Turkey has seven distinct geographic and climatic regions.

Marmara

This lies around the Sea of Marmara and includes Istanbul, Edirne and Bursa.  In the winter it snows and in the summer it is quite humid.

Aegean

Centred on Izmir this is half of the ‘touristic’ area of Turkey – Fethiye lies in the other (Mediterranean) half.  Rain in winter and hot in summer the region produces bumper crops of tobacco, sunflowers, figs, peaches and olives.

Mediterranean

As we know this region features the high mountains so that there is little beach from Fethiye to Antalya (save for Patara).  After Alanya the mountains come down to the sea again almost the whole way to Antakya.  There is a coast road from Kalkan all the way to Antakya with incredible views.

Central Anatolia

The centre of Turkey is a high plateau averaging 3000 feet above sea level.  As well as the capital, Ankara, you should think about visiting Konya and Cappadocia in this region.

Black Sea Coast

There are 1000 miles of this coast with mountains looming over much of it.  The region produces half of the world’s trade in hazelnuts and is very lush which suits the cows that produce Turkey’s best cream, yoghurt, milk and butter.  In the far northeast corner, around Rize, Turkish tea is grown.

Eastern Anatolia

Mountainous, rugged and chilly but with an amazing array of endemic flora including wild tulips.  Winter temperatures drop to –43 centigrade and can reach 38 in summer.

Southeast Anatolia

Bordering Syria and home to both the Tigris (at Diyabakir) and the Euphrates (near Sanliurfa) this region is hot most of the time although it can be cold in the depths of winter.