We traveled much of Turkey with Flo-USA, a travel company out of Istanbul, but with offices in the USA, that arranges a wide variety of exciting tours around Turkey. What I experienced on my tour truly astonished me. Turkey is a country more rich in what it has to offer than most any you will find. Consider just a glimpse of what Turkey has to offer:

Our bus parked at the lip of the valley and everyone gasped. Looking out at a landscape of bleached-tan earth nearly devoid of green grass or vegetation, we saw hundreds of giant cones and pillars — like 3-story-tall termite mounds tinged in yellows and reds — that seemed to be piercing through the ground skyward. Surrounding this were undulating cliffsides and rock masses. The scene was both beckoning and foreboding.

The upside was clear. I came home loving Turkey and thought it was an incredible place for just about anyone who loves travel. The company I traveled with had made this trip hundreds of times and knew all the best places to stop for homemade meals and clean bathrooms. I stayed in mostly five-star hotels, with most meals included. Could I build and execute a trip like this myself and pay less? No. I might be able to stay in youth hostels and eat sardines. I could also be lost and stranded and not have enough language skills to ask for favors. Of course, nothing is perfect.