If you want to spend your first memorable days of marital bliss in a
land of fairytale beauty, then Mardin is just the place for you. For
this ancient city has succeeded in preserving its mystery like a melody
whispered down the centuries. The years come and go, but Mardin’s
beauty, engraved in stone, never changes. For those who would like to
spend a few days in a lunar landscape of eerie rock formations where
dream seems to morph into reality, we recommend Cappadocia.

In
this region, where a hot air balloon ride will afford you breathtaking
views, you can stay either in a millennia-old cave, or in a real fairy
chimney turned boutique hotel. And if your honeymoon won’t be complete
without the scent and sound of the sea, we suggest a blue cruise. Blue
cruise tours leaving from Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye, Göcek, Kaş and
Antalya let you explore the tiny, secluded pine coves perfect for a
honeymoon couple.

OASES OF CALM
With its tranquil bays,
picturesque villages and romantic sunsets, Gökçeada is a land of beauty
and repose. This island, where Turkish and Greek culture intertwine, is a
honeymooners’ haven with its pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters.
And when you climb the cobbled roads lined with oleander to the
century-old rustic coffeehouses, your reward is a cup of the island’s
famous ‘dibek’ coffee.

Other alternatives include sampling the
local seafood at a humble fish restaurant and making a boat tour among
the secluded coves. You can swim at several points along the island’s
coast, but according to the islanders Kefaloz boasts a beach to vie with
the French Riviera. If the usual honeymoon tours strike you as
dreadfully dull, and a stroll on the beach followed by a candlelight
dinner is not your idea of a romantic time, then how about a jeep safari
in the Taurus Mountains to get your adrenaline rushing?

You can
either join a group or rent your own jeep and discover the sharp peaks,
deep gorges, green valleys and waterfalls on your own. The tortuous
mountain roads that wind through the Taurus’ staggering karstic valleys
will bring you in touch with vestiges of civilizations going back
thousands of years. You will also meet the hospitable nomadic peoples of
the ‘Yörük’ villages. For the best results, plan your exciting Taurus
itinerary with the help of a travel agent.  Tours range from the typical
day tour to those up to a week in length.

ABOVE THE CLOUDS
If
you’re looking to leave behind city life and all its woes and lose
yourself in a refuge above the clouds, we recommend the valleys between
Maçka and Zigana at Trabzon. Far from prying eyes in the magical
atmosphere here on Turkey’s Black Sea coast, you will feel you’ve fallen
plumb into the bosom of nature. If you like you can even hike up to the
Sumela Monastery, a traditional haven of seclusion. For accommodation,
the neighboring valleys are dotted with picturesque mountain dwellings
like matchstick models.

What’s more, inspired by the region’s
characteristic local architecture, all these houses are completely
free-standing and boast a stone veranda with a mountain view as well as
all the comforts of home. Breakfast consists of cornbread, fresh butter,
country cheeses, ‘kuymuk’ (a sort of cheese and cornflour pancake),
homemade jams, highland honey and tea.

The dinner menu is no
less lavish with kale soup, ‘kuymuk’, braised Swiss chard, pickled beans
fried in oil, anchovy bread and rice pudding. An additional boon of the
highland honeymoon are romantic hiking trails through the smoky
mountains amidst natural springs and rushing streams large and small. In
short, there are countless romantic spots just waiting for you in
Turkey. So get ready, we’re going on a honeymoon!source:skylife