When Is the Feast of Sacrifice?
This year, the Feast of the Sacrifice falls on Tuesday, July 20 and lasts until Friday, July 23. Add to this the eve of the holiday and the weekend after it, and we have a nine-day holiday waiting for us.
Things To Keep In Mind While Planning Your Holiday?
Make sure to find common ground about your family’s expectations from the holiday while planning your route. If you have family members who do not like to go swimming at all, a vacation based on the "sea, sand and sun" concept would not make everyone happy.
By opting for vacation routes that offer a variety of different activities, you can create a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Select cooler destinations if you are not a fan of the heat, or a more tranquil retreat to avoid the vacation crowds.
Statistics show that people are more inclined to book their vacation as the holiday approaches, so make sure that you are not leaving things to chance before a large national holiday where everyone will be scrambling to make their own reservations.
Determine where you will visit and the places you will stay and make reservations, as it would be a great risk to set out without reservations during a national holiday.
If you will travel by plane or bus, do not wait until the last moment to reserve your seats. Also, keep in mind that Âlâ Card owners are entitled to win a 10% bonus over their travel and accommodation payments!
If this will be your first time visiting your holiday destination and if you are planning to take a road trip, map out your route beforehand to identify when and where you could run into congestions, and plan to avoid these. Preparing a roadmap for your trip will also enable you to learn about the tourist destinations on your route, making the trip itself part of the vacation as you visit museums and archeological sites, experience culinary delights and take in amazing views along the way.
Another option is to travel by air and rent a car in your vacation destination, making the most of your holiday by reducing the time spent on the road. Âlâ Card offers 40% discount on the car of your choice in rentals from Garenta until the end of August.
Make your vacation much more comfortable starting with the trip, and take advantage of exclusive Âlâ Banking offers, including free service from IGA Fast Track, IGA Buggy and TAV Lounge, and access the airport easily and conveniently both on your arrival and departure with free VIP Transfer.
Best Vacation Routes
Turkey offers an amazing range of vacation destinations thanks to its geographical location, natural environments and rich history, and mentioning all of them here would be impossible. Instead, we created a list of different routes in various regions of Turkey for you to enjoy your holiday to its fullest.
Vacation Paradises of the Marmara Region
Istanbul, the beating heart of the Marmara Region, takes on a whole new level of appeal during the holidays. If you are living in another city, this is the best time to experience the beauty the city has to offer. Visit its museums, stroll around the historical peninsula, relish in the tranquility of the Princes’ Islands, enjoy the amazing Bosphorus and even go for a swim in one of the many beaches of the city. When it comes to accommodation, don’t forget that Âlâ Banking customers are eligible to receive an exclusive 10% discount from Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus, located in one of the prime areas of the city. As the hotel accepts reservations based on vacancy, we recommend that you call and get information in advance. If your vacation will extend beyond the holiday, you might want to consider taking advantage of Forest Kumburgaz Adventure Camp’s 30% discount for Âlâ Banking customer for a day of full of adventure and fun with your kids.
There are two great alternatives for those looking to spend their holiday in the Marmara Region: Marmara Island and Avşa Island. Both part of the Balıkesir province, the islands have several natural coves with great opportunities for swimming, sailing and fishing.
If you are looking for a short vacation in nature, make sure to add Iğneada to your list as well. Located only a three-hour drive from Istanbul, the Iğneada National Park boasts an amazing diversity of flora as one of the few floodplain forests in the world. Here, you can canoe inside the forest, join a safari, take part in nature walks and go fishing.
If what you are looking for is a vacation holiday route that offers new experiences every day, Bursa and its surrounding region is just the thing for you. The historical Bursa city center, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage, Cumalıkızık with its amazing examples of Ottoman civil architecture, the quaint and serene fishing village of Gölyazı are but some of the destinations in the area. The most exquisite of them all, however, is Trilye (Zeytinbağı), an enchanting town full of history, spectacular vistas, restaurants and streets you will want to keep exploring.
Northern Aegean In the Shade of Olive Trees
Surrounded by history, mythology and natural vistas, Northern Aegean Region offers an abundance of destinations where you can breathe in the fresh air from Mount Kaz and rest under olive trees right next to the brilliant blue sea. Ayvalık and Cunda are the prime spots to spend the entirety of your vacation enjoying the waters and the flavors of the Aegean. The towns of Adatepe and Yeşilyurt with their inviting boutique hotels, Assos and Behramkale are must-see stops on this route. You can take part of daily tours, or plan an itinerary that will include all of these destinations, which are not very far away from one another.
Bozcaada is another enchanting holiday destination. An important settlement throughout history due to its location at the entrance of the Dardanelles, Bozcaada still bears the signs of the civilizations that inhabited it in the past. In 2017, Bozcaada was named in New York Times’ 52 Places to Go list. It is very popular getaway for vacationers with its rich cuisine, windy climate and a broad range of hospitality settings from wine estates to boutique hotels.
Turkish Riviera: Southern Aegean and Mediterranean
The coastline stretching from Izmir to Antalya is known as the Turkish Riviera, and hosts some of the most popular holiday resorts in Turkey. This region offers numerous alternatives if you prefer sea, sun and the sand for a fun holiday.
The Foça-Çeşme-Alaçatı-Urla-Kuşadası-Didim-Bodrum route offers accommodation alternatives suitable for every budget. Enjoy the cool, blue waters of the Aegean and take daily trips to Ephesus, Şirince, Sığacık and Dilek Peninsula among others.
The Marmaris-Bozburun-Selimiye-Akyaka-Datça region offers a memorable vacation experience with its famous beaches and secluded coves. You can take part in boat tours, and go for a swim in waterside thickets where blue and green intertwine
The Fethiye-Göcek-Kalkan-Kaş-Olimpos (Çıralı) region features some of the leading destinations for yacht tourism, as well as numerous daily boat tour alternatives. Ölüdeniz, Kayaköy, Kekova and the Butterfly Valley are definite must-sees. This region also includes the world-famous beaches of Kaputaş and Patara. If you are a fan of nature sports, make sure to add to your itinerary the long-distance trail of the Lycian Way, which stretches from Fethiye to Antalya. If walking the entire trail seems like a daunting task, you can instead go for the Karaöz-Adrasan-Çıralı section, a popular part of the trail with amazing vistas.
One of the most popular destinations in the Turkish Riviera is the region containing Belek, Beldibi, Antalya, Manavgat and Side. This region features a variety of holiday resorts with different concepts, and due to their popularity, making your reservations early is always a good idea. If you are looking to add a bit more action-packed excitement to your vacation, make sure to visit the Land of Legends Theme Park. Located only two kilometers from Belek city center, the water park offers a variety of fun and entertaining activities, as well as a 10% discount to Âlâ Banking customers.
Enchanting Beauty All Year Round: Western Black Sea
The Western Black Sea region has been growing in popularity as a tourism destination in recent years. It offers various routes for daily and weekend excursions during holidays. One of the first places that come to mind when it comes to a Western Black Sea vacation is definitely Abant, where you can enjoy a relaxing holiday in the hotels offering enchanting views of the Lake Abant. Make sure to add the seven lakes that make up the Yedigöller National Park to your itinerary.
Safranbolu, known as a museum city is another great holiday destination. Centuries-old mansions offer accommodation, explore its historical bazaars and streets, engage in nature walks in the Tokatlı Canyon, or rest atop the Crystal Glass Terrace that boasts amazing views of the canyon below.
Amasra, which spreads across a peninsula and two islands, offers a vacation atmosphere reminiscent of movie sets with a history going back five millennia. You can stay at seafront hotels and hostels in the city, enjoy the beaches, and visit many historical sites that have stood the test of time.
An Invigorating Vacation in the Lush Green: The Amazing Nature of Eastern Black Sea
With a magnificent nature that boasts all shades of green, the Eastern Black Sea Region is one of the most enchanting vacation destinations in Turkey. You can take a long trip from Trabzon all the way to Artvin, or spend your entire holiday exploring just one part of the region. As the Feast of the Sacrifice coincides with some of the hottest times of the year, it is a great opportunity to discover the plateaus of the Eastern Black Sea where the weather is brisk and energizing.
If you are heading to Trabzon, make sure to visit the Sumela Monastery nestled in a steep cliff at an altitude of 1,150 meters, try the famous rice pudding of Hamsiköy, take in the amazing vistas of Uzungöl as you head up the Keraster Plateau, and visit the old mansions of the historic district of Ortamahalle.
Rize is another great option for your vacation with its steep valleys, mountains, glacial lakes, lush green plateaus, arch bridges, castles and rushing streams. The region has been growing in popularity as a touristic destination in recent years, and now offers a variety of activities and accommodation options suitable for every type of visitor. Lovers of nature sports will find the opportunity to go rafting on Fırtına Creek and trek along the shores of glacial lakes. If what you are looking for a tranquil and relaxed vacation experience, Ayder Plateau, with its warm and comfortable lodging, is what you need. The wooden houses of Çamlıhemşin, Zilkale, Pokut Plateau, Palovit Waterfall and stone bridges dotted across the land promise an unforgettable holiday.
Artvin is another impressive destination in the Eastern Black Sea region. The city boasts amazing travel routes that attract nature lovers. As the nine-day holiday falls on June, it is the perfect time to visit the region as well. The glass terraces above the Hattila Valley offering breathtaking views of the Hattila Creek 200 meters below, the Borçka Karagöl Nature Park with its amazing photo spots, Kafkasör Plateau easily accessible from the city center, Intkor Plateau with its nine enchanting lakes, the 50-meter Mençura Waterfall and Çoruh River with its rafting, canoeing and river skiing opportunities are but some of the many attractions offered in Artvin.
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