig, Harput, Pertek, Routes from Elazig, Malatya, On the way to Cappadocia Cappadocia When to visit, History, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Local tour operators, Where to stay, Where to eat, Shopping and other practicalities, Kayseri, Urgup, Ortahisar, Uchisar, Goreme, Cavusin, Zilve, Sarihan, Avanos, Ozkonak, Soganli, Derinkuyu, Kaymakli, Nevsehir, Hacibektas, Ilhara Gorge, Guzelyurt, Sultanhani Konya and South to the Coast Konya, South to the coast at Silifke, Silifke, East to Mercin, Mercin, South to the coast at Tarsus, Nigde, Dramatic descent to the Mediterranean, Tarsus South Eastern Turkey, the Tur Abdin and the Kurdish Heartlands Adana and environs, Adana, From Adana and Antakya, Hatay and Antakya (Antioch), Antakya, South of Antakya, Gaziantep, Towards Urfa, The route to Maras, Nemrut Dagi, Urfa (Sanliurfa), South to Harran, Harran (Altinbasak), East to Diyarbakir, Diyarbakir, Onwards to Mardin, Mardin, The Tur Abdin, East to Midyat, Midyat, Onwards via Hasankeyf to Lake Van, Hasankeyf, From Batman to Siirt, From Batman to Bitlis, Bitlis Lake Van Region History, Getting there, Getting around, Tourist information, Where to stay, Where to eat, Entertainment and nightlife, Shopping, Other practicalities, What to see, Tatvan, Nemrut Dagi crater, Ahlat, Detour to Malazgirt, On to Adilcevaz, Adilcevaz, Suphan Dagi, Remote monasteries south of Lake Van, Akdamar Island, Van, Towards Hakkari, Cavustepe, Hosap, Hakkari Mount Ararat Region From Van to Mount Ararat (Dogubeyazit), Dogubeyazit, The ascent of Ararat North Eastern Turkey and the Georgian Heartlands From Dogubeyazit to Kars, Igdir, Beyond Igdir, Kars, Ani, Routes north and west, North via Lake Cildir, Ardahan and Savsat to Artvin, Ardahan, The Georgian valleys, Yusefeli, Parhal, Back on the road to Artvin, Artvin, To the Black Sea, On to Hopa, From Kars via Erzurum to Trabzon, Erzurum, Palendoken, From Erzurum to the Black Sea Black Sea Coast History, Getting there, Getting around, Where to stay, Where to eat, Hopa, West from Hopa, Camlihemsin and Ayder, Rize, Uzungol, Trabzon, Excursions from Trabzon, Trabzon to Erzurum: the Zigana Pass, From Trabzon to Samsun, Giresun, Persembe, Samsun, West to Sinop, Sinop, Kastamonu, Amasra, Safranbolu Appendices Language Glossary Further Information Index