| The Middle East may not be the first place | | | | The island boasts Akdamar Church, a historic |
| travelers or backpackers consider when deciding | | | | Armenian church. |
| on their next trip, but the region is full of locations | | | | If Van seems to be too far east for you, Ankara |
| to visit. Obtaining a visa is generally an easy | | | | and Cappadocia are located in the central part of |
| process for those coming from most Western | | | | the country and have a lot to offer travelers. |
| nations. Prior planning for your visa may not be | | | | Ankara is the capital of Turkey and often |
| necessary, as you can get it once you arrive at | | | | overlooked in comparison to Istanbul. Ankara is |
| the airport in Turkey. | | | | not typically considered a tourist town, as it has |
| Istanbul is Turkey's most famed city, and it is no | | | | two main sites (Anitkabir and Atakule). You will |
| wonder since it is teeming with history, culture, | | | | interact with, and feel more like a local in Ankara |
| and food. The city has reliable and extensive public | | | | than you would on the bustling streets of Istanbul. |
| transportation and taxi services, making it easy | | | | Located about 3.5 hours from Ankara, Cappadocia |
| for travelers to get there and get around. There | | | | is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular |
| is plenty of shopping to be done in the Grand | | | | tourist destination. Cappadocia consists of rock |
| Bazaar, and depending on how much you want to | | | | formations entirely formed by natural erosions |
| explore, you could make several trips back. It is | | | | from water, and volcanic lava, as well as evidence |
| the oldest covered market in the world, and | | | | of entire underground towns and homes built into |
| massive in proportion. The Blue Mosque and the | | | | the rocks dating back centuries. There are several |
| Hagia Sofia (Ayasofya) Mosque are must-sees | | | | hotels located conveniently in the rock dwellings of |
| when visiting Istanbul. The Hagia Sofia Mosque | | | | Cappadocia, and they offer relatively inexpensive |
| was a church during Byzantine rule, and was later | | | | accommodations outside of the peak tourist |
| converted into a mosque when the Ottoman | | | | months. |
| Empire conquered the city. Researchers are | | | | People may overlook backpacking the Middle East, |
| continuing to uncover paintings and relics from the | | | | but Turkey and other places in the region have |
| old church hidden under the mosque's walls. As | | | | affordable prices and rich histories and cultures to |
| with any other large city though, Istanbul can be | | | | offer travelers. Turkey is welcoming to tourists, it |
| expensive especially for tourists. Backpackers on | | | | is relatively easy to travel there without hassle, |
| a budget have many other options and cities to | | | | and traveling throughout the country is also |
| travel to elsewhere in Turkey. | | | | manageable. It is where East meets West, so |
| Van is located in the eastern part of the country | | | | Turkey is convenient to add to your itinerary is |
| on the eastern shore of Lake Van. One of the | | | | you are traveling in Europe or passing over to |
| most popular destinations in Van is Akdamar | | | | Asia or Africa. |
| Island, one of four islands located in Lake Van. | | | | |