Go Türkiye

With its wide range of attractions, varied landscape and moderate weather, Türkiye is fast becoming a favourite holiday destination for travellers worldwide, including Nepalis. 

Direct air links, easy visa processing and even free stopover offers, the country that straddles two continents is just a hop away from Kathmandu. It could be as accessible as Bangkok and Bali, the traditionally preferred holiday destination for Nepalis and Nepal-based expats.

Increasingly, Türkiye has also become an affordable and more convenient half-way meeting point for South Asian families including Nepalis with relatives in North America and Europe, especially as visa restrictions tighten.

Türkiye was the sixth biggest global tourism destination last year, with 51.2 million visitors in a country of 85 million people. Tourists are drawn by its rich heritage, culture, cuisine as well as shopping.

And there are some unforgettably iconic destinations like the Bosphorus that divides Asia and Europe, Cappadocia, Konya, Antalya, Mardin. More and more Nepalis who are looking for Instagram posts of places other than Bali’s Kuta beach or Thailand’s Koh Phi Phi may want to inquire about tours to Türkiye.

“Everyone knows and wants to go to Istanbul, but there are also some very popular destinations like Cappadocia with its hot air balloon rides in summer, and skiing in winter,” says Serkan Başar, General Manager of Turkish Airlines in Nepal. “Then there is Konya, the historical city famous for its Sufi heritage and a big annual festival with dance, music, poetry and food.”

Konya is the final resting place of the renowned 13th century Persian poet, scholar and Sufi mystic, Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī. The annual Şeb-i Arûs festival which translates into ‘the night of reunion’ commemorates Rumi and is famous for Türkiye’s hypnotic dancers, called the dervish. 

Apart from its sporting attractions, Cappadocia, is known its unique soft-stone landscape featuring cone rock formations, cave churches, fairy chimneys, rock houses, and entire underground cities. ‘Cappadocia is a geological oddity of honeycombed hills and towering boulders of otherworldly beauty,’ gushes Lonely Planet guide. Travellers can choose to stay in one of the several cave hotels the town offers as they explore the fresco-adorned rock-cut churches of Göreme Open-Air Museum and the subterranean refuges of Derinkuyu and Kaymaklı.

Türkiye is a perfect holiday destination as it serves different types of tourists: those on a limited budget, and those who want a premium experience. Turkish Airlines flies to over 300 destinations and is the only European airline serving Nepal, operates direct flights between Istanbul and Kathmandu five times a week. The timing is convenient: departing Kathmandu at 7:30 AM, passengers arrive in Istanbul at noon after a 7-hour flight.

The resort city of Antalya on the Mediterranean coast is famous for its beaches and coastal scenery and is gaining a reputation for destination weddings. Water sports is popular in the crystal-clear Mediterranean coast astride the golden sands of Lara and Konyaaltı beaches.

Mardin is a treasure trove for those wishing to explore heritage and archaeological sites, with ancient ruins, castles, mosques and churches dating back to Biblical times. Also known as the city of golden stone because of golden yellow limestone buildings on its strategic location on a rocky hill, Mardin is an open-air museum.

Istanbul tour and stopover

Turkish Airlines offers transit passengers with 6-24 hour layovers a free hotel stay through its Touristanbul service. Those interested can select one of the six tours offered as per their itinerary and will be picked up, and driven back to the airport.

The airlines also offer a Stopover in Istanbul package for passengers with a connection period of at least 20 hours wherein they can stay free of charge in program-contracted hotels as they explore the city. Economy Class passengers get one night in a 4-star hotel while Business Class passengers get two nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel. 

Nepalis going to Europe, the UK, and the US with a visa validity of 180 days and more are eligible for Türkiye evisa at $37. Others can apply for a tourist visa via VFS office in Chaya Centre in Kathmandu which will be processed in 10-15 days.